Natalia Bullon

Award-winning educator and researcher with a PhD in Environmental Sciences and a diverse background spanning biotechnology for human and agricultural applications, pharmaceutical sciences, and sustainable energy. I am passionate about bridging the critical gap between academic training and industry demands—equipping students not only with deep scientific knowledge but also with the entrepreneurial mindset necessary for start-ups. My approach emphasizes scalable prototyping, financial literacy, resource optimization, and independent problem-solving, all grounded in scientific rigor. I’ve led cross-disciplinary projects converting organic waste into renewable energy through microbial manipulation, secured over $800k NZD in competitive funding, and published in high-impact journals. With over two years of biotech project management experience, I’m committed to mentoring students in translating innovation into feasible, real-world solution.

2024-2025 Lecturer in Biomedicine and Medical Diagnostics, AUT

2022-2023 Research Assistant, Aquaculture Biotechnology Research Group, AUT

2022-2023 Research Assistant, School of Health and Interdisciplinary Studies, AUT

2020-2022 Tutor in Pharmacology, School of Health and Interdisciplinary Studies, AUT

2019-2022 Tutor, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, AUT

2019-2023 Teaching Assistant, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, AUT

2024- Sustainable Food and Fiber Future Funding recipient – Vertus Energy ($ 800 000), NZ

2024-  Invited Speaker, Global Environmental History, St Lawrence University, USA

2024- Invited Speaker, Biotechnology in Medicine, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Peru

2022  Postgraduate Teaching Award, School of Science, AUT

2022 Poster Presentation Award, Postgraduate Research Symposium, AUT

2022 Postgraduate Research Presentation Award, School of Science, AUT

2020 Track Zero Charitable Trust Funding (National project: What if Climate Change is purple) ($1500), NZ

2019 Ministry of Primary Industries, Sustainable Future Farming Funding – PhD scholarship ($ 250 000)

2015 Overseas Pharmacist Qualification Recognition, Ministry of Health, Chile

2013 BPharm Thesis Scholarship, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos ($3000)

‘I train scientists who don’t just publish papers – they launch solutions’

I develop solution-driven scientists who create tangible impact by:

Engineering scalable solutions - Incorporating cost analysis, timeline planning, and minimum viable product design into all projects

Delivering real-world outcomes - Student work results in prototypes, patents, or partnerships, not just academic exercises and publications

Fostering strategic collaborations - Connecting students with industry partners, tech transfer offices, and community stakeholders, promoting interaction to industry since early years of study.

I have taught the following courses:

Course Leader & Lecturer

• HUMB401 (Foundations of Human Anatomy & Physiology) | AUT | 2024 | 120+ students
• BIOL743 (Biomedical Technology) | AUT | 2024 | 30–50 students

Lectures

• BIOL500 (Foundations of Life) | AUT | 2024 | 120+ students
• PHMY701 (Pharmacology) | AUT | 2022–2023 | 800+ students

Tutorials & Laboratories

• MEL600 (Medical Microbiology) | AUT | 2023 | 30–50 students
• BIOL500 (Foundations of Life) | AUT | 2022-2023 | 120+ students
• MICR501(Microbial Life) | AUT | 2021-2023 | 120+ students
• HEAL507 (Health and Environment) | AUT | 2020-2022 | 800+ students

Guest Lecturer

• Applied Health Biotechnology | Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Peru | 2022–2023 | 30–50 students

I am a pharmacist by training and a biotechnologist with a vision to deploy biotech technology. I have expertise in drug delivery systems and their applications in both human and animal health. In my current role, I am using electrochemical approaches to expedite redox reactions for the biosynthesis of molecules and boost fermentation processes in anaerobic digestion, more specifically Microbial Fuel Cells and Microbial Electrolysis Cells. Moving forward, my research aims to leverage electrochemistry for bioresource recovery of compounds for human health and agriculture applications and the development of biosensors for drug delivery.

Currently, my research area is summarised

• Waste-to-energy using bioelectrodes for renewable fuels production.
• Waste-to-protein using bio-electrochemical systems.
• Bioresource recovery from agricultural, human, and aquaculture waste.

Past research specialties

• Drug, nutrition, prebiotic and probiotic delivery systems for veterinary applications.
• Encapsulation technology for animal health applications.

2024-2025  Microbial attachment on Stainless Steel. Master Thesis. University of Auckland. Secondary Supervisor.

Bullon, N., Seyfoddin, A., & Alfaro, A. C. (2022). The role of aquafeeds in abalone nutrition and health: A comprehensive review. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society. https://doi.org/10.1111/jwas.12883

Bullon, N., Alfaro, A. C., Hamid, N., & Seyfoddin, A. (2023). Effect of dietary insect meal and grape marc inclusion on flavor volatile compounds and shell color of juvenile abalone Haliotis iris. Aquaculture Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/6628232

Bullon, N.,Seyfoddin, A., Masoomi, S., Young, T., & Alfaro, A. C. (2023). Seasonal, nutritional and metabolomic changes of juvenile farmed abalone (Haliotis iris) in New Zealand. Aquaculture Research. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/3297576

Bullon, N., Seyfoddin, A., Hamid, N., Moganakumaar, M., & Alfaro, A. C. (2023). Effect of insect meal and grape marc in the nutritional profile, growth and digestibility of juvenile New Zealand farmed abalone. Aquaculture International. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-023-01227-z

Bullon, N., Alfaro, A. C., Manivannan, M., Masoomi, S., & Seyfoddin, A. (2023). Sustainable aquafeed formulations containing insect larval meal and grape marc for the New Zealand farmed abalone. Aquaculture Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/8887768

Bullon, N., Alfaro, A. C., Jinchen, G., Copedo, J., Nguyen, T. V., & Seyfoddin, A. (2023). Expanding the menu for the New Zealand farmed abalone: Dietary inclusion of insect meal and grape marc and their effects on the gastrointestinal microbiome, morphology, and metabolome. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 1-30. https://doi.org/10.1080/00288330.2023.2272592

• Natalia Bullon (Invited Speaker) 2024. International Symposium in Health Biotechnology. BIOMIAS. Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Peru.
• Natalia Bullon (Invited Speaker) 2023. International Symposium in Health Biotechnology. BIOMIAS. Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Peru.
• Natalia Bullon, Moganakumaar Manivannan, Ali Seyfoddin, Andrea C. Alfaro (2023). Beyond the fishmeal trap: The potential of insect meal and grape marc to feed the New Zealand farmed abalone
• Natalia Bullon, A. Seyfoddin, A. Alfaro (2022). New Zealand Marine and Freshwater Sciences Society Conference. Promoting a more sustainable aquaculture for New Zealand farmed abalone.
• Natalia Bullon, A. Seyfoddin, N. Hamid, A. Alfaro (2022). Postgraduate Research Symposium, AUT. Promoting a more sustainable aquaculture for New Zealand farmed abalone
• Natalia Bullon, A. Seyfoddin, N. Hamid, A. Alfaro (2022). Postgraduate Research Symposium, AUT. Towards a more sustainable feed for New Zealand farmed abalone: Inclusion of insect meal and grape pomace as alternative ingredients
• Natalia Bullon, A. Seyfoddin, N. Hamid, A. Alfaro (2022). School of Science Postgraduate Research Showcase, AUT. Towards a more sustainable feed for New Zealand farmed abalone: Inclusion of insect meal and grape pomace as alternative ingredients.

New Zealand Marine Sciences Society. NZMSS

2023- Reviewer for the Journal of the World Aquaculture Society

2023- Reviewer for the New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research

Available upon request