Xav's Bio

CV

Xav

My name is Xavier “Xav” Bower (pronounced ‘Zayv’). I’m a bioengineer and researcher driven by a desire to use biotechnology to improve lives, currently pursuing a PhD in Chemical and Biological Engineering at Northwestern University.

As an undergraduate in Molecular Engineering at the University of Chicago, I explored academic and industry (Vertex Pharmaceuticals) research spanning immunology, drug discovery, and biomolecular engineering. I then spent 4 years in industry, independently pioneering techniques in assay chemistry and bioinformatic algorithms to launch new tests at a molecular diagnostics startup called BillionToOne, addressing unmet clinical needs for hundreds of thousands of prenatal and oncology patients.

At Northwestern, my research in the Lucks and Leonard Labs applies my expertise in molecular biology, lab automation, sequencing, bioinformatics, and clinical translation towards the development of high throughput measurements, modeling, and therapeutic applications of functional RNA. Specifically, I work on (i) AI for functional and structural RNA sequence design, (ii) RNA aptazymes, (iii) self-amplifying RNA, and (iv) RNA-binding protein systems.

My experiences in academia, pharmaceuticals, and startups have led me to recognize that traditional academic and corporate structures may struggle to adapt to escalating global health challenges – such as pandemics, environmental hazards, and emerging biological threats – as their incentive structures are misaligned with rapid deployment of low-cost, high-impact biotechnologies. As such, I aim to help create new organizational models leveraging high-throughput synthetic biology to mobilize a large workforce towards solving the most pressing unaddressed issues in global healthcare.

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Xavier “Xav” Bower

xavier.synbio@gmail.com

(719) 375-4478

Chicago, IL

CV

Education

Northwestern University (Evanston, IL) – Current
PhD in Chemical and Biological Engineering | Sep 2024 – Jun 2029 (Expected)
Co-advisors: Julius Lucks and Josh Leonard

  • ​​GPA: 3.625 / 4.0
  • Lucks Lab: High-throughput data generation and AI models for functional RNA (aptamers, ribozymes) and RNA-binding protein systems. Published peer-reviewed research on cell-free biosensors (see Publications).
  • Leonard Lab: Creating self-amplifying RNA systems with exogenous control in human cells; new RNA-related medical applications of synthetic biology. Developing computational workshops on applying AI tools to synthetic biology.
  • Synthetic Biology Coursework: Principles of Synthetic Biology, Deconstructing Synthetic Biology Across Scales, Advances in Biotechnology, Biological Phenomena in Cell and Cell-Free Systems, Quantitative Biology.
  • Meetings: SynBioBeta 2024, NU Contextualizing your Research Workshop 2024 and 2025 (Facilitator), NU Center for Synthetic Biology Annual Retreat 2024, Central United States Synthetic Biology Workshop 2024.
  • Biotechnology Training Program NIH-funded Traineeship: Awarded 2025.

The University of Chicago (Chicago, IL)
Bachelor of Science in Molecular Engineering, Biology Track | Sep 2016 – Mar 2020

  • GPA: 3.757 / 4.0
  • Minor in Spanish Language and Literature
  • Awards: National Merit Scholarship, Donald R. Bentz Merit Scholarship, Dean’s List (all eligible years), Metcalf Research Grant (2018, 2019).
  • Engineering Capstone Project: Collaborated with Hollister Incorporated to prototype a medical device for ileostomy dejecta enzyme activity detection.
    This research contributed to a patent application (see Patents).

Professional Experience

BillionToOne, Inc. (Menlo Park, CA) | Apr 2020 – Jul 2024

Scientist (Sep 2023 – Jul 2024)

  • Led development and validation of a copy number variation assay for a liquid biopsy treatment selection test with greater sensitivity than existing tests (first-author publication; patents pending); co-led validation submissions to the Molecular Diagnostic Services Program for Medicare coverage.
  • Developed algorithms to improve the performance of oncology tests and operated bioinformatics pipelines for hundreds of clinical reports.
  • Prepared abstracts and presented posters at AACR 2024 and ASCO 2024.

Principal Research Associate (Feb 2021 – Sep 2023)

  • Independently designed and validated a new algorithm for detecting aneuploidies in twin pregnancies, implemented in clinical codebase.
  • Discovered and characterized biases in oncological copy number variation (CNV) measurements, developed noise-reduction algorithms and a new CNV caller with ~5x lower limit of detection.
  • Led hiring and mentorship of summer R&D interns in 2022 and 2023.
  • Developed and launched multiple clinical laboratory automation workflows.
  • Contributed computational work to a publication on a cancer treatment response assay (Ye et al. 2025).

Senior Research Associate (Aug 2020 – Feb 2021)

  • Led assay chemistry redesign from ideation to clinical launch for the aneuploidy noninvasive prenatal test (sole full-time developer).
  • Contributed wet laboratory work to a publication for a novel fetal antigen noninvasive prenatal test (Alford, Landry, et al. 2023).

