Our Leadership
Ronny Hughes, PhD
Chief Executive Officer & Chief Scientist, Biosciences
Co-Founder, Chemistry
Co-Founder, Chief Scientific Officer, Space & Defense
Ronny is passionate about protein chemistry, with expertise in protein production and crystallization for structure determination by X-ray and neutron diffraction.
He has led successful project efforts working at major research facilities of Los Alamos, Argonne, and Oak Ridge National laboratories, and international laboratories such as Laue-Langevine.
Academic Background
After completing a Bachelors degree from the University of Alabama, Birmingham, he received his MS and PhD in biotechnology science and chemical engineering from the University of Alabama, Huntsville.
Jennifer-Riggs Sauthier, PhD
Chief Operating Officer, Biosciences
Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Chemistry
Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Space & Defense
Jennifer’s primary motivation is understanding human disease states and creating high quality medicines with the end goal of treatment and improving patients’ quality of life as well as promoting technologies to solve global challenges and create a sustainable future.
She is a strategic leader with 23 years’ experience in drug discovery and development whose specialties include the design, synthesis, pre-clinical development, through IND-enabling studies, of both small molecule and protein drugs as well as polymer drug conjugates across a wide variety of therapeutic areas.
Academic Background
She received her PhD in organic chemistry from the University of Notre Dame and Executive Education in Business from the University of California, Berkeley.
Ernest Curto, PhD
Senior Scientist, Biosciences
Ernie has expertise in nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, tissue cultures, and biochemical assay development.
His previous work experience includes development of microarrays and statistical models for data analysis for preclinical drug evaluation and clinical diagnostics.
Academic Background
Ernie received his Bachelors degree in physics from Cal State Hayward; MS and PhD in physics and molecular biology from the University of Oregon.
Jaclyn Brisk
Communications & Marketing
Jaclyn is a dedicated team builder, focused on helping achieve ground-breaking advancements to address modern challenges across broad sectors from healthcare to space and defense. She brings creativity and enthusiasm to the growth of business and collaborative relationships. She specializes in effective communication and translation of technology, with an emphasis on marketing, public relations, project management, and facilitation of interdisciplinary fields.
Academic Background
Jaclyn received her Bachelors degree in Advertising Public Relations & Marketing from the University of Alabama. She will be pursuing an MBA and MS in Biotechnology in the near future.
Daniel Walker
Laboratory Technician, Scientist
Daniel is passionate about furthering his understanding how organisms function both on a microscopic level and in relation to one another as it is essential to the development of technologies and strategies for the treatment and/or elimination of disease while also creating sustainable models for humanity to grow and thrive.
Academic Background
Daniel received his Bachelors degree in biology, with biochemistry emphasis, from The University of Alabama in Huntsville.
Joy Lawton
Lead Acquisition
Joy is passionate about creating and working with teams that can make a difference in the world, and leading the way in personalized medicines while combining traditional and modern methods.