Infinite Enzymes employs plant biotechnology for producing useful, sustainable enzymes for industrial applications based around the concept of corn grain as a bio-factory. The company CEO Elizabeth Hood, Ph.D. and President, Kendall Hood have worked in this field for two decades.
Elizabeth Hood, Ph.D, has more than thirty years experience in biology. She is currently Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Technology Transfer at Arkansas State University. She runs an active research lab in plant-based protein production technology and cell wall structure and function. Dr. Hood was a Program Director in Molecular and Cellular Biosciences at the National Science Foundation during the 2003-2004 academic year. She was a leader in forming one of the world’s foremost transgenic plant research groups at ProdiGene, a plant biotechnology company. Previous to ProdiGene, Dr. Hood was director of the cell biology group for plant production of therapeutic proteins at Pioneer Hi-Bred International, a Fortune 500 Company. Dr. Hood is the overall manager of this project and will lead the team to success. Her unique understanding of the science and her experience at commercialization give her the unique experience to lead a technology-based enterprise.
Kendall Hood has thirty years of experience in biology and chemistry. He has performed a great array of laboratory experiments and has extensive experience with equipment. He purified proteins from large volume biological materials at Sigma Chemical Company for several years. In addition to direct laboratory experience, Mr. Hood has taught at the junior high, high school and university levels where he emphasized hands-on experimentation. His experience is documented by several publications in the biological sciences. His BS in Chemical Engineering and MS in Biology were both awarded by Oklahoma State University.
The team also includes management and marketing expertise provided by Peter Nelson and Maury Radin who are partners in the company.
The company has an
unpaid, adhoc advisory board comprised of the following individuals:
Brian L. Clevinger, Ph.D., Founder and Managing Director, Prolog
Ventures
John Howard, Ph.D., Founder Applied Biotechnology
Institute
Gary W.
McChesney, Chief Technology Officer, FutureFuel Chemical Company
Zivko Nikolov, Ph.D.— Professor
of Biological Engineering, Texas A&M University
Jeffrey Pittman, Ph.D.,
Professor of Business, Arkansas State University
Infinite Enzymes produces enzymes for applications in industry. The company is particularly focused on “green chemistry” that promotes sustainability of manufacturing industries and the environment. The company provides an enabling technology for biomass to ethanol through production of enzymes to deconstruct biomass into fermentable sugars and other feedstock streams. Production of cost-effective enzymes in the huge volumes required is a barrier to success in this industry.
The technology utilizes the transgenic maize production system—producing enzymes in the embryo, or germ, of the corn seed. The starch in the endosperm is available to be converted to ethanol, allowing dual utilization of the crop that is being grown for ethanol and additionally the enzymes—enabling very inexpensive enzyme production.
Infinite Enzymes is a limited liability company located in Jonesboro, Arkansas in the Arkansas Biosciences Institute at Arkansas State University. As such, it anticipates creating a need for and consequently hiring an educated workforce from the local area.