Joanna Tannous

Joanna Tannous is an associate staff scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Tennessee, USA, where she works within the Synthetic Biology group of the Biosciences Division and the Biological and Environmental Systems Science Directorate. Her research focuses on leveraging synthetic biology approaches to develop advanced genome editing tools for non-model fungal species, enabling the study of molecular mechanisms underlying fungal pathogenicity, metabolism, and interactions with hosts and microbial communities. Joanna is also dedicated to uncovering and characterizing novel fungal metabolites using genetic engineering and multi-omics techniques, with an emphasis on their roles in fungal-host interactions and microbiome dynamics.
She holds dual Ph.D.s, one in Pathology, Toxicology, Genetics, and Nutrition from the National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse (INPT), France, and another in Chemistry from St. Joseph University, Lebanon. Prior to joining ORNL, Joanna completed postdoctoral research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Horticulture and Seed Research Institute (IRHS) at the University of Angers, France. She is an active member of the Genetic Society of America (GSA) and the American Society for Microbiology (ASM).

Yalin Li

I am an Assistant Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Rutgers University. My research integrates experimental and computational approaches to enhance the sustainability of water and energy systems and advance bioeconomy. Utilizing quantitative sustainable design, I develop open-source platforms for techno-economic analysis, life cycle assessment, and multi-criteria decision analysis to navigate tradeoffs, guide technology research, development, and deployment, and support informed decision and policymaking. I also develop thermochemical and catalytic technologies for valorizing organic wastes into renewable fuels, chemicals, and nutrients, while exploring their applications in environmental engineering for the destruction of emerging contaminants. My goal is to bridge experimental innovations with systemic sustainability insights to advance resource recovery and circular economy principles.

EBRC 2025 Annual Meeting

Meeting Agenda
Communications One-Pager

 

Registration is now closed.

Our 2025 Annual Meeting will be held May 1-2, 2025 at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA!

The EBRC Annual Meeting provides an opportunity for the engineering biology community to come together to engage on matters important to advancing engineering biology. In addition to inspiring research talks and poster presentations, EBRC’s meeting holds time to consider the larger engineering biology research ecosystem in which we all exist and work together to move the field forward. We invite you to join us to present and discuss your latest research, build relationships with your colleagues in academia, industry, and government, and advance the member-driven work of EBRC. Attendance at the Annual Meeting is open to all EBRC members, their lab members, employees of institutional members, and all SPA members. We also warmly welcome all those in the Seattle area with an interest in engineering biology to join us.

We are excited to announce that Dr. Kate Rubins, microbiologist and NASA Astronaut, will be delivering this year’s keynote address!

Registration:
Registration closed April 16, 2025. To confirm your spot and offset some of the meal costs, there will be a nominal fee ($150 for faculty & industry and $75 for students & postdocs). If this fee is prohibitive for you or your lab members, please email helix@ebrc.org.

Abstract submissions for are now closed. Abstract submission is separate from registration. Submissions from all attendees are welcome! We encourage you to submit your latest, ongoing work as a mechanism to engage in community dialogue. Abstracts for posters are due on April 16, 2025

IMPORTANT DATES:
March 9, 2025: Last day to submit talk abstracts
March 26, 2025: Notification of talk selection
April 1, 2025: Registration closes for those with EBRC-supported travel
April 4, 2025: Deadline for hotel and travel arrangements by EBRC
April 16, 2025: Registration closes*
April 16, 2025: Last day to submit poster abstracts

*registration may still be possible after this date but will incur additional costs

Annual Meeting Venue:
University of Washington
Seattle, WA

Meeting Hotel:

*Update* — Our block of rooms at Graduate by Hilton Seattle and Residence Inn Seattle University District is now fully booked. We suggest you reach out to these nearby hotels if you need accommodations: Watertown Hotel, University Inn, and College Inn Hotel.

EBRC has reserved a block of hotel rooms at the Residence Inn Seattle University District at $199.00 per night (includes breakfast and WiFi) and Graduate by Hilton Seattle at $219.00 per night (includes breakfast and WiFi). If your travel is not covered by EBRC, you can provide payment at check in. Please contact helix@ebrc.org with any questions rather than contacting the hotel directly.

Transportation:
Alder Hall is about a 15-minute (0.5 mile) walk from both the Graduate by Hilton Seattle and Residence Inn Seattle University District. Use the Alder Commons entrance located on NE 40th Street.

Travel Support:
We anticipate covering airfare and hotel expenses for:

  • Individuals selected as speakers from academia, including students and postdocs;
  • EBRC Academic Council members selected as Session Chairs; and
  • Student and Postdoc Association Board members who present a poster or are selected as speakers.

Individuals who will receive travel support will be contacted by email to complete their flight bookings. The meeting will conclude at 3:00PM on Friday, May 2 and we encourage those receiving travel support to find an evening flight if at all possible. We will only cover Friday night hotel expenses with prior approval. Please contact helix@ebrc.org if you anticipate needing Friday night accommodations. Please also note that travel support does not include the confirmation/meal fee ($150 for faculty and $75 for students and postdocs). Email helix@ebrc.org if this fee is prohibitive. Please see EBRC’s full travel policy here.

We encourage you to make your travel plans early, as we will cap the level of airfare support provided by EBRC. Airfare must be booked by April 4 to be eligible for EBRC support.

Health and Safety:
We are committed to hosting a safe event. We will be closely watching CDC recommendations in addition to all relevant local and state guidelines leading up to the Meeting and make any changes necessary for health and safety.

Dress Code:
The EBRC Annual Meeting does not have a dress code. EBRC values diversity and individual expression — we encourage participants to come as they are and wish to present themselves to the world.

Nicholas Sandoval

Nicholas Sandoval is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Tulane University. Prior to joining the faculty, Dr. Sandoval was a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Delaware in the Papoutsakis research group with support from an NIH National Research Service Award. He earned his Ph.D. in 2011 at the University of Colorado Boulder in Ryan Gill’s research group with support from an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. Additionally, Dr. Sandoval was a lecturer in the Colorado Mesa University/University of Colorado Mechanical Engineering Partnership Program in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Robert Speight

Dr Robert Speight is Director of the Advanced Engineering Biology (AEB) Future Science Platform (FSP) at Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia’s national science agency. CSIRO works with industry, government and the research community to turn science into solutions to address Australia’s greatest challenges through innovative science and technology.

An experienced leader in engineering biology, Robert is recognized in Australia and internationally for his contribution towards the development of industrial biotechnology and synthetic biology industries. As Director of the AEB FSP, Robert is passionate about fostering a collaborative science and technology ecosystem to unlock opportunities for the environment, society, and the economy. The AEB FSP is delivering new innovative tools to fast track the development of biotechnological solutions and new industries in Australia.

Robert joined CSIRO in 2022 and has extensive networks across industry, government, and the Australian engineering biology ecosystem. He has held a number of leadership roles in industry and academia, most recently as Head of the School of Biology and Environmental Science at Queensland University of Technology where he was also Professor of Microbial Biotechnology. Robert received his PhD from the University of Cambridge and BSc from Imperial College London and undertook postdoctoral training at the University of Edinburgh before co-founding Ingenza Ltd.