Director of Incubator Development and Programming and Professor of Microbiology, California State University, Los Angeles (Cal State LA). After seven years of working in the biotechnology industry, Dr. Howard Xu joined the biology faculty at Cal State LA in 2004. With over 25 years of industry and academic biotechnology research experience, Dr. Xu helps oversee the University’s initiatives in promoting a strong bioscience innovation ecosystem, focusing on developing a campus-based incubator facility, LA BioSpace. Dr. Xu has also helped secure funding from Los Angeles County and the U.S. Economic Development Administration to support innovation and entrepreneurship projects. Moreover, Dr. Xu directs and works with key bioscience stakeholders to successfully run the Cal State LA BioStart Bootcamp. Furthermore, Dr. Xu is the director of the post-baccalaureate certificate program in biotechnology at Cal State LA. He was honored with California State University (CSU) systemwide 2011 Andreoli Faculty Service Award and 2018 Faculty Research Award by CSUPERB (California State University Program for Education and Research in Biotechnology). He was also awarded Outstanding Professor at Cal State LA in 2019. Dr. Xu earned a Ph.D. in bacterial genetics from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.
