William Martelly, a Research Scientist working at SPOC Proteomics for the past four years, completed his Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from Arizona State University while working in the lab of Dr. Shalini Sharma at the UA College of Medicine, Downtown Phoenix Campus. In the Sharma Lab, he characterized novel RNA–protein interactions involved in pre-mRNA splicing and leveraged surface plasmon resonance (SPR) in his work. He subsequently joined SPOC Proteomics upon graduation, helping to enable protein synthesis directly onto SPR biosensor surfaces via the Protein NanoFactory system.

Dr. Rebecca Cook holds a B.S. in Molecular & Cellular Biology from University of Arizona and a Ph.D. in Biological Design from Arizona State University. Since earning her bachelor’s degree in 2009, her research interests have been dedicated to cancer and neurological diseases. Her extensive experience spans high-throughput detection of single-nucleotide polymorphisms for genome-wide association studies, as well as the design and biological engineering of novel therapeutics that leverage the immune system and pathogen-derived proteins for targeted treatment of brain tumors and other neurological diseases. Her graduate research focused on the design, expression, and testing of a T cell-engaging fusion protein against glioblastoma. As a Post-Doctoral Fellow, and later as a Research Scientist at INanoBio Inc. and SPOC Proteomics, she has utilized her expertise in protein expression, interaction, and detection to explore innovative approaches for high-throughput biomarker screening for cancer and other diseases. Dr. Cook has played a key role as a project lead in the development and testing of SPOC Proteomics’ Protein Nanofactory System. As a Senior Research Scientist, she is responsible for the strategic design of nanowell/gene printing patterns, overseeing the production of protein biosensor chips on the protein nanofactory system, troubleshooting the system and sensor chip issues, optimizing and improving assays, and managing experimental designs for SPRi experiments.

Dr. Chidozie Victor Agu has 10+ years of experience in platform assay development. He holds a Ph.D. in Metabolic Engineering from The Ohio State University and MS and B.S. in Biotechnology and Biochemistry from the University of Nigeria. His Ph.D. research focused on metabolic engineering and microbial characterization for biofuel and fine chemical production from non-food lignocellulosic biomass substrates. He developed a consolidated bioprocess to improve biomass detoxification and butanol production from lignocellulose hydrolysate, designed a recombinant enzyme-based high-throughput assay to screen microbial mutant libraries for hyper butanol production, and contributed to the development of purification workflow for 2,3-butanediol in an Ohio State University/Peloton Energy project. Dr. Agu specializes in bioassay design and optimization and currently focuses on developing biosensing assay platforms for disease diagnosis at SPOC Proteomics. As Manager of Bioassay Development, he contributed to the initial development of the multiplexed SPOC protein biosensor platform, an NIH-funded project for high-throughput cell-free protein expression, capture-purification, and kinetic screening. He continues to oversee its verification and validation across new applications. He contributed to development of other proprietary platforms, including a field-effect transistor-based enzymatic reaction monitoring diagnostic device and a solid-state nanopore-based genome sequencer.

Dr. Lydia Gushgari, Ph.D., specializes in immunology, virology, vaccine development, cancer immunology, and autoimmunity. She earned a Ph.D. in Biological Design from Arizona State University and a B.S. in Microbiology/Molecular Genetics from Oklahoma State University. Her graduate research focused on scalable protein production for HIV vaccines, leading to Phase I clinical trials and a patent. Her postdoctoral studies examined the role of gamma-interferon-inducible lysosomal thiol reductase (GILT) in melanoma patient outcomes and immune system function. At Cyrex Laboratories, Dr. Gushgari supervised 19 CLIA laboratory-developed immunology tests and five FDA-approved assays, overseeing regulatory compliance, assay validation, and laboratory automation. She led the development of two CLIA-approved assays and managed proficiency testing, quality control, and operational efficiency improvements, including integrating ELISA automation and STARLIMS customization. As Chief of Staff, she applies her expertise in protein purification, assay validation, and laboratory management to ensure high-quality technical development, compliance, and strategic growth. She also supports business strategy, outreach, and marketing efforts for commercial products and services.

Dr. Salvador Moreno has 8+ years of experience in the research and development of advanced materials. He currently works at SPOC Proteomics (formerly INanobio) as a Research Scientist focused on engineering design and rapid prototyping facilitating the development of SPOC technology. Dr. Moreno holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Dallas, funded through the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship and McDermott Fellowship. Dr. Moreno has developed proof-of-concept prototypes derived from scientific literature concepts, incorporating cleanroom microfabrication, novel materials, sensors, and technologies with electro-mechanical components and software as demonstrated in numerous scientific publications, with interdisciplinary teams ranging from electrical engineering to biological and material sciences.

Dr. Sailaja Kesiraju is currently engaged as a Research Scientist, specializing in cell-free protein expression and high-throughput proteomic assay development utilizing silicon nanowell slides.  Her previous experience encompasses the detection of antibody biomarkers in clinical samples, in the nanowell slides to express thousands of proteins simultaneously and capture them for detection. Dr. Kesiraju has developed DNA translocation assays and microfluidic bioassays on nanopore transistor devices for base pair-level DNA sequencing for low-cost FENT technologies. In her previous experience, she developed assays for recombinant protein expression and purification used in point-of-care diagnostics for circulating cancer biomarkers. Her career trajectory includes Ph.D. in Biochemistry from University of Hyderabad, India, a Post-Doc Assistant Research Scientist at the Biodesign Institute, Research Scientist at INano Bio, and her current position as a Research Scientist at SPOC Proteomics.

Mukilan Mohan holds an MSE in Electrical Engineering and an MBA from Arizona State University. With over fifteen years of experience in systems engineering and management, he has led teams of various sizes, specializing in aligning objectives, coordinating efforts across teams, optimizing resource utilization, and developing strategies to accelerate the attainment of research goals. He is the Cofounder and Chief Operating Officer at SPOC Proteomics Inc., assisting in in overall project management, leading the supervision of grant finances, vendor management, and cross-team coordination with partners. He oversees timelines as well as tracking research developments and reporting progress in accordance with program requirements. Mr. Mohan contribute to the design and development of SPOC Proteomics Protein NanoFactory System. He spearheads business development efforts, formulating strategic marketing and sales approaches for the SPOC platform-produced consumables while ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. He also has extensive experience in resource acquisition, general grant management, and coordination with federal, research, and educational institutions.

Dr. Bharath Takulapalli is the founder and CEO of SPOC Proteomics Inc. He graduated with a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Arizona State University and Bachelor of Technology from Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, India. With 15+ years of interdisciplinary research experience in single-molecule biophysics, solid-state electronics, and molecular biology, Dr. Takulapalli possesses extensive knowledge in advanced proteomic diagnostics for early-stage disease detection, protein array fabrication, in situ protein expression and capture technology, gradient capillary fluidics, microfluidics, nanofabrication, protein biosensors, device physics, field-effect biosensors, DNA sequencing, nano-imprint, and nano-contact print lithography. While conducting research at the Center for Biosensors and Bioelectronics at Arizona State University, he invented FDEC FET sensor technology for biomolecular and chemical sensing, as well as the FET Nanopore Transistor for genome sequencing. While at Biodesign Institute at ASU, he led the development of next-generation, high-quality, pure proteome-on-chip microarrays using in situ protein expression technology, pioneering a novel high-density nanowell platform for low-diffusion in situ protein expression. Dr. Takulapalli conceived and led the development of SPOC Proteomics’ protein nanofactory system for cell-free high-throughput synthesis of folded proteins on biosensor chips for subsequent kinetic molecular interaction screening.