Johan Kers is a highly experienced and accomplished researcher and biotech executive with a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from Cornell University and an M.Sc. in Plant Science from The University of Western Ontario. Kers has held various leadership positions at multiple biotech companies, including AbSci, Joyn Bio, and Ginkgo Bioworks. He has also worked as a post-doctoral fellow at Stanford University School of Medicine. Kers' expertise lies in molecular sciences, human therapeutics, and strategic partnerships.

As the former Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships and Chief Technology Officer at AbSci, Kers led efforts to establish partnerships and research collaborations with biopharmaceutical companies. He played a vital role in developing the technology platform at AbSci and was instrumental in securing various research contracts. Before joining AbSci, Kers worked as a Program Director at Joyn Bio and Ginkgo Bioworks, leading research programs in different aspects of synthetic biology, including the development of inoculants and biofertilizers for use in agriculture.

In previous roles, Kers served as the Director of the Human Therapeutics Division at Intrexon Corporation, where he contributed to developing gene therapies for rare diseases. Kers' research interests are in the area of plant and microbial biology, biotechnology, and synthetic biology. With his extensive scientific background and executive management experience, Kers is well-placed to drive innovation in the biotech industry.

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