Max Huisman, PhD, is Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Prolific Machines, the biotechnology innovator using light to unlock unprecedented cellular control. Prolific harnesses light to produce everyday essentials more efficiently — from food and lifesaving drugs to novel biosolutions. Prolific is enabling innovators across therapeutics and advanced nutrition to unlock robust efficiency, quality, scalability, and sustainability advantages.

Along with co-founders Deniz and Declan, in 2020 Max was inspired by the burgeoning field of optogenetics.The team then set out to commercially harness light— an abundant, safe, and versatile input — to control cellular behavior with unparalleled precision and optimize this over time using AI technology.

Prior to co-founding Prolific Machines, Max worked as a PostDoc at the RNA Therapeutics Institute at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. He had previously completed his PhD in Biomedical Sciences there, during which time he conceived, designed and built various novel devices - among which the world’s first cryogenic super-resolution fluorescence microscope. Max speaks five languages, has co-authored 10+ academic publications, and holds several patents.

Max received his Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Applied Physics from the University of Delft.