Professor Tuck Seng Wong

BEng(Hons), MSc, PhD (Special distinction), AMIChemE

School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering

Professor of Biomanufacturing

Director of the UK-South East Asia Vaccine Manufacturing Research Hub

Co-founder of Evolutor Ltd and ReNewFood Ltd

Tuck Seng Wong
Profile picture of Tuck Seng Wong
t.wong@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 7591
Room C58, Sir Robert Hadfield Building

Full contact details

Professor Tuck Seng Wong
School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering
Room C58
Sir Robert Hadfield Building
Mappin Street
Sheffield
S1 3JD
Profile

I am a Professor of Biomanufacturing in the School of Chemical, Materials, and Biological Engineering (CMBE) at the University of Sheffield. I serve as the Director of the UK-South East Asia Vaccine Manufacturing Research Hub, a 瞿7.6M initiative supported by the UKs Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). Additionally, I hold adjunct positions with the National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC) in Thailand and the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in Indonesia.

I have received multiple prestigious fellowships, including the JSPS Invitational Fellowship (2023, declined due to the hub award), the RAEng | The Leverhulme Trust Senior Research Fellowship (2019), the Royal Academy of Engineering Industrial Fellowship (2016), and the Medical Research Council Career Development Fellowship (2007).

With over two decades of expertise in protein engineering and engineering biology, my research spans diverse applications, including biopharmaceuticals, enzyme biocatalysis, and alternative foods. I authored the textbook A Practical Guide to Protein Engineering (ISBN: 978-3-030-56898-6), which has been translated into German Ein praktischer Leitfaden f羹r Protein Engineering (ISBN: 978-3-031-32826-8). Beyond academia,

I am a serial entrepreneur. In 2022, I co-founded , a Sheffield-based biotech spinout focused on developing advanced microbes for biomanufacturing through a proprietary accelerated evolution platform. In 2024, I co-founded , a biotech company dedicated to developing novel protein-based flavouring ingredients to enhance the taste and nutrition of alternative foods.

My passion for biomanufacturing has been shaped by my mentors, including Nobel Laureate Prof. Frances H. Arnold, Prof. Ulrich Schwaneberg, Prof. Sir Alan R. Fersht, and Prof. Alexander Steinb羹chel.

Research interests

My research is dedicated to the design, development, and optimization of biological systems for sustainable manufacturing. Our biomanufacturing efforts encompass a wide range of applications, including biopharmaceuticals (particularly vaccines), alternative proteins, and enzymes. Additionally, we are committed to advancing the field by developing innovative tools, both biological and physical, that push the boundaries of biomanufacturing. A key focus of our work is applying evolutionary concepts and techniques to enhance the functionality and efficiency of biological systems. We have a long-standing tradition of collaboration with researchers in the Southeast Asian region and a strong track record of successfully commercializing university-based research.

Key research interests:

  • Engineering biological systems for enhanced performance using evolutionary concepts and techniques.
  • Developing miniaturized devices for biological system engineering.
  • Advancing virus-like particle technology for innovative vaccine development and synthetic biology applications.
Publications

Books

  • Wong TS & Tee KL (2023) . Springer International Publishing.
  • Wong TS & Tee KL (2020) . Springer International Publishing.
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Journal articles

