Research Roadmapping

EBRC’s Research Roadmapping efforts create ambitious and visionary technical research roadmaps that identify priority areas for research over the next two decades. The roadmaps provide a point of convergence and discussion for companies, universities, policymakers, funding bodies, and the broader society as to the advancement, impact, and applications of engineering biology. Led by the Roadmapping Working Group, EBRC roadmaps set forth technical research goals that, when achieved, will be integral to solving broad societal challenges including energy resilience, sustainable food production, addressing and mitigating climate change, and combating disease and ill-health. The Working Group informs the community about challenges and the potential of engineering biology, guides better-coordinated efforts throughout the U.S. government to fund and expand engineering biology research, and brings new stakeholders into the engineering biology community. EBRC’s roadmapping is an “evergreen” activity; we endeavor to honor the acceleration of science and technology advancement through the ongoing creation of deep-dive and cross-cutting roadmaps and through assessment and renewal of our existing roadmaps.

Check out EBRC’s published roadmaps!

Interactive roadmaps available at https://roadmap.ebrc.org

 

View the Roadmaps →

Current Programs & Activities

  • Engineering Biology for Space Health: An Innovative Research Roadmap

    EBRC’s newest technical research roadmap will identify and describe opportunities for advancement in engineering biology to support the health and well-being of humans in space and related application opportunities here […]

    More →

  • Engineering Biology Metrics and Technical Standards for the Global Bioeconomy

    To identify stakeholder-driven metrics, metrology, and standards to enhance the performance of engineering biology for commercial and industrial activity.

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Published Roadmaps

Check out EBRC’s published roadmaps at roadmap.ebrc.org!

  • Engineering Biology for Climate & Sustainability (September 2022)

    A Research Roadmap for a Cleaner Future

    More →

  • Engineering Biology & Materials Science (January 2021)

    A Research Roadmap for Interdisciplinary Innovation

    More →

  • Microbiome Engineering (October 2020)

    A Research Roadmap for the Next-Generation Bioeconomy

    More →

  • Enabling Defense Applications through Engineering Biology (June 2020)

    A Technical Roadmap

    More →

  • Engineering Biology (June 2019)

    A Research Roadmap for the Next-Generation Bioeconomy

    More →

Working Group

The Roadmapping Working Group is responsible for leading the technical research roadmapping efforts for EBRC and the engineering biology community. The Roadmapping Working Group hosts a variety of activities designed to seek insight and input from EBRC members and the broader engineering biology community to build and update the EBRC roadmaps.

CHAIR: MICHAEL KÖPKE
STAFF DIRECTOR: EMILY AURAND
  • Theodore Anton
    DePaul University
    Professor, English
    Full Bio →
  • Adam Arkin
    University of California, Berkeley
    Professor
    Full Bio →
  • Emily Aurand
    Emily Aurand
    EBRC
    Director of Roadmapping and Education
    Full Bio →
  • Nils Averesch
    University of Florida
    Assistant Professor
    Full Bio →

  • Council Member

    Ania-Ariadna Baetica
    Drexel University
    Assistant Professor
    Full Bio →

  • Council Member

    Mark Blenner
    University of Delaware
    Associate Professor
    Full Bio →

  • Council Member

    Nicole Buan
    University of Nebraska-Lincoln
    Associate Professor
    Full Bio →
  • James Carothers
    University of Washington
    Assistant Professor
    Full Bio →
  • Matthew Chang
    National University of Singapore
    Associate Professor
    Full Bio →

  • Council Member

    Robert Egbert
    Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
    Staff Scientist
    Full Bio →

  • Council Member

    Mike Fero
    TeselaGen Biotechnology, Inc.
    CEO
    Full Bio →

  • Council Member

    Elisa Franco
    Elisa Franco
    University of California, Los Angeles
    Assistant Professor
    Full Bio →

  • Council Member

    Paul Freemont
    Paul Freemont
    Imperial College London
    Professor
    Full Bio →

  • Council Member

    Ute Galm
    Curie Co
    Vice President of Enzyme and Strain Development
    Full Bio →

  • Council Member

    Karmella Haynes
    Karmella Haynes
    Emory University
    Associate Professor
    Full Bio →
  • Chelsea Hu
    Texas A&M University
    ACES Assistant Professor
    Full Bio →

  • Council Member

    Jussi Jantti
    VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
    Full Bio →
  • Michael Jewett
    Stanford University
    Professor
    Full Bio →
  • Miguel Jimenez
    Boston University
    Assistant Professor
    Full Bio →

