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IWBMA
The International Workshop for BioManufacturing Automation (IWBMA) is an annual event focused on advancing the future of automated science. Hosted by the DAMP Lab at Boston University, IWBMA brings together researchers, industry professionals, and students to explore innovations in lab automation, biomanufacturing, and AI-driven biotechnology. Through interactive sessions, brainstorming activities, and presentations from leading academic and industry partners, participants examine emerging trends, share best practices, and discuss real-world challenges in scaling automation. The workshop highlights cutting-edge projects such as automated qPCR, cloning, cell culture, and next-generation sequencing. This depicts how automation improves reproducibility, efficiency, and discovery across disciplines. IWBMA serves as a collaborative hub for shaping the next generation of automated research and biomanufacturing solutions.
IWBMA 2026
IWBMA: International Workshop for BioManufacturing Automation
Location: BU Computing & Data Sciences, 665 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215
Room: Room 1101
Agenda
Day 1: Wednesday, October 14th
9:00 - 9:15 AM – Welcome – Open to everyone
9:15 - 9:30 AM - IWBMA Overview – Open to everyone
9:30 - 10:00 AM - DAMP Lab Overview – Open to everyone
10:00 - 10:30 AM - Transfyr: Every leap in science begins with a single step - Noelle Colant and Jim McGinley, Technical Staff, Transfyr - Invitation Only
10:30 - 11:00 AM - Observability for AI Agents - Asad Malik, Principal AI Architect, SAIL - Invitation Only
11:00 - 11:30 AM - Introducing the Venus Python SDK: Unlocking Venus with Python - Dan Hartman, Hamilton Robotics Senior Applications Specialist - Invitation Only
11:30 - 12:00 PM - Align Presentation - Pete Kelley, Co-Founder and Head of Science, The Align Foundation - Invitation Only
12:00 - 1:00 PM - Lunch Break
1:00 - 1:30 PM - DAMP Lab Software for Cloud Lab Ordering, Screening, and Operating - Christopher Krenz, Software Engineer, Lattice Automation – Invitation Only
1:30 - 2:00 PM – DAMP Lab Tour - Invitation Only
2:00 - 2:30 PM - Transfyr: Do you have "magic hands” - Transfer Workshop - DAMP Lab - Invitation Only
2:30 - 3:00 PM - Aclid Presentation - Kevin Flyangolts, Founder/CEO - Aclid - Invitation Only
3:00 - 3:30 PM – Bio-Manufacturing Go Vertical - Chiu Chau, OpenShelf - Invitation Only
3:30 - 4:30 PM - Networking/Demos/Vendor Session - Rainin, Hamilton, and USA Scientific – Invitation Only
Day 2: Thursday October 15th
10:00 - 10:15 AM - Welcome
10:15 - 10:45 AM - Tiny Self Driving Labs - Alex Chan, Founder of Ursa Labs - Invitation Only
10:45 - 11:15 AM - Opentrons Presentation - Opentrons - Invitation Only
11:15 - 11:45 AM - Step Out of the Clone-Age: Build Your Own DNA Constructs without Bacterial Bottlenecks - Mike Valliere, Ph.D., Senior Business Development Manager, Ribbon Bio– Invitation Only
11:45 - 12:15 PM - Standards as the API of a Cloud Lab: SiLA, AnIML and AI Agents in the LoopPresentation Title - Burkhard Schafer - SiLA - Invitation Only
12:15 - 1:00 PM – Lunch Break
1:00 - 1:30 PM - DAMP Lab Tour – Invitation Only
1:30– 2:00 PM - Cirrus: Creation and Optimization of Cloud Laboratories - DAMP iGEM – Invitation Only
2:00 - 2:45 PM - Membership Overview - DAMP Lab and Jon Gilbert, Assistant Vice President of Corporate Research and Contracting - Invitation Only
2:45– 3:00 PM - Closing Remarks – Open to everyone
Past IWBMA
IWBMA 2023
June 12 - 14, 2023
Click here to view the questions and answers from our brainstorming session.
Following up post-pandemic, the International Workshop for BioManufacturing Automation 2023 looks to highlight the DAMP lab's capabilities and show off progress on our current pilot projects that stem from a diverse range of labs across Boston University’s campus, featuring work on automated protocols for qPCR, cloning, cell culture, and even NGS library prep. Participate in engaging brainstorming activities discussing important topics in the field of biomanufacturing automation. The DAMP lab offers an array of automated services as a core facility at Boston University capable of benefitting labs across BU and beyond. Join us at IWBMA 2023 to look into the future of automated industries.
Huge thank you to our 2023 sponsors:
IWBMA 2024
November 18 - 19, 2024
The International Workshop for BioManufacturing Automation (IWBMA) 2024 was a major event showcasing partnerships and projects, which included "Amplifying Science Through Automation" sessions and industry talks by MITRE and the Align Foundation. Key discussion topics included the role of AI Biotech in Boston, a comparison of workflows in academia versus industry (covering experimental design, working with third parties, and ordering), and detailed analysis of the factors that defined both a good and a bad workflow or automation project. The event encouraged participation in engaging brainstorming activities to discuss important topics in the field, and it highlighted the DAMP lab, a core facility at Boston University offering automated services capable of benefiting labs both within and beyond BU. Attendees were invited to explore the future of automated industries.
