Bruno Bühler

Bruno Bühler is a Professor for Applied Biocatalysis at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and leads the Applied Biocatalysis Group at the Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) in Leipzig, Germany. He is also the Co-Speaker of the Integration Platform Tapping Nature's Potential at UFZ, coordinating interdisciplinary research within the Helmholtz Society.

His research focuses on applied biocatalysis and photobiotechnology, with a strong emphasis on sustainable bioprocesses. He investigates redox and multistep biocatalysis using microbial cell factories, particularly Cyanobacteria, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas. His work integrates metabolic engineering for heterologous pathway design with reaction engineering to optimize processes for hydrogen production, oxyfunctionalization, and the synthesis of valuable chemicals. A key theme is coupling natural photosynthesis with biocatalytic reactions to create energy-efficient and sustainable production systems.

The trends in his recent publications highlight a consistent focus on light-driven biocatalysis and engineering microbial cell factories. His work frequently involves Synechocystis for photosynthesis-driven redox reactions like Baeyer-Villiger oxidations and hydrogen production. He also explores advanced strategies in Pseudomonas and E. coli for the production of chemicals such as adipic acid, with a strong emphasis on overcoming challenges related to substrate transport, electron supply, and product stability.

• ETH Medal for outstanding PhD thesis

Bühler has held leadership positions for over 15 years, directing research groups at TU Dortmund and UFZ. His work is supported by program-oriented funding from the Helmholtz Society, reflecting its strategic importance. He has been a full professor since 2015 and has been consistently active in research, with a high publication output in leading journals. He collaborates extensively, particularly with A. Schmid, and his research contributes to the fields of bioeconomy and sustainable chemistry. His work involves the development of novel genetic tools (e.g., shuttle vectors for cyanobacteria) and reactor systems (e.g., capillary photobiofilm reactors).