Bioengineering Pathways: Academia and Entrepreneurship
Join Nucleate UK as we explore career pathways in bioengineering, with a particular focus on translating research into startups and real-world impact, and how academic careers and entrepreneurship can complement one another. This event is aimed at PhD students and Early Career Researchers (ECRs).
The session will highlight how scientists can navigate careers spanning academia, industry, and entrepreneurship. Drawing on the experiences of our speakers, we will explore complementary career trajectories, including:
Transitioning across international biotech ecosystems and startup environments
Combining academic leadership with company co-founding
Bridging fundamental research with commercial application, particularly in sustainability and climate biotech
Whether you are exploring commercialisation, developing new technologies, or considering future career directions, join us to hear inspiring stories and learn how Nucleate UK partners with Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) to accelerate ambitious ideas.
Speakers:
Lucia Burdisso, PhD - Lucia is the Chief Scientific Officer at Deep Blue Biotech, where she leads the development of a cyanobacterial synthetic biology platform for sustainable, CO₂-based chemical production. A biotechnologist with a PhD and more than 10 years of experience in R&D across academia and biotech startups, Lucia has worked in 10 laboratories across 4 countries, including startups in Argentina and the San Francisco Bay Area, and is now based in Sheffield.
Ressa Lebedinec, PhD - Ressa is a molecular mycologist and Senior Biomolecular Engineer at The University of Manchester Biotechnology Institute, with over 10 years of experience in fungal biology, biomolecular engineering, and sustainable biotechnology. She is the co-founder of mushroom+, a deep-tech platform formed in 2025 within the Carbon13 venture builder ecosystem.
mushroom+ is developing technologies that enhance the protein content and performance of mushrooms, transforming existing mushroom farms into climate-positive protein hubs. By increasing protein yield and nutritional density per kilogram of biomass, the company aims to address critical environmental and economic challenges in food production, without requiring the food system to be rebuilt from scratch.
Daniele Parisi, PhD - Daniele is a Senior Scientist at C3, where he leads efforts in scaling up fermentation processes and solving challenges related to circular biomanufacturing. With over a decade of experience in sustainability-driven research and development, he brings deep expertise in fermentation, downstream processing (DSP), and biocatalysis. Daniele holds a PhD in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, and has contributed to both early-stage sustainability-focused startups and global companies, including his recent work with Croda.
Drinks and mexican food will be provided during the networking session with peers and potential collaborators.
This event is part of Nucleate Identify, delivered through our partnership with Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA).
About the 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!
https://nucleate.org/sponsors/