Dr. Andreas Mershin
In 2023, Andreas Mershin co-founded RealNose.ai and currently serves as its Chief Science Officer. RealNose is deploying non-invasive machine olfaction technologies, revolutionizing the early and accurate diagnosis of diseases. The company’s initial focus is on diagnosing Prostate Cancer with speed, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness. Its patented technology enables the deployment of bioelectronic, nose-mimicking diagnostic sensors powered by AI, inspired by medical detection-trained dogs.
Academic and Professional Background
Mershin holds an MSci in physics from Imperial College London, with a thesis on computational cosmology, and an MS and PhD from Texas A&M University, where his research focused on quantum physics and biophysics. He also completed a short postdoctoral tenure at Texas A&M before joining MIT, where he became a Research Scientist with PI privileges.
After 26 years dedicated to academic research, patenting, publishing, and teaching, he transitioned to full-time entrepreneurship. For nineteen years at MIT (2004-2023), he founded and directed the MIT Label Free Research Group, with its labs hosted at the MIT Center for Biomedical Engineering, later moving to the MIT Center for Bits and Atoms and the MIT Media Lab.
Key Lessons from Two Decades of Blending Academic Science with Practical Application
Mershin’s research philosophy follows the “Label-Free” methodology, inspired by Douglas Adams’ approach: “look first, then think.” This philosophy played a crucial role in the success of the MIT Label Free Research Group, leading to the development of groundbreaking technologies adopted by industry and government. These innovations have been showcased at major venues, including the Boston Museum of Science and the Designer’s Open Exhibition, and have received global media coverage from CNN, BBC, The New York Times, Discovery Channel, Wired, New Scientist, Nature, and Science.
Throughout his career, Mershin has emphasized interdisciplinary collaboration, bridging physics, biology, materials science, and information sciences to develop breakthrough solutions, often emerging from outside traditional field boundaries.
Lab-to-Market Transitions at MIT
Mershin’s interdisciplinary approach continues to shape his work, particularly in his role as an educator. He designed and currently teaches the “Lab to Market the MIT Way” course at MIT Sloan Executive Education. This course examines real research successes and failures, using case studies from his group’s work to explore innovation strategies, failure recovery, and project design. It also delves into how technological advancements, such as photosynthetic solar panels and quantum effects in molecular biology, can achieve market impact—or fail to do so. His perspective underscores the belief that innovation is not inevitable.
Currently, his interests are centered on the opportunities in scaling mycotecture and deploying machine olfaction technologies (“sniff tech”). As he navigates the emerging landscape of new business models, regulations, and innovation ecosystems, he continues to rely on the “build it to understand it” principle that guided the MIT Label Free Research Group.
Outreach and Service
As part of his commitment to the academic, artistic, entrepreneurial, and legal communities surrounding machine olfaction, Mershin co-founded OsmoCosm.org in 2021 and serves as its President. This Massachusetts-registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organizes the annual Global Machine Olfaction Technologies Conference at MIT. Additionally, he serves as a volunteer advisor to Zino Fund and biofab.bio.
Other Activities
Beyond his work in machine olfaction, Mershin is the co-founder of several ventures, including Ninurta.com, MycoHab.com, the MIT Flying Club, and the Molecular Frontiers Inquiry Prize, which is adjudicated by Nobel Laureates and recognizes curiosity as a valuable, trainable skill.
He is also a scuba dive master and a private pilot.
