August 2024

Deniz Kent, PhD is Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Prolific Machines, the biotechnology innovator using light to unlock unprecedented cellular control. Prolific harnesses light to produce everyday essentials more efficiently — from food and lifesaving drugs to novel biosolutions. Prolific is enabling innovators across therapeutics and advanced nutrition to unlock robust efficiency, quality, scalability, and sustainability advantages.

During his PhD, Deniz first conceived of the idea to use light to elevate biomanufacturing. Soon after, he brought in the expertise of co-...Read more

Dr. C. LaShan Simpson Hendrix is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Cincinnati. Before joining the faculty at University of Cincinnati in 2024, she was an Associate Professor at Mississippi State University (2013 – 2023) and she trained as a postdoctoral research associate at Rice University in the Department of Bioengineering. Dr. Hendrix received all her educational training at Clemson University with a B.S. in Biochemistry, M.S., and Ph.D. in Bioengineering. Dr. Hendrix’s research interests include vascular calcification, smooth...Read more