Jan Steensels

Papers

Total Citations

243

H-Index

About

Jan Steensels is a leading figure in industrial yeast biotechnology, with a research focus on the evolution, engineering, and application of *Saccharomyces* yeasts for fermentation industries. His major contributions lie at the intersection of synthetic biology and brewing science, where he has pioneered strategies to create novel yeast hybrids and improve stress tolerance. Notably, his 2015 work on interspecific *Saccharomyces* hybrids (138 citations) demonstrated that crossing *S. cerevisiae* with cold-tolerant species like *S. eubayanus* can dramatically increase the aromatic diversity of lager beers, offering brewers a powerful new palette of flavors. In parallel, his landmark study on robot-assisted genome shuffling (105 citations) showcased a high-throughput method to generate industrial *S. cerevisiae* strains with significantly enhanced ethanol tolerance, a critical trait for boosting bioethanol yields. Through these achievements, Steensels has provided both fundamental insights into yeast biology and practical tools for industry, earning recognition as a key innovator in the field. His work continues to shape how researchers and brewers alike harness microbial diversity for sustainable production.