Eric Van Der Walt
About Eric Van Der Walt
Title and Current Roles
Eric Van Der Walt holds the position of Chief Innovation Officer and Managing Director, South Africa. In these roles, Eric focuses on driving innovation and managing key operations within the organization. He is noted for his contributions to the fields of molecular biology, evolution, and biotechnology.
Education and Expertise
Eric Van Der Walt is a molecular biologist with a comprehensive background in evolution and biotechnology. His expertise is recognized particularly in the development of production processes for enzymes and biotechnology formulations. Over the years, he has established a reputation for his work in directed enzyme evolution and Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) sample preparation.
Professional Background at Kapa Biosystems
Eric's initial responsibilities at Kapa Biosystems included developing and implementing production processes for enzymes and formulations. He later transitioned to a research and development (R&D) role, where he established and led a team that produced commercially successful products related to Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and NGS. His R&D contributions significantly advanced the company's product offerings.
Role at Roche Sequencing Solutions
Following the acquisition of Kapa Biosystems by Roche Sequencing Solutions, Eric Van Der Walt served as Head of Research and Early Development for Sample Preparation. In this capacity, he continued focusing on innovation and early-stage research, contributing to advances in NGS sample preparation techniques.
Patent Contributions
Eric Van Der Walt is an inventor listed on two issued patents and has four pending patent applications. His work in molecular biology and biotechnology has led to notable contributions in the field, as evidenced by these intellectual property achievements.