About us

About us

We exist to be
transformative in nature

transformative in nature

Working in harmony with nature we fast forward time and bring nature’s future solutions to the present day. Our goal is to harmonize industry and nature to mitigate our environmental footprint.

To solve the planet’s biggest environmental challenges, we’re writing a new law of conservation — that waste is neither created nor destroyed — only transformed.

We transform liability into value by leveraging the power of biotechnology and engineered systems to help our customers reach their environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals in a waste-free world.

The scale of the world's environmental challenge

2

TIMES AROUND THE WORLD

is how far annually discarded foam mattresses would stretch.

45%

OF U.S. DRINKING WATER

contains the harmful contaminant PFAS,

a suspected carcinogen.

4-7%

OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

derive from mining, in part to find the metals and minerals we need.

Timeline

  • 2020

    October

    Launched Allonnia with Series A funding as spin off from Ginkgo Bioworks.

    Nicole Richards joined as CEO.

  • 2021

    January

    Chief Technical Officer, VP of Research, and VPs of Business Development onboarded.

  • May

    First major co-development contract awarded.

  • July

    Established a PFAS advisory board.

  • 2022

    January

    R&D lab opened - Nature’s Detectives at work.

  • March

    Became the exclusive North American distributor for EPOC Enviro’s SAFF technology.

  • May

    Announced SAFF technology is now capable of removing short chain PFAS.

  • July

    Discovered patent-pending protein to detect PFAS down to parts per trillion.

  • December

    Our lab expanded its capabilities to include SAFF bench scale treatability studies.

  • 2023

    January

    Chief Commercial Officer onboarded.

  • April

    Expanded into a new 4x larger office and lab space.

  • May

    Launched 1,4 D-Stroy to remediate 1,4-dioxane from contaminated groundwater.

  • July

    Raised additional funds
    for Series A extension.

Leadership

Nicole Richards
Chief Executive Officer
Nicole Richards
Chief Executive Officer

With over 28 years of industry leadership within water treatment, mining and industry chemicals and pharmaceuticals, Nicole brings the perfect skill set to help Allonnia tackle critical industry issues and create the next generation of bioremediation solutions.
Before Allonnia, Nicole served as the Strategy, Growth and M&A leader for DuPont Water Solutions; and as a Global Director at Solvay.

Kent Sorenson
Chief Technical Officer
Kent Sorenson
Chief Technical Officer

Kent is an internationally recognized expert with over 25 years of experience, developing and applying innovative remediation technologies for water, soil, and sediments in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. He has worked at nearly 200 sites worldwide, and has co-authored over 40 scientific publications and given over 180 presentations at prestigious national and international conferences and symposia.

Chuck Price
Chief Commercial Officer
Chuck Price
Chief Commercial Officer

Chuck brings over 30 years of executive experience leading industrial businesses including mining, metal treatment, lubricants, oil and gas, water treatment and many others. He has a track record of bringing innovative technology to market and working with customers to solve their unmet needs. Prior to joining Allonnia, Chuck was a global executive vice president at Solvay, and worked previously at Cytec Industries and Rhodia.

Pamela Watkins
Chief HR Officer
Pamela Watkins
Chief HR Officer

Pamela leads Human Resources, with more than 25 years experience as a human resources professional in both domestic and international companies, spanning a broad range of industries and services. Most recently Pamela was leading HR and building world-class teams at Dupont and then Anomatic. Pamela brings supplemental experience with roles in operations, marketing and corporate communications.

Siri Gawrisch
Chief of Staff
Siri Gawrisch
Chief of Staff

Siri serves as Chief of Staff for Allonnia, supporting the CEO in strategic planning, operations, project management, people, and communications. Siri is a strategy, insight, and marketing professional with over 20 years of experience in Fortune 100 companies such as Dow and DuPont. She loves to collaborate, enable strategic thinking, and catalyze execution.

Hugh Merryweather
Chief Financial Officer
Hugh Merryweather
Chief Financial Officer

Hugh has a diverse background in financial and operational leadership across multiple industries. After starting in public accounting and large financial institutions, Hugh has focused his career for the last 20 years developing venture and PE backed growth businesses. He brings financial leadership, strategic planning, risk management, and governance skills to the Allonnia team.

