Adam Safir was born in New York but moved to the Bay Area shortly after and has spent much of his life there. He received a BS in Chemistry from University of California, Santa Barbara College of Creative Studies and a Ph.D. from University of California, Berkeley College of Chemistry.
Adam’s technical background is in polymer chemistry and catalysis, with a focus on specialty polymers. He has spent his career in start-ups, previously serving in leadership positions at Zymergen, Amyris, and Symyx. Adam started as the COO of Intorpic Materials in January of 2023 and believes that the company’s technology gets him back to his roots in living polymerizations while utilizing his experience in biocatalysis. In the past decade, he has leveraged whole-cell systems to increase the sustainability of polymeric systems, something that is core to his personal beliefs. Adam’s values are centered around community, innovation, and both enjoying and protecting our natural world.
From hiking, camping, and backpacking to biking and kayaking, Adam loves the outdoors. He also likes to work in his garden, creating a show of colors for the neighborhood to enjoy. Growing up, Adam always had an artistic outlet and enjoyed spending time drawing and sculpting, and in the past few decades, he has focused on woodworking!
