Joris Beld

Joris Beld, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology at Drexel University College of Medicine, with a secondary appointment in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology. He leads a biochemistry and proteomics analysis laboratory within the Center for Advanced Microbial Processing (CAMP), collaborating with researchers across multiple disciplines to advance understanding of microbial processes and develop therapeutic applications.

Dr. Beld received his MSc from the University of Twente while working in David Reinhoudt's laboratory. He completed his PhD research at ETH Zurich in Don Hilvert's laboratory and served as a postdoctoral fellow in Mike Burkart's laboratory at UC San Diego. His academic journey has positioned him at the intersection of microbiology, biochemistry, and chemical biology.

His primary research focuses on the chemical biology and microbiology of secondary metabolism in various organisms, with particular emphasis on biosynthesis pathways, microbiological roles in nature, and clinical applications of secondary metabolites. Dr. Beld's laboratory integrates mass spectrometry as a core methodology, utilizing both liquid chromatography and gas chromatography mass spectrometry setups to analyze complex samples for natural products discovery. His work spans fundamental questions about biosynthetic gene clusters, fatty acid metabolism in pathogenic bacteria, and the development of microbial engineering approaches for therapeutic production.

Dr. Beld's publication record demonstrates significant contributions to understanding bacterial metabolism, antibiotic resistance mechanisms, and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. His recent work shows increasing focus on translational applications, including brain-penetrant inhibitors for cancer metastasis and novel approaches to combat antibiotic-resistant pathogens. His research bridges basic science with potential therapeutic applications, particularly in the areas of infectious disease and cancer.

• CURE Grant (2017)
• CURE Grant (2023)

Dr. Beld actively mentors students at all levels, currently advising Amanda Platt (PhD candidate), Daniel Kantner (MS student), and Anh Nguyen Quach (undergraduate). His former students include numerous PhD and MS candidates who have gone on to various research and clinical careers. His laboratory frequently collaborates with Amy T. Ma, assistant professor of microbiology and immunology, on projects related to bacterial metabolism and pathogenesis.

As part of the Center for Advanced Microbial Processing (CAMP), Dr. Beld's laboratory works alongside genomic and microbial engineering facilities to tackle challenges in microbial therapeutics production. The center's mission focuses on identifying genetic components responsible for target molecule generation in non-model organisms and engineering them into model bacterial hosts for efficient, cost-effective production of therapeutic agents.