Bojing Jiang

Bojing Jiang is a Ph.D. candidate in Biomedical Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis, with a focus on developing protein-based materials for biomedical and environmental applications. Her research integrates synthetic biology, materials science, and tissue engineering to create innovative biomaterials for regenerative medicine, drug delivery, and micro-nanofabrication. Bojing’s work emphasizes sustainability and biocompatibility, leveraging fully protein-based materials to design eco-friendly alternatives with enhanced functionality.

She has contributed to groundbreaking projects funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including materials for neuron regeneration, vascular repair, and wound healing. Bojing has published in high-impact journals such as Science Advances and Advanced Functional Materials, with her research recognized for its role in advancing green and scalable nanofabrication techniques using protein-based resists.

In addition to her technical expertise, Bojing excels in protein design, gene editing, fermentation, and biomaterials characterization, with a commitment to developing solutions that bridge scientific innovation and real-world impact. She is passionate about contributing to the next generation of healthcare technologies while advancing sustainability in the field of biomedical engineering.

Global Forum 1.0 (2019)

The inaugural EBRC Global Forum for Engineering Biology (EBRC Global Forum 1.0) was held on September 9-10, 2019, in Santa Cruz, California. This international summit focused on national synthetic biology roadmaps and strategies, bringing together representatives from over 15 countries with active programs in synthetic biology. The two-day event featured plenary sessions to exchange information and review key international and national trends shaping engineering biology strategies and policies.

       

EBRC Global Forum 2.0 (2023)

The second EBRC Global Forum for Engineering Biology (EBRC Global Forum 2.0) took place in Singapore on February 20-21, 2023, in partnership with the Singapore Consortium for Synthetic Biology (SINERGY). This international summit gathered global leaders from nearly 50 institutions representing 21 countries to discuss national strategies around engineering biology, as well as opportunities and challenges for global and national collaboration.

       

EBRC Global Forum 3.0 (2025)

This is an invitation-only event.

Register here

 

MEETING OVERVIEW

Building on the success of the previous EBRC Global Forum events, the third Forum will be held in March 2025 at the J. Craig Venter Institute in La Jolla, California. This summit will continue the important work of bringing together global leaders to advance national engineering biology roadmaps and bioeconomy strategies.

Over the course of two days, participants will engage in dialogue on the latest developments, opportunities for collaboration, and the evolving challenges facing the field. As with previous Forums, the event will provide an invite-only, not-for-attribution environment, encouraging candid discussions among representatives from across the globe.

Key agenda topics will include:

  • Updates on the current status of national engineering biology strategies and programs;
  • Global trends in engineering biology and bioeconomy development;
  • Collaborative initiatives aimed at advancing engineering biology on both national and international levels.

 

VENUE

The Forum will take place at the J. Craig Venter Institute in La Jolla, California. Known for its leadership in genomics and engineering biology, the Institute will be a fitting setting for these critical discussions. Additional details about accommodations, including discounted rates at nearby hotels, will be shared with attendees.

 

TRAVEL INFORMATION

Participants are expected to cover their own travel and accommodation costs. EBRC will work to secure discounted room blocks at nearby hotels, with further details forthcoming. Limited financial assistance may be available on a case-by-case basis for attendees requiring support. Stay tuned for more information on travel logistics and accommodation options.

 

Sara Molinari

Dr. Sara Molinari graduated from the Systems, Synthetic and Physical Biology Ph.D. program at Rice University with a thesis on programming differentiation in bacteria. This work enabled the creation of a novel pattern formation by physically separating genetically distinct cells. As a postdoctoral researcher, she created the first de novo macroscopic living material that grows from engineered bacteria. This work presents the only genetically encoded synthetic matrix that hierarchically assembles cells over four orders of magnitude and allows the genetic control of ELM mechanical and catalytic properties. In her laboratory in the Department of Bioengineering at The University of Maryland College Park, she investigates the design rules for engineering de novo ELMs from different bacteria to enable a wide array of applications. Sara is a full member of the Sigma Xi Scientific Research Honor Society, a 2022 Distinguished Young Scholar (UWDYSS), a 2022 BME Future Faculty, and a rising star at the SynBYSS seminar series.

Wheaton Schroeder

Wheaton Schroeder is a new Assistant Professor at Washington State University in the Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering (started in August 2024). His research lab specializes in computational metabolic modeling (often referred to as genome-scale modeling) with various applications. Emerging applications in his research includes studying neurometabolic coupling (through the Astrocyte-Neuron Lactate Shuttle) including its role in seizures and designing an inducible cyanobacteria bioproduction platform leveraging the heterogeneity in photobioreactors for division of labor. Previous to his current position, Wheaton was most recently a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Pennsylvania State University advised by Costas D. Maranas (for three years). In this position, his research, still in systems biology, was funded by the Center for Bioenergy Innovation (CBI). In CBI, his research focused on fundamental understanding of the target organism for consolidated bioprocessing, Clostridium thermocellum, and improved phenotype of process feedstock, Populus tricocarpa. In this role, he worked closely with synthetic biologists for hypothesis testing and model validation. Wheaton earned his Ph.D. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, advised by Rajib Saha. In his doctoral studies, Wheaton applied mathematical modeling to designing and modeling genetic circuits, creating a lifecycle model for the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, studying fungal melanogenesis, and studying nitrogen-stressed maize root metabolism, among other application. Given this diversity of application, his thesis was entitled “Creation and Application of Various Tools for the Reconstruction, Curation, and Analysis of Genome-Scale Models of Metabolism”, defended in June of 2021. Wheaton earned a Bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering and Mathematics at Iowa State University in May of 2015.

Leopold Green

Leo Green is an assistant professor of biomedical engineering at Purdue University. His research program converges DNA nanotechnology, microbiome engineering, and computational models to design bacterial theanostics.

Safety Considerations for Chemical and/or Biological AI Models

Publication Date: December 2024

An EBRC response to NIST RFI 89 FR 80886: Safety Considerations for Chemical or Biological AI Models.