Harmon is a Member of Technical Staff and Biosecurity Group Lead at LatchBio, where his group works on AI × biosecurity benchmarks, biosecurity audits, and agentic know-your-customer (KYC) screening. His earlier work spans methods development for understanding gene regulation and an untargeted viral metagenomic sequencing pipeline that processes billions of reads. He holds a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Felicia Wu is the John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor of Food Safety, Toxicology, and Risk Assessment at Michigan State University; University Distinguished Professor; and immediate Past-President of the Society for Risk Analysis. She is appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer as Chair of the Agriculture and Rural Development Commission for the state of Michigan. Dr. Wu works at the nexus of biotechnology, agriculture, food safety, and nutrition to improve public health. Currently she has five extramural grants with topics ranging from assessing the health risks of foodborne lead, arsenic, and cadmium; improving resilience of food systems against shocks; and reducing presence of mycotoxins, heavy metals, and pathogens in food crops. Dr. Wu is a Member of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), co-chaired the US National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) Committee on Supporting Responsible Innovation of Synthetic Cells, and now serves on the NASEM Food Forum and the WHO Dietary Guidelines Committee. She earned her PhD in Engineering and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University, and AB and SM in Applied Mathematics/Medical Sciences at Harvard University.
Neil Dixon is Professor of Sustainable Biotechnology at The University of Manchester and a recognised leader in engineering biology and sustainable biomanufacturing. His research focuses on developing advanced genetic tools, biosensors, engineered microbial systems and bioprocesses that enable the sustainable production of chemicals and materials from renewable and waste-derived feedstocks. He leads a multidisciplinary research programme at the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology that combines synthetic biology, microbial engineering and bioprocess innovation to address global challenges in climate change, resource efficiency and circular manufacturing.
Professor Dixon has over two decades of experience translating engineering biology research into industrial, environmental and societal impact. His work spans microbial engineering, biosensor design, biomanufacturing and circular bioeconomy innovation, with applications ranging from renewable chemical production to waste valorisation and low-carbon materials. He has led major UK and international research initiatives, including the UK arm of the Global Centre for Circular Economy (CIRCLE), and has built extensive partnerships with industry, government and academic collaborators across multiple continents.
Beyond research, Professor Dixon is active in shaping the future of engineering biology through policy engagement, international collaboration and community leadership. He contributes to national and international research strategy, supports the development of future talent through doctoral training and mentorship, and works to ensure that engineering biology delivers sustainable economic and environmental benefits. His interests align strongly with the Engineering Biology Research Consortium’s mission to advance engineering biology through interdisciplinary research, innovation, responsible development and international collaboration.
Karl Thompson, Ph.D., is a tenured Associate Professor at Howard University whose work focuses on the genetic analysis of bacterial pathogens, microbial genetics, RNA biology, genome engineering, biosafety, and engineering biology. His NIH-funded research examines RNA-mediated regulation of gene expression in bacteria, including the roles of small regulatory RNAs and RNA-binding factors in controlling bacterial physiology. His laboratory also uses gene fusions, site-directed mutagenesis, genome engineering, and sequence-defined variants in protein-coding and noncoding RNA systems to investigate sequence-function relationships.
Dr. Thompson serves as Howard University’s University Biosafety Officer and holds leadership roles in research and graduate education. He previously served as the inaugural Director of the Interdisciplinary Biomedical Science Graduate Program and as Director of the Microbiology Ph.D. Program. He is also developing graduate coursework in synthetic biology, biosecurity, and biotechnology.
His broader work includes participation as a Mid-Career Biosecurity Fellow with the Council on Strategic Risks and service on the National Academies Mirror Biology Planning Committee. His mentoring record includes undergraduate and graduate researchers across biology, microbiology, and engineering-related disciplines, including Howard University Goldwater Scholars.
His interests include strengthening HBCU research capacity in engineering biology, expanding pathways into synthetic biology and biomanufacturing, advancing responsible biotechnology and biosecurity, and connecting foundational research with national security and workforce-development priorities.
Professor at UT Austin primarily working with undergraduate researchers as part of the Freshman Research Initiative (FRI).
Publication Date: August 2026
EBRC’s response to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Science Policy’s Request for Information on Measuring and Rewarding Scientific Impact.
Publication Date: July 2026
EBRC’s public comment in response to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)’s proposed rule on Federal Financial Assistance.
Join us for the 2026 Central US Synthetic Biology Workshop, which will bring together synthetic biology researchers to share their recent research. Registration is free but is required to attend the event.
This meeting is designed to foster conversation across academia, industry, and government to identify research opportunities that will advance the synthetic biology bioeconomy in the Central US. Topics will range from computational design, control theory, and modeling to programming eukaryotes for biomedicine to engineering for environmental systems. A subset of talks will be chosen from abstracts.
In this role, you will play a central role in advancing the Biotechnology (BIT) Program and supporting the students, faculty, and partners who make it successful. You will serve as the program expert and a trusted advisor to students, helping them navigate their academic programs, connect with opportunities, and achieve their educational and professional goals.
You will work closely with BIT leadership, faculty, university offices, students, and external sponsors to coordinate courses, monitor student progress, lead communications and events, and support program reporting. You will also lead data analysis and reporting for externally funded training programs, including NSF REU and NIH T32 grants, helping demonstrate program impact and support continuous improvement.
This position offers an opportunity to take ownership of meaningful program activities, build relationships across the university and beyond, and directly shape the student experience and continued growth of a dynamic biotechnology education and training program. This role focuses specifically on BIT program operations and does not oversee ISI-wide education or partnership initiatives.
Key Responsibilities:
Academic Program Leadership
Data, Reporting & Program Operations
Communications, Outreach & Events
Program Coordination & Support
This is a visible, multifaceted position that combines student advising, academic program management, data and reporting, communications, and event coordination. The role is well suited to a proactive, organized professional who enjoys managing varied responsibilities, solving problems independently, and serving as a trusted resource to students, faculty, leadership, and university partners.
Success in this role requires strong communication and organizational skills, attention to detail, sound judgment, and the ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining a high level of service and accuracy.
Registration for the event is now closed. Please reach out to us at helix@ebrc.org if you are interested in attending.
This event is by invitation only.
Julia Scordo is Senior Program Manager for Special Projects at EBRC. She leads programs that promote safety and security in engineering biology globally. Prior to EBRC, Julia was at the Department of State where she led a team of talented program officers implementing global security assistance programs that countered biosecurity and biotechnology risks to national security. She received her Ph.D. in biomedical sciences from The Ohio State University and completed post-doctoral training in immunology and infectious disease at Texas Biomedical Research Institute in San Antonio.
The EBRC 2026 Council Retreat will be hosted at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. December 10-11, 2026. Join us to identify engineering biology community needs, strategies to address those needs, and to determine EBRC priorities for the coming year in the context of ongoing developments in research, policy, and across the engineering biology ecosystem.
Travel Support and Meeting Hotel:
We anticipate covering airfare and hotel expenses for EBRC Academic Council Members. To book your flights, please contact us at travel@ebrc.org. Please review EBRC’s revised travel policy.
Hotel information will be provided soon.
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 Retreat and make any changes necessary for health and safety.