
Dr Nan Hao
Grant-Funded Researcher (B)
School of Biological Sciences
Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.
My research interest lies in the broad fields of Synthetic Biology with the aim to combine biochemical studies with mathematical modeling to better understand the “design” features of the genome. This knowledge will inform the design of next generation synthetic platforms for biotechnology and bioremediation.
- My Research
- Career
- Publications
- Grants and Funding
- Teaching
- Supervision
- Professional Activities
- Contact
I am a Synthetic Biology Future Science Fellow based in the School of Biological Sciences. My research aims to advance fundamental knowledge and addresses widespread but poorly understood processes in gene transcription such as transcriptional interference, transcriptional roadblocking, feedback control and DNA looping, all of which are likely to be highly significant for regulation of gene expression. In addition, one important aspect of my research is to apply mathematical thinking to understand the ‘design’ features of the genome.
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2017 - ongoing Synthetic Biology Future Science Fellow (Level B) University of Adelaide and CSIRO joint appointment 2017 - 2017 ARC DECRA Fellow (Level B) University of Adelaide, Adelaide 2015 - 2016 ARC DECRA Fellow (Level A) University of Adelaide, Adelaide 2012 - 2014 Postdoc Research Fellow (Level A) University of Adelaide, Adelaide 2007 - 2008 Research Assistant University of Adelaide, Adelaide 2006 - 2007 Research Assistant University of Adelaide, Adelaide -
Awards and Achievements
Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount 2017 Achievement Finalist ASBMB Adelaide Protein Group (APG) ECR Award 2017 Invitation Invited Seminar Presentation Epigenetics Consortium of South Australia and Adelaide RNA Special Interest Group Seminar Australia 2017 Invitation Invited Pitch US Department of Defence Representative Australia 2016 Award Best presentation/poster in the ECR category OCE Cutting Edge Conference in Synthetic Biology Australia A$ 200 2015 Invitation Invited Speaker School of Biological Sciences Inaugural Research Day 2015 Fellowship ASBMB travel fellowship ASBMB Australia A$ 3000 2012 Award Poster Award ASBMB ComBio conference Australia A$ 200 2012 Research Award Postgraduate Academic Achievement Award The University of Adelaide Australia A$ 500 2012 Award Writing up Award The University of Adelaide Australia A$ 3000 2011 Award Chinese government award for outstanding self-financed students abroad China Scholarship Council China US$ 6000 2011 Award Poster prize ASBMB Adelaide Protein Group Australia A$ 200 2010 Achievement Finalist ASBMB Adelaide Protein Group Student Event Australia 2008 Scholarship Adelaide Graduate Fee Scholarship - PhD scholarship The University of Adelaide 2007 Award The Brian & Heather Forster Prize in Biochemistry - Top Honours The University of Adelaide Australia 2005 Scholarship Summer Vacation Scholarship The University of Adelaide Australia -
Language Competencies
Language Competency Chinese (Mandarin) Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review English Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review -
Education
Date Institution name Country Title 2008 - 2012 The University of Adelaide Australia PhD in Biochemistry 2007 - 2007 The University of Adelaide Australia B. Sc. (Honours, First class) 2004 - 2006 The University of Adelaide Australia B. Sc. (Biomedical Science) -
Postgraduate Training
Date Title Institution Country 2015 - 2015 2nd International Summer School on Synthetic and Systems Biology University of Catania Italy -
Research Interests
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Journals
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Conference Items
Year Citation 2017 Hao, N., Priest, D., Dodd, I., & Shearwin, K. (2017). Programmable DNA looping in vivo. Poster session presented at the meeting of Australia-China Symposium on Synthetic Biology. Brisbane. 2017 Hao, N., Shearwin, K., & Dodd, I. (2017). Understanding and Manipulating Chromosomal-Scale DNA Looping in Escherichia coli. Poster session presented at the meeting of 2017 Synthetic Biology: Engineering, Evolution & Design (SEED) : Proceedings. Vancouver, Canada. 2017 Hao, N. (2017). Programmable DNA looping using engineered bivalent dCas9 complexes. Poster session presented at the meeting of ASBMB ComBio conference. Adelaide. 2017 Hao, N. (2017). Programmable DNA looping using engineered bivalent dCas9 complexes. Poster session presented at the meeting of Synthetic Biology Australasia Conference. Sydney. 