Mauricio Lopez-Portillo Masson

Postdoctoral Fellow

Biography

Born in Mexico, Mauricio completed a Bachelor's in Biology and later a Master’s degree in biochemistry, where he focused on biomass and biochemical production to revaluate agricultural waste products.

His interest is focused on acquiring the knowledge to handle the entire process in the development of biotechnology-based products.

Since 2022, Mauricio has been a Ph.D. student in the Sustainable & Synthetic Biotechnology Group at KAUST in Professor Kyle Lauersen's lab.

Mauricio Defended his PhD in July 2026 and is now working as a PostDoc in the SSB Group

Research Interests

His current research aims to develop new technologies in the cultivation of extremophile organisms and their potential.

Selected Publications

Masson, M.L.P., De Freitas, B.B., Zybinskii, A., Althagafi, G., Amad, M., Fox, M.D., Lammers, P.J., Lauersen, K.J., 2026. Elevated carbon dioxide stimulates efficient organic carbon consumption for the unicellular alga Galdieria. Trends in Biotechnology 44, 547–569. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.10.018

Masson, M.L.P., Fox, M., Lammers, P., Lauersen, K., 2026. Blue at the edge. Trends in Biotechnology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2026.04.012

Education

  • Ph.D. KAUST. 2021-2026
  • M.Sc National Autonomous University Of Mexico (IBT). 2017- 2018
  • B.Sc. Biology, National Autonomous University Of Mexico, 2011-2016

Awards

2026 BESE Dean's Best Publication Award

Research Interests Keywords

microalgae Algal Biotechnology Synthetic Biology bioprocess design