Anirban Mahapatra, Ph.D., joined American Society for Microbiology (ASM) as Editorial Director of scientific journals in 2022. His professional goals are to grow diverse scientific communities, to help scientists share research advances and to communicate how science benefits the planet and humanity. Prior to joining ASM, Mahapatra led an editorial team at American Chemical Society that oversaw the business and editorial targets for portfolio of scientific journals spanning multiple disciplines. In a career spanning 15+ years in scientific publishing, he has proposed and launched 15 scientific journals, including ACS Synthetic Biology, a PROSE Award winner, ACS Infectious Diseases, and 7 ACS Applied Materials journals. He has also spearheaded global outreach efforts and collaborative alliances with scientific institutions in India and China that have led to joint meetings and partnered journals.

Mahapatra is passionate about bridging the gap between scientific research and public awareness. He is a published author and an engaging speaker who has provided insight in print, audio and on TV for numerous international news platforms. As an acknowledged expert, his writing appears in multiple media outlets.

In his scientific career, Mahapatra's research led to a landmark biological discovery of an expanded genetic code, influencing textbooks and offering potential for future applications in medicine and chemistry. He received his Ph.D. and master’s degrees in microbiology from The Ohio State University.