Meet the team

Join Us

We’re always looking for great company. If you’re the type who seeks the big challenges, you might be just who we’re looking for.

Steve Abrams
Facility Manager
Steve Abrams
Facility Manager

Steve has more than 5 years of experience managing labs for Biotech companies and is an advocate for safety and sustainability. He is passionate about ensuring the team has the space and equipment necessary to develop solutions for helping our environment. He holds a BS from the University of Massachusetts Boston and certifications in Construction Management, Facility Planning, and Design of Research Labs & MEP systems.

Michaeline Albright
Technical Project Manager - Environmental Microbiology
Michaeline Albright
Technical Project Manager - Environmental Microbiology

Michaeline is an environmental microbiologist. She is passionate about using microbes as solutions to global challenges. She holds a B.S. in Geological Sciences from Brown University and a PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of California, Irvine.

Donalissa Alphonse
LC-MS Lab Technician
Donalissa Alphonse
LC-MS Lab Technician

Donalissa is a research associate who is passionate about the impacts of PFAS on the environment and people. She has a research background that includes synthesizing biomaterials and using various forms of analytical techniques for chemical analysis. She recently graduated with a B.S in Chemistry at Emmanuel College.

Areen Banerjee
Technical Project Manager - SynBio
Areen Banerjee
Technical Project Manager - SynBio

Areen is a Synthetic Biologist with over 10 years of experience leveraging metabolic engineering & synthetic biology to develop sustainable solutions for the agricultural, pharmaceutical & bioenergy space. He has helped develop the first scalable dsRNA-based pesticide against Colorado Potato Beetle and was involved in developing mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 and the seasonal flu. He holds an MSc in biotechnology & a PhD in Microbiology.

Troy Bednarski
Mining Process Engineer
Troy Bednarski
Mining Process Engineer

Troy has over 28 years of experience in the mining industry working in metal extraction products, metallurgical services and metallurgical research.  Throughout his career he has developed and commercialized new product innovations to solve customer needs. Troy has a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Akron.

Elena Biasi
Executive Assistant / Analyst
Elena Biasi
Executive Assistant / Analyst
Elena is a dedicated reporting analyst and administrator with a passion for optimizing operations and enhancing team collaboration. Known for her analytical mindset and proactive approach, Elena has led data initiatives across departments to streamline reporting and improve logistics processes. With a BBA in Operations and Information Management from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Elena brings both technical expertise and a people-centered approach to her work.
Casey Comer
Product Manager
Casey Comer
Product Manager

Casey has over 14 years experience in environmental leadership, remediation, emergency spill response and waste management in both business and the U.S Coast Guard. He has a proven record of exceeding client expectations by focusing on innovative solutions and rapid scaling. Casey has formal education from Oregon State University's B.S. in Environmental Economics & Policy and US Coast Guard Marine Science Technician School.

Antonio Conde
Field Technician I
Antonio Conde
Field Technician I

Antonio is a pragmatic critical thinker with a strong passion for environmental conservation and synthetic biology. A proven problem-solver, Antonio brings a disciplined, methodical, and creative approach to any challenge utilizing the skills acquired through his naval career.

Allison Connolly
Sr. Research Associate
Allison Connolly
Sr. Research Associate

Allison is a microbiologist who specializes in working with environmental samples and non-model organisms. Her background in isolating bacteria, fungi, and algae from plant and soil samples has given her a deep appreciation for the diversity of microscopic life that exists just out of sight. She holds a B.S. in Biology from the University of Massachusetts Boston.

Evan Costa
Mining Water Treatment Research Engineer
Evan Costa
Mining Water Treatment Research Engineer

Evan is a skilled chemical engineer specializing in industrial water treatment. With a strong educational background and practical expertise, he has contributed to optimizing water treatment processes, ensuring environmental compliance, and improving operational efficiency. Passionate about sustainable practices, Evan is committed to developing innovative solutions that minimize the environmental impact of industrial activities. Evan holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Bianca Cruz
Research Scientist
Bianca Cruz
Research Scientist

Bianca is a microbial ecologist who specializes in microbial interactions and the mechanisms by which they impact biogeochemical processes. She is passionate about probing into the diversity of microbial populations and harnessing their potential for novel applications in biotechnology. She holds a B.S. in Biology and a Ph.D. in Environmental Life Sciences from Arizona State University.

