Our CO2 Utilization platform merges the proven methods of electrochemical engineering and synthetic biology to reduce the energy uptake and increase the efficiency of CO2 conversion. This platform mimics the complete photosynthesis process by simultaneous uptake of solar energy, water, and processing of carbon dioxide to produce nutrients, pharmaceuticals, intermediate chemicals, and polymers.
The technology can be used to process atmospheric carbon dioxide into oxygen and value-added products such as chemicals intermediates and polymers.
Moji is the co-founder and CEO at Cemvita Factory. He is a multidisciplinary entrepreneur and engineer who helps ideate, develop, and commercialize ground-breaking technologies. He has a proven track record of taking ideas to market, both at big companies and startups. Moji's experiences range from developing advanced deepwater drilling methods to several new biologically inspired technologies with applications in the energy and aerospace industries.
In his previous endeavor, Moji joined Biota Technology as the fourth employee of the company to start the Houston office and commercialize DNA Sequencing in the energy industry. In two years he grew Biota's business to multi-million dollars in revenue and played a key role in establishing Subsurface DNA Diagnostics as a common method for reservoir characterization.
Moji holds BS and MS degrees in drilling and petroleum engineering, respectively.
Tara is the co-founder and Chief Scientist at Cemvita Factory. She has devoted her academic career to studying biological systems and applying the natural principles to create biologically-inspired technology. Dr. Karimi started her research in veterinary medicine, and from there ventured into biochemistry. The introduction to biochemistry was the onset of her journey into multidisciplinary science as she completed several projects in tissue engineering, genetic engineering, molecular and developmental biology, stem cell research, and regenerative medicine. As part of these endeavors she genetically programmed stem cells to differentiate to insulin producing cells as an alternative method for insulin injection for diabetes patients. She also programmed stem cells to generate pacemaker and purkinjie cells as an alternative for electronic pacemakers for treatment of arrhythmia.
This broad exposure and passion for the chemistry of living systems allowed her to connect the dots in biology and chemistry to pioneer what she calls Cognitive Chemistry®. She is also the author of the Springer book titled “Molecular Mechanisms of Autonomy in Biological Systems by the Relativity of Code, Energy, and Mass”. Dr. Karimi received her Doctor in Veterinary Medicine & PhD in Biochemistry from Shiraz University, her Postdoc in Tissue Engineering from University of South Carolina and Postdoc in Stem Cell Programming from Tulane University.
One of the major challenges of a Mars mission is the production of human life support supplies. Currently, almost all supplies are supported from the earth. Dependence on earth is a risk for long-duration space missions. Therefore, development of innovative solutions for in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) is critical to provide a self-regenerative food system for long-duration space missions. One such ISRU solution can be modeled after natural photosynthesis in plants that can harvest the abundant solar energy to convert CO2 and water to glucose and oxygen. CO2 is an ideal feedstock for ISRU since astronauts breathe out 1kg/day/person of CO2, and 96% of the air consists of CO2 on Mars. CO2 and water are the main ingredients for production of a wide variety of life support resources such as nutrients and pharmaceuticals and the chemicals and polymers needed for establishing a settlement.
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