Matias Kaplan

Matias Kaplan is a Ph.D. candidate in bioengineering at Stanford University. His work in Christina Smolke’s laboratory focuses on building high-throughput screening and structure-based methods to develop RNA switches as a platform for small-molecule detection in biological systems. His hope is to work on laying the foundation for a just transition away from fossil fuels by enabling biomanufacturing and build a better world. As a BioFutures Fellow Matias plans to work on defining a just industrial policy for synthetic biology and climate change. Matias grew up in South Florida and holds a B.Sc. in Biological Engineering from the University of Florida and an M.S. in Bioengineering from Stanford University. His graduate work is supported by a Graduate Research Fellowship award from the NSF and the Gilliam Fellowship from HHMI. Outside of the lab he enjoys biking and hiking around the gorgeous Bay Area.