Laura Adam, PhD
EDUCATION
Ph.D. in Genetics, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (GBCB)
Graduate Certificate in the Politics and Policy Studies of Science and Technology
2013
VIRGINIA TECH, Blacksburg, VA, USA
Tracks CS and Math and Life Science.
Thesis: “Mapping Genotype to Phenotype using Attribute Grammar.”
Committee: Drs. Jean Peccoud (Chair), David Bevan, Harold Garner, François Képès, Naren Ramakrishnan, John Tyson
M.Sc. in Computer Science and Applied Mathematics
2010
ENSIMAG, Grenoble, France
A top French engineering school, «Grande École», in the fields of computer science and applied mathematics.
Main interest: Artificial Intelligence
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
April 2018-present | Consultant, Remote & Seattle WA |
May 2017-present | Co-Founder at Ebiosec, Inc., Seattle WA |
Dec 2014-Oct 2017 | Postdoctoral Researcher in Synthetic Biology (Dr. Eric Klavins), University of Washington, Seattle WA |
Jun-Aug 2017 | Consultant at Biocellion, SPC, Seattle WA |
Sept 2013 – Sept 2014 | Postdoctoral Fellow in Biological Weapons Nonproliferation at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, (Dr. Raymond Zilinskas), Monterey Institute of International Studies, Monterey CA |
Aug 2009 – Aug 2013 | Graduate Research Assistant in Synthetic Biology Informatics (Dr. Jean Peccoud), Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, Blacksburg, VA |
Spring 2009 | Research intern in the Computational and Mathematical Biology Team (Drs. Fabien Corblin, Eric Fancho and Laurent Trilling), TIMC-IMAG laboratory, La Tronche, France |
Summer 2008 | Research intern in Synthetic Biology Informatics (Dr. Jean Peccoud), Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, Blacksburg, VA |
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles:
- Wintle, B.C. & Boehm, C.R., Rhodes, C., Molloy, J.C., Millett, P., Adam, L., et al.., Sutherland, W.J. (2017) A transatlantic perspective on 20 emerging issues in biological engineering. eLife.
- Galdzicki, M., Clancy, K. P., Oberortner, E., Pocock, M., Quinn, J. Y., Rodriguez, C. , Roehner, N., Wilson, M. L, Adam, L. et al. (2014). The Synthetic Biology Open Language (SBOL) provides a community standard for communicating designs in synthetic biology. Nature Biotechnology.
- Wilson, M. L., Okumoto, S., Adam, L., & Peccoud, J. (2013). Development of a domain-specific genetic language to design Chlamydomonas reinhardtii expression vectors. Bioinformatics (Oxford, England).
- Adam, L., Kozar, M., Letort, G., Mirat, O., Srivastava, A., Stewart, T., Wilson, M.L., Peccoud, J. (2011). Strengths and limitations of the federal guidance on synthetic DNA. Nature Biotechnology.
- Cai, Y., Lux, M. W., Adam, L., & Peccoud, J. (2009). Modeling structure-function relationships in synthetic DNA sequences using attribute grammars. PLoS computational biology.
Book Chapters:
- Wilson, M.L., Hertzberg, R., Adam, L., & Peccoud, J. (2011). A Step-by-Step Introduction to Rule-Based Design of Synthetic Genetic Constructs Using GenoCAD. Methods in Enzymology.
Papers in progress:
- Adam, .L* ,de Lange, O.*, Carignano, A., Klavins, E. Growth suppression and reader strains to construct modular biological diagnostics. Manuscript in preparation.
Peer-Reviewed Conference Papers:
- Adam, L. & Klavins, E. (2015). archiYEAST: a command-line synthetic yeast architect. International Workshop on Bio-Design Automation (IWBDA) in Seattle, WA.
- Wilson, M.L., Adam, L., & Peccoud, J (2011). GenoCAD 2.0: Thinking Inside the Box. Third International Workshop on Bio-Design Automation (IWBDA) at 48th ACM/EDAC/IEEE Design Automation Conference (DAC) in San Diego, CA.
