David James

Professor David James is a distinguished academic at the University of Sheffield's School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering, where he holds the position of Professor of Bioprocess Engineering and serves as Research Centre Director of the Advanced Biomanufacturing Centre. With a career spanning over three decades, Professor James has established himself as a leading expert in bioprocess engineering and biopharmaceutical production.

His research interests focus on the production of high-value therapeutic recombinant protein biopharmaceuticals, systems biotechnology for rational bioprocess engineering, cell factory and gene vector engineering, and process analytical technology. Professor James has pioneered numerous innovations in CHO cell engineering, synthetic promoter design, and recombinant protein production systems.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong trajectory toward precision control of bioproduction processes, with emphasis on synthetic biology approaches for mammalian cell engineering. His work spans from fundamental cell biology to applied bioprocess development, with significant contributions to viral vector production, protein analytics, and pandemic-related research during the recent global health crisis.

His notable scientific achievement includes the Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award received upon his appointment to Sheffield in 2006 for 'Research and Training in Biopharmaceutical Bioprocessing for UK Bioindustry'.

Professor James actively contributes to academic training through courses such as CPE412 – Molecular Biotechnology, mentoring the next generation of bioprocess engineers while maintaining a robust research program with numerous industry collaborations.