Hi, I’m Xav (pronounced “Zayv”) — a synthetic biologist, 2026 FASPE fellow, and PhD student at the Northwestern Center for Synthetic Biology (CSB), co-advised by Julius Lucks and Josh Leonard. My current wet-lab and computational research focuses on engineering RNA-based tools for programmable genetic medicines, and I am working to help create community and practical knowledge around the adoption of agentic coding tools for research in the CSB.
Before grad school, I spent four years at BillionToOne developing molecular diagnostics for prenatal and oncology patients, where I led assay and bioinformatics development to launch tests that provided high-precision results for hundreds of thousands of patients.
I’m driven by a vision of synthetic biology moving beyond the lab to major global impact: towards a bioengineering-empowered world that is more ethical and more inclusive.
Sidequests: software engineering hobbyist, singer & guitarist, runner (3k track to marathon), private pilot (Cessna 152s), skier, traveler, film enjoyer, food enjoyer.
Xav's Bio 