Pimchai Chaiyen’s biography

Abstract

Pimchai Chaiyen is a professor of School of Biomolecular Science and Engineering (BSE) at Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology (VISTEC). She is among the most accomplished scientists in Thailand and in her research fields globally. Dr. Chaiyen trained as a mechanistic enzymologist at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, under the guidance of David P. Ballou and the late Vincent Massey. She was an independent investigator at Mahidol University from 1997 to 2017. She then moved to VISTEC as founding dean of the BSE school. Dr. Chaiyen works on the broad areas of enzyme catalysis, enzyme engineering, systems biocatalysis, metabolic engineering, and synthetic biology. Her group investigates mechanisms of enzymatic reactions and metabolic pathways, and explores innovative applications of enzymes and metabolically engineered cells. Her team also works with local communities and the private sector to implement technologies promoting sustainability and circular economy. Dr. Chaiyen was a speaker at the Women in Science symposium at 20th IUPAB congress, 45th Annual SBBF meeting and 50th Annual SBBq meeting (held virtually in Brazil).