For years, AI has helped scientists organize data and streamline research, but it's now beginning to tackle biology's toughest scientific challenges. In this episode, Flo sits down with Nicholas, Head of AI at Benchling, to discuss why the physical world has been AI's biggest blind spot—and why that's finally changing. From generative protein design to the future of drug discovery and diagnostics, Nicholas explains how biology is increasingly being engineered in silico (by compute) before it reaches the lab. Plus, he shares what excites him most about the next wave of AI-powered biology - the future of the bioeconomy!

Connect:
Nicholas on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nlarusstone/
Benchling: https://www.benchling.com/

Ever wonder what separates a billion-dollar TechBio unicorn from a well-funded experiment? Krish Ramadurai of AIX Ventures does—and he's backed some of the coolest ones. We dive into why understanding the actual science matters, why mice are terrible at predicting human outcomes (sorry, lab mice), and how the next generation of drug discovery is being built by teams brave enough to let AI nerds and wet lab scientists actually talk to each other. Plus, he'll tell you why he thinks you should care about making drugs people can actually afford.

In this episode, Flo sits down with Dr. Michael Köpke, Chief Innovation Officer at LanzaTech, to explore how specialized microbes are literally eating industrial emissions and transforming them into valuable products (Michael's cool Jacket!). From sustainable aviation fuels to the jacket Michael is wearing—which started its life as emissions from a steel plant—LanzaTech's carbon-fixing microbes are closing the loop on our circular economy. Michael shares his journey from academic microbiology research to commercializing this breakthrough technology, and reveals how LanzaTech now operates six commercial plants globally, capturing half a million tons of CO2 annually while producing 300,000 tons of products. Discover how nature's zero-waste systems are inspiring the next generation of biomanufacturing and how waste gases are becoming the feedstock for a sustainable future.

Connect with Dr. Michael Kopke on X and Linkedin.

More about Michael and LanzaTech: Dr. Michael Köpke is the Chief Innovation Officer at LanzaTech ($LNZA), a global leader in carbon capture and sustainable fuels, chemicals, and materials production. Since joining the company in 2009, he has built up the company's biology platform and directs innovation strategy and technology partnerships.

Michael earned his Ph.D. in biotechnology from Ulm University and brings over two decades of international experience in synthetic biology and biomanufacturing. Widely recognized as a pioneer in carbon-fixing microbial technologies, Dr. Köpke holds more than 500 patents and received major honors such as the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award, the ACS National Award for Team Innovation, and inclusion in The Bioeconomy 500.

Beyond his role at LanzaTech, Dr. Köpke is an adjunct professor at Northwestern University and serves on the boards of the Engineering Biology Research Consortium (EBRC) and the International Metabolic Engineering Society (IMES). Michael has led over 50 peer reviewed studies and development of community research roadmaps bringing together stakeholders from academia, industry, government and non-profits. Michael also chaired several international conferences and contributes in several editorial, education and advisory functions.

Meet Chris Kantrowitz, founder of Quorum Earth, who's literally making fungal spores that eat bugs—and he's weirdly charming about it. In this first episode of Talk Bio to Me, Chris breaks down how specialized fungal spores are taking on invasive species without any CRISPR or GMO shenanigans, just pure fungal magic. 

Welcome to Talk BIO to Me! The show where we sit down with the people building the future of biology. This year, we headed to SynBioBeta, the world's largest conference for synthetic biology. This mini-series (or mini-pod) features interviews with some of the most fascinating founders, scientists, researchers, investors, and AI innovators shaping the future of biotech. Subscribe to get the first two episodes in your feed this week!