Group Leader and Senior Researcher at DTU Biosustain, Irina Borodina, was awarded the prestigious Equinor Prize at an official ceremony at The National Museum of Denmark.
For many years Irina Borodina has studied how metabolic engineering of yeast cell factories can be used for sustainable production of chemicals from renewable feedstocks. The Lithuanian scientist has also developed a range of different techniques and technologies that helps other researchers in strain optimization and rational strain design.
These efforts are made in her research group ‘Yeast Metabolic Engineering’ at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability (DTU Biosustain) that has received funding from the European Research Council and the European Union’s Horizon 2020-programme.
"Irina lives up to all the different criteria and all the parameters we were looking for – citations/publications, development of new technologies, innovation and great teaching skills"
Charlotte Scheutz, Professor at DTU Environment
Irina Borodina also founded the company BioPhero that aims at being a pioneer in providing low-cost bio-based pheromones for pest management. The pheromones are produced from basic raw materials in a single fermentation step using yeasts, in a process similar to beer brewing. In September 2018, the company received a seed investment of € 3 million.
All of these achievements played a big part in why Irina Borodina was selected as the recipient of the Equinor Prize 2019, says Professor at DTU Environment Charlotte Scheutz - who was a member of the Prize Committee.
“Irina lives up to all the criteria and all the parameters we were looking for – citations/publications, development of new technologies, innovation and great teaching skills," says Charlotte Scheutz.
The Equinor Prize is Denmark’s oldest technology prize and the prize recipient receives 100.000 DKK.