Jennifer A. Leeds, Ph.D., has spent most of her pharmaceutical career at Novartis, where she and her team discovered a potentially novel treatment for infections caused by Clostridioides difficile and a novel monobactam antibiotic. Leeds transitioned to corporate and business development, where she heads search and evaluation for Novartis on the West Coast of the U.S. and across Canada, leading in- and out-licensing deals and equity investments in biotech and serving on start-up boards.

Leeds currently serves on the ASM Finance Committee and co-chairs the AAR/Drug Discovery Task Force, working with ASM to re-engage applied microbiologists and the antimicrobial resistance community. She has served on NIH study sections, on several editorial boards and as an ASM Journals reviewer. Leeds is known for her service as a lecturer and mentor to dozens of students, postdoctoral fellows, faculty and industrial scientists.

Leeds served on the Scientific Selection Board of the Novo Ventures REPAIR Fund, an all-antibiotic investment vehicle, and has advised several antibacterial start-up ventures. Leeds is a member of the Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Alumni Board of Directors, as well as a member of the President's Council of Cornell Women.