DoctorKelsi Hall

Dr Kelsi Hall is a biochemist and enzyme engineer whose research explores membrane transport proteins and biomass-degrading enzymes, with a focus on both antimicrobial discovery and biotechnology application. Based at the University of Canterbury, she leads work on TRAP (tripartite ATP-independent periplasmic) transporters, investigating their potential as novel antimicrobial targets. Alongside this, Kelsi is interested in biomass degradation enzymes, studying the role these enzymes play in microbial pathogenicity as well as their potential for harnessing in biotechnology applications.

She completed her PhD in Biotechnology at Victoria University of Wellington before undertaking postdoctoral research at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences in a world-leading laboratory working on lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs).

Alongside her research, Kelsi is an active member of the research community, serving on the Synthetic Biology Australasia committee for New Zealand.

Keywords: enzyme engineering; membrane transporters; TRAP transporters; antimicrobial targets; biomass degradation enzymes; pathogenicity; biotechnology; protein biochemistry; structural biology; enzyme discovery.