Rees Kassen

Biography

Rees Kassen is Full Professor and Cystic Fibrosis Canada Researcher at the University of Ottawa. He is internationally recognized for his work with microbes as models for studying the evolution of biodiversity, antibiotic resistance, and the development of chronic infections in respiratory disease. He is the recipient of numerous awards for his research including a University Research Chair in Experimental Evolution (2007-17), a Leopold Leadership Fellowship (2013), a NSERC Steacie Fellowship (2010), a World Economic Forum Young Scientist (2010-12), and the Genetics Society of Canada Young Investigator Prize (2008). Dr. Kassen has also played leading roles at the interface between science, society, and policy as Chair of the Partnership Group for Science and Engineering (PAGSE; www.pagse.org), an association of 26 professional and scientific organizations acting on behalf of over 60,000 members from academia, industry and government in Canada, and as a founder and Co-Chair of the Global Young Academy (www.globalyoungacademy.net), an international organization of early-career researchers acting as the voice of young scientists around the world. He is currently leading the creation of the International Network for Government Science Advice (www.ingsa.org) North America chapter and is a member of the bioGENESIS Science Steering Committee, an initiative of Future Earth.