Richard "Ed" Green: A Trailblazer in Paleogenomics and 2024 Santa Cruz Works Titan
Dr. Richard "Ed" Green, a professor at the Baskin School of Engineering at UC Santa Cruz since 2010, is a deserving recipient of the Santa Cruz Works Titan of 2024 award for his groundbreaking work in paleogenomics. With a distinguished career that began with a B.S. in genetics from the University of Georgia and included impactful time as a Peace Corps volunteer, Ed has consistently pushed the boundaries of computational biology and genomics.
After completing his Ph.D. at UC Berkeley, where he co-authored significant papers with advisor Steven Brenner, Ed joined Nobel Laureate Svante Paabo’s team at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology. Here, he was instrumental in the Neandertal Genome Sequencing Consortium, achieving the sequencing of our closest extinct relative’s genome from ancient remains. This work not only earned the prestigious Newcomb Cleveland Prize but also established a new field: molecular evolution through paleogenomics.
Ed's contributions to science extend into the commercial sector. His lab at UC Santa Cruz has developed innovative methods for DNA extraction and sequencing that are now foundational in both academic research and industry. The Santa Cruz Reaction (SCR), developed by Ed and his graduate student, revolutionizes the preparation of DNA libraries from degraded samples, vastly improving efficiency and application range. This technique, commercialized by his spinoff companies, has profound implications for forensic science, providing critical tools for identifying individuals in unresolved criminal cases.
Furthermore, as the director of QB3 at UC Santa Cruz, Ed is nurturing the next generation of biotech entrepreneurs, fostering a culture of innovation and commercialization through his Entrepreneurship in Biotechnology class.
Ed Green's leadership in academia, his pioneering contributions to genomics, and his role in founding companies that keep pushing scientific boundaries, all contribute to his recognition as a Titan of 2024. His work not only advances our understanding of the genetic threads that connect us to our past but also equips society with tools to tackle modern challenges in genetics and forensic science.