Leadership Team

Richard Spero, PhD

Chief Executive Officer is a co-founder of Redbud Labs. Since stepping into the CEO role in 2015, Redbud Labs launched its category-defining microfluidic components, MXR and STR. Under Dr. Spero’s leadership, Redbud has established its RTP manufacturing operations and attracted more than $9 million in funding. Previously, Dr. Spero served as Redbud’s Vice President of Product Development. He received his PhD and MS in Physics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and his BS in Physics at Middlebury College.

Jay Fisher, PhD

VP of Research & Development has worked with new technology for microfluidics and biophysical instrumentation for over 15 years. A skilled engineer and biologist, Dr. Fisher’s expertise includes microfabrication, magnetics, optics, surface functionalization, and molecular and cellular assays. Previously, Dr. Fisher developed microfluidic cell culture, sample prep, and nano-manipulation systems as a post-doctoral fellow at Harvard University. He received both PhD and BS in Biomedical Engineering at UNC Chapel Hill.

Jay Fisher, PhD

VP of Research & Development leads the R&D team and is an expert in microfabrication, microfluidics, and biophysical instrumentation. He has led the development of technologies related to Redbud Labs’ Actuated Surface Attached Post (ASAPs) arrays and has over 15 years of experience designing, building, and testing devices for biomedical applications. A skilled engineer and biologist, Dr. Fisher’s experience includes micro-fabricated structures, magnetic systems, optical systems for imaging, detection, and laser-based manipulations, microfluidics, surface functionalization, cell growth, and biological specimen preparation. He received both his bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering and Ph.D. at UNC Chapel Hill. During his post-doctoral work in the department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Harvard University, Dr. Fisher developed microfluidic devices for cell-growth and capture, techniques for isolating nuclei and nucleoids (bacteria), and the development of a system that combined microfluidics with magnetics for the manipulation of chromosomes.

Dale Barnes, LT(SS) USN (RET)

VP of Operations is a retired veteran and manufacturing executive, with 20+ years’ experience as a leader at Genentech, McKesson, and Mallinckrodt. He has purchased, installed, and validated pharmaceutical packaging lines, and managed production teams in engineering, training, packaging and plant operations, working in highly-regulated cGMP environments. Previously, Mr. Barnes served 20 years in the US Navy submarine force. He received his BS in Materials Science and Engineering from Virginia Tech.

Russell Taylor, PhD

VP of Software & Systems is also a co-founder of Redbud Labs. He is an expert in real-time systems, image analysis, and algorithm development. He is responsible for all software development at Redbud Labs. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from UNC Chapel Hill, Dr. Taylor pursued master’s and doctorate degrees in computer science from UNC. Dr. Taylor also holds a technology management degree from Kenan-Flagler School of Business Administration.

Russell Taylor, PhD

VP of Software & Systems is also a co-founder of Redbud Labs. He is an expert in real-time systems, image analysis, and algorithm development. He is responsible for all software development at Redbud Labs. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from UNC Chapel Hill, Dr. Taylor pursued master’s and doctorate degrees in computer science from UNC. Dr. Taylor also holds a technology management degree from Kenan-Flagler School of Business Administration.