Helix Lab Fellows, Class of Fall 2025

Project description

Currently, valuable nutrients can end up in side streams rather than in the final product. To address this, a membrane-based recovery system is being developed to reclaim these nutrients, though the process is still in its early stages. The project aims to characterize the side streams, evaluate and optimize membrane performance, and assess economic feasibility. Lab-scale results will guide pilot-scale testing, with the goal of implementing an efficient, cost-effective nutrient recovery process at Unibio’s Innovation Center and, ultimately, at full scale.

What was your motivation for becoming a Helix Lab Fellow?

My motivation for becoming a Helix Lab Fellow was the opportunity to try something new and to write my master’s thesis in collaboration with a company. I was also interested in the chance to exchange ideas and work alongside people with similar interests. In addition, the facilities and resources at Helix Lab are considerably better than those typically available in university laboratories, which makes the experience especially valuable.

What is the most exciting part of being a Helix Lab Fellow?

The most exciting part of being a Helix Lab Fellow is being part of a strong community where I can continuously exchange knowledge and perspectives with other fellows. It feels like living in a small bubble, which makes the experience more personal.

I particularly appreciate how much I learn from the different events and activities—many of them provide perspectives I did not encounter at university. The combination of collaboration, shared experiences, and the freedom to work independently on something I am genuinely interested in makes being a Helix Lab Fellow quite unique.

What perspectives do you see for your future after being a Helix Lab Fellow?

I see Helix Lab as an excellent springboard into my future career. The fellowship gives me a clear understanding of what it means to work both independently and collaboratively as an engineer. It also creates valuable connections within the industry, opening doors to new opportunities. Most importantly, being part of something larger than university life provides a strong foundation for the transition from student life to professional life.

Project description

This project investigates how downstream processing steps, such as centrifugation, evaporation, and spray drying, affect particle characteristics in Unibio’s microbial protein product. Using advanced imaging technology, the project will evaluate changes in particle size, integrity, and structure. A better understanding of these effects will support improvements in product quality, stability, and functionality. The findings will also help optimize processing conditions to make them more efficient and less damaging to the product, ultimately reducing costs and enhancing overall production performance.

What was your motivation for becoming a Helix Lab Fellow?

As my time at university is nearing its end, I really want to make the most of the "university experience." The Helix Lab Fellowship is exactly that: the chance to explore a new city surrounded by beautiful nature, state-of-the-art research at Unibio where innovative ideas are continuously developed, and the social fellowship of like-minded people working toward the same goal.

What is the most exciting part of being a Helix Lab Fellow?

The most exciting part of being a Helix Lab Fellow is the opportunity to meet so many passionate people. The professionals from the industry, each bringing a unique perspective, offer not only valuable insights into the different paths and possibilities awaiting us after university, but also a genuine sense of belonging to the growing biotech community in Kalundborg.

What perspectives do you see for your future after being a Helix Lab Fellow?

The fellowship creates a foundation for a smoother transition from academia to industry, as it allows me to be part of both worlds throughout the program, which in turn fuels my enthusiasm for what lies ahead beyond university.

Project description

Unibio’s project aims to transform fermentation monitoring by developing an ML-based soft sensor that replicates WTW probe measurements of NH4/NO3 in the fermentation broth. The sensor is designed to overcome challenges such as probe drift from fouling and downtime due to maintenance. Leveraging advanced deep learning techniques—including timeLLM and multimodal models—the solution will initially provide continuous, real-time measurements to ensure process stability. Subsequently, the model will evolve to forecast readings 30 minutes ahead, facilitating proactive process control and optimization. This Industry 4.0 approach integrates machine learning with process modeling to enhance fermentation efficiency and product quality. Students will manage the complete development cycle, from data collection and preprocessing to model creation and evaluation, ultimately supporting sustainable protein production by ensuring reliable monitoring even when physical sensors are offline or unreliable.

What was your motivation for becoming a Helix Lab Fellow?

My main motivation for becoming a Helix Lab Fellow is the opportunity to connect academic research with real industrial challenges in an environment that values innovation and collaboration. The program provides the ideal setting to apply the knowledge I have gained through my studies to practical problems, while learning from experienced professionals and fellow researchers. It is also the perfect environment to further challenge and develop my creative and innovative thinking.