Kevin Dees
North America Sales Manager
Kevin Dees
North America Sales Manager

Kevin is a relationship-based sales manager with more than 15 years of experience in the environmental industry. He has worked in nearly all areas of the business from remediation and industrial services to hazardous waste and beneficial reuse. He is determined to leave this world a better place and preserve our natural resources for the next generation. Kevin holds a degree in Wildlife Sciences from Auburn University.

Elizabeth Deyett
Senior Bioinformatics Scientist
Elizabeth Deyett
Senior Bioinformatics Scientist

Elizabeth is a bioinformatician with nearly a decade of experience in microbiology and microbial genetics looking to help discover the powers of microbes for the benefit of the world. She is constantly on the lookout for the next trend in data science and visualization. She is also a strong advocate for science communication through storytelling, which is showcased on her website Microbigals.com and podcast The Microbe Moment.

Aaron Dykema
Field Technician I
Aaron Dykema
Field Technician I

Aaron has worked with SAFF units for more than a year and is one of the longest running SAFF operators in the world. He has operated four individual units so far and is excited to continue supporting customers with SAFF at their sites.

Rick Eno
Industry Advisor
Rick Eno
Industry Advisor

Rick is an executive with over 30 years of experience in the energy, chemical, and industrial biotech industries. He has led two early-stage public companies as CEO; he was a senior partner for an international management consultancy; served on a number of Boards; and contributed to the growth of multiple early-stage companies. He is a passionate advocate for global and local change towards a more sustainable future.

Zach Foudeh
Government Innovation Project Manager
Zach Foudeh
Government Innovation Project Manager

Zach is a dynamic professional specializing in government projects that focus on environmental remediation and low carbon technologies. He manages active government-funded projects while navigating new collaborative opportunities through various departments of the US Government. Zach holds a B.S. in Bioenvironmental Sciences from Texas A&M University.

Alexandrine Gaspar
Research Associate
Alexandrine Gaspar
Research Associate

Alexandrine finds trash fascinating! Specifically, how materials cycle and how humans derive value from them. She has always been interested in what life does at a microscopic scale and is excited to learn more about what microbes' tiny systems can teach us. She recently graduated with a B.S. in Chemical and Biological Engineering.

Rachel Gates
Field Technician II
Rachel Gates
Field Technician II
Rachel is a Navy veteran with a decade of experience as an electronics technician. Her time in the military has instilled a strong commitment to innovation and integrity in her work. She brings a hands-on, problem-solving approach to every project, ensuring quality and reliability on-site.
Bryne Gramlich
VP of Business Development
Bryne Gramlich
VP of Business Development

Bryne is an accomplished Senior Operations Executive with 25 years of experience leading P&L business units in the oil and gas industry. He has a proven track record of unlocking a company’s value through strategic planning, developing highly effective and collaborative teams, and building a culture based on innovation and continuous improvement.

Jason Hnatko
Engineering Manager - Emerging Contaminants
Jason Hnatko
Engineering Manager - Emerging Contaminants

Jason has more than 15 years of environmental consulting and research experience ranging from bioremediation of chlorinated solvents, treatment of petroleum contamination, and PFAS investigation and remediation. He is passionate about using the latest technologies to address environmental issues. Jason holds a B.S. in Biological and Environmental Engineering from Cornell University and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Tufts University.

Naresh Isidore
Field Technician I
Naresh Isidore
Field Technician I

Naresh is a Navy veteran with experience in industrial applications as a master millwright and electrician. He has worked in the field for more than 5 years and more than a year with SAFF, developing a passion for environmental remediation. 

Carter Lange
HR Generalist / Recruiter
Carter Lange
HR Generalist / Recruiter

Passionate about helping people realize their potential, Carter is an HR Generalist and Recruiter specializing in employee relations, organizational behavior, and in identifying and welcoming the future employees of Allonnia. She is eager about growth, people, and maintaining a strong company culture of being purposeful, entrepreneurial, and transparent. Carter holds a B.S. in Psychology and Human Resources from Northeastern University in Boston.

