Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

R. Clay Wright is a trailblazer in synthetic biology and laboratory automation, with a focus on democratizing and sustaining biofoundry workflows. His key research areas include automated DNA assembly, robotic process optimization, and reducing plastic waste in biotechnology. Wright’s major contribution is the development of **AssemblyTron**, a flexible software platform that enables the Opentrons OT-2 lab robot to automate complex DNA assembly protocols, such as Golden Gate cloning. This work, cited 41 times, empowers researchers to scale up the Design–Build–Test–Learn cycle without expensive proprietary hardware. He also pioneered **TidyTron**, a validated wash-and-reuse protocol for common plasticware, directly tackling the 5.5 million tons of annual plastic waste from biotech labs—a sustainability breakthrough with 6 citations. Notably, his 2024 guide on biofoundry-assisted Golden Gate cloning further streamlines high-throughput assembly. Wright’s impact lies in making automation accessible and eco-friendly, bridging the gap between benchtop science and industrial-scale bioengineering. His work is essential reading for any researcher seeking to build, test, and learn faster while reducing environmental footprint.