I study microorganisms and how to harness them to enhance food quality and production, improve human health and protect our environment.
My research bridges microbiology, synthetic biology, and biotechnology to explore and engineer individual microorganisms and complex microbial communities. By harnessing microbes, I aim to develop innovative solutions in food technology, health, pharmaceuticals and environmental science .
Experience
I have a background in molecular biology and biotechnology. During my career, I have developed and applied novel technologies in the fields of synthetic biology, microbial ecology, food fermentation, functional metagenomics, biosensors, and cultivation-based multiplexed phenotyping.
Currently, I am a researcher and scientific project manager at the Flemish Institute for Biotechnology (VIB) Center for Microbiology, with affiliations to the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at KU Leuven in Belgium. Before this position, I co-led a group in Denmark in the Bacterial Synthetic Biology section at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability at the Technical University of Denmark.
Academic
I received my Ph.D. in Bioengineering from the Technical University of Denmark, conducting research with Morten Sommer. Before that, I earned my master’s degree in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands and my bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering at the University La Salle in Mexico.
Innovator
I strongly encourage techno-scientific innovation, patenting, and commercialization of academic research technologies to translate them into projects that can directly have a positive impact in society. My research work has led to securing numerous patents, which have served as the foundation for startups and new technology ventures.
Ruben Vazquez-Uribe 