J. Craig Venter

Biography

 Dr. J. Craig Venter is regarded as one of the leading scientists of the 21st century for his invaluable contributions in genomic research, most notably for the first sequencing and analysis of the human genome published in 2001 and the most recent and most complete sequencing of his diploid human genome in 2007. Dr. Venter provides visionary guidance and strategic scientific direction for the company. Craig is also Co-founder, Executive Chairman, Head of Scientific Strategy of Human Longevity Inc. (HLI) and Founder, Chairman and CEO of the not-for-profit J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI). He and his teams have sequenced more than 300 organisms including human, fruit fly, mouse, rat, and dog as well as numerous microorganisms and plants. Craig is also the key leader in the field of synthetic genomics. He and his team at JCVI constructed the first synthetic bacterial cell, work that is leading to extraordinary advances in engineering microorganisms for many vital applications used at SGI. .

Research Interest

 Craig is the author of more than 280 research articles and is among the most cited scientists in the world. He is the recipient of numerous honorary degrees and scientific awards including the 2008 National Medal of Science. Craig is also a member of many prestigious scientific organizations including the National Academy of Sciences.