Josh Carpenter, DPhil

Josh Carpenter, DPhil, is the president of SPEROS FL and Moffitt’s vice president and chief integration officer. As president of Speros, he oversees the development and strategy for the 775-acre mixed-use development owned by Moffitt in Pasco County, Florida. Carpenter also serves as chief integration officer and vice president for Moffitt, overseeing strategic alignment between the cancer center and Speros.

Carpenter brings a strong background in translational research, biotech commercialization and economic development to his role. Most recently, he served as president and CEO of Southern Research, a nonprofit research institute with over 200 scientists dedicated to drug discovery, genomic data science and biotechnology. Under his leadership, the institute secured more than $100 million in capital to modernize lab space and advance biotech initiatives, including the creation of a clinical-genomic database to expand clinical trial access for underserved communities. During his tenure, Carpenter also spearheaded efforts that secured $44 million of federal funding to establish Birmingham as a designated Regional Tech Hub.

Prior to Southern Research, Carpenter was a senior executive for the city of Birmingham, where he led economic and real estate development initiatives. His work included launching the Birmingham Promise, which raised $24 million to fund apprenticeships and scholarships for public school students. He has also held leadership and faculty roles at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and was a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. Recognized as one of Birmingham’s most influential executives, Carpenter has published research on economic development, workforce policy and public health.

A Rhodes scholar, Carpenter holds a doctorate in political economy from the University of Oxford where he focused on health policy. He has served on multiple national advisory boards, including the National Academy of Sciences’ STEMM Workforce Committee and the Association of American Rhodes Scholars. Known for his leadership in economic competitiveness and health policy, Carpenter is committed to advancing scientific research, fostering public-private partnerships, and improving access to and trust in health care solutions.