Lars Blank

Prof. Lars Blank is a University Professor and Head of the Chair of Applied Microbiology at RWTH Aachen University. His work focuses on leveraging microbial metabolism for environmental, societal, and economic applications, particularly in the context of a circular bioeconomy. He leads the Blank Lab at the Institute of Applied Microbiology (iAMB), which houses 1,500 m² of state-of-the-art S1/S2 laboratories, including the innovative Ferm-Factory for industrial biotechnology partnerships.

Research Interests: The lab investigates

• Biocatalysis for converting CO₂, biomass, and plastics into chemicals
• Mechanisms of microbial degradation and spoilage
• Metabolic engineering for enhanced product formation
• Systems biology approaches to analyze multi-omics data
• Sustainable production of polyphosphate and biosurfactants

Projects & Collaborations: The lab actively participates in initiatives like the Gordon Research Conference on Plastic Recycling and collaborates with the Swiss Institute for Longevity. Key projects include ParaCoquette (BMBF-funded exploration of Paracoccus as a novel platform organism) and Ferm-Factory (industrial biotechnology applications via the Applikationszentrum für angewandte Biotechnik).

Lab Facilities: The iAMB provides advanced infrastructure for large-scale isotopic labeling, genome editing (e.g., Pseudomonas putida), and bioreactor development, supporting both academic and industrial partnerships.