Dr. Fotis C. Kafatos is Director-General of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), which is recognized around the world as the highest performing European research and training institute in the life sciences. His scientific work and interest involves malaria research with emphasis on mosquito genomics and innate immunity of the malaria mosquito. He is also actively involved with efforts to promote research and scientific education in the developing world.

Dr. Kafatos graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor’s degree with highest honors and went on to earn a masters and doctorate (1965) in biology from Harvard, where he was Professor of Biology from 1969 to 1994. During his distinguished career at Harvard, he also served as Adjunct Professor of Biology at the University of Athens from 1972 to 1982, Founder and Director of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at the Research Centre of Crete from 1982 to 1993, and Professor of Biology at the University of Crete from 1982 to the present (currently on leave).

His professional activities include service on the advisory boards and panels of many international scientific centers and organizations. He is the recipient of numerous honors including three honorary doctorates, medals from two scientific academies, and the medal of the Hellenic Republic for scientific and cultural activities. He is a member of the US National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and Academia Europa. He is also a Foreign Member of the Royal Society of London and the French Academy of Sciences.