Mission
Catalyzing a community of emerging leaders in synthetic biology to create bold new visions and strategies for developing biotechnology in the public interest.
Synthetic biology is maturing into a globally significant enterprise with potentially far-reaching impacts across energy, the environment and health. Yet the network of people working in synthetic biology is increasingly diverse and distributed, making it ever more challenging to orient and organize efforts to deliver meaningful public goods. To best advance synthetic biology, and biotechnology more broadly, we need new leaders and strategies for effectively engaging across academic, industry, government, and public-benefit organizations.
The Synthetic Biology Leadership Excellence Accelerator Program (LEAP) envisions catalyzing a next generation of leaders in biotechnology to drive the responsible development of the field. In addition to building a cadre of young professionals taking on leadership roles in the synthetic biology community, LEAP aims to create sustainable tools and mechanisms for engaging a broader range of practitioners in the societal role of biotechnology development.
LEAP does this by:
- Investing in a community of individuals who can shape and govern this diverse, growing and globally distributed technology;
- Providing them with new tools and networks essential to developing their visions for promoting innovation responsibly in practice;
- Acting as a sustaining nexus of resources and support as leaders assume their roles.
Our vision is to empower and inspire a human infrastructure to assess and steer the development of synthetic biology in a global context. In essence, LEAP is preparing leaders to lead.
Read about our Principles here »
Read about our Fellowship program here »
Megan J. Palmer “Synthetic biology has profound implications for the future of medicine, chemistry and energy, and for the future of our planet. For this reason, the field attracts socially-minded researchers who are eager to use its potential to address the important challenges of our day. The SynbioLEAP community represents the leading edge of a techno-social effort driven by deep human compassion to invent a better, more sustainable future for all of us.” Jay Keasling
“Many people working in synthetic biology are driven by a desire to direct their work in the public interest. However, it can be challenging to understand what that means in practice. LEAP aims to provide the next generation of leaders with experiences, tools and networks to help them shape their work to maximize its societal benefits while reducing potential risks.”
SynBERC Deputy Director of Practices
LEAP Executive Director
Hubbard Howe, Jr. Professor of Biochemical Engineering University of California, Berkeley Associate Laboratory Director Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Chief Executive Officer Joint BioEnergy Institute
Director Synthetic Biology Engineering Research Center (SynBERC)
Anne-Marie Mazza
Darlene Soloman
“LEAP offers a unique opportunity to strengthen the relationship between science, engineering, and public policy. Early exposure to policy issues prepares future S&E leaders to make informed public policy decisions based on scientifically sound evidence. When practitioners are afforded the opportunity to wrestle with the challenging legal, social, and ethical implications of their work early in their careers, they will be better prepared to engage in public policy formation and to communicate with the public.”
Director, Committee on Science, Technology and Law
Director, Mirzayan S&T Policy Graduate Fellowship Program The National Academies 
“Synthetic Biology is clearly on a transformative path, and LEAP is remarkably effective in its ability to model and bring together so many important viewpoints - industry, academic, legal, government, law enforcement, public relations; leading through example, the experience is one which can be especially valuable to those primarily trained in leading edge research, such as our senior scientists and engineers at Agilent Laboratories.“
Senior Vice President, Chief Technology Officer, Agilent Technologies
LEAP in words and pictures