Jesse Labbé, a microbiologist and entrepreneur with a track record of converting scientific research into practical applications, has recently taken the helm as the new director of the Biosciences Division at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Tasked with enhancing U.S. competitiveness and fortifying national and energy security. Labbé is set on harnessing biology to tackle challenges across manufacturing, energy, food production, disease treatment, and security threat detection. "I want to further strengthen the connections between discovery and application — ensuring that the groundbreaking science happening here not only advances knowledge but also leads to new capabilities that drive innovation in industry, healthcare and the broader bioeconomy," Labbé said, in an announcement by Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
The potential for innovation at ORNL is vast, and Labbé is prepared to fully exploit emerging technologies like artificial intelligence to develop biological solutions to pressing problems. His goal is to advance scientific endeavors and ensure that these breakthroughs transition seamlessly into tangible innovations. Having previously bridged the gap between research and commerce by assisting spin-off companies and incubating new technologies, he has demonstrated the ability to move innovative concepts to the marketplace quickly.
With a substantial history of industry leadership, Labbé's expertise spans from spearheading tech advancements in partnership with the Department of Defense to launching his own company, Sustainomics, to develop precision agriculture and biotechnologies for manufacturing. His previous positions in companies like Invaio Sciences and CleanJoule Inc. illustrate a keen sense of operational and technological innovation, culminating in real-world impact within the bioeconomic landscape.
Labbé's arrival at ORNL marks a full-circle return to his scientific roots. He began his career focusing on microbial genetics and later contributed significantly to projects on fungal systems, bioenergy crops, and sensor technologies detecting genetic editing activities. In 2020, the ORNL Technology Transfer Program recognized him with an Innovation Award, affirming his contributions to the field.
Holding a doctorate in plant and microbial genetics among other scientific credentials, Labbé values nurturing the next generation of scientists, having been acknowledged by ORNL and the Siemens Foundation for his dedication to mentorship.
