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 and was included on TIME’s 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: UW].
David Baker’s Nobel Lecture (2024)
Awards
- Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2024)
- 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)
- 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)
- Sackler Prize in Biophysics (2008)
- AAAS Newcomb-Cleveland Prize (2004)
- Feynman Prize in Nanotechnology, Foresight Institute (2004)
- Overton Prize, International Society for Computational Biology (2002)
- 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)