Synthetic Biology for Sustainability Symposium

12:00 - 1:30 pm

Registration and Lunch

1:30 - 1:40 pm

Opening Remarks

Jennifer WidomPhD, Dean, Stanford School of Engineering

Lloyd Minor MD, Dean, Stanford School of Medicine; Vice President for Medical Affairs, Stanford University

1:40 - 2:10 pm

Keynote

Scaling Biological Solutions for a Circular Carbon Bioeconomy

Michael Koepke Chief Innovation Officer, LanzaTech, PhD in Microbiology and Biotechnology

Michael Koepke, Chief Innovation Officer of LanzaTech, is a pioneer in synthetic biology with over 15 years of experience in biotechnology. A recipient of the U.S. EPA’s Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award, he holds more than 500 patents and has authored over 50 peer-reviewed publications, including foundational work on anaerobic carbon-fixing microbes.

In this keynote, Michael will share LanzaTech’s groundbreaking approach to transforming carbon emissions into valuable products, including proteins—illustrating how biology can be harnessed to tackle some of the world’s most pressing sustainability challenges. His talk will illuminate the role of engineered microbes in carbon-negative biomanufacturing and set the stage for reimagining what’s possible when we scale biological innovation to build a circular carbon bioeconomy.

2:10 - 2:40 pm

Panel

How Can Synthetic Biologists Help Sustainability? 

Steve PalumbiPhD, Professor of Oceans and of Biology, Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability

Alexandria BoehmPhD, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and of Oceans, Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability

Rodolfo DirzoPhD, Professor of Earth System Science and of Biology, Associate Dean for Integrative Initiatives in Environmental Justice, Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability.

Jennifer HolmgrenPhD, Chair & Chief Executive Officer, LanzaTech 

Moderated by: Drew EndyPhD, Associate Professor of Bioengineering, Martin Family University Fellow in Undergraduate Education (Bioengineering)

As the world faces mounting sustainability challenges, the question isn’t just what synthetic biology can do, but where it’s most needed. In this conversation with bioengineers, conservationists, and environmental scientists, we’ll explore today’s most urgent sustainability needs and how synthetic biologists can contribute meaningfully to address these needs. We’ll examine the responsibilities, opportunities, and ethical considerations of working at the intersection of biology and sustainability.

2:30 - 3:05 pm

Lightning Talks: 2023 - 25 Seed Funding Project Findings

Engineering Nitrogen Fixation: Diazotroph Endosymbiosis as a Blueprint for Synthetic Biology

Ellen YehPhD, Associate Professor of Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford School of Medicine

Jennifer BrophyPhD, Assistant Professor of Bioengineering, Stanford School of Engineering and Stanford School of Medicine

A Concrete Plan to Make Sustainable Building Materials Using Plant-based Binders

Michael LepechPhD, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford

Possu HuangPhD, Assistant Professor of Bioengineering, Stanford School of Engineering and Stanford School of Medicine

Minimizing the Impact of Eating Meat by Replacing Livestock with Cellular Agriculture 

Helen BlauPhD, Professor of Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford School of Medicine

Sarah HeilshornPhD, Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford School of Engineering

Combining Chemical and Biological Catalysis for Plastic Waste Upcycling 

Matteo CargnelloPhD, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering, Stanford School of Engineering

Jennifer CochranPhD, Senior Associate Vice Provost for Research, Stanford University

Metabolic Engineering of Crops to Reduce Herbicide Input

Jennifer BrophyPhD, Assistant Professor of Bioengineering, Stanford School of Engineering and Stanford School of Medicine

Elizabeth SattelyPhD, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering, Stanford School of Engineering

3:05 - 3:20 pm

Break

Engineering Pathogen Detection in Crops Using In Planta Single-Cell Genetic Screens 

Elizabeth Sattely PhD, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering, Stanford School of Engineering 

Mary Beth MudgettPhD, Senior Associate Dean for the Natural Sciences, Professor of Biology, Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences

Bio-Based Textiles with Aesthetic and Environmental Value via Synthetic Biology 

Vayu Hill-Maini PhD, Assistant Professor of Bioengineering, Stanford School of Engineering 

Xiaojing Gao PhD, Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering, Stanford School of Engineering

Synthetic Biology for Ammonia Monooxygenase Enzyme Production and Nitrification Inhibition 

Soichi WakatsukiPhD, Professor of Structural Biology and of Photon Science, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

 Christopher FrancisPhD, Professor of Earth System Science, Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability

De Novo Design of Metal-Binding Proteins for Critical Mineral Recovery 

Possu Huang PhD, Assistant Professor of Bioengineering, Stanford School of Engineering 

Tianyu LuPhD Student, Bioengineering, Stanford School of Engineering

Danielle Mai PhD, Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering, Stanford School of Engineering

Reprogramming the Natural Rubber-Producing Dandelion Taraxacum kok-saghyz for Scalable Farming 

Jennifer BrophyPhD, Assistant Professor of Bioengineering, Stanford School of Engineering 

Rene Inckemann Postdoctoral Scholar, Bioengineering, Stanford School of Engineering

Xiaojing Gao PhD, Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering, Stanford School of Engineering

Tools for Rapid Genetic Manipulation in Non-Model Species for Climate Resilience 

Ayelet VoskoboynikPhD, Assistant Professor of Biology, Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences 

Stephen PalumbiPhD, Professor of Oceans, Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability 

Vanessa BaronePhD, Assistant Professor of Biology, Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences 

Christopher LowePhD, Professor of Biology, Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences

4:10 - 4:40 pm

Keynote

Bringing Biotechnology to Wildlife Conservation

Ryan PhelanCo-founder, Executive Director, Revive & Restore  

Ryan Phelan is Executive Director of Revive & Restore, the leading wildlife conservation organization promoting the incorporation of biotechnologies into standard conservation practice. In this talk, Phelan will present examples of how biotechnologies are being used to rescue a variety of species facing extinction, as well as where genetic tools are desperately needed to save biodiversity. If we wish to protect our world’s plants and animals from extinction, we have reached the point where thoughtful, ecosystem-minded intervention is needed in parallel with species protection to make a difference. This talk will focus on how we can bring synthetic biology to conservation in responsible ways.

4:40 - 5:10 pm

Panel

How Can Synthetic Biology Tools Enable Sustainability Solutions at Scale? 

Aina CohenPhD, Senior Scientist, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

Halleh BalchPhD, Assistant Professor of Oceans, Stanford Dooer School of Sustainability

Manu PrakashPhD, Associate Professor of Bioengineering, Stanford School of Engineering and Stanford School of Medicine

Ryan PhelanCo-founder, Executive Director, Revive & Restore 

Moderated by: Jennifer BrophyPhD, Assistant Professor of Bioengineering, Stanford School of Engineering and Stanford School of Medicine

From reprogramming microbes to engineering enzymes, today’s synthetic biology toolbox holds immense promise for tackling sustainability challenges. But how do we move beyond the lab bench to real-world impact? In this panel, speakers will share the problems they're working to solve, spanning agriculture, water, tool development, and deployment. Together, they’ll explore what it takes to implement synthetic biology tools effectively, equitably, and at scale in a rapidly changing world.

5:10 - 5:25 pm

Closing Remarks

Michael JewettPhD, Professor of Bioengineering, Stanford School of Engineering and Stanford School of Medicine

5:25 - 6:30 pm 

Networking and Poster Session