  • Li M, Doudin K, Robins DB, Tetradis-Mairis G, Wong TS & Tee KL (2025) . New Biotechnology, 88, 161-170.
  • Boonyapakron K, Keiser B, Prabmark K, Aiewviriyasakul K, Arunrattanamook N, Jaruwat A, Chitnumsub P, Li J-Y, Wong TS, Zhao X-Q , Liu C-G et al (2024) . Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 108(1).
  • Evans C (2024) Glycoprofile Comparison of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Proteins Expressed in CHO and HEK Cell Lines. Marine Biotechnology.
  • Sitompul SN, Diaz Garcia LA, Price J, Tee KL & Wong TS (2024) . Biotechnology Journal, 19(7).
  • Gali VK, Tee KL & Wong TS (2024) . SynBio, 2(2), 142-173.
  • Keita VM, Lee YQ, Lakshmanan M, Ow DS-W, Staniland P, Staniland J, Savill I, Tee KL, Wong TS & Lee D-Y (2024) . Microbial Cell Factories, 23(1).
  • Wong TS (2023) . Open Access Government, 39(1), 468-469.
  • Unrean P, Napathorn SC, Tee KL, Wong TS & Champreda V (2023) . Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, 13(6), 4651-4657.
  • Athamneh K, Alneyadi A, Alsadik A, Wong TS & Ashraf SS (2022) . PLoS ONE, 17(1).
  • Brojanigo S, Gronchi N, Cazzorla T, Wong TS, Basaglia M, Favaro L & Casella S (2022) . Bioresource Technology, 347, 126383-126383.
  • Gonzalez-Perez D, Ratcliffe J, Tan SK, Wong MCM, Yee YP, Nyabadza N, Xu J-H, Wong TS & Tee KL (2021) . Scientific Reports, 11.
  • Johari YB, Jaff矇 SRP, Scarrott JM, Johnson AO, Mozzanino T, Pohle TH, Maisuria S, BhayatCammack A, Lambiase G, Brown AJ , Tee KL et al (2021) . Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 118(2), 1013-1021.
  • Gonzalez-Perez D, Ratcliffe J, Tan SK, Wong MCM, Yee YP, Nyabadza N, Xu J-H, Wong TS & Tee KL (2020) .
  • Abdullah Zubir AZ, Whawell SA, Wong TS & Khurram SA (2020) . Oral Diseases, 26(8), 1668-1676.
  • Johnson AO, Gonzalez-Villanueva M, Wong L, Steinb羹chel A, Tee KL, Xu P & Wong TS (2020) . Metabolic Engineering, 61, 437-437.
  • Alessa AHA, Tee KL, Gonzalez-Perez D, Omar Ali HEM, Evans CA, Trevaskis A, Xu J-H & Wong TS (2019) . Bioresources and Bioprocessing, 6(1).
  • Unrean P, Tee KL & Wong TS (2019) . Bioresources and Bioprocessing, 6(1).
  • Gonz獺lez-Villanueva M, Galaiya H, Staniland P, Staniland J, Savill I, Wong TS & Tee KL (2019) . International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 20(22).
  • Jajesniak P, Tee KL & Wong TS (2019) . International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 20(16).
  • Tee KL, Xu J-H & Wong TS (2019) . JOURNAL OF BIOTECHNOLOGY, 303, 53-64.
  • Johnson AO, Gonzalez-Villanueva M, Tee KL & Wong TS (2018) . ACS Synthetic Biology, 7(8), 1918-1928.
  • Tee KL, Grinham J, Othusitse AM, Gonzalez-Villanueva M, Johnson AO & Wong TS (2017) . Biotechnology Journal, 12(11).
  • Johnson AO, Gonzalez-Villanueva M, Wong L, Steinb羹chel A, Tee KL, Xu P & Wong TS (2017) . Metabolic Engineering, 44, 253-264.
  • Jajesniak P & Wong TS (2016) . Methods in Molecular Biology, 1472, 205-214.
  • Jajesniak P & Wong TS (2015) . Journal of Biological Engineering, 9(15).
  • Jajesniak P & Seng Wong T (2015) . AIMS Bioengineering, 2(3), 277-296.
  • Warburton M, Omar Ali , Liong WC, Othusitse AM, Abdullah Zubir AZ, Maddock S & Wong TS (2015) . AIMS Bioengineering, 2(3), 126-143.
  • Verma R, Wong TS, Schwaneberg U & Roccatano D (2014) . Methods in Molecular Biology, 1179, 279-290.
  • Tee KL & Wong TS (2013) . Biotechnology Advances, 31(8), 1707-1721.
  • Kuper J, Tee KL, Wilmanns M, Roccatano D, Schwaneberg U & Wong TS (2012) . Acta Crystallographica Section F Structural Biology and Crystallization Communications, 68(9), 1013-1017.
  • Lim EG, Wang Z, Tillo T, Man KL, Wong TS & Lai KW (2011) . 2011 International Soc Design Conference Isocc 2011, 310-312.
  • Wong TS, Rajagopalan S, Freund SM, Rutherford TJ, Andreeva A, Townsley FM, Petrovich M & Fersht AR (2009) . Nucleic Acids Res, 37(20), 6765-6783.
  • Di Re M, Sembongi H, He J, Reyes A, Yasukawa T, Martinsson P, Bailey LJ, Goffart S, Boyd-Kirkup JD, Wong TS , Fersht AR et al (2009) . Nucleic Acids Res, 37(17), 5701-5713.
  • Wong TS, Rajagopalan S, Townsley FM, Freund SM, Petrovich M, Loakes D & Fersht AR (2009) . Nucleic Acids Res, 37(2), 568-581.
  • Wong TS, Roccatano D, Loakes D, Tee KL, Schenk A, Hauer B & Schwaneberg U (2008) . Biotechnology Journal, 3(1), 74-82.
  • Wong TS, Roccatano D & Schwaneberg U (2007) . Biocatalysis and Biotransformation, 25(2-4), 229-241.
  • Wong TS, Roccatano D & Schwaneberg U (2007) . Environmental Microbiology, 9(11), 2645-2659.
  • Kuper J, Wong TS, Roccatano D, Wilmanns M & Schwaneberg U (2007) . J AM CHEM SOC, 129(18), 5786-+.
  • Wong TS, Roccatano D & Schwaneberg U (2007) . Biotechnology Journal, 2(1), 133-142.
  • Schenk A, Wong TS, Roccatano D, Hauer B & Schwaneberg U (2006) Sequence saturation mutagenesis (SeSam) of a gene. Biospektrum, 12(3), 277-279.
  • Roccatano D, Wong TS, Schwaneberg U & Zacharias M (2006) . Biopolymers, 83(5), 467-476.
  • Wong TS, Schwaneberg U, Sturmer R, Hauer B & Breuer M (2006) A filter paper-based assay for laboratory evolution of hydrolases and dehydrogenases. COMB CHEM HIGH T SCR, 9(4), 289-293.
  • Wong TS, Zhurina D & Schwaneberg U (2006) . Comb Chem High Throughput Screen, 9(4), 271-288.
  • Wong TS, Roccatano D, Zacharias M & Schwaneberg U (2006) . Journal of Molecular Biology, 355(4), 858-871.
  • Wong TS, Tee KL, Hauer B & Schwaneberg U (2005) . Analytical Biochemistry, 341(1), 187-189.
  • Roccatano D, Wong TS, Schwaneberg U & Zacharias M (2005) . Biopolymers, 78(5), 259-267.
  • Wong TS, Wu N, Roccatano D, Zacharias M & Schwaneberg U (2005) . Journal of Biomolecular Screening, 10(3), 246-252.
  • Wong TS, Tee KL, Hauer B & Schwaneberg U (2004) . Nucleic Acids Research, 32(3), e26.
  • Wong TS, Arnold FH & Schwaneberg U (2004) . Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 85(3), 351-358.
  • Wong TS & Schwaneberg U (2003) . Current Opinion in Biotechnology, 14(6), 590-596.
  • Wong TS () . Journal of Bioprocessing & Biotechniques, 04(03).
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Book chapters

