Dr Heinrich Kroukamp takes over as the new Deputy Head of Research at MicroBioGen
MicroBioGen, an Australian industrial biotechnology and yeast innovation technology solutions leader, has appointed experienced yeast biotechnology and genetics researcher Dr Heinrich Kroukamp as Deputy Head of Research.
Heinrich has been working with and researching yeast – spanning sustainable foods over decades such as animal-free dairy and oils to aroma compound production, fermentation, yeast breeding, synthetic yeast genomics, biofuels and bioinformatics – across academic and industry settings.
Baker’s yeast, also known as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is the most used industrial organism underpinning industries worth over $2 trillion, including biofuels such as ethanol and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), baking, brewing, wine, and animal feed. Yeast has significant potential in transforming global industries, and with MicroBioGen’s elite yeast strains, it can create a more sustainable future and approach to food and fuels.
Heinrich has been an Adjunct Research Fellow in Synthetic Biology at Macquarie University since 2021, after working there as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Synthetic Biology from 2015 to 2021. During this time, he was primarily responsible for genetic analysis of yeast genomes and improving beneficial traits in yeast through strain breeding, adaptive evolution and genetic engineering.
In his new role, Heinrich will work closely with MicroBioGen Head of Research and co-founder Dr Philip Bell in providing leadership and direction to team leaders across biofuels, baking, animal feeds, human nutrition, and biochemicals using MicroBioGen’s proprietary platform technology. He will also have a hands-on role in researching and developing new yeast strains, drawing on evolutionary genetics, cell biology, and microbial physiology.
MicroBioGen CEO and co-founder Geoff Bell, says: “It is an exciting time for Dr Heinrich to join MicroBioGen during our growth phase as we continue to expand our portfolio of world-leading yeast products and progress our research and development of yeast strains for diverse applications across industries and globally. We’ve made great strides in developing yeast strains for biofuels, baking, animal feeds, alternative proteins, and biochemicals using our proprietary platform technology. As we continue to create superior yeast strains with meaningful impact in the transition towards renewables and sustainable food production, attracting the best talent and having the strongest team around us is vital. Heinrich’s extensive yeast background enables us to keep advancing and moving forward in our goal.”
