Michael Himmel

Michael Himmel serves as a Senior Research Fellow at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) within the Molecular Biology department, specializing in BioEconomy and Sustainable Transportation Bioenergy Research. With over 40 years of experience at NREL, he has progressed through all scientific and managerial positions to his current role since 2010.

His educational background includes a PhD in Biochemistry from Colorado State University and a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry from the University of Northern Colorado. Key research areas include protein biochemistry, recombinant technology, enzyme engineering, and biofuels production R&D.

Himmel's work focuses on biomass comminution, pretreatment, enzyme hydrolysis, and advanced fermentation methods. He manages research to improve cellulase performance, reduce biomass pretreatment costs, and develop biohybrids and nanobioelectronics. His fingerprint analysis reveals expertise in Enzyme Biochemistry (100%), Cellulase (71%), Cellulose (57%), and Pretreatment Engineering (31%).

Recent publications demonstrate strong activity in enzymatic hydrolysis, lignocellulosic biomass conversion, and glycoside hydrolase engineering, with notable output in 2024-2025 covering patents and high-impact journal articles. His work shows consistent emphasis on industrial enzyme optimization and sustainable bioprocessing.

• American Chemical Society Outstanding Service Award (1990)
• Battelle Distinguished Inventor (2011)
• C.D. Scott Award – Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals (2010)
• Colorado State University Distinguished Alumnus (2014)
• Inventor of the Year (2013)
• 40 awarded patents
• 11 edited books

Himmel has edited multiple journals including Biotechnology for Biofuels (as Editor-in-Chief) and Cellulose Journal, while organizing international conferences like the Gordon Research Conference. His research has generated over 500 peer-reviewed articles and significant industry impact through patented technologies. Current work involves radio frequency vibrational probes of enzyme structure and advanced biomass conversion techniques through NREL's Bioenergy Research program.