  • Casey D, Diaz-Garcia L, Yu M, Tee KL & Wong TS (2024) In Ulber R (Ed.), Advances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology (pp. 1-26). Springer Berlin Heidelberg
  • Jajesniak P, Tee KL & Wong TS (2022) , Methods in Molecular Biology (pp. 123-135). Springer US
  • Keita VM, Gonzalez-Villanueva M, Wong TS & Tee KL (2020) , Engineering of Microbial Biosynthetic Pathways (pp. 245-302). Springer Singapore
  • Tee KL & Wong TS (2017) , Directed Enzyme Evolution: Advances and Applications (pp. 201-227). Springer International Publishing
  • Omar Ali H, Alessa AHA, Al-nuaemi IJ & Wong TS (2017) Protein engineering for lignocellulose degradation In Kumar P, Gurjar BR & Govil JN (Ed.), Environmental Science and Engineering Volume 8: Biodegradation and Bioremediation USA: Studium Press LLC.
  • Johnson AO, Gonzalez Villanueva M & Wong TS (2017) Engineering Ralstonia eutropha for chemical production In Zhang TC, Gurjar BR & Govil JN (Ed.), Environmental Science and Engineering Volume 10: Industrial Processing & Nanotechnology USA: Studium Press LLC.
  • Jajesniak P & Wong TS (2017) Tapping into biodiversity: From metagenomics to industrial enzymes In Gurjar BR, Kumar A & Govil JN (Ed.), Environmental Science and Engineering Volume 2: Biodiversity and Conservation USA: Studium Press LLC.
  • Tee KL & Wong TS (2014) Directed evolution: A powerful algorithm for advancing synthetic biology. In Singh V (Ed.), Biotechnology Volume 4: Applied Synthetic Biology (pp. 465-497). USA: Studium Press LLC.
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Other

  • Wong TS & Tee KL (2024) . Open Access Government, 42(1), 32-33.
  • Price J, Wong TS & Tee KL (2024) . Open Access Government, 41(1), 378-379.
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Preprints

  • Gali VK, Tee KL & Wong TS (2023) , MDPI AG.
  • Sitompul SN, Price J, Tee KL & Wong TS (2023) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Keita VM, Lee YQ, Lakshmanan M, Ow DS-W, Staniland P, Staniland J, Savill I, Tee KL, Wong TS & Lee D-Y (2023) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Johari YB, Jaff矇 SRP, Scarrott JM, Johnson AO, Mozzanino T, Pohle TH, Maisuria S, Bhayat-Cammack A, Brown AJ, Tee KL , Jackson PJ et al (2020) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Johari Y, Jaffe S, Scarrott J, Johnson A, Mozzanino TO, Pohle T, Maisuria S, Cammack AB, Brown A, Tee KL , Jackson P et al (2020) , Wiley.
  • Tee KL, Jackson PJ, Scarrott JM, Jaffe SRP, Johnson AO, Johari Y, Pohle TH, Mozzanino T, Price J, Grinham J , Brown A et al (2020) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
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Professional activities and memberships
  • Founder and Director of the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)
  • Editor of Bioresources and Bioprocessing (https://bioresourcesbioprocessing.springeropen.com/)

Links