Jonas Laukkonen Ravn

Dr. Jonas Ravn has a MSc in Biotechnology from Copenhagen University and an Industrial PhD. from Novozymes and the Department of Bacteriology & Pathology at Ghent University, Belgium.

His research is centered around understanding how microbes and enzymatically break down complex plant polysaccharides during natural carbon cycling and fermentation. In his PhD, he developed and applied recombinant enzymes targeting dietary fibers to study their prebiotic function in animal health. At Novozymes, he also developed microscopy visualization tools and automated high-throughput screening technology for enzyme stability and activity.

His postodoctoral research focused on exploring the role of wild xylanolytic yeast in nature and their enzyme machinery. Inspired by these enzyme systems, he has designed S. cerevisiae cell factories using CRISPR/Cas9 technology that through fermentation convert xylan rich lignocellulosic side streams from agriculture and forestry into valuble bioproducts.