Univ.Prof.i.R. Dipl.Ing. Dr.Techn. Helmut Schwab
Institute of Molecular Biotechnology,
Graz University of Technology &
Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology GmbH (ACIB)
University education:
1968 – 1973: Diploma study (degree “Dipl.Ing.”) on Technical Chemistry with specialization on Biochemistry/Biotechnology.
1976 – 1980: Doctoral thesis “Transfer of Plasmid-DNA into the bacterium Alcaligenes eutrophus H16″
Professional career:
1974 – 1985: Assistant at the Institute of Biotechnology of TU Graz (Graz University of 1979:
1979: 6 months period in industry (Vogelbusch GmbH, Vienna), Yeast fermentation at 200 m³ scale (continuous)
1983 – 1985: two years period in industry, establishing molecular genetics group, Sandoz (now Novartis) GmbH, Kundl
1985 – 2003: assistant/associate professor at the Institute of Biotechnology, University of Technology, Graz.
1988: Habilitation: “Biotechnology with Special Emphasis on Gene Technology”
1995: Fulbright Senior Research Fellow, Sabbatical at the Center for Molecular Genetics, UCSD, La Jolla, CA
Since 2002: Foundation and leading (CEO) of SME “Molekulare Biotechnologie GmbH”
2003 – Sept 2015: Full Professor (chair) of Molecular Biotechnology at Graz University of Technology
Since Oct. 2015: officially retired, still active in research and teaching, part time employment at TU Graz
Since March 2017: Part time employment at Austrian Centre for Industrial Biotechnology – Key Researcher, PI for projects on Cell and protein engineering
Recent major research activities:
Research interests are focussed on molecular biotechnology and include heterologous gene expression (protein and metabolite production) in industrial microorganisms (bacteria, fungi) , molecular enzymology, enzyme engineering and microbial cell engineering for cell factory construction, biological carbon dioxide fixation for bio-production of chemicals, fuels and biopolymers. Projects funded by national (FWF, FFG, CDG) and international (EU) agencies as well as industry.
Various industry co-operation projects, mostly in the frame of the Austrian Center for Industrial Biotechnology (ACIB) and of the Christian Doppler Laboratories: Topics include recruiting and developing industrial enzymes, heterologous expression of proteins in bacteria and fungi, enzyme engineering by rational and random approaches.
2002-2009: Key Researcher at the Competence Centre “Applied Biocatalysis”
2010-2014: Head of Area “Protein Design and Engineering” and Key researcher of the
Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology (ACIB).
2015: Head of the Area “Bioprospecting and Synthetic Biology” of the Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology (ACIB).
2015: retired from position as university professor, still active in different research projects, mainly in the frame of ACIB (industry cooperation)
Major activities in national und international bodies:
2002:-2008: Vice president & President of the Austrian Society for Biotechnology
Member of External Scientific Advisory Boards
- – Cell Factory Program of Framework V (EU)
- – Competence Centre “White Biotechnology – Green Chemistry”, Finland
- – “GENOMIK Transfer” program, Germany
- – “Bielefeld Genome Network”
Editorial activities:
Editor of “Journal of Biotechnology”
Board of editors of “Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology”
Editor of FEMS Microbiology Reviews (2011-2013)
Awards:
2000: DSM Research award
2006: Dr. Wolfgang Houska Award , 1st Price (Team member)
2007: DSM Innovation Award
2009: Dr. Wolfgang Houska Award, recognition price (Team member)
Publications & Patents:
> 30 patent applications
> 140 publications in scientific journals
Molekulare Biotechnologie e.U.
Mariagrünerstraße 91
8043 Graz Austria
