Florian Hollfelder

Florian Hollfelder is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Cambridge. His research focuses on chemical biology, molecular recognition, and enzyme evolution, with an emphasis on applying microfluidics for high-throughput screening of enzymes and proteins. He leads the Hollfelder Group, which explores principles of protein evolution, catalytic mechanisms, and miniaturized experimental systems. Key areas include engineering biocatalysts, understanding enzyme promiscuity, and integrating AI with experimental workflows. His work bridges fundamental biochemistry and biotechnological applications, such as drug discovery and sustainable chemistry.

Research Interests:

• Enzyme evolution and directed evolution
• Microfluidics for high-throughput assays
• Molecular recognition mechanisms
• Biocatalyst engineering
• AI-driven protein design

Recent Trends in Articles:

Recent publications highlight advancements in microfluidic droplet screening for enzyme evolution, AI integration in biocatalyst engineering, and studies on ancestral enzymes and comparative embryology. The group also pioneers methods for rapid antibody discovery and thermostable in vitro systems.

Grants and Collaborations:

Research is supported by grants focusing on synthetic biology, enzyme engineering, and high-throughput technologies. Collaborations span academic and industrial partners in biotechnology and materials science.

Labs and Teams:

The Hollfelder Group is part of the Department of Biochemistry, leveraging facilities like the Biophysics and Cryo-EM units. The lab emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, combining biochemistry, engineering, and computational methods.