Meet Will Kaegi
“BioBuilder actually allows you to do something with your knowledge, and work on a project that has an actual impact on the world.”
In this episode, Zeeshan talks with Will about how creative world building turned into a real drive to solve problems through biology and synthetic biology. Their conversation traces how BioBuilder helped Will gain mentors, lab confidence, and a clearer path from high school projects to Stanford bioengineering and early industry exposure.
This episode includes a conversation about:
- Will’s early curiosity rooted in ecosystems, energy flow, and creativity
- why biology feels like a place he can build and contribute
- what drew him to quorum sensing and bacterial communication
- how reading about CRISPR sparked interest in synthetic biology
- why BioBuilder matters for access and first-generation students
- how he helped design projects that protect ecosystems
- projects related to coral reef protection and tackling fertilizer runoff
- mentorship moments that reshape what it means to be a scientist
- presenting lightning talks, building communication skills, finding community
- internships and research experiences that clarified industry versus academic paths
- choice of Stanford for challenge and choosing bioengineering to translate research into impact
- advice for 16-year-olds who feel intimidated, namely: show up, learn by doing, ask questions
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