Gregory Stephanopoulos stands as a preeminent figure in chemical engineering and biotechnology with a distinguished career spanning over four decades. He currently holds the prestigious W.H. Dow Professorship of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he has been a faculty member since 1985. Born in Kalamata, Greece around 1950, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the National Technical University of Athens, followed by a Master's from the University of Florida and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota in 1978. His academic journey began at the California Institute of Technology where he served as Assistant Professor from 1978 to 1985 before joining MIT, where he has since established himself as a leader in metabolic engineering and biotechnology.
Professor Stephanopoulos pioneered the field of metabolic engineering, fundamentally transforming how scientists engineer microbes for the production of valuable fuels and chemicals. His seminal work established the theoretical and practical frameworks for redirecting metabolic pathways in microorganisms, creating biological chemical factories that have revolutionized industrial biotechnology. With over 450 publications accumulating more than 60,000 citations and an h-index of 97, his research has set the standard for the field, including co-authoring the first textbook on Metabolic Engineering. He co-founded the journal Metabolic Engineering and served as its Editor-in-Chief, further cementing his role as the field's principal architect. His innovations have led to more than 50 patents and numerous commercial applications that advance sustainable production of biofuels and bioproducts.
Beyond his research, Stephanopoulos has profoundly shaped the scientific community through his leadership and mentorship, having trained over 140 graduate students and post-doctoral researchers who now lead institutions worldwide. His election to both the National Academy of Engineering in 2003 and the National Academy of Sciences in 2023 underscores his exceptional contributions to science and engineering. As the 2016 President of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and editorial board member for numerous prestigious journals, he continues to influence the direction of chemical and biological engineering. His ongoing research focuses on advancing metabolic engineering approaches for sustainable biomanufacturing and exploring applications in cancer metabolism, ensuring his continued impact on both industrial biotechnology and biomedical research.
