Faculty DirectoryJosh Leonard
Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Contact
2233 Tech Dr.Mudd Hall, Room 5112
Evanston, IL 60208-3109
847-491-7455Email Josh Leonard
Website
Centers
Departments
Chemical and Biological Engineering
Affiliations
Education
Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA
Management of Technology Certificate, Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley, CA
B.S. Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
Research Interests
Leonard’s group engineers novel biological systems that perform customized, sophisticated functions for applications in biotechnology and medicine, helping to build the now vibrant field of mammalian synthetic biology. Employing methods ranging from biomolecular engineering to computation-driven design, his team develops technologies including (1) programmable cell-based devices for treating chronic disease, including synthetic receptors and genetic programs, and (2) novel gene therapy platforms based upon bioengineered nanoscale vesicles. Leonard is actively engaged in the development of national science policy, testifying as an expert witness before the U.S. House of Representatives on “21st Century Biology” and through his roles as a council and board member of the Engineering Biology Research Consortium. He fosters training, entrepreneurship, and industrial impact as director of Northwestern’s NIH-funded Biotechnology Training Program (T32) and entrepreneurial activity as a founder and chief scientific officer of Syenex—a startup focused on making transformative gene delivery technologies universally accessible. Dr. Leonard is a founding member of Northwestern’s Center for Synthetic Biology, which has grown to a leading team within the SynBio community.