Jennifer Fredlund
About Jennifer Fredlund
Jennifer Fredlund is an Automation Lead at Octant, with a strong background in synthetic biology and automation applications. She has held various positions at Zymergen and has extensive academic training, including a Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology.
Current Role at Octant
Jennifer Fredlund serves as the Automation Lead at Octant, a position she has held since 2021. In this role, she focuses on advancing automation processes within the company. Her work involves implementing and optimizing automation technologies to enhance efficiency in synthetic biology applications. She operates out of Emeryville, California, where she contributes to the development of innovative solutions in the field.
Previous Experience at Zymergen
Prior to her current role, Jennifer Fredlund worked at Zymergen in various capacities. She was the Associate Director of Automation Applications for nine months in 2021. Before that, she held multiple positions including Scientist III, Team Lead, Automation Applications from 2019 to 2021, Scientist II, Project Lead, New Product Introduction - HTP Strain Build from 2018 to 2019, and Scientist I, Strain Build Technology Development from 2016 to 2018. Her tenure at Zymergen allowed her to lead significant projects in automation and genetic engineering.
Education and Expertise
Jennifer Fredlund earned her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Cell and Molecular Biology/Microbiology from San Diego State University and the University of California, San Diego, where she studied from 2005 to 2010. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from the University of Washington, completed from 1999 to 2003. Her expertise encompasses a range of techniques, including microscopy, biochemistry, protein expression and purification, recombinant DNA techniques, and mammalian cell culture.
Research and Publications
Throughout her career, Jennifer Fredlund has actively engaged in research and has presented her work at both international and local conferences. She has contributed to the scientific community through publications in peer-reviewed journals, focusing on topics related to synthetic biology and genetic engineering. Her research efforts have enhanced understanding in these fields and contributed to advancements in automation and genetic engineering workflows.
Background and Early Career
Jennifer Fredlund began her research career as an Undergraduate Researcher at the University of Washington, Michael Regnier Laboratory from 2001 to 2003. She later worked as a Specimen Processing Technician at the University of Washington Medical Center from 2004 to 2005. After completing her Ph.D., she served as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Institut Pasteur in Paris, France, from 2012 to 2015, and as a Postdoctoral Research Scientist at the Vaccine Research Institute of San Diego from 2011 to 2012. This diverse background laid the foundation for her expertise in synthetic biology.