Tom Lankiewicz
Microbiologist
Tom Lankiewicz
Microbiologist

Tom is a microbiologist who specializes in characterizing organisms for synthetic biology applications. He shifted his focus from microbial ecology to synthetic biology during his dissertation, using specialized anaerobes to break down plant material. He is excited to use his skills at Allonnia to valorize waste. He holds a B.A. from Grinnell College, an M.S. from the University of Delaware, and a Ph.D. from UC Santa Barbara.

L'Oreal Leaks
Field Technician II
L'Oreal Leaks
Field Technician II

L’Oreal is a Navy veteran with a background in electrical and mechanical technology and machinery. Her time in the Navy taught her values, integrity and a great work ethic. Her mission is to make every customer feel comfortable with the product and with their knowledge on the product’s capabilities and functions.

Catherine Lebel
Research Associate
Catherine Lebel
Research Associate

Catherine is a research associate passionate about solving environmental challenges such as remediating contaminated environmental sites. She has previously worked on ensuring clean water for small communities in California. Catherine holds a B.S. in Environmental Engineering from Northeastern University. Beyond work, you'll find her skiing, surfing, hiking, or doing any other activity to enjoy the outdoors.

Kevin Lewis
North America Sales Manager
Kevin Lewis
North America Sales Manager

Kevin has more than 20 years of sales experience in the environmental remediation and hazardous material management industries. He values customer relationships, and has a proven track record of providing unique solutions that meet and exceed client goals. Kevin holds a B.S. in Chemistry from Ball State University and a Masters in Agronomy from Purdue University.

Henry Luschei
Field Technician II
Henry Luschei
Field Technician II

Henry is an experienced IT professional with over 10 years of expertise in planning, configuring, and installing a vast array of networking and computing systems for the Department of Defense and NIWC PAC.

Andrew Mahlenkamp
SAFF Research Associate
Andrew Mahlenkamp
SAFF Research Associate

Andrew is a Boston native who graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a B.S. in chemistry. He has held a life-long commitment to the planet which shows through his interest in sustainable science, a passion which has only deepened with his summer experiences working in the electric power industry. He is proud to be at a company which allows him to pursue this interest further.

Katie Mann
Marketing & Communications Director
Katie Mann
Marketing & Communications Director

Katie leads the marketing and communications strategy. She has nearly 10 years of experience building integrated communications, digital marketing, content, and brand programs in Fortune 500 companies, most recently at DuPont. She is passionate about collaboration, creatively bringing brands to life and sparking curiosity through content.

Mark Matranga
North America Sales Manager - Government
Mark Matranga
North America Sales Manager - Government

Mark has over 27 years of experience in the environmental and engineering industries. He has worked directly with the federal government, states, municipalities, and the oil and gas industry nation-wide and globally on soil and groundwater contaminated sites. Mark is a licensed professional geologist in three states, as well as a Correction Action Project Manager in the State of Texas.

Tyson Maynard
Research Associate
Tyson Maynard
Research Associate

Tyson has worked on various projects involving a wide range of organisms including Drosophila, E. coli, and a few Human cell types. He is a recent graduate with a bachelor's in Biological Engineering from Wentworth Institute of Technology (WIT) and loves to hear passionate people discuss the things that interest them.

Thomas Parrotta
Financial Controller
Thomas Parrotta
Financial Controller

Tom brings 10 years of accounting and consulting experience, including 7 years working and consulting at several Biotech startups throughout the Boston area. He holds a bachelor’s in Journalism from Boston University, a master’s degree in Accounting from Suffolk University and has a CPA license in the state of Virginia.

Zach Pierce
Environmental Engineer
Zach Pierce
Environmental Engineer

Zach is an environmental engineer with a passion for protecting public health and environmental stewardship formed during several years working as a consultant in the environmental remediation industry. He holds B.S. and M.S. in Environmental Engineering from Northeastern University, where he first became interested in the potential for transformative biology to solve problems related to waste and the built environment.

Andrew Punsoni
North America Sales Manager
Andrew Punsoni
North America Sales Manager

Andrew is an environmental scientist and business manager. His career has focused on both environmentally as well as economically efficient methods of remediation. He has extensive experience working with the public and private on hundreds of successful projects across the country and around the globe.

