In this episode of Designing Open Science, we speak with the CEO of HighRes about building scalable, automated labs that accelerate discovery. We discuss how thoughtful lab design, partnerships, and infrastructure choices are shaping the future of modern research.

Ira Hoffman is currently CEO of HighRes, a lab automation and orchestration company co-developing the industry’s first AI agent-to-agent laboratory workflow alongside Opentrons. Ira has been at HighRes for more than a decade and says he first joined the company after being one of its earliest customers in his previous position.

To learn more about HighRes visit:

https://www.highres.com/lab-orchestration

https://www.highres.com/highres-blog/highres-and-opentrons-announce-strategic-partnership-to-launch-the-industrys-first-ai-agent-to-agent-lab-automation-workflow

In this episode of Designing Open Science, we talk with the Director of Automation at the Institute of Protein Innovation about building automation that truly supports scientists at the bench. We explore how scalable, flexible lab systems improve reproducibility, collaboration, and access—and what thoughtful automation means for the future of protein science.

Curtis is the Director of Automation and Process Optimization at the Institute for Protein Innovation, where he has built a fleet-based automation strategy for protein production and characterization. He has expertise in laboratory automation and protein engineering and also developed IPI’s hands-on automation training course for students and early-career scientists. Curtis earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Ottawa, where he developed novel biocatalysts for pharmaceutical applications.

Subscribe to the IPI education newsletter to keep up to date with automation course announcements: https://mailchi.mp/proteininnovation/education

To learn more about Opentrons, visit opentrons.com

Welcome to the Designing Open Science Podcast, an Opentrons podcast about building the future of science featuring the people shaping its tools, workflows, and ideas, Hosted by Kinnari Watson, PhD.

In each episode, we'll feature conversations with scientists, partners, and industry thought leaders connected through the Opentrons ecosystem, all exploring how open technology unlocks new ways to experiment, collaborate, and scale discovery.

From real-world lab work to emerging innovations in automation and AI, the show looks beyond any single discipline to examine how discovery actually happens, how ideas move from concept to execution, and how openness turns tools into platforms for progress. Join us to see where science is headed next.

Visit opentrons.com to learn more