Alex Dehgan

Dr. Alex Dehgan is fellow with Renaissance Philanthropy. Alex Dehgan is the CEO and cofounder of Conservation X Labs, which harnesses innovation and invents frontier technologies to prevent the 6 th Mass Extinction. Conservation X Labs has helped build the field of Naturetech, supporting over 165 breakthroughs on six continents, which have gone on to raise $550 million.

Alex is also Professor of the Practice of Sustainability and Global Futures Fellow at Arizona State University, where he helped design the new College of Conservation Futures. Alex previously served as the Chief Scientist of USAID, with rank of Assistant Administrator, and created the Agency’s “DARPA for Development”, and designed and launched the US Government’s Grand Challenge for Development program. Dr. Dehgan served as a senior scientist in multiple positions in the Office of the Secretary at the State Department, including on Iran, Afghanistan, Syria-Lebanon, and the broader Islamic world, focused on advancing science for diplomacy, biosurveillance & global health, international development, nonproliferation, and national security.

Dr. Dehgan holds a Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology from the University of Chicago, a J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, and a B.S. with Distinction from Duke University. Alex has won multiple awards from the Departments of State and Defense, was selected by AAAS Science Policy Fellowship as one of 40@40 honorees, was named an Icon of Science by Seed Magazine, received the World Technology Award, and in 2020, was given the University of Chicago’s Medical and Biological Alumni Association’s highest honor.