Merja Penttilä

Merja Penttilä is a research professor in biotechnology at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, and an adjunct professor in synthetic biology at Aalto University. Her major research interest is the development of new production processes that replace fossil raw materials, specifically so-called cell factories, microorganisms that are engineered to produce biobased products for energy, health, materials and other applications.

Born 27 January 1956 in Hämeenlinna, Finland

Studied at University of Helsinki, doctoral degree in 1987 in molecular genetics (Dept. of Genetics)

Research and group leader positions at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
Research professor in biotechnology at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland 1999–
Adjunct professor at Aalto University in synthetic biology, since 2015–
Deputy Director of the Finnish Centre of Excellence in Industrial Biotechnology, 2000–2005
Director of the Finnish Centre of Excellence in White Biotechnology – Green Chemistry
Coordinator of a large Strategic Tekes project Living Factories, 2014–2018
2008–2015 Coordinator and leader of number of large research projects at national and EU level, including projects with national and international companies
Member of the Finnish Advisory Board for Biotechnology, 1998–2001, 2008–2012
Member of the Scientific Committee for Finnish Chemical Industry, 2005–2009
Member of the Steering group for White Biotechnology of the EU technology platform for Sustainable Chemistry (SusChem), 2005-2010–
Board member of the Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, 2008–
Evaluator for a number of national and international science foundations, and for quality of science at university or national level, the most recent ones being:
Member of the Industrial Advisory Board of the Synthetic biology network SynBERC (USA), 2011–
Scientific Advisory Board member of the Toulouse White Biotechnology program (France) 2012–
Expert Committee member of the Novo Nordisk Foundation on Biotechnology-based synthesis and production (Denmark), 2012–
Member of the International Millenium Technology Prize Nomination Committee, 2015–2016
Chair of the Technology vision panel for Finland on Biosciences and Society (Finnsight2015), 2005–2006
Member of the vision group for the government-launched strategy work for Sustainable growth and wellbeing in Finland (Tulevaisuus2030), 2012

Publications and patents

Over 270 scientific publications in the fields of molecular biology and industrial biotechnology
65 patents or patent application families in industrial biotechnology

Honours

Received the honorary title of Academician of Science in 2023

Knight First Class of the Order of the White Rose of Finland, 2007

Member of the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters, 2015–