Roman Netzer

Roman Netzer is a Senior Research Scientist in aquaculture at SINTEF Ocean, specialising in microbiology. He is a trained biologist and completed his PhD in biology at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, followed by postdoctoral research in microbial biotechnology at Forschungszentrum Jülich in Germany.

Over more than a decade in aquaculture research, he has worked extensively on biological and physico-chemical water quality in land-based aquaculture systems. His work ranges from microbiota research and pathogen diagnostics (PCR, RT-qPCR and digital PCR) to water treatment, including oxygenation using ultra-fine-bubble technology and disinfection with UV, ozone and hydrogen peroxide. A particular focus has been on understanding and reducing risks such as hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) formation in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS).

He has led numerous R&D projects in close collaboration with the aquaculture industry, with an emphasis on translating microbiological and water-chemistry knowledge into improved and safer smolt production.