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  • ORCiD profile
    https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5737-9678
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    https://www.linkedin.com/in/himel-nahreen-khaleque-80567aa3
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Dr Himel Nahreen Khaleque

Vice Chancellor's Research Fellow

Staff Member Details
Email: h.khaleque@ecu.edu.au
ORCID iD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5737-9678

Himel is a Vice-Chancellor’s Research Fellow at the School of Science.

Background

Himel is an environmental biotechnologist, specialising in the use of molecular biology, '-omics' and bioinformatic techniques for the study of extremophilic microorganisms. For the past 9 years she has extensively studied novel halotolerant acidophiles for use in saline water systems.

Prior to her role as Vice-Chancellor’s Research Fellow, Himel was a Synthetic Biology Future Science Platform (SynBioFSP) Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). She has also held the roles of Scientific Officer at the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR) and Lecturer of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering. She completed her PhD from Curtin University in Biomedical Sciences and was awarded a Chancellor’s Commendation for her thesis. She has also completed a Master of Science and a Bachelor of Science (with Honour’s and Dean’s Award) in Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Awards and Recognition

National and International Awards

  • 2020 – Recognition Award for Contribution to CSIRO Research, Perth, Australia
  • 2018 - Chancellor’s Commendation for an outstanding doctoral thesis, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
  • 2017- The Institute for Geoscience Research (TIGeR) travel grant to present at the International Biohydrometallurgy Symposium in Freiberg, Germany
  • 2016 - Curtin Mobility Scholarship travel grant to work at the Centre of Bioinformatics and Genome Biology, Andres Bello University, Santiago, Chile.
  • 2015 - ‘Choose Maths Travel Grant’ to attend ‘Bioinfosummer 2015’ at the University of Sydney, Australia
  • 2015 - Best poster presenter - Mark Liveris Student Research Seminar 2015, Curtin University, Australia
  • 2014 - Curtin Strategic International Research Scholarships (CSIRS) for a PhD degree in Biomedical Sciences, Curtin University
  • 2014 - CSIRO Mineral Resources Postgraduate Scholarship, Australia
  • 2008 - Dean’s Award for Outstanding Academic performance in B.Sc. (Honours) in Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh

National and International Research Positions

  • April 2023-Present: Vice-Chancellor’s Research Fellow, School of Science, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia
  • September 2017-June 2022: CSIRO Early Research Career (CERC) Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Synthetic Biology Future Science Platform (SynbioFSP), Resource Sector Biotechnology Team, Land and Water, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Perth, Australia
  • March 2014-September 2018: PhD Fellow & Casual Academic, School of Biomedical Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
  • June 2011-February 2018: Scientific Officer (Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology), Industrial Microbiology Laboratory, Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • April 2010-June 2011: Lecturer, Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, University of Development Alternative, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Research Areas and Interests

  • Environmental biotechnology
  • Extremophilic microorganisms (e.g., Halotolerant acidophilic bacteria)
  • Bacterial genomics, proteomics & metabolomics
  • Mineral leaching; mineral resource recovery
  • Bioremediation of soils and wastewaters
  • Microbial ecology of environmental systems

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Curtin University of Technology, 2018.

Research Outputs

2024

Book Chapters

  • Khaleque, HN., Vergara, E., Holmes, D., Watkin, E. (2024). Acidihalobacter. Bergey’s Manual of Systematics of Archaea and Bacteria (). John Wiley & Sons, Inc., in association with Bergey’s Manual Trust. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118960608.gbm02071.

Journal Articles

  • Khaleque, HN., Nazem-Bokaee, H., Gumulya, Y., Carlson, R., Kaksonen, A. (2024). Simulating compatible solute biosynthesis using a metabolic flux model of the biomining acidophile, Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans ATCC 23270. Research in Microbiology, 175(45689), article number 104115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resmic.2023.104115.
  • Khaleque, HN., Fathollahzadeh, H., Kaksonen, AH., Valdés, J., Vergara, E., Holmes, DS., Watkin, E. (2024). Genomic insights into key mechanisms for carbon, nitrogen, and phosphate assimilation by the acidophilic, halotolerant genus Acidihalobacter members. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 100(12), article number fiae145. https://doi.org/10.1093/femsec/fiae145.

2020

Journal Articles

  • Khaleque, HN., González, C., Johnson, D., Kaksonen, A., Holmes, D., Watkin, E. (2020). Genome-based classification of acidihalobacter prosperus f5 (=dsm 105917=jcm 32255) as acidihalobacter yilgarnensis sp. nov.. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 70(12), 6226-6234. https://doi.org/10.1099/ijsem.0.004519.
  • Khaleque, HN., Fathollazadeh, H., González, C., Shafique, R., Kaksonen, A., Holmes, D., Watkin, E. (2020). Unlocking survival mechanisms for metal and oxidative stress in the extremely acidophilic, halotolerant acidihalobacter genus. Genes, 11(12), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes11121392.

