Dr. Todd Kuiken is an Analyst in Science and Technology Policy for the U.S. Congressional Research Service in its Resources, Science and Industry Division. He previously was a Senior Research Scholar with the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at NC State University where he explores the scientific and technological frontier, stimulating discovery and bringing new tools to bear on public policy challenges that emerge as science advances. Prior to that was the principal investigator on the Woodrow Wilson Center’s Synthetic Biology Project. He has numerous projects evaluating and designing new research and governance strategies to proactively address the biosafety, biosecurity and environmental opportunities/risks associated with emerging genetic technologies; including a project to ensure safety and security within the rapidly expanding community of amateur biologists and the growing network of community laboratories and maker spaces. Dr. Kuiken is a member of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity Ad-Hoc Technical Expert Group on Synthetic Biology. He has also worked with the United Nations Treaty for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture to assess whether de-materialization and digitization of data will affect the structure, function and viability of the Treaty. He is also a member of the executive committee on human practices for the International Genetically Engineered Machines competition and a founding member of its biosafety/biosecurity committee. He received a B.S. in Environmental Management and Technology at Rochester Institute of Technology, an M.A. in Environmental and Resource Policy from The George Washington University and earned his Ph.D. from Tennessee Tech University where his research focused on the air/surface exchange of mercury associated with forest ecosystems.
Works (49)
Updated: April 11th, 2023 10:13
2022 review
Direct and indirect impacts of synthetic biology on biodiversity conservation
[Review of ]. ISCIENCE, 25(11).
doi.org (publisher)
Sources: ORCID, Web Of Science
Added: November 9, 2022
2022 article
Exploring the value of a global gene drive project registry
Taitingfong, R. I., Triplett, C., Vasquez, V. N., Rajagopalan, R. M., Raban, R., Roberts, A., … Bloss, C. S. (2022, December 15). NATURE BIOTECHNOLOGY, Vol. 12.
Sources: Web Of Science, ORCID
Added: January 23, 2023
2022 article
iGEM and Gene Drives: A Case Study for Governance
Millett, P., Alexanian, T., Palmer, M. J., Evans, S. W., Kuiken, T., & Oye, K. (2022, January 11). HEALTH SECURITY, Vol. 1.
author keywords: iGEM; Gene drives; Adaptive governance; Risk management; Governance; Adaptive risk management
Sources: ORCID, Web Of Science
Added: January 20, 2022
2021 journal article
(Broken) Promises of Sustainable Food and Agriculture through New Biotechnologies: The CRISPR Case
CRISPR JOURNAL, 4(1), 25–31.
Sources: Web Of Science, ORCID
Added: March 22, 2021
2020 journal article
Bioengineering horizon scan 2020
ELIFE, 9.
Sources: Web Of Science, ORCID
Added: June 22, 2020
2020 article
Biology Without Borders: Need for Collective Governance?
SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY 2020: FRONTIERS IN RISK ANALYSIS AND GOVERNANCE, pp. 269–295.
Sources: Web Of Science, ORCID
Added: June 21, 2021
2020 article
Building biosecurity for synthetic biology
Trump, B. D., Galaitsi, S. E., Appleton, E., Bleijs, D. A., Florin, M.-V., Gollihar, J. D., … Linkov, I. (2020, July). MOLECULAR SYSTEMS BIOLOGY, Vol. 16.
Sources: Web Of Science, ORCID
Added: August 24, 2020
2020 journal article
Realizing Present and Future Promise of DIY Biology and Medicine through a Trust Architecture
HASTINGS CENTER REPORT, 50(6), 10–14.
author keywords: citizen science; DIY biology; DIY bio; research ethics; Covid-19; pandemic; community bio; biohacking; DIY medicine; trust architecture; participant-led research; personal science
Sources: Web Of Science, ORCID
Added: January 4, 2021
2020 journal article
Scenario analysis on the use of rodenticides and sex-biasing gene drives for the removal of invasive house mice on islands
Biological Invasions.
author keywords: Preserving island biodiversity; Rodent eradications; Synthetic biology; Stakeholder engagement; Public perceptions
Source: ORCID
Added: January 7, 2020
2019 journal article
A potential new tool for the toolbox: assessing gene drives for eradicating invasive rodent populations
1.
