Core R&D Labs

Staffed by professional scientists and equipped with advanced resources, our Core R&D Labs accelerate our entire research portfolio. These teams develop new methods, collect experimental data, and help interpret results. These activities are not available for external contract work.

Digital Research Core

When it comes to designing new biomolecules, our computational resources are second to none. Equipped with high-performance computing capabilities and our own advanced molecular modeling and design software, our researchers are uniquely positioned to fast-track their work. This digital backbone allows us to optimize molecules and simulate experimental outcomes before we even set foot in the lab, ensuring our research is both groundbreaking and efficient.

Luki Goldschmidt, PhD
Head of Digital Strategy

Patrick Vecchiato

Sr. Computer Specialist

Undergraduate Assistants: Brandon Bui,Justin Laurence Callejo, Anushka Nayak, Priyanka Senapati, Alison Yan

Protein Production Research Core

This team specializes in expressing, purifying, and characterizing designed proteins from bacterial systems for a wide variety of applications across medicine, technology, and sustainability.

Stacey Gerben, PhD
Scientist 3
Core Leader

Mila Lamb
Scientist 1

Analisa Murray
Scientist 1

Undergraduate Assistants: Elizabeth Damitio, Naisha Sachdev, Yukai Tang

Assay and Analytics Research Core

These teams generate insights into cellular processes, functionalities, and drug interactions by performing light-based microscopy and other sophisticated tests on biological samples. They also express, purify, and characterize designed proteins using mammalian cells and synthesize and analyze designed peptides.

Justin Decarreau, PhD
Scientist 4
Core Leader

Suna Cheng
Scientist 3
Core Leader

Xinting Li
Scientist 2

Craig Dobbins
Scientist 1

Rebecca Kane Skotheim
Research Assistant

Adri Tran-Pearson
Research Assistant

Undergraduate Assistants: Heather Osterstock, Sneha Subramanian, Zoe Taylor

Biologics, Vaccines, and Process Development Core

These teams produce and study protein-based medicines, including vaccines. They also analyze data from in vivo trials, including antibody screening. Their work helps ensure that our most promising molecules and methods are ready for real-world application.

Rashmi Ravichandran, MS
Scientist 4
Core Leader

Natalie Brunette
Scientist 2

Rebecca Cole
Scientist 1

Christine Men
Scientist 1

Adian Valdez
Scientist 1

Blue Vesari
Scientist 1

Alex Goodson
Research Assistant

Undergraduate Assistants: Laura Beard, Jake Kelly, Jackson Yu

Electron Microscopy Research Core

Employing cutting-edge electron microscopes and data processing pipelines, this team captures and analyzes high-resolution images of protein samples to elucidate molecular structures, functions, and interactions.

Andrew Borst, PhD
Scientist 4
Core Leader

Connor Weidle
Scientist 3

Kenneth Carr
Research Assistant

Crystallography Research Core

This team helps reveal atomic-level details of our designed proteins and peptides by performing x-ray crystallography.

Asim Bera, PhD
Senior Scientist
Core Leader

Alex Kang
Scientist 3

Evans Brackenbrough
Research Assistant

Emily Joyce
Research Assistant

Innovation Office

As part of one of the largest public universities in the world, we collaborate with the University of Washington’s innovation office CoMotion to secure patents that can pave the way for positive social and commercial impact.

This partnership has led to hundreds of new innovations, extending our reach to development partners around the world.