Our research is organised around three closely connected themes:

Gene regulation and predictive modelling

Transcriptional and translational regulation is studied in order to uncover the sequence and contextual principles that shape gene expression. This includes promoter architecture, σ-factor biology, and AI-driven sequence–function modelling.

Synthetic biology and biological design

Regulatory elements and gene expression systems are engineered using both mechanistic insight and data-driven models, with the aim of enabling controlled and predictable function across diverse microbial hosts.

High-throughput experimental systems

Experimental platforms are developed and applied for large-scale screening, single-cell analysis, and systematic sequence–function mapping, including microfluidic and other high-throughput approaches.

Our research spans a broad range of microbial systems, including model organisms, industrial hosts, photosynthetic microorganisms, actinomycetes, and extremophiles, in both environmental and biotechnological contexts.

Ongoing projects

International

• 2026 – 2030 - Horizon Europe, EU – AIMARIA, coming soon… Project coordinator (NTNU)
• 2026 – 2030 - Horizon Europe, MSCA Doctoral Networks, EU – MetaExplore, Ultrahigh-throughput exploration of metagenomic sequence space to discover and engineer novel biocatalysts and bioactive compounds. Project partner (NTNU | Syngens)
• 2025 – 2028 - Horizon Europe, EU – Sustainable exploration and biodiscovery of novel products and processes from extreme aquatic microbiomes to expedite the circular bioeconomy. Project partner (Syngens)
• 2024 – 2029 - U.S. National Science Foundation – Global Centers: CIRCLE Center for Innovative Recycling and Circular Economy. Project partner (Syngens)
• 2024 – 2026 - Innovation Fund Denmark-AgriFoodTure, Denmark – Enhancing Growth and Performance of Cultivated Muscle Cells through Targeted Hydrolysis (MuscleFuel). Project partner (NTNU | Syngens)
• 2023 – 2027 - Horizon Europe, EU – From solar energy to fuel: A holistic artificial photosynthesis platform for the production of viable solar fuels. Project partner (NTNU | Syngens)
• 2022 – 2026 - Horizon Europe, EU – Innovative Tools for Sustainable Exploration of Marine Microbiomes: Towards A Circular Blue Bioeconomy and Healthier Marine Environments. Project partner (NTNU)

National

• 2026 – 2031 - RCN - Quantum Centers, Norway – NorQSoft – Norwegian Quantum Software Center, led by Shaukat Ali (Simula Research Laboratory). Project partner (Syngens)
• 2026 – 2028 - RCN - Innovation Project for the Industrial Sector, Norway – Verification. Project leader (Syngens)
• 2026 – 2028 - RCN - KSP, Norway – THREADS -Textile Recycling by sustainable biotechnology-based approaches. Project partner
• 2025 – 2028 - RCN - Enabling Technologies, Norway – SafePhaeO3: Data-driven engineering of microalgal biofactories for safe and efficient omega-3 production. Project partner

Finalised projects

International

• 2018 – 2022 - H2020, EU – Conversion of forestry sugar residual streams to antimicrobial proteins by intelligent fermentation. Project partner
• 2017 – 2021 - EPSRC, UK – Design the Future 2: Thinking Soils: Engineered bacteria as computational agents in the design and manufacture of new materials and structures. Project partner
• 2016 – 2020 - H2020, EU – Advanced toolbox for rapid and cost-effective functional metagenomic screening – microbiology meets microfluidics. Project partner

National

• 2020 – 2025 - RCN-FRIPRO, Norway – An interdisciplinary data-driven approach to resolve sigma-factor-specific promoter dependency in bacteria (SiD). Project leader (NTNU)
• 2024 – 2025 - Digital Life Norway – Innovation Roadmap TA 1 - Value your data. Project leader (NTNU | Syngens)
• 2018 – 2021 - NTNU Enabling Technologies, Biotechnology – Miniaturised Droplet Biotechnology (iDrop). Ph.D. project, Co-PI
• 2017 – 2021 - NTNU Enabling Technologies, Biotechnology – A New Enabling Technology Platform for Recombinant Protein Production. Ph.D. project, PI
• 2019 – 2020 - FORNY2020, The Research Council of Norway – Fast-X-Press, Fast track for efficient protein production in novel hosts. Project leader
• 2018 – 2019 – NTNU Discovery, Main Project – SUPERAP for protein production at industrial scales. Project leader
• 2017 – 2018 - NTNU Discovery, Pilot Project – A key enabling expression platform. Project leader
• 2016 – 2017 - NTNU Biotechnology Program, Bluesky Microfinance Project – Protein Expression and Codon Restriction À-La-Carte. Co-PI
• 2016 – NTNU-AVIT - A university-wide distributed analytical robotic infrastructure. Co-PI
• 2012–2015 - BIOTEK2021, Research Council of Norway – Collaboration with US partners on bioprospecting in oil reservoirs and Arctic marine environments. Project leader (2014–2015)