Samantha Khoo Min Suen
PhD Student
Environmental Engineering
Email: SAMANTHA016@e.ntu.edu.sg
Samantha Khoo is a PhD student in the Environmental Engineering Cluster at SCELSE, under the supervision of A/Prof Laura Nolan. Her research focuses on evaluating the efficacy of probiotics and their metabolites in reducing food spoilage and inhibiting foodborne pathogens. By assessing their effects on associated bacteria and biofilms, and characterising the microbial and metabolic composition of probiotics, she aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying bacterial suppression. Her project aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of microbial dynamics with the goal of enhancing food preservation and combating the spread of foodborne diseases.
Samantha graduated from University College London with a Master’s degree in Biological Sciences, specialising in Cell Biology. Her past research explored the role of gene connectivity in yeast adaptation, investigating factors that influence evolutionary processes. She designed yeast strains with CRISPR-mediated gene editing and plasmid engineering to study how mutations in genes with different connectivity influence evolutionary processes.
Samantha strives to leverage cell biology knowledge and molecular biology techniques to develop innovative strategies to improve food quality, safety, and shelf life—ultimately contributing to greater food accessibility and public health.
