The International Barcode of Life Project, led by Scientific Director Paul Hebert, is the world’s largest biodiversity genomics initiative. It involves hundreds of researchers organized into as a matrix of Nodes and Working Groups. iBOL nodes are the networks of leading researchers and key organizations which oversee capacity building, direction, deliverables and financial accountability for their nation’s or region’s participation in iBOL.  Nodes whose activities are confined to a single country are designated as National Nodes, while  Regional Nodes are those with the additional capacity to expand partnerships, establish a funding base and develop infrastructure for DNA barcoding and related research beyond their national boundaries. Central Nodes are National or Regional Nodes that can and will barcode samples from diverse sources and geographies, and act as leaders in knowledge and technology transfer across (other) Central, Regional and National nodes. The research and administration activities of iBOL are organized into 26 Working Groups under six Themes:

• DNA Barcode Reference Library with Working Groups for Vertebrates, Land Plants, Fungi, Animal Parasites, Pathogens and Vectors, Agricultural and Forestry Pests and their Parasitoids, Pollinators, Freshwater Bio-surveillance, Marine Bio-surveillance, Terrestrial Bio-surveillance and Polar Life.
• Methods with Working Groups for Barcoding Biotas, Museum Life, Methodological Innovation and Paleobarcoding.
  
• Informatics: Working Groups for Core Functionality and Mirrors.
  
• Applications: Environmental Barcoding and Mobile Barcoding.
  
• Administration: Working Groups for Project Management and Communications.
  
• GE3LS: Working Groups for Equitable Use of Genetic Resources; Regulation of International Trade; Intellectual Property and Knowledge Management; Education Initiatives for Schools and Media; Governance of Knowledge Mobilization; and Barcoding and Biological Classification.