- Adam, L. & Peccoud, J. (2011). Using user-defined semantic languages in synthetic biology: generating DNA compilers. Third International Workshop on Bio-Design Automation (IWBDA) at 48th ACM/EDAC/IEEE Design Automation Conference (DAC) in San Diego, CA.
- Galdzicki, M., Rodriguez, C., Adam, L. et al. (2011). Evolution of SBOL- design information exchange standard. Third International Workshop on Bio-Design Automation (IWBDA) at 48th ACM/EDAC/IEEE Design Automation Conference (DAC) in San Diego, CA. (student support)
Talks, Workshops, and Seminars:
- Adam, L. ebio·ome: the DNA space explorer. SynBioBeta SF 2017.
- Adam, L. Emerging Digital Biothreat. Biological and Chemical Security in an Age of Responsible Innovation. 2014, Royal Society, London, UK. (invited)
- Adam, L. Emerging Biothreats: Securing the Digital Dimension. MIIS/CNS seminar, 2014. HERE
- Adam, L. & Peccoud, J. Tutorial : GenoCAD I&II. Modelling Complex Biological Systems in the Context of Genomics in Nice, France, March, 2013. (invited)
- Adam, L. Formal languages to map Genotype to Phenotype in Natural Genomes. GBCB seminar, 2012. HERE
- Adam, L. & Peccoud, J. Tutorial : GenoCAD I&II. Modelling Complex Biological Systems in the Context of Genomics at Evry, France, May 21-25, 2012 and La-Colle-sur-Loup, France, March 25-29 (invited)
- Adam, L. GenoTHREAT: A biosecurity software to screen DNA synthesis orders against pathogens. GBCB seminar, 2011. HERE
- Adam, L. & Peccoud, J. Formal grammars to protect intellectual properties in synthetic biology. International Conference on Synthetic Biology at Evry, France, December 15-16, 2010. (invited)
Presented Posters:
- Carignano, A., Adam, .L ,de Lange, O., Klavins, E. Bistable Switches for Yeast Population Growth Designed on Predictions from a Toolkit of Cell Division Regulators. Synthetic Biology Engineering Evolution & Design Conference (SEED). June 2017. Vancouver, Canada
- Adam, L. & Klavins, E. (2015). YEAST: Morphogenetic engineering of yeast microcolonies. Molecular Programming Project 2016 Annual Workshop (MPP) in Seattle, WA. & Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology. Dec 2015, IHÉS, FR
- Adam, L. & Klavins, E. (2015). archiYEAST: a command-line synthetic yeast architect. International Workshop on Bio-Design Automation (IWBDA) in Seattle, WA.
- Adam, L. & Peccoud, J. (2011). Using user-defined semantic languages in synthetic biology: generating DNA compilers. International Workshop on Bio-Design Automation (IWBDA) at 48th ACM/EDAC/IEEE Design Automation Conference (DAC) in San Diego, CA.
- Adam, L. & Peccoud, J. (2010). Formal grammars to navigate the ocean of intellectual properties in synthetic biology. International Conference on Synthetic Biology at Evry, France.
- Adam, L., Wilson, M.L., Herzenberg, R.& Peccoud, J. (2010), GenoCAD: A web-based application Open-Source application to design synthetic DNA molecules. 11th International Conference on Systems Biology in Edinburgh 10/10-15/2010 & Graduate posters for the 10th anniversary of Virginia Bioinformatics Institute 10/7/2010
Others:
- Adam, L. (2011). Scientists need to be proactive to foment international biosecurity. Runner-up essay for the “Young Scientists” essay contest organized by the Implementation and Support Unit of the Biological Weapon Convention at the United Nations
- Wipat, A.; Villalobos, A.; Stan, G.; Smith, T.; Sauro, H.; Roehner, N.; Pocock, M.; Plahar, H.; Peccoud, J.; Myers, C.; Misirli, G.; Madsen, C.; Lux, M.; Kuchinsky, A.; Ham, T.; Grünberg, R.; Gennari, J.; Endy, D.; Drory, O.; Densmore, D.; Chandran, D.; Beal, J.; Anderson, J. C.; Adler, A.; Adam, L.; et al. (2011). Synthetic Biology Open Language (SBOL) Version 1.0.0. BBF RFC #84.
