Jacob Hoyle

Jacob Hoyle's career journey in plant biotechnology started with the adoption of glyphosate-resistant crops on his family's farm in Catawba County, North Carolina. Witnessing the transformative impact of scientific innovations on agricultural productivity sparked an interest in how the lab supports the field, a fascination that he carries today. Jacob studied Cell and Molecular Biology at Appalachian State University, completing a thesis project on the function of a cell signalling protein in the cellular communication of vibrio cholerae. That work in microbiology and biofilm formation was followed by a stint performing chemical assays for wastewater treatment, and closely again by an environmental monitoring project in the lakes and waterways of North Carolina.

Drawn back to his agricultural roots, he found his niche at UGA's Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics, studying with Wayne Parrott on a United Soy Board-funded project. His 2017 thesis, "An Expanded Toolkit for Genome Editing,"  imported the tools of genome editing into a system of vectors that were, at the time, fully regulatory compliant out of the box. The rules have changed, but this experience in molecular biology, genome editing, and regulatory affairs undeniably set Jacob on a path in the industry.

In 2018, Jacob was hired as Plant Biologist by soy-cheese biotech NoBell Foods, formerly Alpine Roads, as their fourth employee. Four years later they would raise $75m in series-b fundraising. During the pandemic, Jacob managed and conducted research in Prostate Cancer at Clark Atlanta University, focusing on the genetics underlying incidence disparity in African American populations., showcasing his versatility and commitment to impactful scientific endeavors.

Today, Jacob Hoyle works as a Lead Scientist at Living Carbon's Charleston, SC lab, established in 2021 to focus on the improvement of southern pine. Jacob leads projects in genome editing, construct design, and regulatory affairs. His proficiency and leadership in these domains bear testament to the profound impact of his training and mentorship in Athens, GA.