Nikolai Mushnikov

The goal of Nikolai's PhD thesis project was to develop synthetic genetic circuitry for controlling asymmetric cell division and cell differentiation in E. coli. His discoveries led to a prominent publication in Nature Chemical Biology 1, 2, 3, a new patent-pending invention called Microbial Stem Cell Technology (MiST)4, and the founding of a small business, called AsimicA LLC, whose goal is to apply that technology in bringing transformational change across multiple biomanufacturing industries. In the first years of his thesis project, Nikolai designed, carried out, and interpreted biological experiments, formed productive collaboration with other scientists, presented his research at multiple scientific conferences, and trained new students in laboratory practices. Over the past two years, Nikolai has maintained these activities and at the same time worked towards establishing himself as an upcoming biotech entrepreneur. To this end, he has obtained patent protection for MiST, Nikolai's intellectual property, he has incorporated a small business for which he is the lead scientist and chief officer, he has obtained some seed funding to start that business, and he has put special effort into making connections that will help his small business develop and grow. These connections include mentors and advisors at the Wyoming Technology Business Center (WTBC), Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC), and a number of contacts in academic fermentation science, synthetic biology, and bioproduction industries. Last year, Nikolai competed in the “Fisher Innovation Challenge”, a competition between small business student teams in Wyoming, and reached the level of finalist. He also won competitive funding for AsmicA through the Wyoming SBIR/STTR Initiative, which provided an SBIR Phase 0-00 grant to support travel, technical training, and business development networking. Nikolai looks forward to following his entrepreneurial goals with future small business funding, with the mid-term goal of commercializing AsimicA technology and expertise by forming partnerships with large biomanufacturing companies.