Through this experience, I am gaining a versatile skill set that I can apply in many fields, from intelligent automation and system optimization to robotics, all of which are areas I am deeply passionate about. Beyond the technical aspects, being part of the Helix Lab community also allows me to grow personally and professionally in a dynamic and interdisciplinary setting.

What is the most exciting part of being a Helix Lab Fellow?

The most exciting part of being a Helix Lab Fellow is being part of a vibrant and diverse community where everyone supports and learns from each other. It is inspiring to work alongside people who share the same drive and ambitions, yet come from different academic backgrounds and perspectives. This creates an atmosphere rich in collaboration, creativity, and mutual development.

Beyond the academic and professional aspects, I also find it exciting to experience personal growth by adapting to new environments and challenges. As a philosophy, I like to continuously step outside my comfort zone and shake things up when needed, as that is where real learning and innovation happen. The fellowship fosters not only scientific curiosity but also resilience and openness to change, both of which are essential skills in life and in any future career.

What perspectives do you see for your future after being a Helix Lab Fellow?

I face the future with open arms and a willingness to take on new challenges. I would like to stay in Kalundborg if the right opportunity arises, but I am also ready to go wherever the wind takes me, and I will work hard to make the most of every path that opens ahead. However, my focus right now is on giving my best and delivering strong results during my time here, making sure I contribute meaningfully to the project and the Helix Lab community. Most importantly, whatever happens next, I will be proud to carry the Helix Lab name on my resume and to represent the experience and values it stands for.

Project description

This project explores membrane-based separation to recover valuable nutrients from enzyme production residues. By efficiently recovering nutrients such as volatile fatty acids (VFAs), ammonium, and phosphorus, the process supports circular economy principles and reduces waste. In collaboration with Novonesis, the research focuses on optimizing VFA separation for biopolymer production while assessing broader nutrient recovery strategies for reuse in industry. The project demonstrates how advanced resource recovery can enhance sustainability and efficiency in industrial bioprocessing.

Project description

A typical manufacturing process of an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) involves three main stages: fermentation, recovery and purification.

In industrial API production processes, the recovery section is mainly for up concentrating the fermentation broth. A typical step in such a process is a capture chromatography step – which can be ion exchange based or reverse phase chromatography.

Due to being early in the process there is additional variation in the incoming material composition from fermentation, which can impact the process yield and therefore the sustainability of the process.

To assess the impact of upstream changes to the process a mechanistic understanding of the column is key in determining the impact it will have on output of the line.
Through a sensitivity analysis of process conditions, the impact of different factors on the output can be mapped and a recommendation for operation settings can be identified

What was your motivation for becoming a Helix Lab Fellow?

My motivation for becoming a Helix Lab Fellow was the opportunity to challenge myself by trying something new and experiencing a different city and environment. I was especially motivated by the chance to collaborate with a company for my master’s thesis, as I value working on projects that connect academic research with real world applications.

What is the most exciting part of being a Helix Lab Fellow?

The most exciting part of being a Helix Lab Fellow is meeting new people every day and creating a network. It is rare to find an environment where you share the same interests and passions with so many others, which makes it easy to exchange ideas, collaborate, and learn from one another. Being surrounded by such a community is both motivating and inspiring, and it creates opportunities that go far beyond the fellowship itself. Last but not least, the social aspect, especially the friendships and connections with the other fellows, makes the experience 10 times better. 

What perspectives do you see for your future after being a Helix Lab Fellow?

I see the fellowship as an important stepping stone in preparing me for the transition from student life to the professional world. It equips me with the skills, mindset, and network needed to make that shift with confidence. Looking ahead, I believe this experience will open doors to career paths where I can continue to grow, contribute to meaningful solutions, and shape my professional identity.

Project description

Effective nitrogen removal is essential to prevent eutrophication in Danish water bodies. Nitrification, a key process in wastewater treatment, is highly sensitive to operational fluctuations and toxic compounds such as biocides and heavy metals. Inhibition events have caused severe disruptions in both municipal and industrial plants, emphasizing the need for early detection.

This project aims to develop data-driven methods to interpret sensor signals and infer nitrification kinetics.

What was your motivation for becoming a Helix Lab Fellow?

