Melissa Wu

Chief Executive Officer, Seeding Labs

Melissa P. Wu, PhD is the Chief Executive Officer and a co-founder of the nonprofit organization, Seeding Labs. Seeding Labs envisions a world where locally-led science empowers developing countries to build brighter, healthier, and more equitable futures. It was established in 2008; Melissa was named CEO in 2019. At Seeding Labs, Melissa drove the expansion of their flagship Instrumental Access program, redesigning the program for efficiency and building out the implementing team. It now has a global footprint of more than 100 universities in 39 countries. She leads the organization’s efforts to leverage the private sector’s resources for greater investment in local scientific research infrastructure to drive sustainable development.

Melissa’s career has focused on increasing the participation of diverse populations in scientific research. She previously held positions at the Harvard Office for Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Partnership; Journal of Emerging Investigators; and the BioBuilder Educational Foundation. She spent over a decade in research at labs across the US, with a focus on studying tissue development. Melissa earned a PhD in Cellular and Developmental Biology from Harvard University and holds an SB in Biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.