Leaders

Tom Adams, PhD

Co-Founder & Chief executive officer

Dr. Tom Adams co-founded Pairwise and serves as Chief Executive Officer. Tom has over 25 years of leadership experience heading up biotechnology for global companies, serving most recently as Vice President of Global Biotechnology at Monsanto where he led the team developing a broad range of innovative products. Tom wanted to realize the possibilities of CRISPR and gene editing in plants, and co-founded Pairwise to realize this potential in a mission-based environment. Formerly a faculty member at Texas A&M University, Tom holds a PhD in microbiology and plant science from Michigan State University and a BS in botany and plant pathology from Oregon State University. Tom is a long-time distance runner and often competes in local events.

Ian Miller, JD

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Ian Miller serves as Chief Operating Officer, overseeing business and corporate development, and business operations. Ian joined Pairwise in 2018 as Vice President, Business Operations. Ian brings diverse technical, legal, and operational leadership experience in the life sciences field to Pairwise, serving most recently as Chief Business Officer and General Counsel at Epic Sciences. Ian holds a JD, with honors, from Duke University School of Law and a BS in biochemistry and cellular biology from the University of California, San Diego. An avid fan of Duke sports, Ian also enjoys brewing his own craft beer.

Ryan Bartlett, PhD

CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER

Ryan Barlett joined Pairwise in 2023. Having done his postdoctoral studies on protein-protein interactions related Parkinson’s disease and cardiovascular disease at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Ryan left academia to take a research scientist position at Monsanto. After almost ten years at Monsanto, Ryan held several positions at Compass Minerals including VP of Innovation and Product Development, Chief Transformation Officer and Chief Strategy Officer. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Genetics and a doctorate in Biochemistry and Biophysics from University of Kansas, Lawrence. Ryan continues to be involved as 5th generation owner in the planning and management of his family’s farm and cow-calf operation in Paradise, Kansas. He is the author and co-author of numerous publications in the field of biochemistry, biophysics and cell biology.

VP, RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Aaron Hummel, PhD

Dr. Aaron Hummel has been improving crops through better genetics for 15 years. Aaron joined Pairwise in 2018 from global plant breeding company KWS, where he established their US-based genome editing team and program. As Vice President of R&D for Pairwise, Aaron leads discovery and development efforts to support the Company’s diverse business, including crop traits, seeds, finished goods, and the enabling technologies platform that is creating new opportunities in agriculture and beyond. Aaron is an expert in plant molecular genetics and genome editing technologies, holding over 25 patents and patent applications, and over ten peer-reviewed research publications. Aaron did postdoc research at the University of Minnesota, holds a PhD in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from Iowa State University, and a BS in Biology from Hillsdale College. He is a decorated veteran of the United States Marine Corps.

VP, Regulatory and Government Affairs

Dan Jenkins, JD

Dan Jenkins is VP, Regulatory and Government Affairs. Dan has 20+ years’ experience working in the food and agriculture industry. Prior to joining Pairwise, he was the Managing Director and Chief of Staff of the Agricultural Section of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) trade association in Washington, DC. Dan also led Monsanto’s Regulatory team in DC, overseeing all domestic chemistry and biotech crop approvals across FDA, EPA and USDA, and at the beginning of his career, worked in pesticide commercial sales, as well as R&D, for Dow AgroSciences. Dan currently sits on the American Chemistry Society’s editorial board for the Agricultural Science and Technology journal, and the advisory board to North Carolina State University’s Plant Sciences Initiative’s Center of Excellence for Regulatory Science in Agriculture. Dan earned a BS in Biology from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, an MS degree in Entomology and Applied Ecology from the University of Delaware, and his JD from Loyola Law School.

Senior Director, Human Resources

Lucy Wert

Lucy Wert is the Head of Human Resources at Pairwise, where she leverages over 15 years of expertise in talent management, organizational effectiveness, and employee engagement. Prior to joining Pairwise in 2019, Lucy built and scaled HR teams across multiple startups, leading key initiatives in people development, strategic workforce planning, and HR technology. She has also guided organizations through complex mergers, acquisitions, and restructurings, and played a pivotal role in cultural transformation and performance management efforts. Lucy holds a BA in Economics from Indiana University. In addition to her professional contributions, she is an active participant in Pairwise’s Inclusion Committee and a dedicated advocate for fostering community within the workplace. Outside of work, Lucy enjoys traveling, exploring new culinary experiences, and is an active board member at Downtown Durham, Inc.

VP, COMMERCIAL - BERRIES

Tom Spaulding

Tom Spaulding is Vice President, Commercial for the Pairwise Berry Portfolio. Tom joined Pairwise from Driscoll’s, where he spent a decade as District Production Manager in Watsonville, Calif. and then Senior Director of Blackberry Business for the Americas. In his role, he is focused on integrating all parts of the company’s caneberry business — from breeding programs/edited varieties to nursery, grower business models, packer/shipper relationships, product specifications, and delivering products to the marketplace. Tom holds an MS in Organic Chemistry from the University of California, Santa Cruz, an MBA from Cal State—San Jose, and a BS from the University of Wisconsin.

Director, Trait Strategy & Testing

Shai Lawit, PhD

Dr. Shai Lawit is an experienced leader in agricultural biotechnology with over 20 years in industry R&D. Since joining Pairwise in 2019, he has spearheaded the development of novel traits and technologies, guiding numerous projects across various crops such as fruits, vegetables, and row crops. Shai’s expertise in gene editing and precision breeding drives the advancement of commercial quality traits in elite germplasm, supporting their delivery to the marketplace. Shai holds a Ph.D. in Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology and a B.Sc. in Microbiology and Cell Science from the University of Florida. His career includes significant contributions to trait biotechnology at Corteva and DuPont Pioneer. A respected figure in the scientific community, Shai has an extensive publication and patent record, reflecting his commitment to innovation and excellence in agricultural science.

director, finance

Jackie Jackson

Jackie Jackson oversees Financial Planning & Analysis as well as Financial Accounting & Control at Pairwise, bringing over 15 years of financial and operational expertise to the role. She joined Pairwise in 2021 as Senior Manager of Financial Planning & Analysis, drawing on her extensive experience in consumer packaged goods from nearly 12 years of progressively senior roles at Nestlé Purina PetCare Company. Prior to that, she did a brief stint in public accounting working in litigation and valuation financial support. She holds a Bachelors of Business Administration from McKendree University in Accounting and Economics & Finance and is a licensed CPA (inactive) in the state of Missouri. Beyond her professional contributions, Jackie is an active participant in Pairwise's Culture Committee and a dedicated member of the Pairwise Inclusion Committee Book Club. Outside of work, she pursues her passion for dressage by training and competing horses and teaching riding lessons. She also enjoys travel adventures, food and wine exploration, dancing, and caring for her rescue dogs as a proud “dog mom.”

Our Executive Team