Dr Pablo Zambrano

I am a biophysicist and chemical researcher, exploring the intersection of membrane biophysics, synthetic biology, and prebiotic chemistry. Currently, I am a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter. My project investigates the role of lipid membrane composition in protocellular evolution, with a focus on membrane permeability and stereochemical selection in early membrane systems.
Building upon recent discoveries, I utilise microfluidic trapping and fluorescence-based permeability assays to investigate synthetic vesicles. As a biophysicist and chemical researcher, I explore the intersection of membrane biophysics, synthetic biology, and prebiotic chemistry. Currently, I am a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter. My project examines the role of lipid membrane composition in protocellular evolution, with a focus on membrane permeability and stereochemical selection in early membrane systems. Building on recent discoveries, I utilise microfluidic trapping and fluorescence-based permeability assays to examine synthetic vesicles made from archaeal, bacterial, and hybrid phospholipid mimics. A main aim of my research is to evaluate how these membranes — especially archaeal-like and hybrid diether lipids — facilitate the selective uptake of prebiotic metabolites and enantiomers, potentially driving the emergence of biochemical homochirality. I hold a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Concepción (Chile) and have previously held postdoctoral positions at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry and the Technical University of Munich, where I concentrated on chemically fueled membrane dynamics and vesicle microfluidics.of archaeal, bacterial, and hybrid phospholipid mimics. A central aim of my project is to test how these membranes — particularly archaeal-like and hybrid diether lipids — facilitate selective uptake of prebiotic metabolites and enantiomers, potentially driving the emergence of biochemical homochirality.
I hold a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Concepción (Chile) and have previously held postdoctoral positions at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry and the Technical University of Munich, where I focused on chemically fueled membrane dynamics and vesicle microfluidics.