About Me

I'm Carolus Vitalis, a Molecular Biotechnology Engineer and Synthetic Biologist passionate about advancing science through innovative tools and methodologies. My academic journey began in Santiago, Chile, where I graduated from the University of Chile with a Professional Degree in Molecular Biotechnology Engineering. This foundation in biotechnology drives my work at the intersection of biology, computation, and design.

Now, as a Ph.D. Candidate at the University of Colorado Boulder and a fellow of the IQ Biology interdisciplinary program, I specialize in designing de novo DNA sequences using artificial intelligence and developing software tools for synthetic biology. My thesis, on an AI-enabled platform for the creation and optimization of novel DNA transcriptional units, is supervised by a committee that includes Dr. Chris Myers, Dr. Thomas Cech, Dr. Jerome Fox, Dr. Ryan Layer, and Dr. Aaron Adler.

Beyond the lab, I am drawn to graphic design and typography. I designed my own typefaces, Vitalis Sans and Vitalis Grotesk, which you are currently reading on this website. In 2025, I served as Mission Leader at the Mars Desert Research Station in Utah, leading a multidisciplinary crew through simulated extravehicular activities in an analog Mars habitat. When not immersed in science or design, you might find me cycling through Boulder, exploring mountain trails, or reflecting during quiet evening drives.

My practice sits at the intersection of computation and molecular biology. I design and optimize DNA sequences using machine learning, build software tools for synthetic biology workflows, and serve as an editor of the Synthetic Biology Open Language (SBOL), contributing to the data and visual frameworks the field uses to represent and communicate genetic designs. In the laboratory, my training spans DNA assembly automation, genetic circuit characterization, and microfluidic screening techniques.

I teach regularly. I have served as Co-Instructor for Engineering Genetic Circuits at the University of Colorado Boulder and the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, and co-developed an online version of the course for Coursera. Seven undergraduate students have conducted research under my direct mentorship across two institutions.