Morten Kjos

Morten Kjos is a Professor at the Department of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science (KBM), Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU). His research focuses on molecular microbiology, particularly in bacterial cell division, antibiotic resistance, biofilm formation, and bacteriocins in Gram-positive pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae.

His research interests span bacterial cell biology, antibiotic resistance mechanisms, biofilm dynamics, CRISPR-based genetic tools, and antimicrobial peptides. He employs advanced techniques including CRISPR interference, fluorescent reporter systems, and high-throughput genomic screening to study gene function and bacterial fitness.

The recent publications and preprints (2023–2025) highlight a strong trend in genome-wide functional genomics, novel antimicrobial strategies, and mechanistic insights into cell wall metabolism. His work frequently involves collaboration with international teams and spans both in vitro and in vivo models.

He teaches courses such as BIO230 (Microbiology II) and BIO332 (Experimental Molecular Microbiology), and supervises master’s students. He leads several research projects including:

• BOB - Bacteriocins of Biofilms
• BacPress – Active packaging technology to extend food shelf life
• DISRUPT: Finding new agents and mechanisms that disrupt bacterial biofilms
• Identification of novel cell cycle proteins in Staphylococcus aureus

He is actively publishing in top microbiology journals such as mBio, PLoS Pathogens, Nature Microbiology, and ACS Catalysis, demonstrating sustained research productivity and impact.