Gesine Cornelissen

Prof. Dr. Gesine Cornelissen serves as Professor for Bioprocess Development in the Department of Biotechnology at the Faculty of Life Sciences, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences since 2009. Her academic journey includes a Diploma in Biotechnology (FH) in 1998, a Master of Science in Bioprocess Engineering in 2002, and her doctorate (Promotion) in 2004. Prior to her professorship, she worked as a scientist at Allergopharma J. Ganzer KG in Reinbek from 2005 to 2009.

Her research focuses on the biotechnological production of recombinant pharmaceutical proteins with particular emphasis on bioprocess development, automation, analysis, optimization and monitoring. She specializes in Process Analytical Technology (PAT) and integrated bioprocess control, with significant contributions to malaria vaccine production systems using Pichia pastoris. Her work bridges academic research with industrial applications in pharmaceutical biotechnology.

Prof. Cornelissen's publications demonstrate a consistent research trajectory in developing integrated bioprocesses for vaccine production, with particular focus on malaria vaccines. Her work spans cybernetic modeling approaches, automated production systems, purification optimization, and sequential/parallel production methods that transition from batch to quasi-continuous manufacturing.

As an academic leader, she serves as Chair of the Bachelor's Biotechnology Examination Board and holds several committee positions including Representative for practice matters, Member of the Research Committee of the Faculty of Life Sciences, Member of the Department Council for Biotechnology, and Deputy member of the Faculty Council (from winter semester 2025/26).

She has supervised multiple doctoral theses, including work on malaria vaccine manufacturing processes, chromatographic methods development, dengue fever virus-like particles, and antimicrobial peptide production. Her teaching portfolio includes courses on Biotechnology Processing and cleaning procedures, Biopharmaceutical Engineering Practice, Process Development and Automation, and Process Analysis and Optimization.