Evangelos Topakas

Evangelos Topakas is a Professor of Industrial Biotechnology at the School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), where he leads the Industrial Biotechnology and Biocatalysis (IndBioCat) research group. He also holds a concurrent position as Visiting Associate Professor at Luleå University of Technology, Sweden, fostering international collaboration in sustainable bioprocesses.

Research Interests: His work spans industrial enzyme discovery, biocatalysis, biorefineries, and biomass valorization for second-generation biofuels and high-value chemicals. He pioneers the application of plant cell wall-degrading enzymes in plastic upcycling, integrating omics, genetic engineering, and protein engineering. His interdisciplinary research unites chemical engineers, biochemists, molecular biologists, and physicists in advancing the bioeconomy.

Publication and Editorial Leadership: With over 170 peer-reviewed publications and participation in more than 35 national and European research programs, Dr. Topakas is a leading voice in environmental and industrial biotechnology. His recent articles reflect strong trends in enzyme engineering, microbial systems, waste valorization, and sustainable production. He serves as Editor-in-Chief for Biotechnology for the Environment (Springer Nature) and the Biocatalysis section of Catalysts (MDPI), and as Associate Editor for Biotechnology for Biofuels, Frontiers in Biotechnology and Bioengineering, and Frontiers in Microbiology.

• Editor-in-Chief, Biotechnology for the Environment (Springer Nature)
• Editor-in-Chief, Biocatalysis Section, Catalysts (MDPI)
• Associate Editor, Biotechnology for Biofuels (Springer Nature)
• Associate Editor, Frontiers in Biotechnology and Bioengineering - Industrial Biotechnology
• Associate Editor, Frontiers in Microbiology - Systems Microbiology

Advising and Grants: Dr. Topakas has supervised numerous BSc, MSc, and PhD researchers and has co-authored 35+ national and European research grants, reflecting extensive success in securing competitive funding and mentoring early-career scientists.

Labs and Teams: He leads the Industrial Biotechnology and Biocatalysis (IndBioCat) group at NTUA, a dynamic team advancing cutting-edge research in enzyme technology, microbial engineering, and sustainable bioprocesses, inspiring the next generation of chemical engineers and biologists.