Noah Robinson ’21 (Photo courtesy of Noah Robinson)
When Noah Robinson, Ph.D., graduated from Saint Michael’s College in May of 2021, he left campus with much more than a diploma – he left with the skills necessary to “fit into any environment that I found myself in,” he said.
Four years after receiving his undergraduate degree from St. Mike’s, Robinson has a Ph.D. from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and has co-founded a biotechnology-based company. Today, he is the Chief Technology Officer at that California-based company, Genyro, which works to change the way the scientific world views synthetic DNA.
Robinson credits the education he received at Saint Michael’s as one of the main catalysts that set him on the course he finds himself on today. He emphasized not only his work in the Biochemistry and Philosophy departments, but also the overall experience of the liberal arts education.
‘All in’ on science and the liberal arts
Robinson grew up in Massachusetts before setting his sights on the Green Mountains of Vermont. After deciding on Saint Michael’s as the next step to expanding his knowledge and career opportunities, he quickly got involved with the Biochemistry and Philosophy departments.
Through the biochemistry department at Saint Michael’s, Robinson was able to get hands-on experience, participating in various “wet labs,” working closely with Professor Mark Lubkowitz. These lab experiences gave him the practical skills to prepare for the advanced research that he would later pursue at Caltech.
Noah Robinson ’21, left, poses with friends at Saint Michael’s College. (Photo courtesy of Noah Robinson)
Robinson was able to find logic and reason within scientific findings through his study of Philosophy, particularly with Professor Crystal L’Hôte.
“One of the advantages of the small school model was that I got to meet every chemistry and biology professor, as well as philosophy professors,” Robinson said.”You get very involved exposure to each of your professors.”
Biology Professor Mark Lubkowitz recalled that Robinson “took advantage of everything St. Mike’s offered him.”
“He embraced the liberal arts by majoring in both biochemistry and philosophy,” Lubkowitz said. “He engaged in numerous research projects through his coursework, with faculty in their laboratories, and with New England Biotech companies.”
He added, “He was all in from the beginning—he loves science, he is good at it, and it shows.”
Robinson also said the combination of the liberal arts with professors who work closely with their students made all the difference in his personal and professional growth, both at St. Mike’s and beyond.
“One of the advantages of a liberal arts education at Saint Mike’s is that you get exposed to a lot of different things,” Robinson said. “I’m proud of my biochemistry and philosophy degrees, and I’m thankful to St. Mike’s for allowing me to do both.”
Noah Robinson ’21 shown at both his graduation from Saint Michael’s College (left) and his graduation from Caltech (right) after receiving his Ph.D. (Photos courtesy of Noah Robinson)
From Joyce Hall to the California biotech industry
The qualities and skills that Robinson honed at Saint Michael’s helped him from his days as an undergraduate living in Joyce Hall to his journey into research and business in Pasadena, California.
Despite the many hats he currently wears, Robinson considers himself a “scientist first” above all other things. He recently finished his doctoral research at Caltech, where he studied ways in which synthetic molecules could be assembled more efficiently and cheaply.
In his work as the CTO of Genyro, Robinson has frequent meetings with his co-founders, potential investors, and students whom he trains on new technologies and research methods. Additionally, he spends several hours per week in the lab on his studies.
Noah Robinson ’21 works in the lab at Caltech. (Photo courtesy of Noah Robinson)
Robinson said that Genyro was born after he and his colleagues saw a deficiency in the existing DNA assembly technology. Most DNA assembling technologies require scientists to correctly arrange different strands of DNA – a time-consuming process. Genyro’s “Sidewinder” technology places a form of “page numbers” on these strands of DNA, enabling much quicker alignment and ordering. According to Robinson, this innovative technology could be used for a multitude of benefits – from producing more drought-resistant crops to ensuring access to safe drinking water.
Acting as the CTO of Genyro, Robinson often promotes the Sidewinder technology to potential investors and collaborators. He cites his education at Saint Michael’s as one of the primary reasons he can do this effectively.
“The liberal arts education helps make you well-rounded in terms of how you think and communicate,” Robinson said. “It’s important to have those skills that allow you to connect with people.”
When asked to give a bit of advice to current Saint Michael’s students, Robinson was encouraging: “Saint Michael’s has given you the tools you need; now it’s up to you to manage your relationship toward your work.”
He added, “No matter what your goals are, you can use everything that you’ve learned and manage that relationship most effectively to succeed in your career and personal life.”
In the end, it’s important for students to pursue a job they will love and can be happy in, Robinson said. He noted that he has been fortunate to find that in his own career.
Now, as he continues along the career path that he forged at Saint Michael’s, Robinson and his team at Genyro are reshaping the way the world sees synthetic DNA, one strand at a time.