SynBioBeta Speaker
Erika Alden DeBenedictis
CEO
Pioneer Labs
YEAR
25
May 2025, SynBioBeta
Speaker
Erika is a former astronomer and current synthetic biologist. As an undergraduate at Caltech, Erika worked on topics in computational physics including space mission orbit design at NASA and computational protein design at D. E. Shaw Research. Erika worked with Kevin Esvelt at MIT during her PhD, where she used laboratory automation to tackle problems in synthetic biology. She led an academic lab at the Francis Crick Institute in London, UK focused on using Robotics-Accelerated Evolution to push the limits of biotech for use on Earth and in Space. In 2021 she founded Align to Innovate, a nonprofit improving the reproducibility, scalability, and shareability of life science research with programmable experiments. Erika is now the CEO of Pioneer Labs, a nonprofit that engineers microbes for Mars.
SynBioBeta 2025 - Session Speaker
Space and Defense: Synthetic Biology Moonshots
This session explores the powerful alliance of space and defense organizations driving the future of off-world biotechnology. Participants will delve into cutting-edge research designed to support life on the Moon and Mars, from resource-efficient manufacturing and regenerative life-support systems to the development of resilient biological tools for extreme environments. By addressing the technical and logistical challenges of long-term space habitation, this discussion highlights how breakthroughs in synthetic biology, high-risk research programs, and cross-agency collaboration can redefine our interplanetary ambitions and accelerate humanity’s progress beyond Earth.
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Conference Pass
1,595
USD
Access to all 120+ Sessions
Attendee Directory
Networking Reception
1:1 Partnering App
1:1 Meeting Space
Meals & Refreshments
Post Event Video Access
Before Midnight Thu, Dec 4
Regular Rate
$1,995
Purchase Pass
Purchase Pass
BLACK FRIDAY DEAL
Buy 1 Conference Pass, Get 1 Expo Pass Free
Previous Speakers Include
2026
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