Profile: Pioneering Biotechnology and Uplifting Humanity

From fleeing war-torn Lebanon to becoming a trailblazing scientist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Noubar Afeyan embodies the spirit of a true pioneer. As founder of Flagship Pioneering, co-founder of Moderna, and a prominent advocate of various humanitarian projects, he serves as an inspiration for those who take risks to make a difference.

Afeyan was born in Beirut, Lebanon, to a family of Armenian descent. When the civil war escalated in 1975, his family left the country and sought refuge in Montreal, Canada. After navigating the adversities of high school in a new country, he pursued an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering at McGill Univ. In addition to his interest in physics and math, his decision to pursue engineering stemmed from his father’s work in the manufacturing of plastics in both Lebanon and Montreal. While a student at McGill Univ., he worked at Union Carbide and Dow Chemical during the summers.

After receiving his undergraduate degree in 1983, he pursued a PhD in biochemical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). At the time, MIT was recruiting its very first cohort of students for this field. “I was drawn to the cutting-edge technology of the field,” recalls Afeyan. The early 1980s marked the beginning of the convergence of chemical engineering, computing, and biotechnology. The integration of computer simulation and process design in particular piqued Afeyan’s interest and inspired him to pursue graduate-level research in an adjacent field. “It was a big deal back in the day,” he says.

During his graduate studies...