2016 Hao, N., Shearwin, K., & Dodd, I. (2016). Road Rules for Traffic on DNA: Gene Regulation by Encounters between Transcribing RNA Polymerases and DNA-bound Proteins. Poster session presented at the meeting of Synthetic Biology: Engineering, Evolution & Design (SEED). Chicago, USA. 2016 Hao, N., Shearwin, K., & Dodd, I. (2016). Understand DNA looping in vivo - a synthetic biology approach. Poster session presented at the meeting of OCE Cutting Edge Conference in Synthetic Biology. Canberra. 2015 Hao, N., Krishna, S., Shearwin, K., & Dodd, I. (2015). Road Rules for Traffic on DNA: Gene Regulation by Encounters between Transcribing RNA Polymerases and DNA-bound Proteins. Poster session presented at the meeting of 2nd International Synthetic & Systems Biology Summer School. Taormina - Sicily, Italy. 2015 Hao, N. (2015). Understanding and manipulating long-range DNA looping in vivo. Poster session presented at the meeting of ASBMB ComBio conference. Melbourne. 2014 Hao, N. (2014). Road Rules for Traffic on DNA: Gene Regulation by Encounters between Transcribing RNA Polymerases and DNA-bound Proteins. Poster session presented at the meeting of The 13th Asian Conference on Transcription. Melbourne. 2012 Hao, N., Shearwin, K., Dodd, I., Whitelaw, M., & Chapman-Smith, A. (2012). Reverse Bacterial Two Hybrid: A New Tool for Studying Dimeric Protein Interactions. Poster session presented at the meeting of ASBMB ComBio conference. Adelaide. 2009 Hao, N., Shearwin., Dodd, I., Whitelaw, M., & Chapman-Smith, A. (2009). Reverse Bacterial two Hybrid (RevB2H) method for studying protein-protein interactions. Poster session presented at the meeting of Network in Genes and Environment in Development (NGED) Forum. Palm Cove, Queensland. 2009 Hao, N., Shearwin, K., Dodd, I., Whitelaw, M., & Chapman-smith, A. (2009). A novel Reverse Bacterial two Hybrid (RevB2H) method for studying protein-protein interactions and screening for potential therapeutics. Poster session presented at the meeting of Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR) SA Scientific Meeting. Adelaide. -
Theses
Year Citation 2012 Hao, N. (2012). Regulation of Eukaryotic Transcription by bHLH/PAS Transcription Factors AhR and Arnt. (PhD Thesis, The University of Adelaide). 2007 Hao, N. (2007). Searching for HIF-1α/Arnt PAS Domain Interacting Proteins. (The University of Adelaide). -
Internet Publications
Year Citation 2015 Hao, N. (2015). Science Under the Volcano - Australian Biochemist Magazine. Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Inc..
Current Funding
2017-2021 Dr. Nan Hao, Developing orthogonal Cas/anti-Cas pairs as building blocks for genetic circuit design. CSIRO Future Science Fellowship in Synthetic Biology, $505,000
Previous Funding
2018-2019 Dr. Nan Hao, A/Prof. Keith Shearwin, Dr. Carol Hartley, Dr. Lawrence Lee and Dr. Colin Scott, Nanomachine v2.0. CSIRO SynBio FSP Pitch Award, $10,000
2016-2018 Dr. Ian Dodd, A/Prof. Keith Shearwin, Prof. Kim Sneppen, and Dr. Nan Hao, Understanding and manipulating long-range DNA looping in gene regulation. NHMRC project grant (APP1100651), $351,025
2015-2017 Dr. Nan Hao, Traffic on DNA: interplay between RNA polymerases and DNA-bound proteins. ARC DECRA fellowship (DE150100091), $366,000
Undergraduate Teaching
Human Perspectives (SGDE)
Honours in Biochemistry (research grant proposal and thesis assessment)
Laboratory placement supervision
2017: Grace Tulysewski
2016: Emi Schutz, Daniel Reed
2015: Alejandra Isabel
2014: Trang Pham, Jade Foeng, Andrew J. Hayes, Queenie Tangseefa, Dominique Jackson
2013: Jia Quyen Truong, Byron Shue
2012: Duncan McKenzie
2011: Benjamin Lee (exchange student from Singapore)
2010: Lauren A. Watkins
Undergraduate practical demonstrating
2010 semester 2 Level II MBS Practical series B
2010 semester 1 Level III Biochemistry course
2010 semester 1 Level II MBS Practical series A
2010 semester 1 Level II MBS Practical series C
2009 semester 2 Level II MBS Practical series B
2009 semester 1 Level III Biochemistry course
2009 semester 1 Level II MBS Practical series A
2008 semester 2 Level II MBS Practical series B
2008 semester 1 Level III Biochemistry course
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Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2019 Co-Supervisor Bacteriophage based applications in synthetic biology Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Lawrence Daniel Beltrame 2018 Co-Supervisor Phage based antibacterial proteins Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Hannah Rose Bonham -
Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2017 - 2021 Co-Supervisor Investigating catalytically inactive Cas proteins as transcriptional roadblocks Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Alana Jane Donnelly
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Memberships
Date Role Membership Country 2017 - ongoing Member Australian Academy of Science EMCR Forum Australia 2016 - ongoing Member Synthetic Biology Australasia (SBA) Australia 2010 - ongoing Member Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) Australia
Connect With Me
External Profiles