World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!
Award Badge
Microbiology
Belgium
2026
Award Badge
Biology and Biochemistry
Belgium
2023

D-Index & Metrics

Microbiology

D-Index
127
Citations
56260
World Ranking
95
National Ranking
3

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2026 - Research.com Microbiology in Belgium Leader Award
  • 2025 - Research.com Microbiology in Belgium Leader Award
  • 2023 - Research.com Biology and Biochemistry in Belgium Leader Award
  • 2022 - Research.com Biology and Biochemistry in Belgium Leader Award

Overview

Nico Boon is affiliated with Ghent University in Belgium, focusing their research on various aspects of environmental science. Their work spans prominently across molecular biology, biomedical engineering, pollution, ecology, and environmental engineering. The main fields of study in their publications show considerable focus on environmental science and its interdisciplinary subfields.

The primary topics covered in their research include:

  • Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
  • Gut microbiota and health
  • Water Treatment and Disinfection
  • Microbial Applications in Construction Materials
  • Wastewater Treatment and Nitrogen Removal
  • Oral microbiology and periodontitis research
  • Building materials and conservation

Their recent publications highlight contributions to microbial ecology, environmental microbiology, and biotechnology. Notable papers include:

  • MiDAS 4: A global catalogue of full-length 16S rRNA gene sequences and taxonomy for studies of bacterial communities in wastewater treatment plants (2022) published in Nature Communications
  • Vertical Farming: The Only Way Is Up? (2021) published in Agronomy
  • Oral biofilms exposure to chlorhexidine results in altered microbial composition and metabolic profile (2020) published in npj Biofilms and Microbiomes
  • Genomic and enzymatic evidence of acetogenesis by anaerobic methanotrophic archaea (2020) published in Nature Communications
  • Viability determination of Bacillus sphaericus after encapsulation in hydrogel for self-healing concrete via microcalorimetry and in situ oxygen concentration measurements (2021) published in Cement and Concrete Composites

Frequent coauthors working with Nico Boon include:

  • Wim Teughels
  • Bart De Gusseme
  • Nele De Belie
  • Kristel Bernaerts
  • Jo De Vrieze

Their publications appear in numerous scientific venues, with repeated contributions to the following:

  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
  • Water Research
  • SSRN Electronic Journal
  • Applied and Environmental Microbiology
  • Nature Communications

This body of work reflects a sustained engagement with environmental and microbial sciences, particularly focusing on microbial communities, biofilms, water quality, and novel applications of microbes in construction and agriculture. Their research outputs contribute to broader themes of sustainability and environmental management within these scientific domains.

Best Publications

  • Biofuel Cells Select for Microbial Consortia That Self-Mediate Electron Transfer

    Korneel Rabaey;Nico Boon;Steven D. Siciliano;Marc Verhaege

  • Microbial phenazine production enhances electron transfer in biofuel cells

    Korneel Rabaey;Nico Boon;Monica Höfte;Willy Verstraete

  • The basics of bio-flocs technology: The added value for aquaculture

    P. De Schryver;R. Crab;T. Defoirdt;N. Boon

  • Continuous Electricity Generation at High Voltages and Currents Using Stacked Microbial Fuel Cells

    Peter Aelterman;Korneel Rabaey;Nico Boon

  • Initial community evenness favours functionality under selective stress

    Lieven Wittebolle;Massimo Marzorati;Lieven Clement;Annalisa Balloi

  • Biological denitrification in microbial fuel cells.

    Peter Clauwaert;Korneel Rabaey;Peter Aelterman;Liesje De Schamphelaire

  • Chemical and biological technologies for hydrogen sulfide emission control in sewer systems: a review.

    Lehua Zhang;Peter De Schryver;Bart De Gusseme;Willem De Muynck

  • Methanosarcina: the rediscovered methanogen for heavy duty biomethanation.

    Jo De Vrieze;Tom Hennebel;Nico Boon;Willy Verstraete

  • Environmental factors shaping the ecological niches of ammonia-oxidizing archaea

    Tuba H. Erguder;Nico Boon;Lieven Wittebolle;Massimo Marzorati

  • How to get more out of molecular fingerprints: practical tools for microbial ecology.

