Shiwen Zhuang

Dr Shiwen Zhuang is a fermentation scientist with PhD in Brewing Science and industrial experience across the brewing and biotechnology sectors. He has worked in Carlsberg (Denmark), Calysta (UK) and Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) before joining Heriot-Watt in 2022, as a member of the International Centre for Brewing and Distilling (ICBD).

Previously, Shiwen was a Senior Fermentation Scientist and Team Leader at IBioIC, where he grew a fermentation team and led multiple client-facing fermentation scale-up projects from laboratory to pilot scale. He also designed and delivered the Centre's first fermentation training program for both academic and industrial users.

Prior to this, Shiwen was a Fermentation Engineer at Calysta UK Ltd, a global leader in sustainable single-cell protein production by fermenting natural gas (>90% methane). Shiwen co-led process development using a patented loop fermenter at a market introduction facility that underpinned successful commercialisation. He also led the development of a scaled-down gas fermentation bioreactor and laboratory, and supported international technology transfer in collaboration with investors and global operational teams. 

Shiwen is the leading author of a UKRI-funded guidance manual establishing a national best-practice framework for safety and risk management in gas fermentation research.