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Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Blake Rasor

BR
man with dark hair and facial hair wearing a gray blazer and smiling

Assistant Professor (starting Fall 2025)

Engineering Building I (EB1)

Website

Bio

Blake Rasor will join the faculty of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering in fall 2025 as a part of the new biomanufacturing-focused cluster. His research combines systems and synthetic biology approaches to engineer biocatalysis platforms. The goal is to convert light and carbon dioxide into sustainable chemicals ranging from fuels to pharmaceuticals, harnessing biology to utilize these abundant natural resources while minimizing environmental impacts. 

Blake received a B.S. in biology & microbiology from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Then he earned a Ph.D. in chemical & biological engineering from Northwestern University, working with Prof. Mike Jewett to study and engineer metabolism in cell-free systems. Currently, Blake is an EMBO postdoctoral fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, where he works with Prof. Tobias Erb to study photosynthesis using components from algae and cyanobacteria.

He says, “NC State University’s strengths in engineering, agriculture, and biochemistry form the perfect nexus for innovative research and education in biomanufacturing. I am incredibly excited to join the Wolfpack and start my laboratory in this interdisciplinary environment.”

Education

  • Ph.D. in Chemical & Biological Engineering, Northwestern University (2017-23)
  • B.S. in Biology & Microbiology, Miami University (2017)

Research Experience

  • NDSEG Fellow, Northwestern University (2017-present)
  • UC Berkeley Amgen Scholar, Joint BioEnergy Institute (Summer 2015)
  • Undergraduate Research Assistant, Miami University (2013-2017)

Groups