The Team Behind Continuous Chromatography

Dr. Thomas Müller-Späth stands at the forefront of the shift from batch to continuous manufacturing in biopharma. As CEO of YMC ChromaCon, he combines deep chemical engineering expertise with a strategic vision to industrialize process intensification technologies.

Scientific Roots & The Birth of MCSGP:

Thomas holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich), where he conducted his doctoral research in the renowned Morbidelli Group. It was here that he helped pioneer Multi-column Counter-current Solvent Gradient Purification (MCSGP)—a technology now regarded as a benchmark for solving difficult purification trade-offs.

Education:

PhD, ETH Zurich; Dipl.-Ing., Technical University of Hamburg; Exchange Student, University of California, Berkeley.

Research Focus:

Continuous chromatography, process modeling, and the purification of complex biomolecules.

From Concept to Industrial Standard:

Co-founding ChromaCon in 2006, Thomas was instrumental in translating complex academic concepts into the robust Contichrom® hardware platform. He has guided the technology from bench-top curiosity to a GMP-ready manufacturing solution used by leading pharma companies worldwide. His work has been critical in proving that continuous processes (such as CaptureSMB for mAbs and MCSGP for peptides/oligonucleotides) can significantly reduce CAPEX/OPEX while improving product quality.

Thought Leadership:

Thomas remains an active contributor to the scientific community. He is an inventor on multiple core patents in continuous processing and has authored over 30 scientific publications. He is a frequent speaker at major industry conferences (TIDES, SPICA, PREP), where he advocates for the economic and technical benefits of continuous downstream processing.

The Architect of Intelligent Purification As Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Lars Aumann leads the development of the software and process control strategies that power ChromaCon’s systems. He is responsible for translating complex chromatographic theory into the user-friendly, automated tools that allow the Contichrom® platform to outperform traditional batch systems.

From Theory to Dynamic Control:

Lars earned his PhD at ETH Zurich in the Morbidelli Group, where he played a pivotal role in the invention of MCSGP (Multi-column Counter-current Solvent Gradient Purification). His research went beyond the hardware; he focused on the dynamics of continuous processes, developing the fundamental algorithms that would become YMC ChromaCon’s proprietary dynamic process controllers (such as AutomAb and AutoPeak).

Driving Innovation At ChromaCon, Lars bridges the gap between chemical engineering and software development. He oversees the evolution of the ChromIQ operating software, ensuring that complex continuous processes can be run with ease in GMP environments. His work is critical for customers looking to implement digital twins and advanced process modeling in their purification workflows.

Key Expertise:

Dynamic Process Control (PAT) & Automation

Chromatographic Process Modeling & Simulation

Continuous Process Design (Twin-Column Technology)

As Head of R&D at YMC ChromaCon, Dr. Sebastian Vogg leads the development of continuous chromatography solutions. His work focuses on process intensification and the integration of digital tools and automation into manufacturing workflows.

Background

Sebastian studied chemical engineering at ETH Zurich, with his Master’s thesis research conducted at MIT in the group of Gregory Stephanopoulos. He completed his PhD at ETH Zurich in the Morbidelli Group, specializing in continuous and integrated biomanufacturing and frontal chromatography.

Work at YMC ChromaCon Sebastian leads the research and development team working on technologies such as MCSGP and CaptureSMB, and automated control approaches for these processes. His work covers the breadth of continuous chromatography development – from equipment and software to the methodologies used to bring new purification processes to manufacturing – helping customers modernize, intensify and automate their downstream processing.

Key Areas of Expertise:

Continuous and Integrated Biomanufacturing

Continuous Chromatography

Mechanistic Modeling & Process Simulation

Jennifer Kamer keeps YMC ChromaCon running with the same precision the company demands of its science. As Head of Administration, she is the operational backbone of the organization—overseeing finance, supply chain, order processing, and human resources with quiet efficiency and deep expertise.

A Career Built Across Industries:

Jennifer’s professional journey began with a commercial apprenticeship—including a vocational baccalaureate—at a notary’s office in the canton of Zurich, grounding her in the financial and legal discipline that has defined her career. She went on to lead print and outdoor advertising at a major media agency before stepping into senior leadership as Head of Administration and Deputy CEO of Simba-Dickie (Switzerland) AG, the Swiss subsidiary of the international Simba Group. She later led the Swiss branch of Keyser & Mackay, a raw materials distributor, rounding out her expertise in supply chain and business operations.

The Engine Behind the Organization:

At YMC ChromaCon, Jennifer holds sole responsibility for accounting, accounts receivable and payable, financial reporting, purchasing, and order management from preparation through billing. She also carries administrative responsibility for human resources, overseeing on- and offboarding processes. Her cross-industry background—spanning legal, media, consumer goods, and distribution—gives her a uniquely broad perspective, ensuring that YMC ChromaCon’s commercial and operational processes are always one step ahead.

As Head of Quality at YMC ChromaCon, Dr Thomas Hug serves as the guardian of our operational excellence. In an industry where purity and reproducibility are paramount, Thomas ensures that every Contichrom® system and consumable meets the rigorous standards required by our biopharmaceutical partners.

The Bridge Between Innovation and Compliance:

Thomas oversees YMC ChromaCon’s ISO 9001:2015 certified Quality Management System (QMS). He plays a critical role in bridging the gap between our rapid R&D innovation and the regulated realities of the GMP manufacturing environment. His leadership ensures that our internal processes—from supply chain qualification to final equipment testing—are robust, traceable, and scalable.

Commitment to the Customer:

Beyond internal audits, Thomas is the primary advocate for customer quality assurance. He leads our continuous improvement initiatives, ensuring that feedback from the field is systematically integrated into our manufacturing protocols. His work guarantees that when a customer installs a YMC ChromaCon system, they are investing in Swiss quality they can trust.

Key Responsibilities:

Oversight of ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System

Supplier Qualification & Supply Chain Integrity

GMP Compliance Strategy & Internal Audits

Dr. Giulio Lievore brings a unique “scientist-first” approach to his role as Account Manager for Europe. Unlike traditional sales representatives, Giulio holds a PhD in Chemical Sciences, where his research specifically focused on the transition from batch to continuous chromatography for therapeutic peptides.

A Deep Technical Partner:

Before joining the commercial team, Giulio was an active researcher in the field of purification. He has co-authored numerous peer-reviewed publications on MCSGP and N-Rich technologies, working alongside the inventors of the Contichrom® platform. This deep technical DNA allows him to act as a consultant to our partners, helping them not just buy a system, but design a more efficient process.

Solving Real-World Challenges:

Giulio specializes in helping European biopharma companies scale up their purification of oligonucleotides, peptides and biologics. He works closely with process engineers to analyze their current bottlenecks and model how YMC ChromaCon’s twin-column technology can improve their yield and purity.

Key Areas of Expertise:

Peptide, Oligonucleotide & Biologics Purification Strategies

N-Rich Process for Impurity Isolation

Process Economics & Scale-up Analysis