Neal Connors

Neal Connors has over 30 years of experience in the biotechnology industry. Neal began their career in 1991 as a Senior Investigator at Merck, where they led a team producing proteins for pre-clinical or target evaluation. In 2009, they became the Owner/President of Phoenix BioConsulting, LLC, a consulting firm providing expert services for the fermentation, industrial microbiology, bioprocess development, and biotechnology sectors. In 2010, they co-founded and became the Chief Technology Officer of KALION, INC., a capital-lite, angel-backed, industrial biotech start-up. In 2011, they were elected President of the Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology. In 2012, they became a Fellow at the Research Institute for Scientists Emeriti (RISE) at Drew University, where they conducted research on the use of microbes as "miniature factories" to produce natural product small molecules, bioctatalysts, renewable chemicals, and proteins. In 2017, they became the Director of Research (consultant) at the Institute For Life Science Entrepreneurship (ILSE), where they led the development of industrial microbiology products and services with an initial focus on biocatalysis in collaboration with ATCC. In 2021, they joined Curie Co. as the Executive Director of External Bioprocess Development, where they identified and directed C(D)MO upstream and downstream bioprocess development capabilities to augment internal bioprocess development for advancing Curie Co.'s product pipeline.

Neal Connors obtained their Ph.D. in Microbiology from The Ohio State University between 1987 and 1991. Neal obtained their BS in Biology (with a minor in Chemistry) from Norwich University between 1980 and 1984.