A grant of 15 M DKK from the Novo Nordisk Foundation will give DTU Bioengineering a greater focus on sustainability in both research and education.
Head of the research group Biomass Conversion and Bioprocess Technology Solange I. Mussatto has received 15 M DKK from NNF over three years to develop biobased technologies to promote sustainability and is moving her research group to DTU Bioengineering.
“DTU Bioengineering was one of the first departments that came to mind when I was looking for collaborators. I believe that the department offers excellent opportunities for collaborations within different fields and for me to develop my research group further,” says Solange I. Mussatto.
Solange holds a PhD in Industrial Biotechnology and has over 22 years of expertise in the areas of biomass conversion and biotechnology with a focus on the development of new and efficient process technologies and biorefinery strategies for a sustainable conversion of biomass into biobased products.
She has participated in numerous research projects and has more than 500 publications including more than 160 full papers in high quality peer-reviewed journals, 1 book, and 3 patents. Stanford University has recently ranked Solange to be in the top 2% of scientists in the world in terms of career-long citation impact and no. 1 in Denmark within the sub-field of biotechnology.
Her research has clear focus on finding sustainable solutions in all sectors in order to create a better future where the resources are used more consciously, the environment is preserved, and human needs are fulfilled in a more efficient, economic and responsible way.
Head of department Bjarke Bak Christensen believes that Solange will become a strong asset to the department:
“Solange’s research will fit extremely well into the fermentation technology and cell factory engineering activities occurring at the department and there are good opportunities for collaborations with our strong research groups in the field of enzyme technology. Solange will be able to drive our strategic agenda to convert society from a fossil-based economy to a biobased and more sustainable economy and she will also be a strong driving force of bringing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals into the educations,” says Bjarke Bak Christensen.
Solange I. Mussatto is developing a new PhD course focused on sustainable bioprocesses and says:
“My research is connected to several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the course that I am developing will be closely connected to the most current research. The students will therefore benefit from the newest knowledge in the field and gain an in-depth knowledge of working towards the goals,” says Solange I. Mussatto, who moves her research group to DTU Bioengineering 1. January 2021.