Management Team – Technical
Microbial Solutions was founded by Prof. Ian Thompson (now at the University of Oxford) and Dr Christopher van der Gast of the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology who remain members of the Company’s Scientific Advisory Board.
IAN THOMPSON: ACADEMIC FOUNDER & NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Ian Thompson has over 25 years’ research experience in the field of environmental microbiology and biotechnology and has authored over 100 peer reviewed scientific publications. Ian is senior staff at the NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, and also a Senior Visiting Fellow at NASA and an Honorary Professor at the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Aberdeen, one of the UK’s foremost centres for research in the field of environmental microbiology. He is currently on secondment to the Engineering Department of Oxford University.
CHRIS VAN DER GAST: ACADEMIC FOUNDER & NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Christopher van der Gast is a senior scientific officer at CEH Oxford in the field of environmental biotechnology, microbiology and ecology. With an international reputation in environmental microbiology he has had many papers published in high-impact peer-reviewed journals including Science. Chris’ research in environmental microbiology has also been highlighted in New Scientist, Science, and Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. As an academic, with over ten year’s experience of working closely with industry, he was responsible for the research and development that led to the Microbial Solutions technology. Chris has a PhD in Microbial Ecology from Oxford University.
DUANE AGER, CHIEF SCIENTIFIC OFFICER
Duane has a PhD in Environmental Microbiology from CEH Oxford. He has had a close working relationship with the academic founders, and has been involved in the developing the MSL technology. Duane has commercial experience in the microbiology sector, including managing a microbiology QC lab for the food industry and developing bacterial biosensors for a University spinout.
