Yoram Barak

I'm a Microbiologist by training. During my Ph.D. and postdoctoral studies I acquired experience in enzymology, microbial ecology, directed evolution of proteins and sequence activity relationship models for protein engineering. My industrial research focuses on the development of renewable fuels and chemicals such as terpenoids, ethanol, and detergent alcohols from cellulosic or other feedstock. In my research I employed yeast and microbial metabolic engineering tools for yield, productivity and novel pathway optimization targets.

Currently I'm a Project Technical Leader of fifteen Scientists and Research Associates with diverse skill sets such as microbiology, molecular biology, analytical chemistry, enzymology and fermentation engineering. I'm a direct supervisor of eight scientists and RAs of which four of them were hired directly by me. This team is developing a high yield detergent alcohol strain under a tight timeline, and has excelled to provide novel and scalable solutions.

In the various leadership roles and positions in my past, I planned and managed budgets and was involved in cross functional business strategic planning. I'm an effective planner and leader by example. My initiative and innovative problem solving skills significantly accelerate research and have resulted with numerous patents and patent applications. As a mentor I empower Scientists and Research Associates under my supervision to develop their career while safely maximizing their scientific productivity.