Deniz Kent, PhD

Deniz Kent, PhD is Co-Founder and Chief Executive 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.

During his PhD, Deniz first conceived of the idea to use light to elevate biomanufacturing. Soon after, he brought in the expertise of co-founders Declan Jones and Max Huisman, and the trio founded the company in 2020. 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. 

Deniz cultivated expertise in biological systems through academic research and professional innovation. Deniz earned his PhD in the Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine at King's College London, where he co-discovered a new human liver stem cell population and conducted the world’s first high throughput small molecule screen using IPS-derived hepatocytes. Prior to his PhD, Deniz had worked in a cancer immunotherapy lab at the University of Bristol and worked on a single-dose cure for Asthma at GlaxoSmithKline. 

Deniz also received his Master’s degree in biomedical and translational science from King’s College London and his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Bristol.