Frances H. Arnold

Frances H. Arnold is the Linus Pauling Professor of Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, and Bioengineering at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), where she directs the Rosen Bioengineering Center. A 2018 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, her work focuses on directed evolution of enzymes for novel chemical transformations, bridging protein engineering, synthetic biology, and machine learning.

• Research Interests: Her group pioneers methods to engineer enzymes for asymmetric catalysis, biocatalysis, and sustainable chemistry, leveraging directed evolution to create proteins with unnatural functions. Recent projects include AI-guided protein optimization and boron heterocycle synthesis.
• Publications & Trends: Recent work spans machine learning applications in protein design (e.g., discrete diffusion models), stereoselective enzymatic synthesis, and boron-based materials. Collaborations highlight interdisciplinary approaches to structural biology, drug development, and radical chemistry.
• Awards: Nobel Prize (2018), Priestley Medal (2025), and leadership roles in national science policy via the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST).
• Lab & Community: The Arnold Group trains future leaders in protein engineering, with alumni driving innovation at top institutions like MIT, Stanford, and CRG. She advocates for science-based policy and bioengineering solutions to global challenges.