Josh Blodgett, PhD

Josh Blodgett, PhD

Principal Investigator, Associate Professor of Biology

Joshua Blodgett grew up on a small farm in rural Connecticut. When he was young, he spent much of his free time in the woods, fostering an early interest in biology. He completed his undergraduate degree in Biology at the University of Connecticut, where he was deeply influenced by bacteriologist Edward Leadbetter’s teachings in microbial diversity. He went on to the University of IL: Urbana-Champaign to complete his PhD with William Metcalf where he worked on reduced -phosphorous antibiotic biosynthesis.

After a summer teaching fellowship at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, MA, Dr. Blodgett completed his postdoctoral work in small molecule metabolism with Jon Clardy at Harvard Medical School. Serving as a consultant with multiple pharma and venture capital firms during this time, he was recruited to help launch Warp Drive Bio, a genomes-to-drugs discovery firm in Cambridge MA.  After serving in multiple research and leadership roles at Warp Drive, including Associate Director of Microbiology,  he moved cross-country to join the Wash U Biology Department as an Assistant Professor in fall 2014. The Blodgett Lab focuses on the biosynthesis regulation and chemical ecology of bacterial small molecules.

Dr. Blodgett developed and teaches an upper level microbiology lab-based course, Bacterial Bioprospecting & Biotechnology (BIOL3493).  He also guest lectures for the WUSTL Phage Hunters program, and has co-taught with biology chair Joe Jez in the Biotech Explorers Pathway group of courses.  He has also served as course master for Bio4810/Chem 481, General Biochemistry I. In addition to classroom teaching, he is also a Bio 200/ Bio500/ Chem 495 undergraduate research mentor.  His primary DBBS graduate program affiliation is in Plant & Microbial Biosciences (PMB).

Stemming from his experience in the Biotech industry,  Dr. Blodgett is always happy to talk with students about the nuances and differences of working in academia vs. industry, and to give firsthand impressions on startup company culture and entrepreneurial science. He holds several patents and applications under examination. For more information on Joshua Blodgett and the Blodgett Lab’s research, visit the research page.