Microbiologist Prof. Mike Jetten (BT) becomes member of KNAW

MIT
Mike Jetten (born in 1962 in Roermond, the Netherlands) studied Molecular Science at Wageningen University, where in 1991 he obtained his PhD cum laude in the field of anaerobic microbiology. From 1991 to 1994 Jetten carried out research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and from 1994 to 2000 he worked as an assistant professor in the Biotechnology department of TU Delft. He has been a full professor of Ecological Microbiology at Radboud University Nijmegen since 2000, and endowed professor of Environmental Microbiology in the Biotechnology department since 2002.

Anammox
Prof. Jetten’s research has included work on the Anammox bacterium, which can convert harmful ammonia, in combination with nitrite, into nitrogen gas. This makes the bacterium useful, among other reasons, for the removal of ammonia in sewage plants. The potential of Anammox is widely recognised, as shown among other things by a recent publication from TU Delft and Radboud University Nijmegen on this subject in the journal Science of Friday 7 May. What is more, a pilot plant using Anammox bacteria is coming into operation this month at the Rotterdam Dokhaven sewage plant.

ERC
In 2008 Prof. Jetten was awarded an Advanced Grant of € 2.5 million from the European Research Council for his research into the Anammox bacterium. The ERC Advanced Grant is the most prestigious European research grant for individual researchers. Prof. Jetten has also received a number of other honours for his scientific achievements, including a Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences Research Fellowship and a Talent Grant from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research.