I wanted to become a Helix Lab Fellow because I'm passionate about sustainability and creating solutions that have a real impact in industry. Being able to combine my studies with hands-on collaboration in Kalundborg felt like the perfect fit for me.

What is the most exciting part of being a Helix Lab Fellow?

What excites me the most about being a Helix Fellow is not only the opportunity to deepen my knowledge and contribute to meaningful sustainability projects, but also to share the journey with the other fellows. I love spending time with them, whether it's playing padel, watching a movie together and discussing it afterwards, or simply laughing over a game night. That sense of connection makes the whole experience even more meaningful.

What perspectives do you see for your future after being a Helix Lab Fellow?

I see this fellowship as a stepping stone towards a career in biotechnology where I can focus on sustainable technologies, and perhaps also explore entrepreneurial opportunities in the future.

Project description

At Novo Nordisk, ELISA is used to detect residual Host Cell Proteins (HCP) from the fermentation process. The project aims to develop a QC-friendly Near Infrared (NIR) method to measure water content in dried samples quickly and easily, improving the efficiency of ELISA analysis. This involves building a robust Partial Least Squares (PLS) model to correlate the NIR spectrum with water/protein content, accommodating all sample variations. The finalized NIR method will help ELISA technicians conduct analyses more efficiently.

What was your motivation for becoming a Helix Lab Fellow?

My motivation for becoming a Helix Lab Fellow is driven by the unique opportunity to bridge academic knowledge with real industrial applications. Coming from a background in biotechnology and chemical engineering, I am particularly inspired by Helix Lab’s focus on close collaboration between students, universities, and industry partners such as Novo Nordisk. This setting provides not only the chance to apply my technical skills in practice but also to learn how scientific innovation translates into real-world impact.

I am eager to challenge myself in this environment, contribute to meaningful research, and grow both professionally and personally as part of the Helix Lab community.

What is the most exciting part of being a Helix Lab Fellow?

For me, the most exciting part of being a Helix Lab Fellow is becoming part of a collaborative and inspiring community that extends beyond the laboratory. I look forward to exchanging ideas with other Fellows, learning from experienced scientists, and contributing to a culture built on curiosity and innovation.

What also excites me is the chance to experience Kalundborg’s rapidly growing biotechnology ecosystem — to witness how an entire city evolves around industrial biotechnology and sustainable production, while forming both professional and social connections along the way.

What perspectives do you see for your future after being a Helix Lab Fellow?

After completing my Fellowship — and thereby graduating from my Master’s degree — I hope to use this experience as a strong foundation for a confident transition into my professional career. The Fellowship provides firsthand insight into what it means to take responsibility as an engineer: working independently while contributing to a collaborative team environment, and building lasting connections within the biotechnology sector.

Looking ahead, I envision a career at the intersection of biotechnology and industrial innovation, where I can apply research to real-world challenges and continue to grow as both a scientist and an engineer. And who knows — perhaps my journey will continue in Kalundborg, whether through a PhD position or an industrial role within its rapidly evolving biotech community.

Project description

Scaling up bioprocesses that involve comlex reactions is a complex challenge and
unresolved challenge. This project focuses on understanding where traditional scale-up
methods fall short and developing improved approaches for scalling up.
We will explore model reactions in Stirred Tank Reactors (STRs) at different scales, aiming to identify key factors affecting reaction performance. Using established model reactions, we will assess how process variability arises and develop new methodologies to support more reliable scale-up strategies. We will monitor, power input, mixing, mass transfer, overall yield as well we will use spectroscopic techniques to monitor reaction dynamics. Our findings will help refine industrial processes by reducing inconsistencies and enhancing overall efficiency.

What was your motivation for becoming a Helix Lab Fellow?

I wanted to gain real industry experience and understand how research is applied in practice. I also saw Helix Lab as a great opportunity to meet people in the field and open new doors for my future career.

What is the most exciting part of being a Helix Lab Fellow?

The environment is amazing — working with supportive mentors and other fellows who share ideas and experiences makes you feel motivated and confident to grow.

What perspectives do you see for your future after being a Helix Lab Fellow?

I want to keep building my career in this field, taking what I’ve learned to grow professionally and find great opportunities in biotechnology industry.