Dr. Narendranath is passionate about bio-based technology development from conception to commercialization. He is an innovative leader with over 25 years of experience in the development of technologies related to fermentation science, product/process development, and downstream processing. His experience includes R&D strategy, securing intellectual property, business development, renewable energy, sustainable biobased materials, biobased chemicals, and agriculture. Dr. Narendranath also leads research and development for DS Octant.

Prior to DS Octant, Dr. Narendranath led research and development for the BioMaterials division at Domtar, one of the world’s largest pulp and paper producers. At Domtar, he was responsible for the cellulosic sugars, lignin, thermochemical fuels, and pine chemicals technology development. Prior to Domtar, he spent several years at POET, LLC, the world’s largest biofuels producer. At POET, Dr. Narendranath led the fermentation R&D and was involved in the scaling up of various technologies. Prior to POET, he headed research efforts at Alltech’s alcohol division. Alltech is now one of the top animal health companies in the world that develop agricultural products for use in both livestock and crop farming. Dr. Narendranath has authored several publications in peer-reviewed journals and has been an inventor on several patents and patent applications.

Dr. Narendranath earned a BS in Agriculture and MS in Agricultural Microbiology from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, TN, India. He also earned a Ph.D. in Applied Microbiology from the University of Saskatchewan, SK, Canada, and an MBA from the University of Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls, South Dakota.