Ed Toma was born and raised in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.. In 2012 he completed two Bachelor of Science degrees from Michigan State University, one in chemistry and the other in biochemistry and molecular biology. During his tenure at Michigan State University, he worked in Prof Babak Borhan’s lab investigating a one-pot synthesis of highly functionalized bicyclic piperidines using the hetero-Diels-Alder reaction, developing diastereoselective halogenated spiroketals, and assisting in creating a halenium affinity scale. He completed his senior thesis under the supervision of Prof Honggao Yan, studying the kinetics of enzymes by using site-directed mutagenesis. After working several years in the Pharmaceutical Industry as a research scientist in solid-state chemistry and crystallography, he returns back to academia to study the bottom-up synthetic biology approach towards creating a chemical cell. email: mailto:Edmond.toma@chem.ox.ac.uk.

Last updated: 05-03-16