Martin Nowak

Martin Nowak is a Professor of Mathematics and Biology at Harvard University, holding joint appointments in the Departments of Mathematics and Organismic and Evolutionary Biology. He previously served as Director of the Program for Evolutionary Dynamics (2003–2020). His career includes roles at the University of Oxford, where he was Professor of Mathematical Biology, and the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton.

Education: B.Sc./M.Sc. in Biochemistry and Mathematics from the University of Vienna, Ph.D. under Karl Sigmund, followed by postdoctoral work at Oxford with Robert May. Honors include the Weldon Memorial Prize (1996), Akira Okubo Prize (1999), and honorary doctorates from Alexandru Ioan Cuza University (2010) and Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology (2015).

Research focuses on evolutionary dynamics, mathematical biology, infectious diseases, cancer genetics, game theory, and language evolution. He pioneered fields like virus dynamics and mathematical oncology, proposing cooperation as a core evolutionary principle alongside mutation and selection.

Recent publications highlight work on cancer genomics, evolutionary safety of therapies, and spatial vaccination strategies. His articles span topics like LINE-1 retrotransposition in lung cancer, population structure effects on cooperation, and gene drive systems.

Awards emphasize his contributions to mathematical biology and teaching. His work bridges theoretical frameworks with practical applications in medicine and ecology.