Dr Martin Hageböck has been the new head of the VLB Research Institute for Biotechnology and Water (FIBW) since the beginning of January. Dipl.-Ing. Sandra Dounia was appointed as his deputy.
Dr Martin Hageböck, born in Zossen in 1979, initially completed an apprenticeship as an industrial clerk after leaving school. He then went on to study biotechnology at the Technical University of Berlin, graduating with a degree in engineering in 2008. He gained his first professional experience at Avesta BioTherapeutics GmbH in Berlin before moving to VLB Berlin in 2009. There, Hageböck worked as a research assistant at the then VLB Research Institute for Microbiology under Prof Dr Ulf Stahl on various research projects. In 2013, he received his doctorate in engineering under Stahl at the TU Berlin on the topic of "Metabolisation of food ingredients in a simulated digestion model".
After founding the VLB Research Institute for Biotechnology and Water (FIBW) in 2015, he took over the laboratory management of the Bioprocess Technology and Applied Microbiology department. In 2020, he was finally promoted to Deputy Head of FIBW. From 2018 to 2023, Hageböck was also jointly responsible for the entire quality management system at VLB as Deputy Quality Management Officer.
Dr Martin Hageböck has been Head of the VLB Research Institute for Biotechnology and Water (FIBW) since 15 January 2024. In this role, he replaces Dr Martin Senz, who is now responsible for the Research Business Unit Development in VLB Research Coordination. At the same time, Dipl.-Ing. (Biotechnology) Sandra Dounia, who has been working as a research and teaching assistant at the VLB since 2010, has been appointed Deputy Head of FIBW. "I would like to thank the VLB management for their trust and look forward to the new challenge," says Martin Hageböck. "In addition to our expertise in the field of non-alcoholic, acid-fermented beverages, we would like to further intensify research into the utilisation of yeast biodiversity in the brewing and beverage industry in the future.
Dr Martin Hageböck has been Head of the VLB Research Institute for Biotechnology and Water (FIBW) since 15 January 2024. In this role, he replaces Dr Martin Senz, who is now responsible for the Research Business Unit Development in VLB Research Coordination. At the same time, Dipl.-Ing. (Biotechnology) Sandra Dounia, who has been working as a research and teaching assistant at the VLB since 2010, has been appointed Deputy Head of FIBW. "I would like to thank the VLB management for their trust and look forward to the new challenge," says Martin Hageböck. "In addition to our expertise in the field of non-alcoholic, acid-fermented beverages, we would like to further intensify research into the utilisation of yeast biodiversity in the brewing and beverage industry in the future.
"We are delighted that we have been able to recruit Dr Hageböck, an experienced scientist, to head up our FIBW and wish him, Ms Dounia and the institute every success," says VLB Managing Director Gerhard-Andreas Schreiber. "At the same time, we would like to thank Dr Senz for his excellent work over the past few years and look forward to developing many exciting new research projects with him." The declared aim of the research coordination is to strengthen the resilience of the VLB in the area of third-party funded research in the future. The VLB Research Institute for Biotechnology and Water is divided into the two departments "Water Quality, Management and Technology" and "Bioprocess Technology and Applied Microbiology". It operates the Biological Laboratory with its extensive collection of pure yeasts and starter cultures.
The VLB Research Institute for Biotechnology and Water currently employs 14 people. It is divided into the two departments "Water Quality, Management and Technology" and "Bioprocess Technology and Applied Microbiology". It operates the Biological Laboratory with its extensive collection of pure yeasts and starter cultures.
Dr Martin Hageböck, new head of the VLB Research Institute for Biotechnology and Water (FIBW).
Dipl.-Ing. (Biotechnology) Sandra Dounia, who has been working as a research and teaching assistant at the VLB since 2010, has been appointed deputy head of the FIBW.