In my own words bio
In 2023, I co-founded RealNose.ai and currently serve as its Chief
Science Officer. RealNose is deploying non-invasive machine olfaction technologies revolutionizing the early and accurate diagnosis of disease. We are starting with accurately, quickly and inexpensively diagnosing Prostate Cancer. Our patented technology allows us to deploy bioelectronic, nose-mimicking diagnostic sensors powered by AI inspired by medical detection-trained dogs.
academic and professional background
My academic background includes an MSci in physics from Imperial College London, with a thesis on computational cosmology, and an MS and PhD with theses in quantum physics and biophysics from Texas A&M University where I also did a short PostDoc before joining MIT and becoming Research Scientist with PI privileges.
After 26 years of academic research, patenting, publishing, and teaching, I transitioned to full-time entrepreneurship. I barely noticed how the last nineteen years of my academic career flew by at MIT where I founded and directed the MIT Label Free Research Group (2004-2023). My group’s labs were graciously hosted by the MIT Center for Biomedical Engineering and later at the MIT Center for Bits and Atoms and Media Lab.
the main lessons
from two decades of blending academic science with practical application:
The "Label-Free" methodology, which follows Douglas Adams' "look first, then think" philosophy is in large measure behind the success of the MIT Label Free Research Group and has led to technologies adopted by industry and government. These innovations have been showcased at venues such as the Boston Museum of Science and Designer's Open Exhibition and gained global media attention from outlets such as CNN, BBC, The New York Times, Discovery Channel, Wired, New Scientist, Nature, and Science. Throughout my career, I collaborated across disciplines, bridging physics, biology, materials, and information sciences to deliver breakthrough solutions -often from far outside conventional field boundaries.
motifs of what makes MIT good at lab-to-market transitions
The interdisciplinary approach continues to influence my work and informs the evolving class I designed and still teach at MIT Sloan Executive Education: "Lab to Market the MIT Way."
This course leverages real research success and failure case studies taken from my group's work to teach generalize-able innovation strategies, failure recovery and project design covering how technological novelties such as photosynthetic solar panels and basic discoveries such as quantum effects in molecular biology, and plant bioenergy harvesting methods end up having real-world marketable impact, - or not. Innovation is not inevitable!
My thinking is currently captivated most by the opportunities in scaling mycotecture and deploying machine olfaction technologies ("sniff tech").
Navigating this unfamiliar landscape of new business models, new laws and new innovation ecosystems and marketplaces I find that "build it to understand it" -the principle guiding the MIT Label Free Research Group- remains relevant.
outreach and service
As part of my outreach and service to the brilliant and growing academic, artistic, entrepreneurial and legal communities around machine olfaction, in 2021 I co-founded and became the President of OsmoCosm.org, a Massachusetts-registered 501 c 3 non-profit hosting the annual Global Machine Olfaction Technologies Conference at MIT. I serve as volunteer advisor to Zino Fund and biofab.bio
other activities
I am co-founder of Ninurta.com, MycoHab.com, the MIT Flying Club, and the Molecular Frontiers Inquiry Prize adjudicated by Nobel Laureates, recognizing curiosity as a valuable, honeable skill. I'm a scuba dive master and private pilot.