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Our Team

Sustainable solutions for modern agriculture

Our Values

At Kula Bio, we work and live by our shared values

Innovation

We define innovation as the ability to generate new ideas and to execute the ideas such that they have a meaningful impact on our company and on the world. We love the continuous challenge of inventing, implementing and finishing.

Intellectual Honesty

We’re incredible optimists, but have the discipline to see things clearly. We love to debate our strong views, but value a “growth mindset”: entering every situation to learn, not to defend our ideas for personal gain or prove we’re the smartest in the room. We have opinions, but the customer holds all of the facts.

Balance

We believe that if you are able to strike a balance between all the significant facets of life, you will have the courage to chase bigger goals. We think that workforce diversity and work-life management are critical to unlocking our collective and unique talents.

Integrity

We are really competitive, but we treat each other, we treat customers, we treat partners with honesty, transparency and respect. In balancing all of this, we exhibit a “generosity of spirit”, that is, we give each other the benefit of doubt even in the most difficult situations.

Kula Bio Management Team

Bill Brady

Bill Brady

Bill is not only an avid gardener and micro- farmer, but has spent his career at the intersection of technology and industry. He has led large, complex organizations as well as impactful technology companies in the synthetic biology and sustainable carbon industries.

Harrison Yoon, PhD

Harrison Yoon, PhD

Harrison is a recognized and seasoned veteran of the biotechnology and life science industries, with over 25 years of experience in the United States and Asia. Over his career, Harrison has held several leadership positions in executive management as CTO, COO and CEO, and is an industry expert in cell culture and fermentation, as well as bioprocess design, development and optimization. 

Frederic Kendirgi, PhD

Frederic Kendirgi, PhD

Frederic is an expert and proven leader within the biotechnology sector, with extensive experience in developing biological solutions for agriculture. Frederic has held various impactful positions in the areas of R&D, Operations and Manufacturing Science.

Greg Fischer

Greg Fischer

Greg has held various financial roles within the biotech sector, each with increasing levels of responsibility. A strategic thinker with a passion for the environment and developing successful companies.

Jim Krebsbach

Jim Krebsbach

Jim brings 30 years of experience within the agriculture industry to Kula Bio.  Jim is recognized as an ag industry expert.  Throughout his 30 years, Jim has successfully developed strategic partners, built high performing teams, and effectively launched new products.  Jim has held many positions, including CRO, VP, and General Manager.

Susannah Robinson

Susannah Robinson

Susannah has more than 25 years of experience in the human resources and organizational design space for manufacturing and scientific organizations. She is a recognized executive coach and has held a variety of executive leadership positions in human resources, investor relations and communications.

Katelyn Ehrler

Katelyn Ehrler

Katelyn comes to Kula Bio with 7 years industry experience in the agricultural biotechnology sector. Roles focused on product launch, regulatory affairs, and corporate development have her well positioned to lead product management efforts. She holds a B.S. in Ecosystem Science and Sustainability and a Certificate of Project Management from Colorado State University.

Darian Smercina, PhD

Darian Smercina, PhD

Darian is an expert in soil microbial ecology and biogeochemistry with a strong background in fundamental research around biological nitrogen fixation. She received her PhD from Michigan State University and was a Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellow at Pacific Northwest National Lab before joining the Kula Bio team. Darian is passionate about finding scientifically supported, data-driven solutions to global problems including climate change and food security.

Kyle Carter

Kyle Carter

Kyle graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Cell Biology. He brings 6 years of fermentation experience with mammalian, fungal, and bacterial fermentations at bench, pilot, and production scale. He has experience with downstream purification processes, fermentation process design and optimization, including custom bioreactor systems. Throughout his career he has trained and led teams of scientists, engineers, and manufacturing personnel in contract manufacturing environments.

Todd Spigener

Todd Spigener

Todd brings over 10 years of experience in the production of agricultural soil inoculants to Kula Bio. He is knowledgeable in microbial ecology, genetics, & physiology and is passionate about sustainability & environmental causes.

Tricia Walker, PhD

Tricia Walker, PhD

Tricia comes to Kula Bio with expertise in microbial physiology, genome engineering, and omics analysis. Her background focused on mechanisms of environmental stress response and adaptations for fast growth in photosynthetic bacteria. Tricia holds a Ph.D. in Plant and Microbial Biology from Washington University in St Louis. She is excited to be a part of the development of environmentally progressive sustainable biofertilizer products.

Scientific Advisory Board

Prof. Daniel Nocera

Prof. Daniel Nocera

Dan is a luminary of the alternative energy world, leading a research group that has pioneered practical and impact-focused strides in the conversion of solar energy into food, fuels, and materials.

Prof. Pamela Silver

Prof. Pamela Silver

Pam has left no stone unturned in the microbial world. With her lab, she has driven research to solve challenges of microbiome communities from the human gut to agricultural soils.

Upendra Singh, PhD

Upendra Singh, PhD

Upendra’s career in soil-plant-nutrient dynamics and fertilizer research spans the globe, with research and training programs in over 36 countries. Upendra is a globally recognized leader in soil and crop fertility.  

Prof. Molly Jahn

Prof. Molly Jahn

As a lauded plant breeder, Molly is no stranger to the journey from the lab to the field. Having lead research groups at Cornell and UW-Madison, she has also served numerous roles within the USDA overseeing research programs.

Board of Directors

Russ Wilcox, Pillar VC

Bill Brady, Kula Bio

Dan Nocera, Harvard University

Craig Shapiro, Collaborative Fund

J. Paul Austin III, Bopu Fund

Vonnie Estes, Industry Expert, Independent Member

Daniel Vradenburg, Industry Expert, Independent Member

 

 

Get in touch

Contact our team of agronomists to learn more about Kula Bio.