Professor Fabian Schmidt engineers virus-host interactions to develop platform technologies that advance health-related bioscience. Prior to joining KAUST in 2022 as Assistant Professor of Bioengineering, he worked at Rockefeller University, U.S., where he pioneered robust neutralization assays during the COVID-19 pandemic that were widely adopted internationally. His development of synthetic chimeric viruses accurately anticipated viral evolution, notably predicting Omicron-like variants months before emergence, drawing recognition from global health authorities including the WHO and CDC. 

At KAUST, he leads research at the intersection of pandemic preparedness, gene therapy vector manufacturing, and AI-powered laboratory automation to deliver transformative health solutions. 

As an impact-driven bioengineer, Professor Schmidt is fascinated by natural engineering solutions derived from the evolutionary arms race between viruses and their hosts. In his work, he applies viral adaptation as nature's machine learning algorithm to solve critical challenges in gene therapy manufacturing and pandemic preparedness. Through its synergy with artificial intelligence and advanced lab automation, he drives innovation at the intersection of synthetic biology and precision medicine. His research develops scalable platforms for viral vector production and immunity screening that aim to democratize advanced therapeutics and strengthen global health resilience.