2019

Journal Articles

  • Khaleque, HN., González, C., Kaksonen, A., Boxall, N., Holmes, D., Watkin, E. (2019). Genome-based classification of two halotolerant extreme acidophiles, acidihalobacter prosperus V6 (=DSM 14174 =JCM 32253) and’acidihalobacter ferrooxidans’ V8 (=DSM 14175 =JCM 32254) as two new species, acidihalobacter aeolianus sp. nov. and acidihalobacter ferrooxydans sp. nov., respectively. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 69(6), 1557-1565. https://doi.org/10.1099/ijsem.0.003313.
  • Fathollahzadeh, H., Khaleque, HN., Eksteen, J., Kaksonen, A., Watkin, E. (2019). Effect of glycine on bioleaching of rare earth elements from Western Australian monazite by heterotrophic and autotrophic microorganisms. Hydrometallurgy, 189(2019), article number 105137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2019.105137.
  • Khaleque, HN., González, C., Shafique, R., Kaksonen, A., Holmes, D., Watkin, E. (2019). Uncovering the mechanisms of halotolerance in the extremely acidophilic members of the acidihalobacter genus through comparative genome analysis. Frontiers in Microbiology, 10(FEB), article number 155. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2019.00155.

2018

Journal Articles

  • Khaleque, HN., Kaksonen, A., Boxall, N., Watkin, E. (2018). Chloride ion tolerance and pyrite bioleaching capabilities of pure and mixed halotolerant, acidophilic iron- and sulfur-oxidizing cultures. Minerals Engineering, 120(2018), 87-93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2018.02.025.
  • Khaleque, HN., Shafique, R., Kaksonen, A., Boxall, N., Watkin, E. (2018). Quantitative proteomics using SWATH-MS identifies mechanisms of chloride tolerance in the halophilic acidophile Acidihalobacter prosperus DSM 14174. Research in Microbiology, 169(10), 638-648. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resmic.2018.07.002.
  • Fathollahzadeh, H., Hackett, M., Khaleque, HN., Eksteen, J., Kaksonen, A., Watkin, E. (2018). Better together: Potential of co-culture microorganisms to enhance bioleaching of rare earth elements from monazite. Bioresource Technology Reports, 3(2018), 109-118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biteb.2018.07.003.

2017

Journal Articles

  • Khaleque, HN., Corbett, M., Ramsay, J., Kaksonen, A., Boxall, N., Watkin, E. (2017). Complete genome sequence of Acidihalobacter prosperus strain F5, an extremely acidophilic, iron- and sulfur-oxidizing halophile with potential industrial applicability in saline water bioleaching of chalcopyrite. Journal of Biotechnology, 262(2017), 56-59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiotec.2017.10.001.
  • Khaleque, HN., Ramsay, J., Murphy, R., Kaksonen, A., Boxall, N., Watkin, E. (2017). Draft genome sequence of Acidihalobacter ferrooxidans DSM 14175 (strain V8), a new ironand sulfur-oxidizing, halotolerant, acidophilic species. Microbiology Resource Announcements, 5(21), article number e00413-17. https://doi.org/10.1128/genomeA.00413-17.
  • Khaleque, HN., Ramsay, J., Murphy, R., Kaksonen, A., Boxall, N., Watkin, E. (2017). Draft genome sequence of the acidophilic, halotolerant, and iron/sulfur-oxidizing Acidihalobacter prosperus DSM 14174 (strain V6). Microbiology Resource Announcements, 5(3), article number e01469-16. https://doi.org/10.1128/genomeA.01469-16.

Research Projects

  • Saline Water Biomining of Low-Grade Minerals and Mine Wastes, Unearthed Solutions Pty Ltd, Challenge, 2024 ‑ 2025, $80,000.
  • SALINE WATER BIOMINING OF CRITICAL MINERALS, Unearthed Solutions Pty Ltd, Challenge, 2024, $100,000.

Research Student Supervision

Current Supervisions

Principal Supervisor

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Multi-omics driven engineering of an extremophile for enhanced bioleaching and production of high value bioproducts and biocatalysts

Associate Supervisor

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Microbial diversity and ecological functions of cyanobacterial mats in intertidal coastal ecosystems, and environmental drivers influencing their photosynthesis

Completed Supervisions

Associate Supervisor

  • Microbial life of acidic hypersaline lakes: extreme life in extreme environments
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