Scientific Advisor

Joseph F. Petrosino

NIH Human Microbiome Project PI230+ Nature/Science/Cell Papers550+ Microbiome ProjectsBCM Distinguished Alumni (2025)

Chief Scientific Innovation Officer · Baylor College of Medicine

Joseph Petrosino built much of the U.S. microbiome research infrastructure. As Chief Scientific Innovation Officer at Baylor College of Medicine and founding director of the Alkek Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research, he served as a principal investigator on the NIH Human Microbiome Project and has shaped how clinical-grade microbiome science is conducted worldwide.

Verified by

Baylor Faculty Profile CMMR Center BCM People Directory NIH Human Microbiome Project

230+

Papers in Nature, Science, Cell

550+

Microbiome projects established

300+

International research collaborators

1

Founder of Diversigen (acq. OraSure, 2019)

Credentials, research, and the work behind the science.

Current Primary Positions

Chief Scientific Innovation Officer (CSIO), Baylor College of Medicine
Professor and Chairman, Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, BCM
Founding Director, Alkek Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research (CMMR)
Affiliated faculty, Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center; Human Genome Sequencing Center

Academic Titles & Honors

Baylor College of Medicine Distinguished Alumni Award (2025)
American Society for Microbiology Distinguished Lecturer (2012–2014)
Principal Investigator, NIH Human Microbiome Project (HMP)
Ph.D., Baylor College of Medicine; B.S., University of Rochester

Main Research Directions

The human microbiome in health and disease (gut, skin, oral)
Metagenomics and translational microbiome research
Development of microbiome-based diagnostics and therapeutics
Host–microbiome interactions

Previous Important Roles

Founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Diversigen (acquired by OraSure Technologies in 2019)
Co-PI for the Human Microbiome Project Clinical Centers

Major Research Projects & Influence

Principal Investigator for the NIH Common Fund Human Microbiome Project
Established 550+ microbiome-related projects with 300+ international collaborators
Pioneered CLIA/CAP-certified clinical microbiome pipelines
230+ publications in Nature, Science, Cell, and other top journals