David Jaime Castillo Cornejo — HTBAA Fall 2026
About me
I am a researcher, independent developer, and founder/Principal Investigator at Glyxon BioLabs, an independent research laboratory and biomanufacturing node based in Mexico City. My work sits at the intersection of open-source digital microfluidics (EWOD), enzymatic DNA synthesis, frugal laboratory automation, bio-materials, and local Edge AI data governance for ecological monitoring and biological defense.
Academic Trajectory & Institutional Experience
My research background spans international institutions across Mexico, the United States, Germany, and Japan. After finishing my PhD, I have conducted research, held appointments, and collaborated with premier global academic and research centers, including: Osaka University (Japan) & Waseda University (Japan) — Focus on microfluidics, bio-engineering architectures, and advanced technical systems. Max Planck Institute (Germany) — Advanced research in molecular mechanisms, physical biology, and structural biophysics. Arizona State University (ASU) (United States) — Applied biotechnology, bio-automation, and interdisciplinary hardware-wetware integration. Having lived and worked across these diverse scientific hubs, I advocate for peer-to-peer knowledge transfer, open-hardware standards, and international scientific exchange.
Research Focus at Glyxon BioLabs
At Glyxon BioLabs, we design, prototype, and deploy accessible, modular biotechnology solutions: Enzymatic DNA Synthesis & EWOD: Engineering open Electrowetting-on-Dielectric (EWOD) digital microfluidic platforms paired with Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) for template-free, controlled oligonucleotide synthesis. Frugal Automation & Plant Biomanufacturing: Repurposing Cartesian/CoreXY 3D printer kinematics into low-cost liquid handling and tissue culture robots for somatic embryogenesis, plant genetic transformation, and clonal propagation of endangered ethnobotanicals and recalcitrant forestry taxa.
Bio-Inks & Functional Biomaterials: Developing frugal hydrogel protocols, bio-shields, and structural matrices using Sargassum alginate, nanocellulose, and melanin inks for 3D bioprinting and environmental or radiation contingencies protection. eDNA Sensing & Edge AI: Integrating embedded microcontrollers, global shutter optical sensors, and microfluidic collectors (eDNA Sniffer) for real-time, pathogen-agnostic environmental bio-surveillance.
Community Nodes, Ecosystem Collaborations & Projects ReClone Node Distributor: Serving as a regional distribution node for the ReClone (Reagent Collaboration Network) ecosystem, facilitating access to open-access enzymes, diagnostic reagents, and biomanufacturing resources across Latin America. Community & Global Forums: Active participant, speaker, and contributor across open science communities, including the global Global Community Bio Summit (MIT Media Lab / Community Bio Network) and Maker Faire CDMX (Centro Nacional de las Artes).
Recent Initiatives & Industry Collaborations: DEFCON 34: Presenting open-hardware biological detection workflows, local Edge AI governance, and biosecurity protocols for decentralized bio-surveillance.
Primordia Biopunk & Open Wetware: Co-developing open-source wetware, bio-punk art-science installations, and distributed community biology tools.
Start-Up & Industry Collaborations: Consulting and collaborating with biotech start-ups and international hardware initiatives on microfluidic design, custom 3D-printed enclosure mechanics, cleanroom setups, and frugal biomanufacturing pipelines.
Contact info
Homework, Labs, and Projects
See the nav bar on the left to look through my work for How To Biomanufacture (Almost) Anything (Fall 2026)!