dabaker@uw.edu | (he/him)
ipdadmin@uw.edu | Executive Assistant Zari Magness, MS (she/her)
mediarelations@uw.edu | Press Inquiries
David Baker is a Nobel laureate, professor of biochemistry, HHMI investigator, and director of the Institute for Protein Design at the University of Washington. His lab develops software for protein design and uses it to create molecules that address challenges in medicine, technology, and sustainability. Recent work includes the development of machine learning methods for generating functional proteins.
David is also an adjunct professor of genome sciences, bioengineering, chemical engineering, computer science, and physics at the University of Washington. He has published more than 650 scientific papers, been awarded over 100 patents, and co-founded 21 biotechnology companies. More than 100 of his trainees have gone on to independent faculty positions.
He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry “for computational protein design.” He is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and National Academy of Inventors. David was also included on TIME’s inaugural list of the 100 Most Influential People in health.
David received his PhD in biochemistry with Randy Schekman at the University of California, Berkeley, and conducted postdoctoral research in biophysics with David Agard at UCSF.
Additional Resources
The biography on this page may be used for all speaking arrangements, in whole or in part, as can this photo [image credit: Christopher Michel].
David Baker’s Nobel Lecture (2024)
Honors and Awards
- National Academy of Engineering (2026)
- Croonian Medal, Royal Society (2026)
- National Academy of Inventors (2025)
- Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2024)
- Eduard Buchner Prize, German Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2023)
- Nadrian C. Seeman Nanoscience Prize, International Society for Nanoscale Science, Computation and Engineering (2023)
- Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Biomedicine, BBVA Foundation (2022)
- Wiley Prize in Biomedical Sciences (2022)
- Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences (2021)
- American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (2020)
- Hans Neurath Award, Protein Society (2018)
- David Perlman Memorial Award, American Chemical Society (2014)
- Centenary Award, Biochemical Society (2012)
- Inventor of the Year Award, University of Washington (2011)
- American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2009)
- Sackler Prize in Biophysics (2008)
- National Academy of Sciences (2006)
- Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (2000)
- Newcomb-Cleveland Prize, AAAS (2004)
- Feynman Prize in Nanotechnology, Foresight Institute (2004)
- Overton Prize, International Society for Computational Biology (2002)
- Associate Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (2000)
- Young Investigator Award, Protein Society (2000)
- Young Investigator Award, Beckman Foundation (1995)
- Young Investigator Award, National Science Foundation (1994)
- Packard Fellowship in Science and Engineering (1994)