Prof Robbie Pott from the Department of Chemical Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering at Stellenbosch University delivered his inaugural lecture on Thursday 5 June 2025. The title of his lecture was ‘From laboratory to lecture hall: developing bioprocesses and students’.
Pott spoke to the Corporate Communication and Marketing Division about how his work in bioprocess engineering is aimed at finding real solutions to real problems. He also talked about his passion for mentoring and nurturing the next generation of engineers.
Tell us more about your research and why you became interested in this specific field.
My research lies at the intersection of biotechnology, molecular biology and bioprocess engineering, with a significant branch in engineering education. I’ve always been drawn to the transformative potential of biological systems, and how we can harness them to produce new materials and products. And in my time as an academic, I have also become passionate about how we train future engineers to deal with complex, interdisciplinary challenges. This led me to research not just the technical aspects of bioprocesses, but also how we develop the kind of thinking, problem-solving and resilience that engineers need.
How would you describe the relevance of your work?
On the bioprocessing side, my work has frequently pointed towards application. My work often straddles between academic interest and commercialisation. The idea of innovation driving entrepreneurship underpins much of my research. Real solutions for real problems, situated in a South African context. On the education side, this is where I believe I may have the biggest impact over time. We need engineers who can not only work across disciplines but also adapt, collaborate and persevere in the face of complex, evolving problems—and I hope that I have had a hand in training, developing and motivating these engineers.
What are some of the practical solutions bioprocess engineering can provide for real-world challenges?
Bioprocess engineering as a field has given society access to products as varied as wine to vaccines. The approach of using organisms as catalysts and biomass as a source of useful compounds has a long history, and with the advent of new molecular biological tools there will only be more opportunities.
In terms of my own work, I’m happy to say that several of the projects I have worked on are starting to find application industrially. Some examples include antifungal lipopeptide biosurfactants (soapy molecules), which provide a natural method to extend the shelf life of harvested fruit. These biosurfactants are safe for consumption and effectively inhibit mould growth—offering a sustainable alternative to synthetic preservatives in the South African fruit industry. In another application of the same class of materials, lipopeptides can act as flotation agents in the recovery of heavy metals from mine wastewaters. In a third biosurfactant example, we have developed a process to produce a biosurfactant that can be used in skincare, particularly in the treatment of eczema.
In a slightly different direction, we developed a method for extracting the valuable polyphenolic compounds (natural plant chemicals which have been linked to various health benefits) from wine wastes. In a similar vein, we have worked on developing a new biostimulant product from kelp—producing and extracting bioactive compounds from the abundant and renewable seaweed resource on our coasts.
Looking into your crystal ball, what developments do you see in the field of bioprocess engineering research?
I see there are many routes for innovation in this space—from the microorganism to the developed bioprocess. We will continue to bioprospect for new organisms, with interesting and useful properties. The world is filled with a multitude of organisms, and we have only discovered or investigated a tiny fraction. Secondly, the advent of new molecular biological tools gives us the possibility to reach into the cellular machinery, to modify and improve for precision biomanufacturing. With the advent of machine learning, the modification of cellular machinery will only be enhanced through clever AI use.
However, what interests me more is the application of these discoveries—to take interesting science and make it useful science. To this end, scale-up, novel bioreactor systems and process approaches will be needed. I envisage processes becoming more modular, decentralised and digitally optimised, allowing them to be deployed closer to material sources and tailored to local needs.
You have spent many years in the challenging environment of higher education. What keeps you motivated when things get tough?
As the problems we tackle become more complex and uncertain, so too must our approaches to preparing future (bioprocess) engineers. That includes more emphasis on resilience, innovation under constraints, and economic-socio-environmental-technical integration. My major motivation is how I see my students rise to these challenges.
At a postgraduate level, I see myself as a research partner with my students, and together we investigate and develop. What a privilege! To live the life of the mind with my students, and vicariously through them.
In terms of my undergraduates, although our expanding classes are a challenge, their enthusiasm and drive remind me why I chose this profession. They bring fresh energy, ask sharp questions (okay, sometimes not always such great questions! But there is (almost) no such thing as a stupid question) and constantly push me to reflect on how I teach and communicate complex ideas.
In short, I stay motivated because I believe the work matters, and because I see the impact we can have, not just through my own research work, but in the lives and impacts our students make.
You’re not just an eminent researcher—you also mentor and nurture students. What do you find most satisfying about that part of your work?
What I find most satisfying about mentoring and nurturing students is witnessing their transformation from uncertain beginners to confident, capable professionals who begin to see themselves as contributors to their field. It’s not just about guiding research or improving technical skills; it’s about helping students discover their own resilience, voice and interest. My own success is driven by the success of my students—I am invested in their success, I am invested in creating a research group in which they can grow and learn, and I am invested in their future success. And that investment has paid dividends in spades.
More broadly, what aspects of your work do you enjoy the most?
My favourite moment is when confronted with a problem—such as an industry partner approaching and saying we are having such and such issue—and then sitting and brainstorming possible solutions. Creating new knowledge in response to a challenge. Proper testing follows and vindication of the solution, or back to the brainstorm. The cycle is invigorating (and sometimes frustrating).
Tell us something exciting about yourself that people would not expect.
I am one of the owners of Unlock Escape Rooms, a company based here in Eikestad Mall. We designed three exciting and immersive escape rooms (and have another on the way). For those who don’t know what an escape room is: if you’ve ever played a board game and imagined stepping into it for real, that’s the essence of an escape room. Participants enter a themed, immersive environment and are given just one hour to complete the storyline. It feels like stepping into a live-action adventure—every detail is designed to pull you into the story.
How do you spend your free time?
Recently, I’ve been spending quite a lot of my free time training—I’m going to the World 10 Dance Championships representing South Africa in September. But in general, I’m a fan of hiking with my partner and our little dog or cooking up a storm!
Photo by Ignus Dreyer
(Article by the Corporate Communication and Marketing Department)
