dr. S (Sumitha) Krishnaswamyreddy

Sumitha has an interdisciplinary background that combines science with innovation management. She holds a PhD in Biochemistry and a Master’s in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management from Uppsala University in Sweden. Her expertise spans both scientific research and strategic business development, enabling her to effectively bridge technical knowledge with practical applications in biotechnology.

She began her research journey as PhD student in Center for Molecular Protein Sciences at Lund University, Sweden.  In her Phd, she studied the structure-function relationship in carbohydrate-active proteins from gut microbiota and fungi. After  her PhD, she moved to postdoctoral position in Uppsala, Sweden, She worked on a  collaborative industrial project, LIPODRIVE developing advanced analytical techniques, including Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), to characterize high-value lipids and carotenoids produced by oleaginous yeasts..iN 2019,  she was awarded future leaders Starting Mobility Grant from FORMAS, the Swedish Research Council for Sustainable Development, to establish her own research line on lignin valorization. Supported by this grant, she joined the Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Netherlands where her research focused on harnessing fungal metabolism to transform lignin into high-value products, contributing to sustainable bioprocessing innovations.  She  transitioned to industry, as  Business Developer, life sciences, Nordics at an innovation consultancy based in Amsterdam. In this position, she evaluated early-stage startups, provided consulting for grants and subsidies, and facilitated collaborations to support innovation-driven projects.

In 2023, She moved back  to academia as Research Manager at the Bioprocess Engineering Chair at Wageningen University & Research, where she now supports and manages research management for biomanufacturing and digital twin initiatives. Her scientific expertise and her experience in innovation and research management are  highly valuable in her present role.