INVOLVEMENT
Panel Member:
- July-Dec 2016: Identify new and emerging issues in bioengineering at the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk (CSER) and the Synthetic Biology Strategic Research Initiative (SynBio SRI), the University of Cambridge, UK
Reviewer for:
- Journals: IEEE Life Sciences, PLOS ONE, BioSystems, Frontiers
- Fellowships: Mary Gates Endowment for Students Research Scholarship
International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM):
- 2010-2016: Judge at the Jamboree
- 2014: Committee member Policy and Practices New track
- 2012: Judge at aGEM, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (invited)
- 2010-2011: Advisor Virginia Tech Team and Virginia Tech-ENSIMAG Biosecurity Team
International Workshop on Bio-Design Automation (IWBDA):
- 2012: General secretary
Synthetic Biology Open Language (SBOL)
- 6/8/2011, 1/7-9/2011: Development Workshop
Supervised students:
- iGEM teams : Virginia Tech iGEM 2011 team (10 undergrad) & VT-ENSIMAG Biosecurity iGEM software 2010 team (5 undergrad)
- Jack Lee (2015, UW) on ebio·ome platform (Mary Gates Research Scholar)
NEWS COVERAGE
Synthetic Biology Behemoth Aims to Police Its Own Industry. July, 3rd 2018 by Elie Dolgin. https://spectrum.ieee.org/the-human-os/biomedical/ethics/synthetic-biology-behemoth-aims-to-police-its-own-industry
Languages written to design synthetic living systems useful for new products, health care. March 13, 2014 by Emily Kale. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/03/140313164524.htm
Biosecurity for the Age of Redesigned Life. November 8, 2013 by JOHN DANKOSKY. NPR Science Friday (http://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/biosecurity-for-the-age-of-redesigned-life/)
iGEM Team Developing Biosecurity Software for Synthetic Genomics.Jul 23, 2010 by Uduak Grace Thomas. (https://www.genomeweb.com/informatics/igem-team-developing-biosecurity-software-synthetic-genomics)
Bioinformatics used to detect rogue use of synthetic biology. July 19-20, 2010 by Barry Whyte, Virginia Tech (PR). Biotechniques, Science Blog, e! Science News, R&D Mag, Eurekalert, ScienceDaily, highbeam.com, Phys.org (http://www.scitechreport.com/cluster2479180/)
Open-source software designed to minimize synthetic biology risks is released. March 21, 2011 by Susan Trulove, Virginia Tech (PR). NSF news, EU Science News, Phys.org, R&D Mag, RedOrbit, e! Science News, Labspaces.net, Eurekalert, Bio-Medecine, medicalnewstoday.com, Science Daily, bioprepwatch.com. https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-03/vt-osd032111.php
EE Students and Faculty Receive 2016 CoMotion Innovation Fund. July 7, 2016 by UW EE department (PR). http://www.ee.washington.edu/spotlight/ee-students-and-faculty-receive-2016-comotion-innovation-fund/
Implications of advancement: Synthetic biology researchers consider peril as well as promise. Winter 2011 by Susan Bland. Virginia Tech Research Magazine https://www.research.vt.edu/resmag/2011winter/implications.html
50 Awesome Open Source Apps You’ve (Probably) Never Heard Of. 25 October 2010 by Cynthia Harvey. Originally on datamation.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2615454/posts
MISCELLANEOUS
Languages
French (native), English (fluent), Spanish (working proficiency)
Hobbies
- Explorer Search And Rescue (kcesar)
- Adventure racing (team Tardigrades!), biathlon (my res.), windsurfing… basically any outdoor sport
- Travels, hiking/backpacking, motorcycle riding