Daniel Wiegand, MS ChE
Founder & President
Daniel is a synthetic biologist, chemical engineer, and serial entrepreneur with over a decade of experience developing novel biotechnologies and translating them into commercial applications. He trained at the Wyss Institute at Harvard University in the laboratory of Dr. George Church, contributing to pioneering work in fluorescence in situ sequencing, highly parallelized oligonucleotide synthesis, and cell-free protein expression. In 2022, Daniel co-founded EnPlusOne Biosciences and served as its initial CEO, raising $12M in seed financing and leading the development of its enzymatic RNA synthesis platform technology. Daniel has authored several high-impact publications, is an inventor on multiple patent applications, and has led programs spanning early-stage technology development, IP strategy, and fundraising. He is also an alumnus of Nucleate (cohort 2020) which reinforced his experience in company building. Daniel earned his Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Northeastern University.
Michael Babokhov, PhD
Director of Research Operations
Michael is a molecular geneticist and translational scientist with expertise in molecular biology, assay development, and translational research. Over the past six years, he has contributed to the development of novel immunotherapies and cell-model systems, including programs leveraging nucleic acid biopolymers such as poly(I:C) for immune modulation. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Northeastern University, his Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics from Tufts University in the laboratory of Dr. Stephen Fuchs, and completed postdoctoral training at the National Institute of Genetics in Japan.
Jessica Messina, MBA
Director of Business Development (Acting)
Jessica is a healthcare operations leader with cross-sector experience spanning industry, nonprofit, and academic settings. She has managed large research portfolios, implemented enterprise-level strategic initiatives, scaled financial systems, and led process improvement efforts across complex organizations. Her background in clinical operations and vendor management has grown into expertise in data analytics, financial oversight, and commercialization strategy. She earned her MBA in Healthcare Management and Corporate Finance from Northeastern University and holds a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.