InnoSyn

Martin Schürmann is Principal Scientist for Biocatalysis at InnoSyn BV in Geleen, The Netherlands. InnoSyn is a young SME that originated from a management buy-out of the DSM chemical R&D department Innovative Synthesis in 2017. Before he held the position of Principal Scientist Biocatalysis at DSM as well as various other R&D positions after joining DSM in 2002.

Before he studied Biology at Ruhr-University Bochum and performed his PhD thesis and a short Post-Doc at the Institute of Biotechnology at the Research Center Jülich in Germany, obtaining his PhD from Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf in 2001.

Martin Schürmann is co-author of more than 50 peer-reviewed scientific articles, book chapters and international patents or patent applications. From 2015-2017 he was coordinator of the EU Horizon 2020 Innovation action ROBOX, a project to develop novel biooxidation enzymes and demonstrate their application on pilot plant scale. Next to being member of the Scientific Board of ESAB (European Society for Applied Biocatalysis), Martin is since 2021 also co-chair of the joint working group Biotransformations of DECHEMA and the German Association for General and Applied Microbiology (VAAM). Since 2021 he is a member of the American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute Pharma Roundtable Biocatalysis team.

His main interests are applied biocatalysis, microbial production of chemicals and green chemistry (chemical route scouting for more sustainable production processes), especially bridging the gap between academic and industrially applied biocatalysis.

Professional Experience

Since May 2017 Principal Scientist Biocatalysis at InnoSyn B.V. in Geleen (The Netherlands)

2016-2017         Principal Scientist Biocatalysis at DSM Chemical Technology R&D in Geleen (NL)

2013-2015         Senior Scientist Biocatalysis at DSM Chemical Technology R&D in Geleen (NL)

2006-2013         Scientist Biocatalysis at DSM Pharmaceutical Products in Geleen (NL)

2004-2005         Associate Scientist at DSM Pharmaceutical Products in Geleen (NL)

2002-2004         Marie-Curie Industrial Host Fellowship (Post-Doc) at DSM Pharmaceutical Products in Geleen (NL):  Optimisation and Industrial Application of Aldolases

Education

2001-2002         Post-Doc Institute of Biotechnology I, Research Center Jülich, metabolic pathway engineering of aromatics in Escherichia coli

1998-2001         PhD (magna cum laude) on C-C bond forming enzymes, Institute of Biotechnology I, Research Center Jülich (supervisors: Prof. G.A. Sprenger & Prof. H. Sahm)

1992-1998         Biology studies with Diplom graduation at Ruhr-Universität Bochum, thesis with Prof. K.-E. Jaeger: Microbiology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology