Dr. Bernhard O. Palsson stands as a preeminent leader in the field of systems biology and bioengineering with a distinguished career spanning nearly four decades. He currently holds the prestigious Galletti Professorship in Bioengineering at the University of California, San Diego, while also serving as Professor of Pediatrics and Principal Investigator of the Systems Biology Research Group. Born in Iceland, Palsson completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Iceland before earning his PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1984. Following his doctoral work, he established himself as a rising scholar during his eleven-year tenure as a faculty member at the University of Michigan, where he was appointed the G.G. Brown Associate Professor in 1989 before joining UCSD in 1995. He has received numerous fellowships including Rotary, NATO, Fulbright, and Ib Henriksen honors throughout his distinguished career.
Professor Palsson has pioneered the development of genome-scale models of cellular metabolism, fundamentally transforming how scientists understand and analyze complex biological systems through computational approaches. His groundbreaking research has resulted in over 590 peer-reviewed scientific publications, five influential textbooks covering systems biology and omics data analysis, and more than 40 U.S. patents that have shaped the landscape of computational biology and bioengineering. As a serial entrepreneur, he co-founded multiple biotechnology companies including Aastrom Biosciences (NASDAQ: ASTM), Genomatica, and the Iceland Genomics Corporation, demonstrating his commitment to translating theoretical advances into practical applications. His innovative work in reconstructing genome-scale biochemical reaction networks has established new methodologies for mathematical analysis of cellular processes that are now widely adopted across academia and industry. These contributions have positioned him as one of the world's leading experts in computer-based analysis of cellular metabolism and systems biology.
Recognized for his exceptional impact, Palsson has been named a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher, placing him among the top 1% of researchers by citations since 2014, and was elected to the National Academy of Engineering for his transformative contributions to the field. He currently serves as CEO of the Novo Nordisk Center for Biosustainability, directing an international research center focused on advancing sustainable bioproduction through systems biology approaches. Beyond his research leadership, Palsson has significantly shaped the field through his editorial roles on leading bioengineering and biotechnology journals and his mentorship of numerous scientists who have gone on to establish their own successful research programs. His current research continues to push boundaries in constructing increasingly sophisticated genome-scale models and investigating stem cell fate processes, with implications for regenerative medicine and metabolic engineering. As both a member of the National Academy of Engineering and fellow of AIMBE, AAAS, and AAM, Professor Palsson remains at the forefront of systems biology, driving innovation that bridges computational modeling with experimental biology to solve complex challenges in human health.
