Kent is a full stack synthetic biologist and immunologist with over 20 years of experience in automation and DNA workflows. He trained in immunology and later established a phage display core inside of a nanoparticle consortium for antibody and peptide selections.

Kent was also the technical lead for the development of the Digital to Biological Converter, the world’s first fully automated platform to produce biologic compounds from digital DNA designs. The device brought together advanced DNA workflows with bioinformatics and engineering disciplines. The prototypes were funded through an initial DARPA grant of $1M and subsequently, a $4.2M grant from the Novartis Foundation.