Prof. Dr. Michael Bott

Leiter der Systemischen Mikrobiologie (IBG-1)

Contact

+49 2461/61-3294

+49 2461/61-2710

E-Mail

http://www.fz-juelich.de/ibt/bott

Publications

Address

Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH
Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße
52428 Jülich

Institute of Bio- and Geosciences (IBG)

Biotechnology (IBG-1)

Building 15.21 / Room R 5045

About me

After studying biology at the University of Marburg, I obtained my doctorate there in 1987 in Rolf Thauer’s group with a thesis on carbon monoxide metabolism in methanogenic archaea. With a DFG fellowship, I moved to the Institute of Microbiology at the ETH Zürich in 1989, where I habilitated in 1998 and received the Venia Legendi for microbiology. In the same year, I accepted a professorship in biochemistry at the University of Düsseldorf, combined with the leadership of the biochemistry group at the Institute of Biotechnology 1 of Forschungszentrum Jülich. Since 2007 I am director of this institute combined with a professorship in biotechnology at the University of Düsseldorf.

My main research areas are molecular and applied microbiology. Basic research focuses on metabolism, regulation, signal transduction, and bioenergetics of industrially relevant bacteria using modern genome-based methods with the goal of a molecular and systemic understanding of these processes. Applied research aims at the development of microbial cell factories for industrially or pharmaceutically relevant small molecules starting from renewable carbon sources. Different approaches such as metabolic engineering, biosensor-based high-throughput screening, and adaptive laboratory evolution are combined to speed up the construction of efficient producer strains. These works contribute to the establishment of novel biotechnological production processes within a sustainable bioeconomy.

Vita

Professional Career

since 2007 Director of the Institute of Biotechnology 1 of Forschungszentrum Jülich
(since 2010 Institute of Bio- and Geosciences 1: Biotechnology) and
Professor of Biotechnology at the University of Düsseldorf

1998-2007 Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Düsseldorf and

Head of Biochemistry Group at the Institute of Biotechnology 1 of Forschungszentrum Jülich

1998 Habilitation and Venia Legendi in Microbiology, ETH Zürich

1991-1998 Assistant and senior assistant, Institute of Microbiology, ETH Zürich

1989-1990 DFG-funded postdoctoral fellow, Institute of Microbiology, ETH Zürich

1987-1988 Postdoc, University of Marburg

1985-1987 Doctoral thesis, University of Marburg

1979-1985 Diploma in Biology, University of Marburg

Key Research Activities

Metabolism and regulation in industrially relevant bacteria
Development of microbial producer strains for small molecules

Selected Activities and Memberships

since 2022 Coordinator of the InnovationCluster “Biotechnology and Plastics Industry” within the BMBF-funded project “BioökonomieREVIER”
2020 - 2021 Coordinator of the InnovationLab “AutoBiotech” within the BMBF-funded project “BioökonomieREVIER”
2010 - 2014 Coordinator of the BMBF-funded research cluster “SysEnCor: Systems biological characterisation of the energy budget of Corynebacterium glutamicum”
2009 - 2013 Coordinator of the BMBF-funded GenoMik-Transfer research cluster “Corynebacterium: improving flexibility and fitness for industrial production”
since 2010 Member of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM)
since 2009 Editorial board of “Microbial Biotechnology”
since 2009 Editor of “FEMS Microbiology Reviews”
since 2008 Member of DECHEMA e.V.
2005 – 2009 Coordinator of the BMBF-funded GenMik-Plus research cluster
“Primary metabolite producers”
2004 – 2006 Member of the „Arbeitskreis Weiße Biotechnologie” of DECHEMA e.V.
2000 – 2005 Member of the “Zukunftsforum Biotechnologie” of DECHEMA e.V.
since 1985 Member of the Vereinigung für Allgemeine und angewandte Mikrobiologie (VAAM)

Publications

Last Modified: 16.11.2023