Industrial Biotechnology

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Researcher workning in a fume hood in a lab

At the Division of Industrial Biotechnology (IndBio), our aims are to produce chemicals, materials, energy carriers and food ingredients using enzymes and microorganisms. In this way we contribute to the development of a bio-based, sustainable society.

Many important products are already today produced in industrial scale biotech processes, and in the future, many more products are expected to be produced by microbes and or/enzymes. Industrial biotechnology as a field is growing rapidly, because it offers a renewable alternative to petrochemical production.

Our research

Through the integration of different bio-based processes into large-scale biorefineries, we can convert cheap and renewable resources such as plant biomass (lignocellulose) into a palette of products. We focus our research efforts mainly on developing novel efficient and robust cell factories, and discovery and utilisation of new biomass-degrading enzymes.

Education

For master students we always have available MSc thesis projects.

Students interested in doing their thesis projects at IndBio are also welcomed to contact any of the individual principal investigators of the division to discuss other project possibilities.

Every second year we offer the PhD-course: Industrial Biotechnology for lignocellulose based processes.

Vacancies

Vacant positions at IndBio are listed on Chalmers Vacancies. We often accept guest researchers, and you are welcome to contact any of the individual PIs to discuss such possibilities.

Our Research Topics

Research Topics

Biorefineries − Enzymes for biomass deconstruction and modification − Industrial cell factories − Robust bioprocesses

Research Groups

Franzén Group

We develop robust bioprocesses for production of biobased fuels, chemicals, and microbial cultures.

Geijer Group

We explore the yeast biodiversity in nature to identify yeast species with biotechnologically interesting traits.

Larsbrink Group

The research performed in this group mainly focus on enzyme discovery coupled to detailed biochemical characterization.

Nygård Group

The aim of our research is to accelerate the design-build-test-learn cycle for making novel or improved cell factories.

Olsson Group

We design and apply enzymes and microorganisms in a biorefinery context or in the fermentation industry.

Quero Group

The research done in the group focuses on sustainable innovation, specializing in the valorization of diverse biomass sources, including forestry, agri-food, algae, and microbial origins.

 

Staff