Dr. Venter is regarded as one of leading scientists of the 21st century for his invaluable contributions in genomic research, most notably for the sequence and analysis of the human genome. In addition to his role at Synthetic Genomics, he is founder and chairman of the J. Craig Venter Institute, a not-for-profit research institute dedicated to the advancement of the science of genomics, including human genomic research, environmental research, evolutionary biology, the exploration of social and ethical issues in genomics, as well as alternative energy solutions through microbial sources. Dr. Venter was the founder of Human Genome Sciences, Diversa Corporation and Celera Genomics. Dr. Venter and his teams have sequenced more than 200 organisms including the human genome, fruit fly, mouse, rat, and dog as well as numerous bacteria and viruses. He is the author of more than 200 research articles and is among the most cited scientists in the world. Dr. Venter is the recipient of numerous honorary degrees, scientific awards and a member of many prestigious scientific organizations including the National Academy of Sciences.