Professor Jens Nielsen stands as a preeminent leader in the field of systems biology and metabolic engineering, currently holding the position of Professor of Quantitative Systems Biology at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden. He earned his MSc in Chemical Engineering and PhD in Biochemical Engineering from the Danish Technical University (DTU) in 1986 and 1989 respectively, followed by a dr.techn. degree in 1995. After establishing his independent research group at DTU where he founded and directed the Center for Microbial Biotechnology and was appointed full Professor in 1998, he expanded his influence internationally as a Fulbright visiting professor at MIT during 1995-1996. In 2008, he joined Chalmers University of Technology as Professor and Director, where he now leads a research group of more than 60 scientists while also serving as CEO of the BioInnovation Institute in Copenhagen and Chief Science Officer of the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability.
Professor Nielsen's pioneering work in quantitative systems biology has fundamentally transformed metabolic engineering approaches, with his research spanning metabolic modeling, synthetic biology, and industrial biotechnology applications. His extensive publication record exceeding 600 papers has garnered more than 145,000 citations with an H-index of 107, establishing him as one of the most influential researchers in his field and earning recognition as a Highly Cited Researcher in 2015, 2016, and 2017. His innovative methodologies for metabolic pathway optimization and systems-level analysis of cellular processes have enabled significant advances in microbial production of pharmaceuticals, biofuels, and other high-value compounds, with practical applications developed through more than 50 patents and several biotechnology companies he has founded. The profound impact of his work extends beyond academia, driving industrial applications and establishing new standards for computational modeling in biotechnology.
Beyond his direct research contributions, Professor Nielsen has profoundly shaped the global systems biology community through extensive mentorship of over 100 PhD students and 75 postdoctoral researchers, many of whom now lead their own research groups worldwide. His exceptional standing is reflected in membership across multiple prestigious academies including the National Academy of Engineering, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the Royal Danish Academy of Science and Letters, the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and the National Academy of Medicine. Recognized with numerous international awards including the ENI Award, the Novozymes Prize, and the Nature Mentor Award, he continues to drive innovation at the intersection of systems biology, biotechnology, and industrial applications. His current research focuses on advancing computational biology approaches to optimize metabolic networks for sustainable production of valuable chemicals, positioning his work at the forefront of the bioeconomy revolution.