    Massimo Marzorati;Lieven Wittebolle;Nico Boon;Daniele Daffonchio

  • Strain-Specific Ureolytic Microbial Calcium Carbonate Precipitation

    Frederik Hammes;Nico Boon;Johan de Villiers;Willy Verstraete

  • Microbial Fuel Cells in Relation to Conventional Anaerobic Digestion Technology

    T. H. Pham;K. Rabaey;P. Aelterman;P. Clauwaert

  • Microbial fuel cells for sulfide removal.

    Korneel Rabaey;Kirsten Van de Sompel;Lois Maignien;Nico Boon

  • Evaluation of nested PCR–DGGE (denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis) with group-specific 16S rRNA primers for the analysis of bacterial communities from different wastewater treatment plants

    Nico Boon;Wim De Windt;Willy Verstraete;Eva M. Top

  • Alternatives to antibiotics to control bacterial infections: luminescent vibriosis in aquaculture as an example

    Tom Defoirdt;Nico Boon;Patrick Sorgeloos;Willy Verstraete

  • Open air biocathode enables effective electricity generation with microbial fuel cells

    Peter Clauwaert;David van der Ha;Nico Boon;Kim Verbeken

  • Loading rate and external resistance control the electricity generation of microbial fuel cells with different three-dimensional anodes

    Peter Aelterman;Mathias Versichele;Massimo Marzorati;Nico Boon

  • Lactic acid bacteria as reducing and capping agent for the fast and efficient production of silver nanoparticles

    Liesje Sintubin;Wim De Windt;Jan Dick;Jan Mast

  • Bioaugmentation of Activated Sludge by an Indigenous 3-Chloroaniline-Degrading Comamonas testosteroni Strain, I2gfp

    Nico Boon;Johan Goris;Paul De Vos;Willy Verstraete

  • Butyrate-producing bacteria supplemented in vitro to Crohn’s disease patient microbiota increased butyrate production and enhanced intestinal epithelial barrier integrity

    Annelies Geirnaert;Annelies Geirnaert;Marta Calatayud;Charlotte Grootaert;Debby Laukens

  • Microbial fuel cells generating electricity from rhizodeposits of rice plants.

    Liesje De Schamphelaire;Leen Van den Bossche;Hai Son Dang;Monica Höfte

Frequent Co-Authors

Willy Verstraete
Willy Verstraete Ghent University
Siegfried E. Vlaeminck
Siegfried E. Vlaeminck University of Antwerp
Tom Van de Wiele
Tom Van de Wiele Ghent University
Korneel Rabaey
Korneel Rabaey Ghent University
Nele De Belie
Nele De Belie Ghent University
Peter Bossier
Peter Bossier Ghent University
Tom Defoirdt
Tom Defoirdt Ghent University
Paul De Vos
Paul De Vos Ghent University
Pascal Boeckx
Pascal Boeckx Ghent University
Marc Quirynen
Marc Quirynen KU Leuven

If you think any of the details on this page are incorrect, let us know.

Report an issue

We appreciate your kind effort to assist us to improve this page, it would be helpful providing us with as much detail as possible in the text box below:

Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

For students studying Microbiology in the USA, exploring related fields such as health information management and medical coding can open diverse career pathways. Many professionals complement their science background by pursuing certifications like the certified professional coder certification, which equips them with specialized skills that are highly valued in healthcare settings.

Additionally, a master in health information management salary tends to be competitive, reflecting the demand for experts who can manage complex health data. Many students opt for an accredited online health information management degree cahiim, which offers flexibility and important accreditation recognized by employers nationwide.

For those seeking quicker entry into the field, online certificate options like the online medical billing and coding certificate fast programs provide efficient pathways to gain essential credentials and start working sooner. These combined options highlight how microbiology graduates can diversify and enhance their career prospects within the healthcare industry.

Best Scientists Citing Nico Boon

Trending Scientists

Recently Published Articles