What is your role at Primordial Genetics, and how long have you been on the team?
I see my role at Primordial Genetics is to conceptualize and implement projects using synthetic biology technology to develop biological products. These products include specialty enzymes, bacteriophage and other biologics. I have been with Primordial Genetics for four years.
What industries are you most excited about that will benefit from this technology?
The RNA polymerases that we are developing have superior performance for manufacturing mRNA drugs for pharmaceutical industry. I can’t wait to see that they will be adopted for manufacturing mRNA for protein replacement therapy and vaccines including for the COVID-19 vaccine.
We are also working on several long-term projects that will greatly benefit the sustainable industries. Our world is facing many daunting challenges. To feed the world population with good nutrition using sustainable farming is one of them. Our technology will benefit the industry to produce lab-grown food by providing proteins from fermenting sugar. Another example is the plastic degradation project that we are working on in collaborating with National Renewal Energy Laboratory. It broke my heart to see so much plastic trash that filled the land and ocean and posed danger to wildlife.
What is your favorite aspect about your research?
Research is like play, I get to innovate and try things.
What is one piece of advice for others in biotech careers/industry?
Talk the talk and walk the walk; the latter should matter more. “Don’t let the fear of striking out hold you back. “ – Babe Ruth
When you aren’t in the lab, what do you like to do?
Food & drink, movies, outdoor, and travel.
Read Karen’s full bio HERE.
