An early passion for biology, first cultivated in the classrooms of RCDS, has led alumnus Adé Larsen ’23 to groundbreaking research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab.

Now a junior at MIT, Adé recently completed an ambitious synthetic biology project as part of the Media Lab's renowned course, “How to Grow Almost Anything”. The course gives students hands-on access to advanced biotechnology tools and industry partners while challenging them to design innovative solutions using DNA.

For his final project, Adé developed a proof-of-concept system titled “Cell-Free Protein Synthesis for Enzymatic Carbon Sequestration.” By engineering three custom enzymes and expressing them in a cell-free system, he demonstrated their ability to convert dissolved carbon dioxide into a stable compound, a promising step toward new approaches for carbon capture and long-term storage. The encouraging results have opened the door for continued research and further exploration.

While reflecting on the experience, Adé credited two RCDS science teachers with inspiring his academic journey. He shared that Ms. Kerry Linderoth's seventh-grade Life Science class sparked his fascination with photosynthesis, while AP Environmental Science deepened his understanding of the global challenge of carbon emissions and the importance of developing innovative climate solutions. Adé also expressed gratitude to Dr. Cathie Bischoff, whose AP Biology course helped him master essential laboratory techniques, including pipetting and gel electrophoresis and introduced him to the exciting possibilities of genetics and molecular biology.

Adé’s story is a testament to the lasting impact of exceptional teaching and nurturing curiosity. As Adé continues his research at MIT, the RCDS community celebrates his accomplishments and looks forward to seeing where his scientific journey leads next.

Congratulations, Adé, on this exciting milestone!

For more information on project visit: https://pages.htgaa.org/2026a/ade-larsen/projects/individual-final-project/index.html