John McGeehan

John McGeehan is a Principal Scientist and Group Manager III at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) since January 2024, specializing in biochemical engineering under the Circular Economy for Energy Materials initiative. He serves as a Visiting Professor at the University of Portsmouth and previously held leadership roles such as Director of the Centre for Enzyme Innovation and Professor of Structural Biology. His work focuses on enzyme-based technologies for sustainable chemicals, materials, and fuels, particularly targeting plastics recycling and redesign through the BOTTLE consortium.

• PhD in Virology, University of Glasgow
• Bachelor in Microbiology, University of Glasgow

McGeehan’s research spans enzyme engineering, lignin valorization, hydrogen and CO2 utilization, and sustainable materials. He leads collaborative projects on biocatalytic plastic degradation and depolymerization, with a focus on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and aromatic compounds.

Recent publications highlight advancements in enzymatic recycling of PET and cofactorless deformylation processes. His work emphasizes scalable solutions for plastic pollution and circular economy principles.

• Altmetric Top 100 Research Papers (2018, 2021)
• Circular Economy Innovation of the Year (2021)
• Diamond Light Source Research Highlights (2018, 2021)

McGeehan advocates for collaborative research across U.S. and international networks, contributing to journals, conferences, and professional societies like the Royal Society of Biology and American Chemical Society.