David Baker

David Baker is a Nobel laureate, Professor of Biochemistry, HHMI Investigator, and Director of the Institute for Protein Design at the University of Washington. He also holds adjunct professorships in Genome Sciences, Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, and Physics. His lab pioneers computational protein design, developing AI-driven tools to create proteins for medicine, sustainability, and technology.

Education:

• PhD in Biochemistry, University of California, Berkeley (with Randy Schekman)
• Postdoctoral Research in Biophysics, UCSF (with David Agard)

Research Focus:

David Baker’s work centers on computational protein design, leveraging deep learning and AI to engineer novel proteins with therapeutic and technological applications. His lab develops open-source tools like RFdiffusion and Rosetta to design proteins that address challenges in drug delivery, cancer therapy, enzyme catalysis, and regenerative medicine.

Recent breakthroughs include:

• AI-designed antibodies and enzymes
• NeoNectins for regenerative healing
• EndoTags for targeted protein degradation
• Synthetic olfactory receptors for diagnostics
• Allosterically switchable nanostructures

Scientific Awards:

• 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
• 2021 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences
• 2022 Wiley Prize in Biomedical Sciences
• Elected to National Academy of Sciences
• TIME 100 Most Influential People in Health

Advising & Impact:

David has mentored over 100 trainees who now hold independent faculty positions. His lab is home to a vibrant community of postdocs and graduate students, including recipients of the Weintraub Award, K99/R00 awards, and fellowships from the Life Sciences Research Foundation and Burroughs Wellcome Fund.

Labs & Teams:

He leads the Baker Lab at the Institute for Protein Design, which collaborates with the Core R&D Labs and partners across UW and globally. The lab is also affiliated with the King Lab and works closely with Stanford, UCSF, Johns Hopkins, and other leading institutions.