Source: ORCID
Added: June 7, 2019
2019 journal article
Articulating ‘free, prior and informed consent’ (FPIC) for engineered gene drives
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 286(1917), 20191484.
author keywords: responsible research and innovation; public engagement; indigenous peoples; synthetic biology; Convention on Biological Diversity; community engagement
Sources: ORCID, Crossref
Added: December 18, 2019
2019 journal article
Developing a Comprehensive, Adaptive, and International Biosafety and Biosecurity Program for Advanced Biotechnology: The iGEM Experience
Applied Biosafety.
author keywords: synthetic biology; biological engineering; biotechnology; adaptive biosafety; iGEM; genetic engineering
Source: ORCID
Added: September 9, 2019
2019 report
Genetic frontiers for conservation: an assessment of synthetic biology and biodiversity conservation: technical assessment
In [].
Source: ORCID
Added: February 24, 2020
2019 journal article
Synthetic Biology and the United Nations
Trends in Biotechnology.
Source: ORCID
Added: August 8, 2019
2017 article
Point of View: A transatlantic perspective on 20 emerging issues in biological engineering
Wintle, B. C., Boehm, C. R., Rhodes, C., Molloy, J. C., Millett, P., Adam, L., … Sutherland, W. J. (2017, November 14). ELIFE, Vol. 6.
Sources: Web Of Science, ORCID
Added: August 6, 2018
2017 report
Potential Implications of New Synthetic Biology and Genomic Research Trajectories on the International Treaty for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
In International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/faoweb/plant-treaty/GB7/gb7_90.pdf
Source: ORCID
Added: December 6, 2018
2017 book
Vigilante environmentalism: Are gene drives changing how we value and govern ecosystems?
In Gene Editing, Law, and the Environment: Life Beyond the Human (pp. 95–112).
Source: ORCID
Added: December 6, 2018
2016 journal article
Governance: Learn from DIY biologists
Nature, 531(7593), 167–168.
Source: ORCID
Added: December 6, 2018
2016 book
Nanomedicine: Ethical considerations
In R. Bawa, G. F. Audette, & B. Reese (Eds.), Handbook of Clinical Nanomedicine: Law, Business, Regulation, Safety, and Risk (Vol. 2, pp. 1031–1055).
Ed(s): R. Bawa, G. Audette & B. Reese
Source: ORCID
Added: December 6, 2018
2016 dataset
Nanotechnology in the real world: Redeveloping the nanomaterial consumer products inventory
Nano Online.
Source: ORCID
Added: December 6, 2018
2016 journal article
The genome project-write we need technology and an ethical framework for genome-scale engineering
Science, 353(6295), 126–127.
Source: ORCID
Added: December 6, 2018
2015 journal article
Nanotechnology in the real world: Redeveloping the nanomaterial consumer products inventory
Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology, 6(1), 1769–1780.
author keywords: consumer products; database; inventory; nanoinformatics; nanomaterials
Source: ORCID
Added: December 6, 2018
2015 book
Public's Understanding, Perceptions, and Acceptance of Nanotechnology through the Lens of Consumer Products
In Nanoengineering: Global Approaches to Health and Safety Issues (pp. 151–171).
Source: ORCID
Added: December 6, 2018
2015 journal article
Shaping the future of synthetic biology
Science, 348(6232), 296. http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcAuth=ORCID&SrcApp=OrcidOrg&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=WOS_CPL&KeyUT=WOS:000352999000028&KeyUID=WOS:000352999000028
Source: ORCID
Added: December 6, 2018
2014 journal article
BIOTECHNOLOGY Regulating gene drives
Science, 345(6197), 626–628.
Source: ORCID
Added: December 6, 2018
2014 journal article
Shaping ecological risk research for synthetic biology
Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, 4(3), 191–199.
Source: ORCID
Added: December 6, 2018
2013 book
Converging technologies for a smarter health and wellness future
In ICTs and the Health Sector: Towards Smarter Health and Wellness Models (Vol. 9789264202863, pp. 159–177).
