Stephen Payne

Bachelor of Science in Biological Engineering, MIT, 2008

Professional Experience

Scientist I
  • REG Life Sciences
  • Team member of a project which obtained sufficient titer and scale-up of biosynthesis of a small molecule from engineered E. coli for pursuit of joint development agreements with major international specialty chemical companies.
  • Task leader of a collaboration between REG Life Sciences and Exxon Mobil to produce biodiesel from cellulosic hydrolysate using engineered E. coli.
Metabolic Engineer
  • Greenlight Biosciences
  • Team member on an ARPA-E grant to produce isobutanol from methane via a mixed M. capsulatus/E. coli cell-free production system.
Postdoctoral Researcher
  • MIT - Weiss Lab
  • Developed miRNA sensors on self-replicating RNA in hiPS cells to differentiate them into beta cells.

Educational Experience

Participation in Programs: 

  • International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition
  • MIT Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program

Undergraduate Research Experiences: 

  • Knight Lab
  • Endy Lab as part of the MIT International Genetically Engineered Machine team

Publications/Posters: 

  • 2006 iGEM, First Place, Best System
  • 2006 iGEM, Third Place, Best Presentation

Activities, interests and hobbies: 

Ice hockey

Additional Degrees: 

Duke University, Biomedical Engineering, PhD