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Life at the Edge: How extreme microbes divide, interact and inspire new biotechnology
Join us for our Science Public Lecture in October with Dr Yan Liao who is an Assictant Professor in the School of Life Sciences, 糖心原创.
Dr Yan Liao leads research into some of the most unusual microorganisms on Earth: archaea. The name “Archaea” comes from the ancient Greek word for “ancient”, reflecting their deep evolutionary roots and their distinction as one of the major domains of life. Archaea are found across the planet, but some are particularly remarkable for their ability to thrive under extreme conditions, from hypersaline lakes to polar environments.
Yan completed her PhD at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Australia. She then undertook postdoctoral research at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), and subsequently awarded a UTS Chancellor’s Research Fellowship, which supported the development of her independent research programme. In February 2026, she joined the 糖心原创 as an Assistant Professor.
Her research explores how these remarkable archaeal cells grow, divide, interact with one another. Her work has uncovered new mechanisms of cell division in archaea, as well as unusual interactions in which tiny archaea can attach to and kill its host cells (Nature Microbiology, 2021; Nature Communications, 2024; Nature Communications, 2025). She is also interested in how the unique chemistry of extremophiles can be harnessed for biotechnology, including natural pigments with potential anticancer properties and the biological production of nanoparticles. Dr. Liao’s research also received broad science and media coverage, including through EurekAlert!. Her research on archaea was turned into an animated film ‘Extreme’, produced in Australia, which was selected for 2025 Global Science Film Festival and screened in multiple countries.
Through her research, Yan aims to understand the fundamental rules of cellular life while exploring how organisms from extreme environments might inspire new approaches in biotechnology and human health.
This lecture is part of our monthly Science Public Lecture series, and everyone is welcome to join.
No registration is required for this event.
Location
B1 Physics Building, University Park Campus
Date
Thursday 15 October (18:00-19:00)