Ajit Smith-Iyer

Ajit Smith-Iyer currently serves as the Executive Director of Upstream Process Development at Sutro Biopharma, Inc., since December 2024. Previously, Ajit held various leadership roles at Bayer from June 2006 to December 2024, including Senior Director of Clinical Manufacturing, where responsibilities included overseeing operations and collaborating with teams to deliver clinical material for early-stage trials across therapeutic modalities. Ajit also served as Senior Director of Digital Manufacturing, managing a large team to implement digital strategies and reduce costs in product transfer processes. Additionally, Ajit was the Group Head of Process Technology and Engineering, leading efforts in process engineering for commercial products, and a Principal Process Engineer responsible for upstream cell culture improvements. Early career experiences include roles at MedImmune and Cell Genesys, focusing on process development and innovation in vaccine production and gene therapy. Ajit earned a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and has advanced degrees in the same field from West Virginia University and the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras.