Curriculum Vitae
NAME: Camilla Mei-Fang Kao
NICKNAME: Cammy
Date of Birth: 22 Feb 1970
Place of Birth: Midland, Michigan
Residence: Houston, Texas
EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS
1997 Doctorate of Philosophy of Chemical Engineering from Stanford University in Stanford, CA. Adviser: Chaitan Khosla. Dissertation: Structure, Function, and Engineering of Modular Polyketide Synthases
1992 Bachelor of Science Magna Cum Laude of Chemical Engineering from Rice University in Houston, TX.
2025 Texas Teacher Certifications in Mathematics Grades 4-8 (115) and in Mathematics Grades 7-12 (235). Total Scaled Score of Test “115 MATHEMATICS 4-8”: 298. Total Scaled Score of Test “235 MATHEMATICS 7-12”: 278.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Geometry Tutor at Proof Squad, self-employed (EIN 86-3742035), in Houston, Texas, from 20 Aug 2026 until the present.
Using Jurgensen (2000) and Moise & Downs (1991) to tutor a middle schooler in geometric proofs.
General Clerk III, at Lanier Middle School in the Houston ISD in Houston, TX, from 22 Jun 2026 until the present.
Math and Science Tutor, self-employed, in Houston, TX, from 14 Jan 2024 until 16 Aug 2026.
Wrote a book called Physics for a Middle Schooler: Integrated Science Lessons Tailored to My Student’s Interests (2000).
Hourly Lecturer, Degreed, at Lanier Middle School in the Houston ISD in Houston, TX, from 15 Dec 2025 until 5 Jun 2026.
6th-Grade Math Teacher at Lanier Middle School in the Houston ISD in Houston, TX, from 21 Jul 2025 until 14 Dec 2025.
5th-Grade Clinical Math Teacher at Neff Elementary School in the Houston ISD in Houston, TX, from 23 Jan 2025 until 16 May 2025. Mentor: Amy Chea.
Special Assistant to CEO at Kainomyx Inc. in South San Francisco and Palo Alto, CA, from 22 Feb 2021 until 14 May 2021. CEO: James A. Spudich.
Senior Faculty Administrator of Biochemistry at Stanford University in Stanford, CA, from Aug 2018 until 19 Feb 2021. Department Chairs: Suzanne R. Pfeffer and Aaron F. Straight.
Lab Ops Manager of the Stanford Site at the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub in Stanford, CA, from 11 Apr 2018 until 10 Dec 2018.
Health and Safety Specialist in the School of Engineering at Stanford University in Stanford, CA, from 9 May 2016 until 10 Apr 2018.
Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering at Stanford University in Stanford, CA, from May 2000 until 31 Dec 2006.
Postdoctoral Scholar of Biochemistry at Stanford University in Stanford, CA, from June 1997 until May 2000. Adviser: Patrick O. Brown (in collaboration with David Botstein).
SELECTED AWARD (SCIENTIFIC)
1997 Pharmacia Biotech & Science Prize for Young Scientists, awarded for best doctoral thesis in Molecular Biology, a Regional Winner for North America.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS (SCIENTIFIC)
C. Kao, L. Katz, C. Khosla. “Engineered biosynthesis of a complete macrolactone in a heterologous host.” Science (1994). DOI: 10.1126/science.8036492
C. Kao, G. Luo, D. Cane, C. Khosla. “Engineered biosynthesis of a triketide lactone from an incomplete modular polyketide synthase.” JACS (1994). DOI: 10.1021/ja00104a069
C. Kao, G. Luo, D. Cane, C. Khosla. “Manipulation of macrolide ring size by directed mutagenesis of a modular polyketide synthase.” JACS (1995). DOI: 10.1021/ja00140a043
C. Kao, R. Pieper, C. Khosla. “Evidence for two catalytically independent clusters of active sites in a functional modular polyketide synthase.” Biochem. (1996). DOI: 10.1021/bi9616312
D. Weaver, N. Karoonuthaisiri, … C. Kao. “Genome plasticity in Streptomyces: identification of 1 Mb TIRs in the S. coelicolor A3(2) chromosome.” Mol. Microbiol. (2004). DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2003.03920.x
C. Kao, C. Kao, R. Furr. “Why is safe science good science?” Chem. Health Saf. July 2018. DOI: 10.1016/j.jchas.2018.02.005
PERSONAL ACTIVITIES
Client at Timberline Fitness Studio in Houston, Texas, from 25 Jun 2026 until the present. Instructors: Jennifer Theriot, Dean Theriot, Eric Long, and Jeff Raben.
Student at the Houston School of Art & Design in Houston, Texas, from 22 May 2024 until the present. Instructors: Chu Okoli and Beatriz Fuentes.