Dr. Joel Bader

Biography

Joel Bader is a professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. He serves as the Interim Director of the High-Throughput Biology Center at the School of Medicine. His research focuses on engineering-based mathematical and computational methods to study biomedical systems. Bader develops new computational approaches to identify genetic variants associated with diseases, particularly complex genetic disorders like cancer, as well as identifying therapeutic targets. He has led efforts in synthetic biology, creating new forms of life through the design and construction of entire chromosomes and genomes. Bader's lab also works on biosafety and biosecurity technologies to prevent the escape of engineered life forms and to identify evidence of genetic engineering in DNA samples. Additionally, he leads the Johns Hopkins Cancer Target Discovery Development Center, which aims to find new targets for metastatic breast cancer. Bader's prior experience includes a directorship at CuraGen Corporation, where he co-invented the 454 Genome Sequencer. He holds accolades such as the NSF CAREER Award and is a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering. Bader earned his B.S. in Biochemistry from Lehigh University and his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, and has a history of serving on federal government advisory committees.

Research Interests

Experience