Introduction to Industrial Biotechnology

Ilya Digel, Ph.D. is a full professor and Executive Director of the Institute for Bioengineering at FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences, Germany. He earned his doctorate in microbiology from Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in Almaty, Kazakhstan, in 1998. Since joining FH Aachen in 2002, he has taught and researched cell biology and biophysics, offering undergraduate and graduate courses in molecular cell biology, medical biophysics, and experimental biotechnology. Promoted to full professor in 2018, Digel has played a key role in developing interdisciplinary programs that bridge biology, physics, and engineering. His research centers on molecular, cellular, and medical biophysics, with a focus on diagnostic and therapeutic technologies such as biosensors, biophotonic imaging, and cell diagnostics. He actively mentors students and junior researchers and promotes applied research in collaboration with industry. Digel advocates for science-driven education and the practical application of bioengineering innovations. Aida Kistaubayeva, Ph.D., is Head of the Biotechnology Department at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. A leading expert in industrial and microbial biotechnology, she coordinates academic programs in Biotechnology, Biological Engineering, and a double-degree in Food Biotechnology with Belgorod State University (Russia) and the University of Lille (France). Her research includes microbial biotechnology, biopreparations, and biomaterials, and she leads several national projects funded by Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Science and Higher Education. She also heads an international collaboration with Norway aimed at enhancing research-based education in microbial biotechnology. Kistaubayeva represents Kazakhstan in the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World and has completed international training supported by the World Bank, British Council, and the First President’s Foundation. Her expertise spans food safety, ISO Codex Alimentarius standards, molecular microbiology, and academic leadership. Irina Savitskaya, Doctor of Biological Sciences, is a Professor in the Department of Biotechnology at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. She teaches courses in Industrial Biotechnology, Processes and Apparatuses in Biotechnology, and Food Biotechnology across all academic levels. Her research focuses on functional food products using polysaccharide matrices with immobilized probiotic biofilms. Savitskaya is an active participant in international conferences and has authored over 100 publications, including 10 teaching manuals and two monographs—one published in Japan. Her work is protected by 6 Kazakhstani and 4 international patents. She contributes significantly to biotechnology education and research in Kazakhstan through her academic, scientific, and methodological efforts. Nuraly S. Akimbekov, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Biotechnology at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. He holds degrees in Environmental Sciences and Biotechnology and completed postdoctoral research at both Al-Farabi and FH Aachen. He has served as a visiting professor in Russia and China and participated in FH Aachen’s “500 Scientists” Program. His research spans geomicrobiology for green energy, environmental remediation, agriculture, and food systems. Akimbekov has authored over 10 books, including textbooks on Microbiology and Virology, and maintains a strong academic foundation in biology and biotechnology.