Prof. Emile van Zyl is a research leader in South Africa with significant international recognition in the engineering of cellulolytic yeast for biofuel production. He published 114 papers in peer-reviewed international journals and is co-inventor on 21 joint international patents. More than 50 PhD and Master’s students completed their degrees under his supervision.

Prof. van Zyl has established collaboration with researchers in Europe, the USA and Brazil. Prof. van Zyl’s group has conducting research for Mascoma Corporation in the USA towards commercializing cellulosic yeasts for bioethanol production from 2007 to 2010. As Senior Chair of Energy Research (CoER): Biofuels he is steering a large research programme towards developing technologies for the conversion of cellulosic plant biomass to biofuels. He programme also focuses on human capital development with a strong scientific and engineering training, interacts with South African experts from industry, businesses and NGOs.

Prof. van Zyl has initiated a strategic programme from Stellenbosch University involving NEPAD and the Research Foundation of Sao Paulo State (FAPESP), Brazil as partners for sustainable biofuels production in southern Africa, integrated with stable food production and social development.