My research focuses on the enzymatic degradation of plastic, with a focus on polyethylene (PE) — the world’s most common and persistent plastic. Using computer modeling and biochemical experiments, we search for enzymes that can break down PE step by step, paving the way for biological plastic recycling and a sustainable circular economy.

More information about Daphne Bindels

I am a biotechnologist specialized in protein engineering, microbial strain optimization, biochemical assay development, and light microscopy. I obtained my Ph.D. at the University of Amsterdam, where I developed and characterized improved red fluorescent proteins for live-cell microscopy. The resulting mScarlet family has since been widely adopted by researchers around the world and has become a valuable tool in advanced imaging studies.

Following my Ph.D., I worked in the United States as a postdoctoral researcher at the Scintillon Institute and later as Assistant Director at the Nikon Imaging Center at UC San Diego, where I focused on developing automated fluorescence imaging workflows and training scientists in advanced microscopy techniques.

After returning to the Netherlands, I joined Ginkgo Bioworks, where I engineered filamentous fungi for industrial protein production, led multidisciplinary projects, and implemented automation to improve experimental throughput.

Driven by a growing desire to contribute to a more sustainable world and to support the development of bioremediation solutions, I joined Prof. Han de Winde at Leiden University. Together, we initiated the NWO XS project “Breaking the Unbreakable,” which explores enzymatic pathways for polyethylene degradation to advance biological plastic recycling. The rapid progress in AI-assisted protein prediction tools make this an especially exciting time to return to academic research and tackle such a challenging problem.

Key Publications

Bindels, D.S., Postma, M., Haarbosch, L. et al. Multiparameter screening method for developing optimized red-fluorescent proteins. Nat Protoc 15, 450–478 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41596-019-0250-7

Bindels, D., Haarbosch, L., van Weeren, L. et al. mScarlet: a bright monomeric red fluorescent protein for cellular imaging. Nat Methods 14, 53–56 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmeth.4074

ORCID: 0000-0003-3689-4133

Grant

NWO ENW-XS project, in collaboration with Han de Winde, “Breaking the Unbreakable: Computational and Biochemical Identification of Polyethylene-Degrading Enzymes.”