Chris Anderson

Chris Anderson serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Bioengineering at the University of California, Berkeley, where he leads innovative research at the intersection of computational methods and synthetic biology.

His research program focuses on developing computationally-driven platforms for the design of genetic organisms that minimize uncertainties in synthetic biology projects. The Anderson Lab creates precise chemical models for biomolecules, aggregates data from diverse sources, and develops synthesis and verification tools to automatically design engineered organisms with novel functions. A notable demonstration of their platform includes engineering bacteria capable of producing acetaminophen.

Professor Anderson teaches key courses in the bioengineering curriculum including Synthetic Biology Laboratory (BIOENG 140L) and Genetic Design Automation (BIOENG 134), along with Individual Study or Research (BIOENG 299) across multiple terms through 2025. He maintains regular office hours on Thursdays from 2:00-3:00 pm in B144 Stanley Hall.

Through the Anderson Lab (https://andersonlab.qb3.berkeley.edu/), he cultivates a research environment focused on creating new applications and tools for the broader Synthetic Biology community, with emphasis on reducing the experimental errors that typically plague genetic engineering projects.