Prof. Dr. Michael Zavrel

Source: https://bvt.cs.tum.de/en/team/michael-zavrel Parent: https://bvt.cs.tum.de/en/

Professor Zavrel's focus is the development of sustainable bioprocesses. Biogenic raw materials are processed that do not compete with their use as food. Examples include agricultural residues and waste streams. The products obtained are bio-based and biodegradable. To achieve this, Professor Zavrel conducts research in the areas of fermentation, downstream processing and process design.

Professor Zavrel studied Chemical Engineering at TUM with a semester abroad at the University of California in Santa Barbara, USA. After completing his diploma thesis at Roche Diagnostics, he did his doctorate at the Chair of Biochemical Engineering at RWTH Aachen University. From 2008 to 2022 he worked in industrial research and development at Süd-Chemie and Clariant, including as Head of Development & Biomanufacturing and as Site Manager. In 2022, Prof. Zavrel was appointed to the professorship for bioprocess engineering at the TUM.

Career Positions

Since 06/2022 : W3 Professor for Bioprocess Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Campus Straubing for Biotechnology and Sustainability

04/2021–02/2022 : Clariant Produkte (Deutschland) GmbH, Site Manager for Clariant’s Biotech Center in Planegg

01/2018–03/2022 : Clariant Produkte (Deutschland) GmbH, Group Biotechnology, Head of Development and Biomanufacturing

01/2013–12/2017 : Clariant Produkte (Deutschland) GmbH, Group Biotechnology, Department Head “Fermentation & Bioprocesses”

07/2012–12/2012 : Clariant Produkte (Deutschland) GmbH, Group Biotechnology, Group Leader “Adsorption & Downstream Processing“

04/2010–06/2012 : Süd-Chemie AG, Corporate Research and Development, Group Leader “Adsorption & Downstream Processing“

12/2008–03/2010 : Süd-Chemie AG, Corporate Research and Development, Scientist “Adsorption & Downstream Processing“

09/2005–11/2008 : RWTH Aachen, AVT, Chair for Biochemical Engineering (Prof. Dr.-Ing. J. Büchs), Dissertation “Model-based experimental analysis of enzyme kinetics in aqueous-organic biphasic systems“

Education

10/2000–05/2005 : Technical University of Munich, Chemical Engineering

11/2004–05/2005 : Diploma thesis: “Optimization of the polymerase chain reaction by modulating the melting point of DNA“, Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Penzberg

04/2004–09/2004 : Semester thesis: “Microbreaking waves and their effect on mass transfer“, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA

10/2003–03/2004 : Semester thesis: “Modeling a two-step repeated-fed-batch-process: for the microbial conversion of glycerol to dihydroxyacetone using Gluconobacter oxydans“, Technical University of Munich

Awards

01/2025 : Winner of Study Awards 2024

01/2010 : Borchers Badge from RWTH Aachen University

07/2006 : Jürgen Manchot Award from the Technical University of Munich

06/2006 : Participation at the 18th Nobel Laureate Meeting in Lindau