Meet the speakers of our upcoming event

Dr. Thomas de Bang is a Danish plant scientist with a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry and postdoctoral training in plant genomics, plant biotechnology, and plant-microbe interactions. Over the past five years, he has played a key role in shaping the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s philanthropic support for research and innovation within sustainable agri-food systems.

Currently serving as Senior Scientific Lead at the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Dr. de Bang is responsible for overseeing both open competition and strategic grants across plant science, agriculture, food science, and industrial biotechnology. His work includes conceiving and executing strategic research initiatives, mapping key research areas for sustainable agriculture, managing relationships with applicants and research institutions, and supporting the Foundation’s scientific committees and major research centers.

Prior to this role, Dr. de Bang was an Assistant Professor at the University of Copenhagen, where he led a research program on plant-microbe interactions aimed at improving plant nutrient uptake and taught a project-based course in plant science and sustainable agriculture.