Nate Howitz, Ph.D.
About Nate Howitz, Ph.D.
Nate Howitz, Ph.D., is a strain engineer with a strong background in microbiology and synthetic biology. He has held various research and teaching positions at institutions such as the University of Massachusetts, Novome Biotechnologies, and Ligand Pharmaceuticals.
Current Role at Ligand Pharmaceuticals
Nate Howitz, Ph.D., serves as a Strain Engineer at Ligand Pharmaceuticals, a position he has held since 2022. Based in San Diego, California, he focuses on leveraging his expertise in microbial genetics to advance the company's initiatives. His role involves applying genetic engineering techniques to develop microbial strains for various applications, contributing to Ligand's commitment to innovation in biotechnology.
Previous Experience at Novome Biotechnologies
Prior to his current position, Nate Howitz worked as a Scientist at Novome Biotechnologies for six months in 2021. Located in South San Francisco, California, he contributed to projects aimed at harnessing microbial systems for therapeutic applications. His experience at Novome further solidified his skills in synthetic biology and microbial engineering.
Postdoctoral Research at University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Nate Howitz completed a five-year postdoctoral research position at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, from 2016 to 2021. During this time, he engaged in advanced research focused on microbial genetics and synthetic biology. His work contributed to the understanding of microbial systems and their potential applications in various biotechnological fields.
Educational Background in Microbiology
Nate Howitz earned his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Microbiology from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he studied from 2010 to 2016. His academic journey included extensive research in genetic engineering and molecular cloning techniques. He also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Microbiology and Economics from the University of Pittsburgh, which he completed from 2005 to 2010.
Teaching Experience and Academic Contributions
In addition to his research roles, Nate Howitz has experience in academia as a Teaching Assistant at UCLA from 2011 to 2012 and as an Advanced Bacterial Genetics Teaching Assistant at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in 2013. These positions allowed him to share his knowledge in microbiology and genetics, contributing to the education of future scientists.