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

In 2025-2026, we will be focusing on efforts to support the implementation and strengthen the impact of EBRC’s six published technical research roadmaps. Initiatives will identify and address challenges and opportunities for engineering biology technology translation and bottlenecks to application, scale-up, and commercialization. Please contact us at roadmapping@ebrc.org to learn more.

Published Roadmaps

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

  • Engineering Biology for Space Health (October 2024)

    EBRC’s newest technical research roadmap describes opportunities for advancement in engineering biology to support the health and well-being of humans in space and related applications here on Earth.

    More →

  • 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
  • Adam Arkin
    University of California, Berkeley
    Professor
    Full Bio →
  • Emily Aurand
    Emily Aurand
    EBRC
    Senior Director of Roadmapping and Education
    Full Bio →
  • Nils Averesch
    University of Florida
    Assistant Professor
    Full Bio →

  • Council Member

    Mark Blenner
    University of Delaware
    Associate Professor
    Full Bio →

  • Council Member

    Nicole Buan
    University of Nebraska-Lincoln
    Professor
    Full Bio →
  • James Carothers
    University of Washington
    Assistant Professor
    Full Bio →
  • Leah Davis
    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
    Postdoctoral Research Fellow
    Full Bio →
  • Erin Garza
    J. Craig Venter Institute
    Staff Scientist
    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 →
  • Miguel Jimenez
    Boston University
    Assistant Professor
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  • Council Member

    Lauren Junker
    BASF
    Innovation Scout
    Full Bio →
  • Ross Klauer
    University of Delaware
    Full Bio →

  • Council Member

    Michael Koepke
    LanzaTech
    Director
    Full Bio →
  • Daniela Matias de Carvalho Bittencourt
    EMBRAPA
    Researcher
    Full Bio →

  • Council Member

    Romel Menacho
    Roke Biotechnologies
    CSO
    Full Bio →
  • Sara Molinari
    University of Maryland College Park
    Assistant 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 →
  • Pamela Peralta-Yahya
    Georgia Institute of Technology
    Professor
    Full Bio →
  • Kristala Prather
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Arthur D. Little Professor
    Full Bio →
  • Elibio Rech
    EMBRAPA
    Dr.
    Full Bio →
  • Efrain Rodriguez-Ocasio
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    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

    Kevin Solomon
    University of Delaware
    Assistant Professor
    Full Bio →
  • Vikramaditya Yadav
    The University of British Columbia
    Professor
    Full Bio →
  • Eric Young
    Worcester Polytechnic Institute
    Associate Professor
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  • Council Member

    Jesse Zalatan
    University of Washington
    Professor
    Full Bio →
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