Thomas Brück

Prof. Thomas Brück holds the Werner Siemens Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), within the TUM School of Natural Sciences and Department of Chemistry. He serves as Director of the TUM AlgaeTec Center, operating a globally unique algae pilot plant that enables algal process development with climate simulation. Since 2020, he has been Dean for Research and Innovation at the TUM School of Natural Sciences, overseeing three research departments (Chemistry, Physics, Biology) with over 90 professors and 7,500 employees, and developing comprehensive research and industrial implementation strategies.

His educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Biochemistry (2002) from Imperial College and Greenwich University, London
• Master of Philosophy in Molecular Medicine (1996-1997) from Keele University
• Dual B.Sc. (Hons) in Chemistry and Biochemistry (1992-1996) from Keele University

Prof. Brück's research focuses on synthetic biotechnology, particularly designing sustainable processes for converting residual biomass and CO₂ into platform and specialty chemicals. His group employs advanced bioinformatic tools and molecular simulation to modulate enzyme catalysis toward process-relevant parameters. They incorporate redesigned enzymes into customized cell systems for whole-cell production of terpenoids and functionalized lipids. His team specializes in phototrophic and heterotrophic cell systems that convert CO₂ to value-adding chemical entities, with expertise spanning microbial cultivation, artificial metabolic pathway design, synthetic and systems biology, and associated bioprocess development using E. coli, yeast, and microalgae.

His scientific achievements have been recognized with numerous awards:

• 2024 JEC-Award for Green Carbon Fiber in the 'Sustainable Building' category
• 2022 Green Award for sustainable building materials at Green Tech Festival in Singapore
• 2019 1st Sustainability Award of Technical University of Munich
• 2018 E-Ward for development of carbon fibers based on algae
• 2018 Werner Siemens Foundation Chair for Synthetic Biotechnology
• 2011 Süd-Chemie Foundation Professorship for Industrial Biocatalysis

Prof. Brück has successfully supervised over 145 Master's students and 34 doctoral students, including several who now lead their own research groups or companies. He has secured more than 75 million euros in research funding across 34 projects from national, EU, and private sources since 2011. His research spans multiple projects including AlgenBauSchutz, CannDesign, InViDetect, and VALUABLE, with significant contributions to sustainable materials and carbon capture technologies.

His research team includes Dr. Daniel Garbe, PD Dr. Norbert Mehlmer, Dr. Marion Ringel, Dr. Dania Awad, and numerous scientific staff members. He also founded the Werner Siemens Student Research Center, enabling school students to conduct biotechnology research focused on sustainability, and serves on advisory boards including the Munich Catalysis Alliance and Austrian Drug Screening Institute.