Source: ORCID
Added: December 6, 2018
2013 journal article
DIYbio: Low Risk, High Potential
Scientist, 27(3), 26–27. http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcAuth=ORCID&SrcApp=OrcidOrg&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=WOS_CPL&KeyUT=WOS:000320341600006&KeyUID=WOS:000320341600006
Source: ORCID
Added: December 6, 2018
2012 journal article
Four steps to avoid a synthetic-biology disaster
Nature, 483(7387), 29. http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcAuth=ORCID&SrcApp=OrcidOrg&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=WOS_CPL&KeyUT=WOS:000300877900025&KeyUID=WOS:000300877900025
Source: ORCID
Added: December 6, 2018
2012 journal article
Synthetic biology: Four steps to avoid a synthetic-biology disaster
Source: ORCID
Added: December 6, 2018
2011 journal article
Nanomedicine and ethics: is there anything new or unique?
Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews-Nanomedicine and Nanobiotechnology, 3(2), 111–118.
Source: ORCID
Added: December 6, 2018
2011 journal article
Nanotechnology and in situ remediation: A review of the benefits and potential risks,A nanotecnologia e a remediação in situ: Uma revisão dos benefícios e riscos em potencial
Ciencia e Saude Coletiva, 16(1), 165–178.
author keywords: Environmental implications; Environmental technology; Hazardous wastes; Nanoremediation; Nanotechnology; Pollutants; Remediation; Toxicity; Waste sites; Zero-valent iron
Source: ORCID
Added: December 6, 2018
2011 journal article
Nanotechnology and in situ remediation: a review of the benefits and potential risks
Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, 16(1), 165–178. http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcAuth=ORCID&SrcApp=OrcidOrg&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=SCIELO&KeyUT=SCIELO:S1413-81232011000100020&KeyUID=SCIELO:S1413-81232011000100020
Source: ORCID
Added: December 6, 2018
2010 journal article
Cleaning up contaminated waste sites: Is nanotechnology the answer?
Nano Today, 5(1), 6–8.
Source: ORCID
Added: December 6, 2018
2010 journal article
International viewpoint and news
Environmental Earth Sciences, 60(4), 903–907.
Source: ORCID
Added: December 6, 2018
2010 journal article
International viewpoint and news
Environmental Earth Sciences, 60(6), 1349–1351.
Source: ORCID
Added: December 6, 2018
2009 journal article
Application of a Rule-Based Model to Estimate Mercury Exchange for Three Background Biomes in the Continental United States
Environmental Science & Technology, 43(13), 4989–4994.
Source: ORCID
Added: December 6, 2018
2009 journal article
Nanotechnology and in Situ Remediation: A Review of the Benefits and Potential Risks
Environmental Health Perspectives, 117(12), 1823–1831.
author keywords: environmental implications; environmental technology; hazardous wastes; nanoremediation; nanotechnology; pollutants; remediation; toxicity; waste sites; zero-valent iron
Source: ORCID
Added: December 6, 2018
2008 journal article
Mercury emission from terrestrial background surfaces in the eastern USA. II: Air/surface exchange of mercury within forests from South Carolina to New England
Applied Geochemistry, 23(3), 356–368.
Source: ORCID
Added: December 6, 2018
2008 journal article
Mercury emission from terrestrial background surfaces in the eastern USA. Part I: Air/surface exchange of mercury within a southeastern deciduous forest (Tennessee) over one year
Applied Geochemistry, 23(3), 345–355.
Source: ORCID
Added: December 6, 2018
2008 journal article
Mysterious diel cycles of mercury emission from soils held in the dark at constant temperature
Atmospheric Environment, 42(21), 5424–5433.
author keywords: air/surface exchange; atmospheric chemistry; global biogeochemistry; heavy metal; solar radiation
Source: ORCID
Added: December 6, 2018
2006 journal article
Change of dissolved gaseous mercury concentrations in a southern reservoir lake (Tennessee) following seasonal variation of solar radiation
Environmental Science & Technology, 40(7), 2114–2119.
