An experienced biotechnologist, Dr. Sophie Roelants co-founded AmphiStar in 2021. Initially serving as CEO, Sophie moved to the COO role where she uses her experience of leading complex scientific investigations in line with commercial needs and interests to best manage the company’s innovations in the biosurfactants field. Prior to co-founding AmphiStar, Sophie earned a PhD in Applied Biological Sciences in 2013. After her PhD, she set up and managed a unique R&D collaboration between the University of Ghent (InBio research group) and the Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant. In addition, she set up and managed business development activities related to the joint biosurfactant technology package. As a result, she initiated and managed several (inter) national projects related to the development and scale up of microbial biosurfactant production processes as well as application development. Sophie’s record as a researcher has resulted in more than 60 peer-reviewed publications, five book chapters and the co-inventorship of multiple patents. She has co-promoted several PhD students performing research on the development of the biosurfactant platform technology. With her extensive experience in the biosurfactants field, Sophie is instrumental in propelling AmphiStar forward as it develops more effective production methods and higher-performance biosurfactants in years to come.

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