Philippe Soucaille
CTO, Celluol
Philippe Soucaille joins the Breakthrough Energy Fellows program from Celluol in Toulouse, France. Philippe has dedicated his entire career – as an academic, project leader, and CSO – to understanding the physiology of industrial bacteria and applying this knowledge to the development of new biological processes for the production of bulk chemicals. As CTO, he will play a key role in advancing the technology and business of Celluol.
Celluol’s technology focuses on the conversion of underutilized waste biomass such as agricultural and forest residues into fuels and chemicals. Celluol has engineered a bacterium which is able to directly convert these residues into ethanol, significantly simplifying and reducing costs compared to current technologies. Throughout the program Tom and Philippe will focus on continuing to i) engineer their bacteria and ii) develop the overall bioprocess.
Philippe is a former avid runner who now enjoys hiking and skiing in the Alps. He holds Chairs in Synthetic Biology and Metabolic Engineering at both the University of Toulouse and the University of Nottingham. Philippe earned a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Biochemical Engineering from INSA Toulouse, as well as a PhD in Microbial Physiology and a Habilitation in Metabolic Engineering from the University of Toulouse.
Q&A
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
Never give up in the face of difficulties. Challenges are opportunities for growth, and overcoming them not only builds resilience but also makes you stronger and more capable.
What is the most impactful book that you have read?
Chance and Necessity: Essay on the Natural Philosophy of Modern Biology by Nobel prize winner Jacques Monod.
What is your favorite word and why?
Curiosity. For me, this is the essence of scientific research, which translates into a desire to explore, discover and understand.
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