prof. dr. J.W.A. (John) Rossen

Prof. Dr. John W.A. Rossen, born in 1966, is a distinguished Professor in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control at the University of Groningen and the Laboratory for Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at Isala Hospital in Zwolle, the Netherlands. With over three decades of expertise in molecular biology, virology, and microbiology, he has contributed significantly to the field with over 235 peer-reviewed research articles. Prof. Rossen is renowned for his pioneering use of next-generation sequencing (NGS) in clinical microbiology and infection prevention, enhancing pathogen identification and control measures through advanced molecular techniques.

 His academic journey includes a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Physics and a Master of Science in Biology, both from Utrecht University, where he also completed his Ph.D. in Molecular Virology and Cell Biology in 1996, focusing on coronavirus-host cell interactions. Prof. Rossen's career is marked by notable leadership roles such as Chairman of several scientific study groups, Member of the faculty council, Director of R&D and Head of Microbiology & Product Strategy at IDbyDNA, and Scientific Lead of a 7 million euro European project. He has also supervised 24 Ph.D. students, highlighting his commitment to mentoring the next generation of scientists.

 During 2020-2021, Prof. Rossen expanded his expertise in metagenomics as a sabbatical appointee at IDbyDNA in the U.S., and continues to serve as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Utah School of Medicine. His research group, Personalised Antimicrobial Resistance, Genomics, and Epidemiology (PAGE), employs a One Health approach to study microbial samples from diverse sources, furthering our understanding of antimicrobial resistance and pathogen dynamics.

Additionally, Prof. Rossen holds positions as Science Development Coordinator at Isala Hospital, Education Officer of the ESCMID Study Group for Genomic and Molecular Diagnostics, and Associate Editor for the journal JAC-Antimicrobial Resistance. His work not only advances the field of medical microbiology but also effectively bridges the gap between scientific research and clinical application, ensuring safer public health strategies and innovative solutions to infectious disease challenges.