David Lloyd: From Graduate Student to Successful CEO

Walking into the coffee shop it wasn’t hard to spot David Lloyd.  Sitting across from his laptop, coffee in hand, the former University of Calgary graduate student and successful CEO of the water treatment company FREDsense had a look of concentration on his face and was fully immersed in what he was doing.  As we began talking it became immediately evident that the look of concentration was not born from an innate sense of seriousness, but rather an intense passion for what he does.  When asked about his passion for the Biological Sciences he speaks of how his experience as a student guided his career post graduation.  David feels that as an award winning and multi-time participant in the iGEM competition he “was a part of a very tightknit community of bio students” and that he received a significant amount of “hands-on experience that was instrumental in learning about myself and what I wanted out of my degree”.  iGEM is a multi-disciplinary student led research competition formerly based out of MIT, focused in the field of synthetic biology – combining cutting edge molecular biology with engineering. The open source development of new technology has provided a catalyst for several other companies that have spun out of the competition.  These research projects and competitions are team oriented and help to develop the soft skills needed to be successful in the workforce.  David explains that it was the teamwork and sense of community he learned in iGEM, as well as the instrumental hands on experience of working in multiple labs, which moved him to where he is today.  He talks about the influence of Dr.Greg Moorhead, his graduate degree supervisor; “We met at the University of Alberta during my undergrad, and later he was able to take me on as a student with the graduate program at University of Calgary which I’m really thankful for…it was fantastic to learn about the lab environment with Greg.  He was very patient with how much time I was spending pushing iGEM…there were days when I would be working in Greg’s lab from 8:00am-4:00pm, then work in the iGEM lab until 3:00 in the morning.  I really appreciated Greg’s patience, he helped guide me and show me the direction I wanted to take.  I feel fortunate that I was given the opportunity to grow in the lab environment he provided.”  Hard work and dedication is what David contributes to not only his own success but also the success of FREDsense, and is an excellent answer to the question many Biological Sciences students find themselves asking at the end of their time in University: What am I going to do with my Biological Sciences degree?

FREDsense, the water treatment company started by David after completing his graduate degree at the University of Calgary, is an example of how a Biological Sciences student can take the research skills developed during their degree and successfully apply them to the business world.  By combining the specific, technical skills learned through his research, with the broader, teamwork skills developed through research competitions, David was able to expand his knowledge beyond the laboratory and create his successful company. During his time at the University of Calgary David focused on perfecting his technical skills, learned about synthetic biology, and was able to develop the technology that led to the success of FREDsense.  David explains the function of the kits designed by FREDsense, and that the kits actually manipulate the DNA of bacteria to serve a specific function.  The technology behind FREDSense:

“give [the bacteria] the ability to detect and bind to harmful chemicals.  Then we introduce a DNA program that tells [the bacteria] that when they sense harmful chemicals, they should produce an electrical signal.  It is this electrical signal that notifies the user that there is harmful contaminants in their water supply.” 

David’s transition from student to successful CEO proves that although the specialized skills learned in a Biological Sciences degree prepare an individual for the lab environment, the skills and techniques developed through working in scientific teams can also be applied to a wide range of corporate settings. 

When asked about where he see’s himself in the future David notes that the vision he has for himself and FREDsense isn’t specifically tailored for the science or business community, but that:

“The kits we produce can be given to anyone, anywhere, so that they can easily understand what sort of harmful chemicals or toxins are in their water.  Toxins like arsenic, chromium, things that if they are found in your water supply, can be a real issue to you.  We sell these kits… to help optimize water treatment to ensure there isn’t something harmful in the water supply.”

The larger vision David has for FREDsense is for his company to have positive social change and a meaningful impact on the world through water treatment.  Why can’t research and science be used for constructive social change?  David articulates his vision by saying that he feels “being able to take cutting edge technology, building amazing teams around these skillsets, and showing that science people can make a huge difference in the world” is important not only to growing a company, but also to advancing the sciences in general.  With the global concerns of water scarcity and water quality becoming increasingly challenging, new technologies that address the need for clean and accessible water is becoming even more necessary.  It is for these reasons that innovative students, researchers, and companies are so important because they have ramifications on the social, scientific, and economic aspects of our communities. 

The interests and skills of Biological Sciences students are as eclectic as they are, and the potential of their learning limitless.  After seeing the energy and commitment of David, and the growth of FREDsense as a company, it became evident that the answer to the question asked by many students of “What can I do with a Biological Sciences Degree?” has an easier answer than one might anticipate.  With hard work, dedication and creativity, the answer is: “Whatever you want”. 

 *David and his co-founders at FREDsense are opening their doors to new scientific innovation in the field of biotechnology. If you have an idea or early-stage venture and are looking for biotech space, our 6,000 sq. ft. space in north east Calgary. Reach out to David at david@fredsense.com to learn more.

An Article Written by Glynndon Dobson