Maurizio Bettiga was born in Lecco, Italy, in 1978. After earning a MSc and a PhD, both in Industrial Biotechnology, from University of Milan-Bicocca (Milan, Italy) he moved to Lund, Sweden, in 2006, where he worked first as Marie Curie post doctoral researcher, then as senior researcher at the Department of Applied Microbiology of Lund University. His research focussed on metabolic engineering of brewer’s yeast for the production of second-generation bioethanol. Maurizio moved to Gothenburg, where he took a faculty position as Assistant professor at Chalmers University of Technology, in 2010, where he is now a senior researcher at the division of Industrial Biotechnology, department of Biology and Biological Engineering.

Maurizio is also founder and owner of “EviKrets Biobased Processes Consultants”, a network of consultants on bio-based production. His academic research focusses on renewable biofuels and biorefinery, with emphasis on the study of the mechanisms underlying robustness of industrial micro organisms and in particular the tolerance of S. cerevisiae to fermentation inhibitors in lignocellulose hydrolysate. His industrial activities also include the use of municipal, agricultural and industrial bio-waste as raw material for bio-based processes, biomethane production and the implementation of new biomass bioconversion technologies, contributing to integrate industrial, economically sustainable activities into the carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous cycles. Maurizio has been organising and teaching teaching a number of courses in Europe, Latin America on genetic engineering of industrial microorganism, microbial physiology an bio-based production.

Maurizio is pro bono scientific and technical advisor of charity initiatives promoting the sustainable development in semi-arid areas in South America and Africa.