Rob Rappold
VP of Business Development
Rob Rappold
VP of Business Development

Rob has spent his 22+ year career in the water industry with roles ranging from sales to plant management to regional P&L ownership. He has a track record of partnering with his customers on environmentally focused projects geared to maximize client value. Rob is certified GE Black Belt and holds a bachelor's in Chemical Engineering from West Virginia University and an MBA with a concentration in Finance and Management Policy from Case Western Reserve University.

Karrie Radloff
Metals and Mining Engineer
Karrie Radloff
Metals and Mining Engineer

Karrie is a geochemist and environmental engineer who specializes in remediation of metals contamination of groundwater, soils, and sediments from mining and ore processing operations. She is eager to leverage her 20 years of expertise in contamination to harness the value of mining wastes. She holds a B.A. in Chemistry from Mount Holyoke College and a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from Columbia University.

Cassie Roberts
Research Associate
Cassie Roberts
Research Associate

Cassie is a microbiologist specializing in bioremediation strategies in anaerobic environments and molecular genetics. She has a research background that includes manipulating anaerobic microbes at an active bioremediation site contaminated with arsenic and hydrocarbons, as well as genetic modification of extremophilic non-model microbes in the context of utilizing waste to obtain products of interest and rare earth metal scavenging. She holds a B.S. in biology and M.S. in environmental biology from Missouri University of Science and Technology.

Harrison Rohrer
Research Associate
Harrison Rohrer
Research Associate

Harrison is a research associate committed to advancing science benefitting people and the planet. Prior to Allonnia, he helped develop an mRNA vaccine candidate against the shingles virus and taught Environmental Science. He holds a B.A. in Biology and Environmental Studies from Middlebury College.

Dayal Saran
VP of Research
Dayal Saran
VP of Research

Dayal is a global R&D leader with over 15 years of industry experience leveraging metabolic engineering and biotechnology to commercialize novel solutions in the areas of industrial proteins and enzymes; flavors, fragrances and other food ingredients; insect control agents; live biotherapeutics; and biofuels. He holds a Master’s degree in Chemistry and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry.

Dan Stigers
VP of Business Development
Dan Stigers
VP of Business Development

Dan is an organic chemist who has spent 12 years developing sustainable innovations in the extraction of natural resources. He has managed a portfolio of new product development in collaboration with several prominent international mining corporations. Dan holds a BS in Chemistry from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and a PhD in Organic Chemistry from the University of New Hampshire.

Nataliia Vereshchuk
Analytical Scientist 1
Nataliia Vereshchuk
Analytical Scientist 1

Nataliia is a versatile chemist who is deeply passionate about water treatment, holding BSc and MSc degrees in environmental chemistry. She earned her Ph.D. specializing in Solar Fuels, showcasing her commitment to innovative solutions. As a postdoctoral researcher at Dartmouth College, she delved into materials chemistry, specifically focusing on creating novel smart materials and devices for portable sensing applications. 

Hilary Wyner
Analytical Scientist 1
Hilary Wyner
Analytical Scientist 1

Hilary received a BS in chemistry, with American Chemical Association accreditation and focus in analytical chemistry, from the University of San Francisco. She continued her education with a masters in chemistry at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot Israel developing a variety of mass spectrometry-based metabolomic assays and analyses. Hilary also worked as an analytical chemist in industry-based positions performing both environmental analyses as well as a variety of active pharmaceutical ingredient analyses.

Deepika Yeramosu
Data Scientist
Deepika Yeramosu
Data Scientist

Deepika is a Data Scientist with a background in computational biology. She is passionate about using computer science and statistical modeling to unlock the power of genomic data to solve challenges in areas varying from drug discovery to environmental restoration. Deepika holds a B.S. from the University of Pittsburgh and an M.S. from Carnegie Mellon University.

Coy Zimmerman
Application Scientist 1
Coy Zimmerman
Application Scientist 1

Coy is a chemical engineer with a passion for developing groundbreaking technologies that improve our world. He enjoys applying his expertise and creative problem-solving skills to a variety of challenges and is eager to help foster a world where nothing is wasted. Coy holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Montana State University and a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines.