Biofuels, Biomass Feedstocks, Chemistry, Biocatalysis, Synthetic Biology, Protein Production and Evolution, Bio-based Chemicals, Intellectual Property Management

Dr. Burk has held diverse technical, strategic, and business-oriented roles and is an accomplished senior executive with a proven track record in the biotech industry, driving innovation and transforming R&D concepts into successful commercial products. Mark spent over 20 years of his 35-year industrial and academic career advancing sustainable processes for biofuels and bio-based chemicals production. While at Diversa Corporation, Mark led a large team that discovered and engineered robust enzyme products for biomass pretreatment, animal feed, sweeteners, pharmaceuticals, pulp and paper, and oil & gas extraction applications. After acquisition by BASF, Mark was the CTO of Genomatica for 12 years, where he built a high-performance team and systems biology-based rational cell engineering platform. Mark established Genomatica’s prosperous pipeline of eight bio-based products, including Geno BDO^TM, Brontide^TM, Aveyla^TM, and Geno Nylon^TM operating at commercial scale. Mark also created an industry-leading IP portfolio that continues to position Genomatica as one of the top industrial biotechnology companies globally. Mark has delivered and/or played a key role in securing over $180 M in financing from venture capital and strategic investors, over $300 M in product-driven partnership deals, and over $40 M in government grants. More recently, Mark has co-founded two start-up companies leveraging synthetic biology aimed at novel therapeutics and has engaged in a range of consulting activities involving biofuels, bio-based chemicals, and management of IP portfolios.

Mark has published over 80 peer-reviewed papers and has been a primary inventor on more than 300 issued patents, including over 140 granted US patents. He has in-depth expertise in organic chemistry, synthetic biology, cell engineering, protein and peptide evolution, HT screening, and use of ML/AI in discovery, as well as deep knowledge in building cutting-edge technology platforms, creating industry-leading IP portfolios, establishing differentiated product pipelines, and scaling up fermentation-based processes.  Mark received his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry while studying under Professor Robert Crabtree at Yale University and performed post-doctoral research at MIT with Professor Barry Sharpless, a 2-time Nobel Laureate. Contact Mark.