CGI led in Human Genome Sequencing technology using proprietary equipment and methods.  This was first to sequence genomes for under $5000. Received 2009 and 2010 Red Herring top 100 North America and San Jose Business Journal’s 2009 Biotechnology Emerging Technology Awards.

I led all mechanical engineering efforts. Successfully developed and implemented custom optical instruments used to sequence the 1st human genome for under $4000 in reagent costs, hardware based on these designs is now generating high volumes of human genome sequences.

·     Responsible for rapidly developing all custom hardware for 3 generations of proprietary sequencing systems from concept to operations over a 2-year period

·     Led design team to develop and prototype next-gen platform and instrument opto-mechanics achieving order of magnitude increases in throughput and accuracy

·     Concept to prototype of consumable architecture with doubling of useful area and robotic interfaces

I loved liked that another really smart founding engineer who had been there for a few years before I joined said:

“your shi* really works! How did you do it?” I said I used pins everywhere so the optics start out lined up. :)

Unfortunately for the company, there was a financing bubble ending and they got greedy, skipping a funding offer and then losing it all. Then sold out to BGI in China.