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.

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 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.