  • Council Member

    Lauren Junker
    BASF
    Innovation Scout
    Full Bio →
  • Ross Klauer

    Full Bio →

  • Council Member

    Michael Koepke
    LanzaTech
    Director
    Full Bio →
  • Chang Liu
    University of California, Irvine
    Associate Professor
    Full Bio →

  • Council Member

    Tae Seok Moon
    J. Craig Venter Institute
    Professor
    Full Bio →

  • Council Member

    Jean Peccoud
    Colorado State University
    Professor, Abell Chair in Synthetic Biology
    Full Bio →

  • Council Member

    Merja Penttilä
    VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
    Professor
    Full Bio →
  • Pamela Peralta-Yahya
    Georgia Institute of Technology
    Professor
    Full Bio →
  • Kristala Prather
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Arthur D. Little Professor
    Full Bio →
  • Ithai Rabinowitch
    Hebrew University of Jerusalem
    Assistant Professor
    Full Bio →
  • Elibio Rech
    National Institute of S&T in Synthetic Biology/EMBRAPA
    Dr.
    Full Bio →
  • Efrain Rodriguez-Ocasio

    Full Bio →
  • Leili Rohani
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Research Scientist II
    Full Bio →
  • Lynn Rothschild
    Brown University
    Professor (Adjunct)
    Full Bio →

  • Council Member

    Howard Salis
    Pennsylvania State University
    Associate Professor
    Full Bio →
  • Aaron Schaller
    MeliBio, Inc
    CTO and Co-founder
    Full Bio →

  • Council Member

    Michael Smanski
    University of Minnesota
    Assistant Professor
    Full Bio →

  • Council Member

    Kevin Solomon
    University of Delaware
    Assistant Professor
    Full Bio →
  • Ophelia Venturelli
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Assistant Professor
    Full Bio →
  • R. Clay Wright
    Virginia Tech
    Assistant Professor
    Full Bio →

  • Council Member

    Jesse Zalatan
    University of Washington
    Associate Professor
    Full Bio →

Roadmapping Events

All Roadmapping Events →

Roadmapping News

  • May 7, 2024

    New Publication: Engineering Biology Metrics and Technical Standards for the Global Bioeconomy

    A new report responding to engineering biology’s need for clear standards and metrics to enable the rapid development of a sustainable bioeconomy.

  • February 18, 2024

    New Publication: Addressing the Climate Crisis Through Engineering Biology

    A companion piece to EBRC’s 2022 roadmap, Engineering Biology for Climate & Sustainability. Published in npj Climate Action.

  • September 27, 2022

    Just released: Engineering Biology for Climate & Sustainability: A Research Roadmap for a Cleaner Future

    The Engineering Biology Research Consortium (EBRC) is happy to have released our newest technical research roadmap, Engineering Biology for Climate & Sustainability: A Research Roadmap for a Cleaner Future. The roadmap is available as an interactive website and PDF available at https://roadmap.ebrc.org.

    This publication highlights innovative solutions and opportunities in engineering biology to support global efforts to tackle the climate crisis, enable sustainable products and solutions, and grow the circular bioeconomy. The technical roadmap addresses the current state of biotechnology for climate change mitigation and adaptation and ecosystem resilience, and lays out goals and short-, medium-, and long-term milestones for the development of engineering biology tools and technologies for a sustainable future.

    Supported by funding from the National Science Foundation, the roadmap was written collaboratively by more than 90 contributors across 56 academic institutions, biotechnology companies, government laboratories, and other organizations. The depth and breadth of this expertise is reflected in the diverse landscape of technologies, processes, and products presented in the roadmap for leveraging engineering biology to address our imminent climate crisis while advancing the bioeconomy. As the U.S. seeks to establish and maintain leadership in the global bioeconomy through the Biden Administration’s Executive Order on Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation, and through the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, this roadmap provides a vision of how that dedication and leadership can ultimately benefit all Americans and our global community.

    The technical roadmap focuses on novel, foundational engineering biology capabilities for the:

    • Biosequestration of Greenhouse Gases
    • Mitigation of Environmental Pollution
    • Conservation of Ecosystems and Biodiversity

    And engineering biology for climate-friendly, sustainable products and solutions for:

    • Food & Agriculture
    • Transportation & Energy
    • Materials Production & Industrial Processes

    The roadmap features case studies that explore the social and nontechnical dimensions associated with some of the roadmap’s potential climate solutions. These case studies were selected to support and encourage the incorporation of ethical, economic, political, and security considerations into the design and pursuit of technical research. The questions and considerations illuminated by these case studies highlight the need for technical and nontechnical stakeholders to work together to secure a sustainable future. The roadmap also contains a contextual glossary of terms and concepts.

    View Engineering Biology for Climate & Sustainability here!

All Roadmapping News →
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