Research Associate (Apr 2020 – Aug 2020)

  • Designed and executed experiments to validate, scale, and clinically launch assays for two non-invasive prenatal screening tests.
  • Independently designed and launched a semi-automated clinical lab workflow to improve signal-to-noise ratio and reduce contamination for multiple assays.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Internship, Structural Biology) | Jun 2019 – Aug 2019

  • Purified and characterized therapeutic candidates and contributed to design of new therapeutics; presented a poster at an internal conference.

Undergraduate Research Experience

Hubbell Lab, University of Chicago | Sep 2019 – Mar 2020

  • Designed and produced synthetic protein-based tolerogenic antigen delivery therapies; tested in autoimmune disease mouse model (manuscript in review).

Kee Lab, University of Chicago | Apr 2018 – Jun 2019

  • Characterized how the transcription factor ETS1 influences intestinal length through its role in non-canonical T-cell selection in mice.
  • Presented a poster at the 2018 Autumn Immunology Conference.

Publications & Patents

  • Bower, et al. Validation of a liquid biopsy assay with increased sensitivity for clinical comprehensive genomic profiling. Journal of Liquid Biopsy. Sep 2025.
  • Brown, Phillips, Garcia, Arce, Lucci, … Bower, et al. Semiautomated Production of Cell-Free Biosensors. ACS Synthetic Biology. Mar 2025. 
  • Ye, Viens, Shelburne, Langpap, Bower, et al. Molecular counting enables accurate and precise quantification of methylated ctDNA for tumor-naive cancer therapy response monitoring. Scientific Reports. Feb 2025.
  • Alford, Landry, Hou, Bower, et al. Validation of a non-invasive prenatal test for fetal RhD, C, c, E, K and Fya antigens. Scientific Reports. Aug 2023.
  • Under review: Reda, Beckman, … Bower, et al. Antigen Fused to the Efferocytosis Mediator GAS6 Attenuates Inflammation by Promoting Regulatory Fate in both Antigen-Presenting Cells and Antigen-Specific T Cells.
  • Patent Application (pending): Bower, et al. Liquid biopsy assay for genomic profiling of circulating tumor DNA. WO2025155949A1, US20250239327A1. Filed Jan 2025.
  • Patent Application (ceased): Bower, et al. System and method for dejecta enzyme activity detection. WO2023178051A1. Filed Mar 2023.

Skills & Expertise

  • Lab Techniques: Molecular Diagnostics Development, qPCR, Multiplex PCR, Hybridization Capture, Next-Generation Sequencing (MiSeq, NextSeq, MGI T7), In vitro Transcription, Cell-free Protein Expression, Chemical Probing (DMS-Seq, SHAPE-Seq), Cell Culture (Bacterial, Insect, Mammalian), DNA / RNA / Protein Purification, Flow Cytometry, FACS, SPR, DLS, Mass Photometry.
  • Computational: Linux/Unix, R (including package development), Python, GNU Make, AWS (Batch, S3), AutoCAD, Bioinformatics tools (e.g. bedtools, samtools, bwa mem), Rosetta, AlphaFold, NuPACK, NuFold, COSMIC database.
  • Lab Automation: Hamilton MicroLab Prep, Beckman Coulter Biomek i7.

Leadership, Awards, & Outreach

  • Treasurer, Northwestern Graduate Student Organization (2025): Managed budgeting, financial operations, and compliance for a large graduate student body; supported programs, events, and student services.
  • Research Mentorship (2024-2025): Hosted two undergraduate mentees (Summer 2025 SynBREU, DeFeo REU programs). Mentored a high school student on an independent research project (SIRS program via NU MORE). 
  • Board Member, Center for Synthetic Biology Trainee Association (2025; member 2024-present): Planned and hosted center-wide social events. 
  • Board Member (2024-2025), Chemical and Biological Engineering UNITY Committee: Planned and hosted department-wide social events, co-hosted and facilitated a professional workshop (Contextualizing Your Research 2025).
  • NIH-Funded Trainee & Practicum Committee Member (2025-Present), Biotechnology Training Program: Co-organized and took part in research, social, and professional development events, co-developed 2026 practicum.
  • Molecular Engineering Young Alumni Award (2023): Inaugural award from UChicago Molecular Engineering for outreach efforts and career achievement.
  • Office of Diversity and Inclusion Peer Mentorship Program (2024-2025): Conducted over a dozen interviews with stakeholders to develop a concept for mediated dialogues to address divisive topics and issues at Northwestern.
  • Outreach (2021-present): Collaborated with University of Chicago to host lab tours and info sessions for students interested in biotechnology careers. Various science outreach and communication activities in the Evanston area.