Co-founder | CEO

Dr. Sittmann is the green thumb at Deep Root Biolabs. After earning his PhD in Molecular Biology from the University of Maryland, Dr. Sittmann continued his work as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Carnegie Institution for Science, further exploring the microbial symbiosis. He then worked at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL), contributing to innovative and interdisciplinary research. Now, John is focused on building a platform that advances food systems, agricultural security, and critical mineral reclamation.

Co-founder | CTO

Dr. Curtis is Deep Root’s microbial guru, with deep experience in harnessing environmental microbes for real-world impact in areas ranging from natural products drug discovery and high-throughput screening to cutting-edge synthetic biology applications. He earned his Ph.D. at the Technical University of Denmark, completed postdoctoral research at Northeastern University, and later contributed to the bioscience initiatives at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL). Tom is now focused on bringing microbial science from the lab to the field.

Renee brings over 20 years of mining and petroleum expertise to the Deep Root Biogv team, combining operational experience with environmental insight and proven business acumen. Having worked across diverse commodities and continents with leading global resource companies, plus three years of startup success, she possesses a deep understanding of industry challenges and practical solutions. Her unique blend of hands-on operations knowledge, environmental background, and entrepreneurial experience enables her to translate best practices into effective field applications.

Project Manager

Dr. Sweeney completed her PhD at Johns Hopkins University, investigating the regulatory pathways that shape intestinal lipid metabolism. Dr. Sweeney is passionate about mentorship, community building, and learning how the natural world solves problems using biology. She is dedicated to translating scientific discovery into real-world solutions that advance sustainability for both human and environmental health.