Thomas N. Harvey
NO

Curriculum vitae

Thomas Nelson Harvey

Researcher, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)
thomas.n.harvey@nmbu.no · ORCID 0000-0003-4882-2188

Profile

Molecular biologist with more than 16 years of combined industrial and academic research experience in functional genomics, genome-wide screening and genetic engineering.

At DSM Nutritional Products I investigated polyunsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis in oleaginous microorganisms and developed strain-engineering strategies to increase omega-3 and arachidonic acid production. At NMBU I have developed genome-wide CRISPR knockout screening platforms in pig and cattle cells – including one of the first maps of essential genes in a livestock genome – and I am now co-PI of the PetriFish project, which brings these approaches to Atlantic salmon.

A unifying theme of my work is developing molecular tools – from heterologous expression in single-celled organisms to CRISPR screens in animal cells – to understand and engineer complex biological systems.

Positions

  1. 2022–present

    Researcher

    Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) · Ås, Norway

    • Developing genome-wide screening methods in Atlantic salmon, pig and cattle
    • Co-PI of PetriFish, developing genome-wide CRISPR screens in Atlantic salmon
    • Course responsible for BIO200, BIO302 and co-course responsible for BIO322
  2. 2019–2022

    Postdoctoral researcher

    Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) · Ås, Norway

    • Developed CRISPR-based genome-wide screening in pig and cattle cells
    • Studied interactions between pig cells and α-hemolysin toxin from enterotoxigenic E. coli
    • Developed transfection methods for Atlantic salmon primary hepatocytes
  3. 2015–2019

    PhD candidate

    Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) · Ås, Norway

    • Studied lipid metabolism in Atlantic salmon fed vegetable oil-based diets
    • Developed an ex vivo liver slice culture system to study hepatic metabolism
    • Analysed large transcriptomic and metabolomic datasets on the effects of diet and life stage
  4. 2012–2015

    Scientist, Strain Engineering

    DSM Nutritional Products · Columbia, MD, USA

    • Studied the molecular mechanisms of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) production in heterotrophic microalgae
    • Developed engineering strategies to increase arachidonic acid levels in the fungus Mortierella alpina
    • Designed heterologous expression systems to dissect PUFA synthesis pathways
    • Managed international and domestic technology transfer
  5. 2011–2012

    Research Associate

    Novavax · Rockville, MD, USA

    • Improved methods for producing baculovirus and virus-like particles (VLPs) for vaccine development
  6. 2010–2011

    Graduate Researcher

    University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) · Baltimore, MD, USA

    • Studied the methane metabolism pathway of the bacterium Planctomyces limnophilus
  7. 2010

    Molecular Biology Intern

    Viracine Therapeutics · Columbia, MD, USA

Education

  1. 2015–2019

    PhD, Molecular Genetics

    Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) · Ås, Norway

  2. 2010–2011

    MSc, Applied Molecular Biology

    University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) · Baltimore, MD, USA

  3. 2008–2010

    BSc, Biology

    University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) · Baltimore, MD, USA

Research projects and funding

  1. 2024–present

    PetriFish: CRISPR screening to reduce challenge testing in aquaculture

    Co-PI · Norwegian Seafood Research Fund (FHF) · NOK 7.2 million

  2. 2025–present

    Secrets of Giant Microalgal Genomes: Sequencing and annotating the genome of Crypthecodinium cohnii

    Co-PI · Peder Sather Center for Advanced Study, UC Berkeley · USD 20,000

Awards and recognition

  1. 2026

    Selected for the Career Development Programme for early-career researchers

    Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)

    A competitive two-year programme for promising researchers from across the university.

  2. 2019

    Best poster prize

    International Conference on Integrative Salmonid Biology, Edinburgh, UK

    “Liver slice culture as a model for lipid metabolism in fish” (one of ~50 posters)

  3. 2017

    Best poster prize

    Euro Fed Lipid Congress, Uppsala, Sweden

    “Precision cut liver slice culture as a platform for studying lipid metabolism in Atlantic salmon” (one of ~200 posters)

Teaching

  1. 2023–present

    BIO200: Molecular genetics in eukaryotes

    Course responsible · ~75 students per semester

  2. 2026–present

    BIO302: Introduction course for master’s students

    Course responsible · ~50 students per semester

  3. 2022–present

    BIO322: Advanced topics in genomics

    Co-course responsible (lecturer 2022–2024) · ~50 students per semester

  4. 2023–present

    BIO325: CRISPR genome editing

    Lecturer · ~30 students per semester

Supervision

  1. 2026–present

    Sigrid Hoven

    PhD candidate · Co-supervisor

  2. 2026–present

    Luana Hernández Wolters

    PhD candidate · Co-supervisor

  3. 2021–2025

    Mohammad Ali Noman Reza

    PhD candidate · Co-supervisor

  4. 9 master’s students as main supervisor (2020–present)

  5. 5 master’s students as co-supervisor (2019–present)

Service and academic duties

  1. 2023–2025

    Member, Research Committee

    Faculty of Biosciences, NMBU

  2. 2020–

    Peer review

    Reviewer for: Communications Biology, BMC Genomics, Journal of Comparative Physiology B, Scientific Reports, Frontiers in Marine Science, Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part D, Journal of Endocrinology

Professional development

  1. 2024

    PhD supervision course

    Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)

Languages

  • English – native
  • Norwegian (bokmål) – B1, intermediate (CEFR)

Publications

Google Scholar (October 2026): 284 citations, h-index 11. See the full publication list