Jay D. Keasling

Jay D. Keasling is a Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, affiliated with both the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and the Department of Bioengineering within the College of Engineering. He is also a Senior Faculty Scientist at the Biological Systems and Engineering Division of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, CEO of the Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI), and an Investigator at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark.

• B.S., University of Nebraska, Lincoln (1986)
• M.S., University of Michigan, Chemical Engineering (1988)
• Ph.D., University of Michigan, Chemical Engineering (1991)

Keasling’s research focuses on metabolic engineering of microorganisms to develop foundational tools for cellular metabolism engineering and address societal challenges. His lab designs regulatory systems for metabolic pathways, creates novel pathways for unnatural molecules, and engineers robust microbial hosts for industrial production of chemicals, biofuels, and pharmaceuticals like artemisinin. This work bridges synthetic biology, biotechnology, and industrial applications.

His scientific awards include the Distinguished Scientists Fellow from the U.S. Department of Energy, the Eni Renewable Energy Prize, Heinz Award, and recognition as a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum. He has been inducted into the National Academy of Engineering and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Keasling leads the Keasling Lab at UC Berkeley and holds leadership roles at the Joint BioEnergy Institute. His career spans decades of innovation in synthetic biology and bioengineering, with significant contributions to sustainable chemical and fuel production.