Robb Krumlauf, Ph.D., joined the Stowers Institute in 2000, and is an Investigator for the Institute and Scientific Director Emeritus. Krumlauf is a world-renowned developmental biologist known for his seminal work on Hox genes, those responsible for development of the animal body plan.

Growing up during the space race of the 1950s, Krumlauf was encouraged to take course loads heavy in math and physical science. His first job as a chemical engineer required him to learn biology to create a drug delivery system.

Krumlauf earned a Ph.D. in developmental biology at Ohio State University and completed his postdoctoral training in Glasgow and Philadelphia. In 2000, Krumlauf joined the Stowers Institute as its founding Scientific Director and was the first faculty member to establish a lab. Throughout his career he has provided mentorship to countless students and postdocs and helped build the Stowers Institute into a world-class medical research program by recruiting the best minds in science and giving them the support and freedom to pursue creative research.

In 2019, Krumlauf stepped down from his role as Scientific Director to devote his time to research. Among his many honors and awards, Krumlauf is a member of both the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.