From June 23–26, synthetic biology took center stage in Houston, Texas, as researchers from around the world gathered for the 2025 Synthetic Biology: Engineering, Evolution & Design conference—one of the field’s top global events. Among them was Xiang Li, representing Chalmers University of Technology and the PRISM-LT project.

SEED is one of the top gatherings in synthetic biology, with researchers from industry, academia, and government all sharing the latest breakthroughs. The keynote speakers—like Christina Smolke, Michelle O’Malley, and Michael Jewett—were truly cutting edge. They presented very exciting advances in both basic science and applied biotech.

Xiang presented his poster on the development of engineered yeast strains that produce recombinant growth factors—proteins essential for guiding stem cell differentiation in both biomedical and food applications. These engineered yeasts can secrete factors like BMP-2 and EGF into their surroundings, opening the door to more efficient and scalable Engineered Living Materials. The work received valuable feedback from experts in protein engineering, and helped increase visibility for PRISM-LT and Swedish synthetic biology research.

Sitting in on so many sessions gave me a fresh perspective on how synthetic biology can reshape everything from biopharmaceuticals and biofuels to biodegradable materials. It really highlighted how much impact this field can have on sustainability and innovation.

Outside the venue, a visit to Space Center Houston added a memorable layer of inspiration, reminding attendees of the powerful interplay between science, technology, and imagination.

Beyond the conference, I had the opportunity to explore Houston—widely known as the “Space City”. A highlight of my visit was the Space Center Houston, where I got a glimpse of the evolution of space technology—from the historic Apollo moon landings to the current advancements by SpaceX and future missions to Mars.