Rate My Professor Andrew Piggott

Andrew Piggott is an Associate Professor in the School of Natural Sciences at Macquarie University. He holds a Bachelor of Medical Science with Honours (BMedSc Hons) and a PhD, both from Macquarie University, along with the professional qualifications MRACI CChem. His career trajectory includes a Postdoctoral Research Fellow position at Macquarie University from 2005 to 2007, followed by roles at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) at The University of Queensland as Research Officer from 2007 to 2012 and Senior Research Officer from 2012 to 2014. Returning to Macquarie University, he was appointed ARC Future Fellow from 2014 to 2017, Senior Lecturer from 2018 to 2020, and has served as Associate Professor since 2021. Piggott teaches Medicinal Chemistry (CHEM3801) and maintains an active research profile focused on the interface between chemistry and biology.

Research in Piggott's group explores the extraordinary chemical and structural diversity of natural products, employing these molecules as leads for new drugs, especially next-generation antibiotics, and as probes to elucidate biochemical and cellular pathways. His research interests encompass natural products chemistry, discovery and development of next-generation antibiotics, natural product mode of action studies, biodiscovery, structure elucidation, and chemical biology using natural product probes. Key publications include 'Self-resistance gene-guided discovery of the molecular basis for biosynthesis of the fatty acid synthase inhibitor cerulenin' (Angewandte Chemie - International Edition, 2025), 'Heterologous expression of an in planta-upregulated gene cluster in the wheat pathogen Parastagonospora nodorum establishes the biosynthesis of methylene-bridged depsides' (Chemical Science, 2025), '50-year-old mystery solved: how fungi made the ultimate fat-busting molecule' (Chemistry in Australia, 2025), 'Genome-guided discovery and heterologous biosynthesis of alkylresorcinols by collaborating highly reducing and type III polyketide synthases' (Journal of Natural Products, 2026), and 'Geministatins: new depside antibiotics from the fungus Penicillium lanosum' (2024). Piggott has received the ARC Future Fellowship (2014-2017), Faculty of Science and Engineering Award for Excellence in Innovative Research Partnership (2019), and recognition as a 25-Year Member of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (2024). His contributions advance antibiotic discovery and chemical biology.