Johannes Ludwig Frieß

Dr. Johannes Ludwig Frieß is a Researcher at the Institute of Safety and Risk Sciences within the Department of Landscape, Water and Infrastructure at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU). He has held postdoctoral research positions at several institutions including the University of Hamburg, University of Vechta, and University of Bremen, with his current position at BOKU dating from 2018 to present.

His educational background includes a Doctorate from Aschaffenburg University of Applied Sciences in cooperation with Technische Universität Darmstadt (2011-2015) on the topic "Influence of ionizing radiation on the electrophysiology of cardiac cells," and a Biology Diploma from Technische Universität Darmstadt (2004-2011) with specializations in Cell- and developmental biology, genetics and microbiology.

Frieß specializes in biosecurity and biosafety with a particular focus on bioweapons, Novel Invasive Environmental Biotechnologies (NIEB), and gene drives. His work bridges molecular biology, population modeling, and technology assessment to address the regulatory challenges posed by emerging biotechnologies. He has developed expertise in modeling gene drives and their ecological consequences, particularly in agricultural contexts like oilseed rape. His research emphasizes the dual-use potential of biotechnologies and the need for comprehensive risk assessment frameworks that go beyond traditional GMO evaluation.

His publication record shows a clear trajectory toward increasingly sophisticated analysis of gene drive systems, moving from basic modeling concepts to comprehensive technology characterization and risk assessment frameworks. His work consistently addresses the intersection of biotechnology, environmental impact, and security concerns, with a growing emphasis on policy implications and regulatory needs.

Dr. Frieß currently serves as Project Leader for the EU-funded research project "Biotechnology and AI: Biosecurity and Bioweapon Proliferation Risks in Research" (2025), and has been involved as Project Staff in several other significant projects related to synthetic bioweapons, GMO risk assessment, and gene drive technology. He has supervised at least one Master's thesis on computational modeling of gene drives in Drosophila suzukii.