You are here: Welcome » Eric Lander

Eric Lander

Eric S. Lander, PhD is an American geneticist, molecular biologist, and mathematician. He is the president and founding director of the Broad Institute of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University.1) He was a principal leader of the international Human Genome Project, and is a professor of biology at MIT and professor of systems biology at Harvard Medical School.

His work includes use of CRISPR genome editing technology.

History

Career

From 2009 to 2017, Lander served as co-chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology for President Barack Obama.

Lander met Jeffrey Epstein twice in 2012 in the office of Harvard biologist Martin Nowak.2)

In January 2021, Lander stepped down from his leadership role at the Broad Institute, MIT and Harvard to serve as White House Science Advisor to President Joe Biden. Biden announced that he would elevate the position to a Cabinet-level post. His nomination was later held up due to his professional connections with Jeffrey Epstein.3) 4)

Recognition

Lander has received numerous awards including the MacArthur Fellowship, the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, the Albany Prize in Medicine and Biological Research, the Gairdner Foundation International Award of Canada, the Dan David Prize of Israel, the Mendel Medal of the Genetics Society in the United Kingdom, the City of Medicine Award, the Abelson Prize from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the Award for Public Understanding of Science and Technology from the AAAS, the Woodrow Wilson Prize for Public Service from Princeton University, the James R. Killian Jr. Faculty Achievement Award from MIT, and the William Allan Award from the American Society of Human Genetics.5)

2)
Aldhous, P. (2019, August 27). Jeffrey Epstein’s Links To Scientists Are Even More Extensive Than We Thought. BuzzFeed News. https://web.archive.org/web/20220815225522/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/peteraldhous/jeffrey-epstein-science-donations-apologies-statements
3)
Thompson, A., Meyer, T., & Levine, M. (2021, April 22). Biden’s top scientist met Jeffrey Epstein twice. It’s now complicating his confirmation. POLITICO. https://archive.ph/0qS4V
4)
Vallejo, J. (2021, April 23). Eric Lander: Approval of Biden’s top scientist paused over meetings with Jeffrey Epstein. The Independent. https://web.archive.org/web/20221207024726/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/eric-lander-jeffrey-epstein-biden-b1836186.html
5)
Life Sciences Breakthrough Prize Laureates – Eric S. Lander. Breakthrough Prize. Retrieved January 16, 2023, from https://web.archive.org/web/20230116154158/https://breakthroughprize.org/Laureates/2/L32
Back to top