AI in Biotech: Programming the Bioeconomy + Nucleate Afterparty
🗓️ 20 May 2026 | AI in Biotech: Programming the Bioeconomy + Nucleate Afterparty
🌟 For the past two years, every Nucleate "AI in Biotech" conversation at Upper Bound has been about therapeutics and drug discovery. Tonight is not that panel.
For our third installment at Upper Bound, we are bringing the intersection of AI with ecological and agricultural biotech: soil microbiomes, biodiversity, climate-resilient crops, agricultural emissions, and the bioeconomy. Despite its enormous potential, it remains the most under-discussed frontier in the field. It is also the domain where modern AI architectures should provide the most leverage: high-dimensional, multi-scale, partially mechanistic systems where foundation models, hybrid mechanistic-ML approaches, and multi-omics integration change what is possible. We are convening the first Upper Bound conversation that treats this space as the technical and commercial frontier it represents for the next generation of scientists.
Event Schedule
💬 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM | Doors Open + Networking
🌱 8:00 PM - 9:15 PM | [Panel] AI in Biotech: Programming the Bioeconomy
🪩 9:15 PM - 11:00 PM | Nucleate Afterparty
On the panel:
Brad Zamft: CEO, Heritable Agriculture. Recently spun out of Google X with co-founders including plant gene-editing pioneer Dan Voytas; backed by FTW Ventures, Mythos, SVG Ventures, BoxOne, and Google. Heritable is using foundation models and multi-omics to make plant breeding programmable.
Anjana Puliyanda: ML Scientist on the Advanced Technology team at the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute, where she advances applied AI research in the life sciences domain across industry and academia. Prior, Anjana worked at a BC-based biotech company, Gandeeva Therapeutics to develop their in-silico antibody engineering platform. After earning her PhD in Process Control from the University of Alberta, Anjana pursued postdoctoral appointments, in addition to being a sessional post-secondary University lecturer.
Kebbie Brown: Associate at NYA Ventures supporting deep-tech and deep-science startups across agriculture, food, and climate. With experience spanning venture, fintech, and innovation ecosystems, she is focused on advancing technologies transforming sustainable agriculture and the future of food systems.
Moderated by Mike Bird: AI and Engineering Lead at BoxOne Ventures, host of the Tool Use podcast, and investor with technical fluency across the eco-AI biotech stack.
The Forum is powered by our Nucleate Canada Supporters:
Platinum: Edmonton Unlimited, MNP, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute, Alberta Innovates, BoxOne Ventures
Gold: Genome Alberta
Silver: Genome BC, Future Fields, adMare BioInnovations, Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation, Startup TNT, Network for Applied Technology (NAT)
About the Event Host
Nucleate is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering the next generation of biotech leaders. With chapters spanning 41 geographic regions and participation from over 280 academic institutions, Nucleate sparks new intellectual communities and embeds emerging talent within a global biotech community. Through open-access educational programming, Nucleate helps democratize biotech innovation — removing barriers and helping founders concentrate on building transformational technologies. Visit www.nucleate.org for more information, and visit https://nucleate.org/privacy-policy/ to read our privacy policy.
We want to thank our HQ supporters for championing our open-access mission and empowering the next generation of biotech entrepreneurs!: