Professor Zavrel's focus is the development of sustainable bioprocesses. Biogenic raw materials are processed that do not compete with their use as food. Examples include agricultural residues and waste streams. The products obtained are bio-based and biodegradable. To achieve this, Professor Zavrel conducts research in the areas of fermentation, downstream processing and process design.
Professor Zavrel studied Chemical Engineering at TUM with a semester abroad at the University of California in Santa Barbara, USA. After completing his diploma thesis at Roche Diagnostics, he did his doctorate at the Chair of Biochemical Engineering at RWTH Aachen University. From 2008 to 2022 he worked in industrial research and development at Süd-Chemie and Clariant, including as Head of Development & Biomanufacturing and as Site Manager. In 2022, Prof. Zavrel was appointed to the professorship for bioprocess engineering at the TUM.
- Since 06/2022
W3 Professor for Bioprocess Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Campus Straubing for Biotechnology and Sustainability
- 04/2021–02/2022
Clariant Produkte (Deutschland) GmbH, Site Manager for Clariant’s Biotech Center in Planegg
- 01/2018–03/2022
Clariant Produkte (Deutschland) GmbH, Group Biotechnology, Head of Development and Biomanufacturing
- 01/2013–12/2017
Clariant Produkte (Deutschland) GmbH, Group Biotechnology, Department Head “Fermentation & Bioprocesses”
- 07/2012–12/2012
Clariant Produkte (Deutschland) GmbH, Group Biotechnology, Group Leader “Adsorption & Downstream Processing“
- 04/2010–06/2012
Süd-Chemie AG, Corporate Research and Development, Group Leader “Adsorption & Downstream Processing“
- 12/2008–03/2010
Süd-Chemie AG, Corporate Research and Development, Scientist “Adsorption & Downstream Processing“
- 09/2005–11/2008
RWTH Aachen, AVT, Chair for Biochemical Engineering (Prof. Dr.-Ing. J. Büchs), Dissertation “Model-based experimental analysis of enzyme kinetics in aqueous-organic biphasic systems“
- 10/2000–05/2005
Technical University of Munich, Chemical Engineering
- 11/2004–05/2005
Diploma thesis: “Optimization of the polymerase chain reaction by modulating the melting point of DNA“, Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Penzberg
- 04/2004–09/2004
Semester thesis: “Microbreaking waves and their effect on mass transfer“, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA
- 10/2003–03/2004
Semester thesis: “Modeling a two-step repeated-fed-batch-process: for the microbial conversion of glycerol to dihydroxyacetone using Gluconobacter oxydans“, Technical University of Munich
- 01/2010
Borchers Badge from RWTH Aachen University
- 07/2006
Jürgen Manchot Award from the Technical University of Munich
- 06/2006
Participation at the 18th Nobel Laureate Meeting in Lindau
