Microbiologist and entrepreneur Jesse Labbé excels at cultivating discovery and innovation. As the new director of the Biosciences Division at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory, he's leading a team focused on science and technologies to boost U.S. competitiveness, strengthen national and energy security and advance human health.
Labbé sees enormous potential to use the power of biology to solve challenges in manufacturing, improve energy and food crops, treat disease and detect security threats at the nation's borders. He is enthusiastic about applying ORNL's world-class capabilities and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence to develop biological solutions to big problems.
"ORNL has always been a place where complex problems are tackled head-on, and I see incredible opportunities to build on that legacy by focusing on the intersection of computation, engineering and biology," Labbé said. "I want to further strengthen the connections between discovery and application - ensuring that the groundbreaking science happening here not only advances knowledge but also leads to new capabilities that drive innovation in industry, healthcare and the broader bioeconomy."
In leading these efforts, Labbé will draw on his firsthand experience bringing technologies to market in the private sector and his many years as a staff scientist and inventor at ORNL.
Bringing biotechnologies to market
Labbé spent the last several years working at technology incubators and helping to spin-off new companies. As part of that work, he held a pivotal position at Invaio Sciences in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where researchers are developing biotechnologies for agriculture, targeting pathogens ravaging olive and citrus groves.
Labbé contributed to the leadership of TekHolding, a company advancing technologies in partnership with the Department of Defense and public-private partnerships focused on increasing biomanufacturing in America. He spearheaded a revitalization of the organization's structure and technology development initiatives, facilitating the spin-off of CleanJoule Inc., a Utah company producing bio-based, domestically sourced fuels. Labbé also launched his own start-up, Sustainomics, which engineers biotechnologies for manufacturing and precision agriculture.
In the midst of all that activity, Labbé worked at a fertility clinic in Utah, leveraging his background in infectious disease research. While at the clinic, he co-developed the first commercially available genetic test to evaluate markers associated with Peyronie's disease, a localized fibrotic disorder.
"These experiences - spanning bioengineering innovation, venture capital, industrial leadership and clinical science - have only reinforced my perspective on how research, business and policy come together to drive real-world impact," Labbé said.
ORNL is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between research and industrial application, not just by pushing the frontiers of knowledge but by making that science work where it matters most.
Developing bio-based solutions
Labbé brings innate curiosity, creativity and a collaborative nature to his new role at ORNL, where he feels fortunate to work alongside experts from many fields. He finds that this kind of interdisciplinary environment drives innovation in ways not commonly found elsewhere.
"More than anything, I see this as an opportunity to serve - both the incredible people at ORNL and the broader mission of advancing biosciences in ways that truly make a difference," Labbé said. "ORNL has always been about solving real problems with real science, and I'm excited to be part of shaping its next chapter."
Having grown up in a military family, Labbé is used to frequent moves. His return to the laboratory feels like a homecoming. He began his scientific career at ORNL in 2006 through a fellowship focused on microbial genetics. The work was an extension of a transatlantic collaboration focused on improving bioenergy crops that he started during his doctoral work with agricultural school INRA in Nancy, France. He followed that with a postdoctoral position at ORNL in 2010 and worked as an R&D staff member from 2012 until he shifted to entrepreneurial business development in 2021.
During his time as a staff scientist, Labbé contributed to research on the genetics that influence how fungal systems interact with plants and microbes for several key projects, including the Plant-Microbe Interfaces Science Focus Area and the Center for Bioenergy Innovation . He contributed to innovations in biosecurity, such as sensors that detect the activity of CRISPR gene editing tools in plants in real-time . He also co-developed and patented advances in microbial and filamentous fungi, such as a biofertilizer for healthier crops . The ORNL Technology Transfer program recognized his work with an Innovation Award in 2020.
Fostering the next generation of scientists has always been important to Labbé who was recognized early in his career by ORNL and the Siemens Foundation for his mentoring efforts. He held a joint faculty appointment with the University of Tennessee where he facilitated collaboration and a multidisciplinary approach to research and teaching.
His academic background includes a doctorate in plant and microbial genetics; a master's degree in agronomy, forest ecosystems and environment; a master's in molecular and cellular genetics and a bachelor's in cellular biology and physiology from the University of Lorraine in his native France.
Labbé has made it his life's work to turn ideas into new approaches and technologies that make a difference, and he sees ORNL as the perfect place to pursue his goals.
"The real challenge isn't just about discovery - it's about turning discoveries into real-world solutions, which has always been at the heart of ORNL's mission," Labbé said. "ORNL is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between research and industrial application, not just by pushing the frontiers of knowledge but by making that science work where it matters most."
UT-Battelle manages ORNL for DOE's Office of Science, the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States. The Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science . - Kim Askey
