SynBioBeta Speaker

Stefan Lutz

Codexis Inc.

CSO

Stefan Lutz joined Codexis in 2020 as the Senior Vice President of Research to lead the company’s research team advancing the discovery of proteins. Prior to his arrival in Redwood City, he was a Professor and Chair of the Chemistry Department at Emory University, having joined the university in 2002 and ascending to Chemistry Department Chair in 2014. In addition to his academic work, he has consulted for AgriMetis and served on the scientific advisory boards of ZuvaChem, CODA Genomics Inc. and SynBioX Inc. Stefan has co-authored more than 70 articles published in peer-reviewed journals and six technical books and journals. He holds six patents and is a frequent lecturer and speaker. Dr. Lutz received a BSc in chemistry/chemical engineering from the Zurich University of Applied Sciences, an MSc in Biotechnology from the University of Teesside and a PhD in chemistry from the University of Florida. He was a postdoctoral fellow at Pennsylvania State University.

Sessions Featuring

Stefan

This Year

Breakout Session

•

4:30 PM

-

5:15 PM

AIxBIO

Rewriting Enzyme Performance: Next-Gen Platforms for AI-Driven Protein Screening

AI is rapidly transforming how therapeutic enzymes and protein drug candidates are discovered, engineered, and validated. Generative models can now propose millions of novel variants optimized for specificity, stability, and target engagement. But the true bottleneck is no longer design, it is screening at scale. As model-generated libraries expand exponentially, the need for faster, more predictive experimental systems has become critical to translate computational insights into clinically relevant performance. This session explores the emerging generation of integrated platforms that combine AI-guided design, high-throughput functional screening, automation, and advanced analytics to accelerate therapeutic protein discovery. From self-driving labs and multiplexed cellular assays to adaptive screening strategies that prioritize pharmacologically meaningful readouts over simple activity metrics, speakers will examine how next-gen infrastructure is reshaping enzyme optimization for drug development.

Featuring

Weston Kightlinger

Ridge Bio

CEO

Cell-free synthesis pioneer building precision enzyme therapeutics.

Will Cao

Pando

CEO

Founder making enzyme development 80% cheaper

Stefan Lutz

Codexis Inc.

CSO

Directed-evolution expert shaping next-generation enzyme engineering.

David Virant

Acies Bio

Department Head

Ewa Lis

Koliber Bio

Founder & CEO

AI-driven peptide/protein drug-discovery builder (also microbiome engineering).

Fay Lin

GEN

Sr Editor, Technology

Breakout Session

•

4:30 PM

-

5:15 PM

AIxBIO

Rewriting Enzyme Performance: Next-Gen Platforms for AI-Driven Protein Screening

AI is rapidly transforming how therapeutic enzymes and protein drug candidates are discovered, engineered, and validated. Generative models can now propose millions of novel variants optimized for specificity, stability, and target engagement. But the true bottleneck is no longer design, it is screening at scale. As model-generated libraries expand exponentially, the need for faster, more predictive experimental systems has become critical to translate computational insights into clinically relevant performance. This session explores the emerging generation of integrated platforms that combine AI-guided design, high-throughput functional screening, automation, and advanced analytics to accelerate therapeutic protein discovery. From self-driving labs and multiplexed cellular assays to adaptive screening strategies that prioritize pharmacologically meaningful readouts over simple activity metrics, speakers will examine how next-gen infrastructure is reshaping enzyme optimization for drug development.

Featuring

Weston Kightlinger

Ridge Bio

CEO

Cell-free synthesis pioneer building precision enzyme therapeutics.

Will Cao

Pando

CEO

Founder making enzyme development 80% cheaper

Stefan Lutz

Codexis Inc.

CSO

Directed-evolution expert shaping next-generation enzyme engineering.

David Virant

Acies Bio

Department Head

Ewa Lis

Koliber Bio

Founder & CEO

AI-driven peptide/protein drug-discovery builder (also microbiome engineering).

Fay Lin

GEN

Sr Editor, Technology

Previous Speakers Include