Dr. Jeff Leek serves as the Chief Data Officer, Vice President, and J Orin Edson Foundation Chair of Biostatistics in Public Health Sciences at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. Previously, he was a professor of Biostatistics and Oncology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and co-director of the Johns Hopkins Data Science Lab. He earned his PhD in Biostatistics from the University of Washington and is known for his significant contributions to genomic data analysis and statistical methods for personalized medicine. His research has advanced our understanding of molecular mechanisms related to brain development, stem cell self-renewal, and immune responses to trauma, with findings published in top scientific journals such as Nature and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Dr. Leek developed a highly acclaimed Data Analysis course for Biostatistics students at Johns Hopkins, which has consistently received teaching excellence awards. He is also recognized for his efforts in creating educational initiatives that leverage data science for public health and economic development, including massive open online courses that have engaged millions worldwide.

Dr. Steven Salzberg serves as Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science, and Biostatistics at Johns Hopkins University, where he also directs the Center for Computational Biology and is a member of the McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine. His research group specializes in developing cutting-edge computational methods for DNA analysis using the latest sequencing technologies, making significant contributions to gene finding, genome assembly, comparative genomics, and evolutionary genomics. Beyond his groundbreaking research in DNA and RNA sequencing with next-generation technology, Dr. Salzberg is also known for his public engagement through his Forbes science blog, where he addresses critical issues ranging from pseudoscience and alternative medicine to gene patents and higher education, making complex scientific concepts accessible to the public.