Laura Torborg Kakach 1983 - Senior Scientist

One sentence summary of what you do: At Kingfisher Biotech, Inc. I clone genes and express the proteins they encode to be used to develop research tools for the veterinary research market

Concrete examples of what you do: We are part of a USDA grant - one of the first of its kind - to make reagents for veterinary research.  We have a very long list of genes from cows, pigs, horses, chicken, trout and other species that are being cloned so we can produce the proteins they encode.  The kinds of targets we are interested in are cytokines - proteins that are involved in cellular communication.  These proteins and related products could be used to study disease or gain insight in cellular function.

How does your work impact the general public?  The products that we develop at Kingfisher are aimed at both domestic animals as well as agricultural animals.  The proteins we are producing from the genes we've cloned are involved in the immune system.  Researchers will use our products as tools to study disease or other biological processes in animals.

What other positions have you held in your field?  I have worked for other biotech companies and the University of Minnesota since I graduated from CSB.  Most recently, I was co-owner and co-founder of ATG Laboratories, a molecular biology services company.  We founded the company in 1994 to provide services for larger biotech companies and pharmaceutical companies. 

Can you pinpoint the moment, or series of moments, when you knew you were going to pursue science (e.g., as a child you liked to mix liquids to see the effects)?  I remember a 4th grade science class where we looked at pond water under a microscope and I was fascinated.  This did impact me and my interest in the biological sciences.

What does science literacy mean to you?  Science literacy means having the tools and knowledge to understand and communicate about science.

How do you see the general public “using/thinking” science every day? I think that we are surrounded by questions that come up everyday just by reading the newspaper.  I think the more we understand the better we are prepared to make decisions, whether it is in the political arena, our neighborhoods, or work environments. 

What do you love about science? I love the fact that we continue to discover how things work, what makes things happen in living things, etc.  There is so much known that we can research and learn, and yet there is so much more to learn. 

How might the general public get more involved/engaged in science in their lives? Ask a question and look for information, whether it's a health question, how a computer works, or how a hummingbird holds its place at the feeder.

Institutional Advancement
College of Saint Benedict
St. Joseph, MN 56374
(320) 363-5682
(800) 648-3468