About
Advancing Enzyme
Science to Improve Lives
Zymosense is committed to expanding our understanding of enzymes and developing new and impactful technologies that improve lives. Formed in 2021, Zymosense was born out of research by co-founders Dr. Nigel Reuel, PhD and Dr. Nathaniel Kallmyer, PhD at Iowa State University. As the leader in new enzyme measurement technologies employing single-walled carbon nanotubes, Zymosense is purposefully situated within Iowa’s growing science and innovation corridor known as “Silicorn Valley” to collaborate with power enzyme users in food, personal care, pharma and energy.
Our People
Scott D. Nelson
CEO
Scott is a seasoned technology executive and entrepreneur. After graduating from Iowa State University, Scott was immersed in global consumer influence and brand management at General Motors’ Cadillac Motor Car Division. He applied this experience to consumer-facing enterprise SaaS by co-founding seminal adtech firm TruEffect and holding leadership positions at Placeable and Amazon. Having joined in January 2025 as Chief Executive Officer, Scott enjoys staying active, music and travel.
Dr. Nigel Reuel
PhD, Co-Founder and Chairman
Nigel holds the Stanley Chair in Interdisciplinary Engineering in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Iowa State University. His research focuses on contact-free sensors, biomanufacturing, and new measurement tool design. His lab, the Reuel Group, has led development of start-ups from their work at Iowa State, including Skroot Laboratory for therapeutic cell production, Zymosense, Inc. for enzyme discovery tools, and Frugi Biotechnology Inc. focused on rapid protein prototyping for drug discovery (acquired by BigHat Biosciences Inc. in 2022.)
Dr. Nathaniel Kallmyer
PhD, Co-Founder and CTO
Nate is a chemical engineer and entrepreneur with expertise in nanomaterials, biosensing, and assay development. He earned dual bachelor’s degrees in Chemical Engineering and Chemistry from Purdue University before completing his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at Iowa State University, where his research focused on single-walled carbon nanotubes as fluorescent sensors for biochemical detection. During his doctoral work, he developed fluorimetry platforms and enzyme-responsive nanotube sensors that advanced methods for probing protease activity and other enzymatic processes. His research was recognized with the Iowa State Research Excellence Award, the Brown Graduate Fellowship, and a USDA NIFA Education and Workforce Development Fellowship. He later applied this expertise in industry at Zymosense, Inc., where he has led efforts to validate, commercialize, and expand these sensing technologies into practical tools for enzyme analysis in agriculture, feed, and R&D applications. His work spans hardware and software integration for custom plate readers, assay design for hydrolases and oxidases, and the translation of fundamental nanoscience into scalable products.
Jade Sims
Research Laboratory Manager
Jade holds a Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology from Iowa State University and brings more than six years of research experience spanning neurodegenerative disease studies, food safety microbiology, and biosensor innovation. At Zymosense, she leads enzymatic assay development and R&D operations, where her adaptability and attention to detail ensure precision, consistency, and progress in fluorescent nanotube biosensors for next-generation enzymatic assays.
Jon Temple
Research Specialist II
Jon is a Research Specialist II at Zymosense, where he has been part of the team for over two years. He earned a B.A. in Biology and a secondary teaching degree from the University of Northern Iowa. Before reengaging with research science, Jon spent two decades in education, bringing a wealth of teaching and scientific communication experience to his role. During that time, he also pursued research through several summer internships at Iowa State University, where he studied the epigenetic mechanisms of social wasps. Today, Jon combines his background in education and research to support Zymosense’s mission of advancing enzyme assay technology.
Our Advisors
Scott D. Nelson
CEO
Scott is a seasoned technology executive and entrepreneur. After graduating from Iowa State University, Scott was immersed in global consumer influence and brand management at General Motors’ Cadillac Motor Car Division. He applied this
experience to consumer-facing enterprise SaaS by co-founding seminal adtech firm
TruEffect and holding leadership positions at Placeable and Amazon. Having joined in
January 2025 as Chief Executive Officer, Scott is leading Zymosense to advance the
science of enzymes for the 21 st century.
Dr. Nigel Reuel
PhD, Co-Founder and Chairman
Nigel holds the Stanley Chair in Interdisciplinary Engineering in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Iowa State University. His research focuses on contact-free sensors, biomanufacturing, and new measurement tool design. His lab, the
Reuel Group, has led development of start-ups from their work at Iowa State, including
Skroot Laboratory for therapeutic cell production, Zymosense, Inc. for enzyme discovery
tools, and Frugi Biotechnology Inc. focused on rapid protein prototyping for drug
discovery (acquired by BigHat Biosciences Inc. in 2022
Dr. Nathaniel Kallmyer
PhD, Co-Founder and CTO
Nathaniel Kallmyer is a chemical engineer and entrepreneur with expertise in nanomaterials, biosensing, and assay development. He earned dual bachelor’s degrees in Chemical Engineering and Chemistry from Purdue University before completing his
Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at Iowa State University, where his research focused on
single-walled carbon nanotubes as fluorescent sensors for biochemical detection.
During his doctoral work, he developed fluorimetry platforms and enzyme-responsive
nanotube sensors that advanced methods for probing protease activity and other
enzymatic processes. His research was recognized with the Iowa State Research
Excellence Award, the Brown Graduate Fellowship, and a USDA NIFA Education and
Joseph McAuliffe
IFF Technical Fellow and Sr Principal Scientist
Joe is currently a Technical Fellow at IFF (formerly Genencor/DuPont) based in Palo Alto, California. He holds a PhD in synthetic carbohydrate chemistry (University of Western Australia, 1996) and conducted Postdoctoral work at U. Alberta (1996) and the Sanford Burnham Institute (1996-99). Dr. McAuliffe is the author of 32 scientific papers, 4 reviews, 4 book chapters and 46 granted US patents. He has over 25 years of Industry experience in Industrial Biotechnology and was a member of the teams that developed biological processes for production of 1,3-propanediol and BioIsoprene™ monomer. Current research interests include analytical and materials science.
Kelly Junge
Senior Physicist, Powerfilm
Kelly is an innovative and results-driven professional specializing in the optical properties of materials. With over 20 years of experience in physics, fiber optics, microfluidics, semiconductors, chemistry, material science, and business development, he has brought technologies to market and improved their manufacturing processes. He is passionate about bridging the gap between complex scientific innovations and their successful market implementation, with a proven track record of driving both technical and business outcomes. Outside of work and investing, Kelly finds the best place on earth to spend time, besides with his family, is 30 feet underwater with a tank or two of air.