Short Biography

John Buchanan
Updated June 2012

Dr. John Buchanan is currently CEO for the Center for Aquaculture Technologies, a recent spin-off from AquaBounty Technologies. He served as the Director of R&D for AquaBounty for 5 years (2007-2012), with a focus on research support and regulatory approval of a genetically engineered, rapid growth Atlantic salmon, work that continues at the Center for Aquaculture Technologies. This transgenic salmon could increase aquaculture productivity, and is poised to be the first genetically engineered food animal to receive regulatory approval and to see commercial application.

Dr. Buchanan completed his undergraduate work at Texas A&M University with a B.S. in Zoology, and received his Ph.D. in Oceanography from Louisiana State University with a focus on marine biotechnology. He has held research leadership positions at Louisiana State University, the University of California at San Diego School of Medicine, Kent SeaTech Corporation, as well as AquaBounty Technologies. Dr. Buchanan has led research on the application of genetic engineering to aquaculture, the use of selective breeding, hatchery technologies, and genomics for improved productivity in finfish, the development of novel therapeutics for aquaculture, and the molecular and genetic basis for virulence in aquatic and human pathogens. He also has experience directing and conducting studies compliant with governmental regulatory standards (GLP/GCP).