Max Huisman is Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Prolific Machines, the photomolecular biology innovator ushering in a new era of biotechnology using light. Prolific harnesses light to produce everyday essentials more efficiently — from food and lifesaving drugs to novel biosolutions. The Bay Area company’s first-of-its-kind platform delivers unprecedented molecular control, precisely guiding cellular behavior when and where it matters most. Unlike existing tools used to control biology, Prolific’s technology unlocks direct and dynamic control over virtually any cellular function in any cell type. The company enables innovators across pharmaceuticals, nutritional and therapeutic protein production, and cellular agriculture to unlock robust efficiency, quality, reproducibility, and sustainability advantages. Along with co-founders Deniz and Declan, in 2020 Max was inspired by the burgeoning field of optogenetics. The team then set out to commercially harness light— an abundant, safe, and versatile input — to control cellular behavior with unparalleled precision and optimize this over time using AI technology. Prior to co-founding Prolific Machines, Max worked as a PostDoc at the RNA Therapeutics Institute at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. He had previously completed his PhD in Biomedical Sciences there, during which time he conceived, designed and built various novel devices - among which the world’s first cryogenic super-resolution fluorescence microscope. Max speaks five languages, has co-authored 10+ academic publications, and holds several patents. Max received his Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Applied Physics from the University of Delft.