EBRC In Translation

In this episode, we interview Dr. David Baker , a professor at the University of Washington and the director of the Institute for Protein Design. We talk to David about the practical and philosophical sides of protein design, the impact of machine learning on protein structure prediction and design, and how video games can be used for science. For more information about EBRC: Visit our website at...

In this episode, we interview Dr. Emily Leproust, CEO and co-founder of Twist Bioscience , a leading and rapidly growing synthetic biology and genomics company that is well-known for its disruptive DNA synthesis platform. We talk to Dr. Leproust about the future of DNA synthesis, making cloning obsolete, and eating challenges for breakfast. This episode was recorded in September 2021. During the i...

In this episode, we interview Dr. Kate Adamala , an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota and a leader in Build-a-Cell, an international community of scientists and policymakers working on building synthetic cells. We talk to Dr. Adamala about building cells from the ground up, life beyond planet Earth, and the definition of life. For more information about EBRC: Visit our website at...

In this episode, we interview Dr. Jake Becraft, co-founder of Strand Therapeutics . We talk to Dr. Becraft about running an RNA therapeutics company during the pandemic, the future of synthetic biology and RNA, and advice on converting your graduate school research into a start-up. For more information about EBRC: Visit our website at ebrc.org . If you are interested in getting involved with the E...

In this episode, we interview Dr. Larisa Rudenko, a research affiliate at the Program on Emerging Technologies at MIT and a co-founder of BioPolicy Solutions LLC. We talk to Dr. Rudenko about her career developing regulatory guidance for genetically engineered organisms for the FDA, public perception of genetically engineered products, and tips for engineering biology trainees interested in scienc...

In this episode, we interview Dr. Natalie Kuldell, Instructor in the MIT Department of Biological Engineering and the Founder and Executive Director of the BioBuilder Educational Foundation . We talk to Dr. Kuldell about her path to becoming an engineering biology educator, the value of adding engineering to life sciences curricula, and the democratization of teaching tools. For more information a...

In this episode, we interview Dr. Christina Agapakis, the Creative Director at Ginkgo Bioworks. We talk to Dr. Agapakis about her career working at the intersection of art and science and about the importance of creativity in synthetic biology. Along the way, we talk about resurrecting the scent of extinct flowers, starting the magazine Grow by Gingko , and only a little bit of Jurassic Park. For...

In this episode, we interview Dr. Laurie Zoloth , the Margaret E. Burton Professor at the University of Chicago Divinity School and EBRC Council Member. We ask Dr. Zoloth how moral philosophy can address ethical dilemmas in an uncertain world . Along the way, we delve into issues like gene drives and germline editing, and we speak about the importance of integrity, fidelity, and solidarity for sci...

In this episode, we interview Dr. Kristala Prather , the Arthur D. Little Professor of Chemical Engineering at MIT. We talk to Dr. Prather about her career spanning both industry and academia and segue into her lab’s current efforts and challenges at the intersection of metabolic engineering and synthetic biology. Along the way, we talk about leadership, mentorship, inclusivity, and why mass trans...

In this episode, we interview Dr. Jeffrey Barrick , an Associate Professor at the University of Texas at Austin. We talk to Dr. Barrick about the famous long-term evolution experiment in the Lenski lab, evolutionary failure in synthetic biology, tools for engineering the bee gut microbiome, and more. Along the way, we talk about cricket farming, how a bad memory can be good for open science, and s...

In this episode, we interview Dr. Sri Kosuri , an Associate Professor at UCLA and the founder and CEO of Octant Bio . We talk to Dr. Kosuri about his career trajectory, starting in the earliest days of synthetic biology up to the present, where his team is using next-generation DNA synthesis and sequencing technologies to accelerate the discovery of new drugs for the treatment of complex diseases....