Chad A. Mirkin

Chad A. Mirkin is the George B. Rathmann Professor of Chemistry and holds concurrent professorships in Materials Science & Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical & Biological Engineering, and Medicine at Northwestern University. He directs the International Institute for Nanotechnology (IIN). Mirkin earned his B.S. from Dickinson College (1986) and Ph.D. from Penn State University (1989). His pioneering work includes spherical nucleic acids (SNAs), dip-pen nanolithography (DPN), and HARP 3D printing. His research spans nanomedicine, materials science, and diagnostic technologies.

• Affiliations: Director of IIN, multiple professorships across disciplines
• Education: B.S., Dickinson College (1986); Ph.D., Penn State (1989)

Mirkin’s research focuses on nanoscale materials engineering, including SNAs for vaccines and diagnostics, colloidal crystal engineering with DNA, and high-throughput materials discovery. His work bridges chemistry, biology, and engineering to address challenges in healthcare, energy, and manufacturing.

His articles span nanotechnology applications in energy, catalysis, and immunotherapy. He has founded companies like Nanosphere and TERA-print, translating research into commercial products.

• Awards: Kavli Prize, King Faisal Prize, SCI Perkin Medal, and membership in all three US National Academies
• Grants/Advising: Over $430M in patents, 320+ mentored students (130 became faculty)
• Labs/Teams: IIN, Mirkin Group, and collaborations across disciplines