Dr James MacDonald is the Co-CEO, CTO and co-founder of Solena Materials Limited, an IP spin-out from Imperial College London where he developed the technology in his position as a Research Fellow.
With a Physics degree from Imperial and a research background in protein structure and synthetic biology, James is the technical lead at Solena in commercialising computationally-designed synthetic protein fibres. Using computational design, deep learning, and automation, the company aims to accelerate bespoke materials development.
James has industry experience, having worked for a multinational consultancy. He also serves on the Bioindustry Association’s Engineering Biology Advisory Committee, offering a blend of technological and commercial insights.