Scott A. Jackson PhD

Scott Jackson is currently the leader of the Complex Microbial Systems Group at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, MD. In this current role, Scott is leading international efforts to improve microbiome and metagenomic measurements by organizing inter-lab studies, developing reference materials and reference methods, and developing in vitro tools that allow us to better understand microbial community resilience and evolution.

Prior to joining NIST in 2014, Scott spent 11 years as a principal investigator with the FDA. At FDA, his research focused on characterizing the global genomic diversity of enteric pathogens, with applications for food safety, bio forensics, and public health. Scott did his Ph.D. research in biochemistry and biophysics at The University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University, respectfully, where he focused on the evolution of mobile genetic elements using yeast as a model genetic organism. Scott performed his undergraduate studies in Chemistry and Geology at the University of South Carolina.