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MATIS-Prokaria
MATIS-Prokaria is a private, non-profit, food research biotech company, and is a fully owned by the Icelandic Government. The purpose of the company is to carry out research and innovation in topics such as food safety, biotechnology, environment, public health and food processing. Matis-Prokaria is leader in DNA isolation from difficult samples and in sequenced-based discovery and screening of natural diversity from extreme environments. The company uses DNA sequencing and bioinformatics to discover, develop and commercialise genes, enzymes and small molecules. Matis-Prokaria offer DNA analytical services to domestic and international customers for fish, other animals and environment samples. This includes species identification from environmental samples, tracing of parents, origin and species of fish and other animals for breeding. The number of employees is approx. 90, most of whom are university graduates. The head office is in Reykjavik, with regional activities in six other locations around Iceland (Isafjordur, Saudarkrokur, Akureyri, Neskaupstadur, Hofn and Vestmannaeyjar).
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Dr. Viggó Thór Marteinsson Ph.D. Head of Department of Microbiological Research in the Division of Food Safety, Environment and Health, MATIS-PROKARIA ohf. (2007-present). Consultant for the Icelandic International Development Agency (ICEIDA) (2006-present). Director of the Laboratory in Environment and Food Agency of Iceland (2005-2007). Consultant for Prokaria Ltd. (2005-2006). Project manager of biodiversity, head of microbiology research Prokaria Ltd. (1999 – 2005). He was a research scientist: in the Department of Cell Biology at the University Hospital in Reykjavik (1988-1989), in Biotechnology Department of Technological Institute of Iceland, (1989-1992 & 1997-1999), Lecturer in Microbiology at the University of Iceland (1998-present). Supervised numbers of MSc. students and one Ph.D. He has B.Sc. in Biology (University of Iceland, 1987) and a Ph.D. in Marine Biology (Microbiology) from Université de Bretagne Occidentale (Station Biologique de Roscoff), France (1997). He has served on the board of the Icelandic Microbiological Society (TIMS) and has been the chairman since 2004. He has a long experience of working in extreme environments and has participated in number of national and international oceanic cruises and field trips. He has participated in number of national and international research projects and has over 30 peer-reviewed international publications and 4 patents.