Original research, academic projects, and collaborative initiatives — at the intersection of mycology, antimicrobial science, and open knowledge.
Science is most useful when it's shared clearly.
My research sits at the practical edge of microbiology — identifying organisms with industrial or clinical utility, and characterising what makes them effective. The work ranges from fungal bioprocessing to antifungal resistance, with a consistent thread: rigorous method, clear reporting, and work that can be built upon.
Alongside published and ongoing research, I contribute to open knowledge initiatives — most notably the Val's Handbook, a community-driven life sciences reference.
Research conducted independently and as part of academic coursework.
This research successfully isolated and characterised indigenous Ganoderma strains to evaluate their potential as biological factories for industrial enzymes and biopolymers. Screening identified significant enzymatic activity, particularly for xylanase and pectinase, alongside optimised exopolysaccharide (EPS) production. By correlating fungal morphology with biochemical output, the project highlights these white-rot fungi as powerful, eco-friendly assets for scalable industrial applications in biofuel production, food processing, and environmental bioremediation.
This research investigated the antifungal and antibiofilm potential of garlic extracts against the multidrug-resistant pathogen Candida auris. Comparative analysis demonstrated that both methanolic and ethanolic extracts possess significant fungicidal activity, with the ethanolic preparation consistently showing superior efficacy in inhibiting fungal growth and preventing the formation of persistent biofilms. By identifying these natural extracts as potent inhibitors, the study highlights their therapeutic promise as affordable, low-toxicity alternatives or adjuncts to conventional therapies in the face of escalating clinical antifungal resistance.
A community-driven knowledge experiment. The Handbook is a collaborative platform where contributors can submit concise, practical insights across diverse domains — learning, tools, workflows, and lived experience. Selected contributions are curated, structured, and published with full credit to the contributors. The goal is simple: useful knowledge, and transparent attribution.
Whether it's co-authoring research, contributing to the Handbook, or just a conversation about science — I'm always open to hearing from people who care about the same things.