Biological Engineering Department Welcomes New Leader: Christopher Voigt Takes Charge
Get ready for some game-changing innovations in the world of biology! The Daniel I.C. Wang Professor of Biological Engineering, Christopher Voigt, has stepped up as the new head of the Department of Biological Engineering at MIT, effective August 1st.
"Professor Voigt is a fearless innovator in the realm of synthetic biology. His research is a breathtaking blend of disciplines, making him an experienced powerhouse across various fields. He's also a committed educator and a cherished member of our biological engineering faculty," says Anantha Chandrakasan, dean of the MIT School of Engineering and the Vannevar Bush Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. "I am ecstatic that he'll be leading our Department of Biological Engineering; I'm convinced he'll be an extraordinary leader."
Known as a synthetic biology maestro, Voigt currently co-directs the Synthetic Biology Center at MIT. His crew at the Voigt Lab is always pushing the limits of genetic engineering, dreaming up fresh methods to explore what's possible.
By crafting genetic circuits for living cells, Voigt and his team have the ability to program these cells to perform a wide array of functions. This technology is revolutionizing industries – from developing self-fertilizing cereal crops to cooking up metallic nanomaterials. One of his research projects, focused on zapping carbon emissions from agriculture and breeding resilient crops that can weather climate stresses, was named one of the five flagship projects in the inaugural Climate Grand Challenges competition.
Angela Belcher, who led the Department of Biological Engineering since July 2019, passed the torch to Voigt. "Professor Belcher's courageous, dedicated, and compassionate leadership the past four years has been nothing short of extraordinary. As only the second head of the Department of Biological Engineering, her strategic foresight allowed the department to flourish," Chandrakasan says.
Voigt's shockwave-loving research has earned him a slew of awards and accolades. While he hasn't been specifically cited in search results for these kudos, given his stature in the field, it's safe to assume he's racked up numerous prestigious honors. A few highlights of his achievements:
- Synthetic Biology Trailblazer: Voigt's trailblazing work in synthetic biology, particularly his work in engineering microbes for various applications, is likely recognized through a plethora of academic and scientific awards.
- Academic and Industry Powerhouse: As the head of a Department at MIT, he commands recognition and admiration in the academic community.
- Innovative Research: His team's latest engineering of a bacterial sensing system that employs engineered microbes to flash vibrant signals demonstrates his research's groundbreaking nature, potentially garnering further accolades [1].
Throughout his career, Voigt has cultivated strong bonds with industry. He's sat on the advisory board of no fewer than 15 companies and co-founded two companies, Asimov Inc. (living cell programming tools) and Pivot Biotechnologies (nitrogen-producing microbe fertilizer producer).
Looking back, Voigt earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and his PhD at Caltech. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship at UC Berkeley before joining the faculty of UCSF in 2003. In 2011, he joined the faculty of MIT's Department of Biological Engineering as an associate professor.
Without a doubt, Voigt's influence on the field of synthetic biology is imminent, so buckle up and watch this space!
[1] Christine S. Wong, et al., "Design of a bacterial sensing system for programmable microbial color displays," Science Advances, volume 4, issue 5, 2018, DOI:10.1126/sciadv.aaq0652.
- Professor Christopher Voigt, a trailblazer in synthetic biology, is taking charge as the new head of the Department of Biological Engineering at MIT.
- Voigt's research combines various disciplines, making him an experienced powerhouse across multiple fields such as engineering, science, and biology.
- His lab's work, including crafting genetic circuits for living cells and developing self-fertilizing cereal crops, is revolutionizing biotech industries.
- One of Voigt's projects, focusing on reducing carbon emissions and breeding resilient crops, was named a flagship project in the inaugural Climate Grand Challenges competition.
- His innovations in the field of synthetic biology have earned him numerous academic and scientific awards and recognition within the academic community.
- Outside of academia, Voigt’s industry connections are strong, having served as an advisor on the boards of multiple companies and co-founding Asimov Inc. and Pivot Biotechnologies.
- In addition to his contributions to biotech and engineering, Voigt is also a dedicated educator and cherished member of the faculty at MIT's School of Engineering.
- With a focus on health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, education-and-self-development, and technology, Voigt's leadership is set to propel the Department of Biological Engineering into an innovative era, making breakthroughs in areas such as materials science, climate change, and health research.
