Dakota BioWorx

07/29/2025

Hello from San Francisco! The Dakota BioWorx team is at the SIMB Annual Meeting this week, connecting with fellow innovators in industrial microbiology and biotechnology.

Stop by Booth 5 to meet our team and learn how we help startups and scaling biotechs accelerate their fermentation process—from bench to production.

Whether you’re troubleshooting scale-up or planning your next tech transfer, we’re here to help. Let’s talk bacteria, bioreactors, and big ideas.

07/23/2025

Coming online soon at Dakota BioWorx…

Meet our newest team member: the Millrock EPIC™ Freeze Dryer—a serious upgrade in our ability to support clients with temperature-sensitive products and biomass.

• 40L/day lyophilization capacity
• 22 trays, 5L/per tray total volume capacity

This system opens the door for freeze-drying at all fermentation scales offered by DBX, helping our partners preserve product integrity from bench to pilot.

Commissioning kicks off August 5, and we can’t wait to put it to work.

Thanks to Millrock Technology, Inc for the engineering, and to our team for getting everything in place. Learn more about Millrock Freeze Dryers: https://www.millrocktech.com/freeze-dryers/

07/08/2025

The Great Outdoors.....Indoors! Check out our new bike parking installation! DBX employees, South Dakota State University students, and customers' bikes can feel right at home parked within the breathtaking panorama of the Michelson Trail, courtesy of our talented friend Byron Benjamin Banasiak of SD Tourism. We completed the look with pebble tile flooring to create an inviting, natural feel in the heart of DBX.

Come check it out next time you visit! We love fostering a healthier and more sustainable community—and, yes—sponsorships are available! Let’s keep moving, innovating, and enjoying the ride—on and off the trail.

04/24/2025

Bringing Biotech Breakthroughs to Life! 🌱 Dakota BioWorx, located in the Bioprocessing Center at the Research Park, is empowering biotech startups with pilot-scale infrastructure and engineering expertise to bring cutting-edge ideas to life. By eliminating barriers and accelerating scaling, they’re making it easier than ever for researchers to turn their innovations into reality.

With strong partnerships at SDSU and South Dakota Mines, Dakota BioWorx is not only advancing biotech research but also training the next generation of industry leaders. Their work is a major driver in South Dakota’s bioeconomy, creating new opportunities for both science and business.

🔬 Ready to take your biotech project to the next level? Learn more & schedule a free consultation: www.dakotabioworx.org

04/24/2025

We're excited to announce that Dakota BioWorx will be attending the BioMADE Member Meeting 2025 and our very own Dr. Neal Connors, Ph. D. will be participating in the Models for Pilot Plant Training & Education Panel.

This event brings together the brightest minds in biomanufacturing to advance innovation, sustainability, and the future of the bioeconomy—and we’re thrilled to be part of the conversation.

As a full-service, turnkey pilot scale facility for bioproduct development, Dakota BioWorx is proud to collaborate with other leaders driving the bioindustrial revolution.

Save the Date: April 29-30, 2025 | Minneapolis, MN
Learn More at biomademeeting.org

Let us know if you’ll be there— Stop by our booth to connect, share ideas, and Think Bigger together!

03/10/2025

We can’t imagine a better place to start thinking bigger about sustainable ag-tech innovations. We’re beyond excited to walk the inspired aisles and rub shoulders with the industry's brightest minds and most visionary leaders.

01/13/2025

Meet Ashton Merrill, BioProcessing Intern at Dakota BioWorx!

We are thrilled to share that Ashton Merrill, one of our talented interns, is featured in the latest SDSU intern spotlight series! As a biology student at South Dakota State University, Ashton is gaining invaluable hands-on experience at Dakota BioWorx, working on groundbreaking biotechnologies in a state-of-the-art facility.

In her own words:
"It’s been exciting to see how what I’m learning in lecture is applicable to the biotech industry. The work is hands-on, and it’s incredible to be part of a team that is developing solutions that will impact the world."

At Dakota BioWorx, we are proud to offer a unique, collaborative internship experience that allows students like Ashton to develop real-world skills and contribute to important projects.

We’re helping build the next generation of biotech professionals right here in South Dakota!

11/18/2024

We'd like you to meet our newest bioprocess engineer, Sam Platzman. Sam meshes experience in bioprocess settings with a continuous learning approach to engineer creative solutions to common problems faced along the path to achieving stable bioproduct manufacturability. Having experience in academic microbiological lab, pharmaceutical development, and synthetic biology, Sam combines invaluable insights gained in the initial, and later stages of bioprocess development. With benchtop scale lab operations falling under his scope at Dakota BioWorx, Sam guides clients through the equipment, characterization, and operational challenges faced bringing their "lightning in a bottle" to larger scales, preparing them effectively for at-scale biomanufacturing.

"Process optimization is a principal I carry with me in every aspect of life, and I am excited to have the opportunity to apply and grow my knowledge as a bioprocess engineer at Dakota BioWorx; the mission and goals of the company to grow the surrounding bioeconomy are thrilling, and I am proud to be contributing towards them with the projects being undertaken."

11/07/2024

"After spending just a short time in Dakota BioWorx, it became apparent that when our work with South Dakota State University and Dr. Jeremy Chambers is complete, using Dakota BioWorx is the next step in creating our own GMP commercialized product and facility. Dakota BioWorx has everything we need to perfect a scaled-up technology transfer, while also training our employees, in a cost effective and risk mitigated business environment."

Jim Segermark, Founder & CEO, CureIt LifeSci, LLC

10/24/2024

🌟 A Wonderful Day at Dakota BioWorx! 🌟
We are delighted to open our doors for tours and welcome Dr. Neal Connors as our new Chief Scientific Officer this week! It’s a great opportunity to share our state-of-the-art facility, designed to foster collaboration and innovation in biotechnology.

Our awareness campaign is already producing results, with inquiries from biotech organizations worldwide! We look forward to the future and the partnerships we will build!

Check out these photos from Tuesday's event! 📸

10/23/2024

📺 Dakota BioWorx in the News! 💻

We had a fantastic open house yesterday and were excited to have KELOLAND News in attendance to cover the event! It’s a great opportunity to showcase our state-of-the-art facility and the innovative work we're doing in the biotechnology sector.

Check out their coverage to learn more about Dakota BioWorx and our mission to support the development of plant-based biotech innovations.

BROOKINGS, S.D. (KELO) — A Brookings nonprofit is helping ideas in agricultural come to life. Inside their massive lab in Brookings, Dakota BioWorx’s mission is to add value to the bio …

10/21/2024

We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Neal Connors as our new Chief Scientific Officer at Dakota BioWorx! With four decades of experience in bioprocess development, Dr. Connors is set to drive innovation in our biotech efforts.

“I have spent my entire professional career helping companies develop and launch biobased products,” said Dr. Connors. “At Dakota BioWorx, I can have a broader impact on biomanufacturing by supporting many small companies transition their ideas from the lab to commercial reality.”

Join us in welcoming Dr. Neal Connors to the team!

For more info, visit dakotabioworx.org.