Source: ORCID
Added: December 6, 2018
2006 journal article
Diurnal variation of dissolved gaseous mercury (DGM) levels in a southern reservoir lake (Tennessee, USA) in relation to solar radiation
Science of the Total Environment, 357(1-3), 176–193.
author keywords: aquatic chemistry; fish; freshwater; global biogeochemical cycle; heavy metal; photochemistry
Source: ORCID
Added: December 6, 2018
2005 journal article
Airborne emissions of mercury from municipal solid waste. I: New measurements from six operating landfills in Florida
Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, 55(7), 859–869. http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcAuth=ORCID&SrcApp=OrcidOrg&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=WOS_CPL&KeyUT=WOS:000230435300001&KeyUID=WOS:000230435300001
Source: ORCID
Added: December 6, 2018
2005 journal article
Airborne emissions of mercury from municipal solid waste. II: Potential losses of airborne mercury before landfill
Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, 55(7), 870–877. http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcAuth=ORCID&SrcApp=OrcidOrg&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=WOS_CPL&KeyUT=WOS:000230435300002&KeyUID=WOS:000230435300002
Source: ORCID
Added: December 6, 2018
2005 journal article
Aquatic photochemokinetic rates of production and loss of dissolved gaseous mercury (DGM) in a southern reservoir lake of Tennessee.
Abstracts of Papers of the American Chemical Society, 229, U896. http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcAuth=ORCID&SrcApp=OrcidOrg&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=WOS_CPL&KeyUT=WOS:000228177706398&KeyUID=WOS:000228177706398
Source: ORCID
Added: December 6, 2018
2002 journal article
Dynamic flux chamber measurement of gaseous mercury emission fluxes over soils. Part 1: Simulation of gaseous mercury emissions from soils using a two-resistance exchange interface model
Atmospheric Environment, 36(5), 835–846.
author keywords: air/soil exchange; biogeochemical cycling; boundary layer; global Hg chemodynamics; trace gases
Source: ORCID
Added: December 6, 2018
2002 journal article
Dynamic flux chamber measurement of gaseous mercury emission fluxes over soils: Part 2 - effect of flushing flow rate and verification of a two-resistance exchange interface simulation model
Atmospheric Environment, 36(5), 847–859.
author keywords: atmosphere/surface exchange; biogeochemical cycling; terrestrial surface; trace gas
Source: ORCID
Added: December 6, 2018
2001 journal article
Photochemical production of dissolved gaseous mercury in freshwater: The role of Fe(III).
Abstracts of Papers of the American Chemical Society, 222, U430. http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcAuth=ORCID&SrcApp=OrcidOrg&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=WOS_CPL&KeyUT=WOS:000170690002190&KeyUID=WOS:000170690002190
Source: ORCID
Added: December 6, 2018
Employment
Updated: January 19th, 2022 11:24
2021 - present
Congressional Research Service Washington, DC, US
Analyst
Resources, Science and Industry Division
2016 - 2021
NC State University Raleigh, NC, US
Senior Research Scholar
Genetic Engineering & Society Center
2008 - 2016
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Washington, DC, US
Senior Associate
Science and Technology Innovation Program
2003 - 2007
Tennessee Technological University Cookeville, TN, US
Graduate Research Assistant
Center for the Management, Utilization and Protection of Water Resources
2002 - 2003
National Wildlife Federation Reston, VA, US
1999 - 2001
Oak Ridge National Laboratory Oak Ridge, TN, US
Research associate
Environmental Science Division
Education
Updated: January 10th, 2017 09:01
2003 - 2007
Tennessee Technological University Cookeville, TN, US
Ph.D.
Environmental Science
2001 - 2003
George Washington University Washington, DC, US
master of arts
Environmental Resource Policy
1995 - 2000
Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NY, US
Bachelor of Science
Environmental Management and Technology
Funding History
Funding history based on the linked ORCID record. Updated: October 15th, 2019 14:33
grant
January 1, 2017 - January 1, 2019
Qualitative evaluations of the DIY biosafety and biosecurity landscape
Open Philanthropy Project Fund
grant
January 1, 2016 - January 1, 2018
Facilitating interaction between the emerging 'makers in biology' ecosystem and formal regulatory institutions to ensure safe, responsible innovation
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
grant
June 1, 2013 - December 31, 2014
Creating A Research Agenda for the Ecological Implications of Synthetic Biology
Directorate for Biological Sciences
