November 5, 2026
November 5, 2026
Online Discussion | Thursday, Nov 5 from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CT
Join us for sn upcoming SLAS Technology Idea Exchange focused on AI in the lab, featuring Automata, a leader in laboratory automation. AI can generate protocols, interpret data and recommend next steps, but deploying it reliably in a real laboratory presents different challenges.
This session brings together perspectives from AI, product and security to explore how a shared orchestration layer connects AI with laboratory instruments, workflows and data, and how agent harnesses enforce access controls, governance and human oversight. Attendees will also learn what operational evidence is needed to trust these systems at scale.Through practical examples, attendees will gain a framework for assessing what can be deployed today, what gaps remain and how these foundations support increasingly agentic and autonomous lab operations.
This event is free and open to all, but registration is required. Come ready to ask questions, share your thoughts and take part in the discussion!
Register
Ershov leads work on harness, agentic AI and machine learning across laboratory automation, robotics, and the software infrastructure that supports intelligent scientific workflows. His current work includes AI agents, agent memory and orchestration, foundational models for complex scheduling, and industry collaborations around emerging standards such as the MCP and MHS. Vladimir has more than a decade of experience across software engineering, data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, with particular expertise in robotics, large language models, knowledge graphs, and distributed AI systems. He has led machine learning teams, developed production AI products, and published research in areas including language models, NLP, and knowledge graphs.
Dr. Fane Mensah leads enterprise engagements that drive lab transformation through cutting-edge automation. With a PhD in Medicine from UCL and a proven track record in delivering high-value commercial deals, including the largest strategic partnership in company history, Fane blends deep scientific understanding with strategic commercial leadership. His focus is on enabling labs to bridge hardware and software for data-driven, scalable automation. A regular voice in the life sciences community, Fane is also a speaker, podcast host, and moderator across biotech, healthcare and automation innovation platforms.
Taylor leads the company’s approach to information security, compliance, and the technical infrastructure supporting its automation platform. His experience spans cybersecurity, network infrastructure, compute, platform operations, and enterprise technology, with a focus on building secure and resilient systems for complex operating environments.
Prior to Automata, Toby held senior technology and operations leadership roles, including Chief Technology Officer and Head of Technical Operations. He brings more than a decade of experience leading technical teams and infrastructure programs, with particular expertise in connecting security, compliance, and operational reliability as organizations scale.