Life sciences organizations are generating more data than ever before, but many research environments still struggle with fragmented infrastructure, disconnected workflows, and data spread across storage systems, sites, and clouds. In this episode of Bio-IT World’s Trends from the Trenches podcast, Adam Marko, Field CTO for Life Sciences at Hammerspace, joins BioTeam’s Jessica StLouis to discuss the infrastructure and data management challenges organizations face as they work toward becoming AI ready.
The conversation explores how research organizations are rethinking data orchestration across cloud, HPC, and distributed scientific computing environments to reduce operational bottlenecks and improve scalability. Adam shares practical examples involving GPU access, tiered storage strategies, real-time analysis workflows, and the growing pressure to simplify data access for researchers while supporting increasingly complex AI and scientific computing initiatives.
GUEST BIO
Adam Marko, CTO, Life Science Field, Hammerspace
Adam began his career at the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center studying protein structure prediction. He currently serves as the life science field CTO at Hammerspace, and he previously held research roles at Pfizer, Bio-Techne, and BioTeam, before moving on to technology roles at Igneous and VDURA. At Hammerspace, he is most passionate about implementing scalable data platforms for accelerating life science workloads.
Host Bio
Jessica StLouis, Senior Scientific Consultant, BioTeam
Dr. Jessica StLouis is a senior scientific consultant at BioTeam, where she works with biomedical research organizations to support strategic planning, scientific engagement, and initiatives that strengthen their data and computing ecosystems. Her work focuses on helping institutions align their research goals with scalable infrastructure and emerging technologies that accelerate scientific discovery. In addition to her consulting work, Jessica contributes to business development and leads BioTeam’s social media and scientific content initiatives, helping translate complex technical topics into accessible insights for the broader community. She is particularly passionate about webinar development, scientific communication, and working directly with researchers to understand their evolving needs. She actively engages with researchers, engineers, and institutional leaders, serving as a connector who brings diverse perspectives together to advance research and collaboration. Prior to joining BioTeam, Jessica spent 17 years as a clinician, bringing firsthand experience working directly with patients. She brings that same mission-driven perspective to her work today, helping connect scientific vision, technical teams, and research outcomes.
