Dr. Jessica Stark is an Assistant Professor in the departments of Biological and Chemical Engineering and an intramural member of the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT. The Stark Lab is developing biological technologies to realize the largely untapped potential of glycans for immunological discovery and immunotherapy. The lab’s work has been recognized with the Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award at the Scientific Interface, the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer Rosenberg Scholar Award, and a V Foundation V Scholar Award.

Jessica’s postdoctoral work with Prof. Carolyn Bertozzi at Stanford University focused on identifying and targeting glycans that act as immune checkpoints for next-generation cancer immunotherapy. During her PhD with Prof. Michael Jewett at Northwestern University, Jessica developed cell-free technologies for protein therapeutic and vaccine production that promise to enable portable and personalized medicine. Previously, she received her B.S. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from Cornell University and worked at Genentech, Inc. in process development and research and development roles.

The Stark Lab is committed to enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM through mentoring, outreach, and service activities. To support this work, Jessica co-developed and commercialized BioBits® educational kits that promise to increase access to high-quality biology education by facilitating hands-on learning.