Prof. Dr.-Ing. Sebastian L. Riedel has been Professor of Bioprocess Engineering and Head of the Laboratory of Environmental and Bioprocess Engineering at the Berliner Hochschule für Technik since March 2023. He has extensive expertise in bioprocess development and biotechnology, with a particular focus on biodegradable bioplastics.
At the Berliner Hochschule für Technik, Prof. Riedel teaches bioprocess and environmental engineering in several bachelor's and master's degree programs in process engineering and industrial engineering.
In early 2016, he completed his doctorate with distinction at TU Berlin on the production of biopolymers from renewable and residual biomass, in close collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA. During his research stay at MIT, he focused on the development of bioprocesses for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biopolymers.
Between 2017 and 2023, Prof. Riedel established a highly successful research group on PHA biopolymers at the Chair of Bioprocess Engineering at TU Berlin. He continues to supervise the group's doctoral researchers and collaborative research projects.
Since 2009, his research has focused on the tailor-made development of bioprocesses, integrating innovative process analytical technologies from laboratory scale to industrial application. A major emphasis of his work is the development of high-cell-density fermentation processes for producing PHA bioplastics from renewable feedstocks and industrial residues, as well as efficient downstream processing to provide sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics. His research is conducted in collaboration with academic institutions and industrial partners worldwide, including organizations in Malaysia, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany.
Prof. Riedel regularly presents his research at leading national and international scientific conferences and publishes in high-impact peer-reviewed journals. He is also an active member of several scientific organizations and serves as a reviewer for numerous journals in biotechnology and bioprocess engineering.
He has an excellent track record in acquiring competitive third-party funding and coordinating national and international research projects, including collaborative projects funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) as well as industry-funded projects with leading industrial partners.
