Dr. Jens Nielsen earned his Ph.D. in Biochemical Engineering from the Danish Technical University (DTU) in 1989, and went on to create his own research group and be promoted to full Professor in 1998. In 1995-1996, he was a Fulbright visiting professor at MIT.

Dr. Nielsen established and led the Center for Microbial Biotechnology at DTU.
He was hired as a Professor and Director at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden in 2008. Jens is a member of various academies, including the National Academy of Engineering in the United States and the Royal Swedish Academy of Science. He has received numerous Danish and international prizes, including the Nature Mentor Award.