Jack W. Szostak

Jack W. Szostak is a University Professor in the Department of Genetics at the University of Chicago and an Investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Previously, he was a long-standing professor at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. He was awarded the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his groundbreaking work on telomeres and telomerase, conducted in collaboration with Elizabeth Blackburn and Carol W. Greider.

He earned his B.Sc. in Cell Biology from McGill University and his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Cornell University. His early research focused on yeast genetics, recombination, and telomere biology, laying the foundation for understanding cellular aging and cancer. He later pioneered in vitro selection methods to evolve functional RNA and proteins, contributing significantly to the RNA world hypothesis.

His current research centers on the origin of life, particularly the development of self-replicating protocells. His lab explores prebiotic chemistry, membrane biophysics, and non-enzymatic genetic replication, aiming to reconstruct the transition from chemistry to biology. His work integrates synthetic biology, systems chemistry, and evolutionary biochemistry.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on prebiotic nucleotide synthesis, template-directed RNA copying, protocell growth and division, and the engineering of self-replicating systems. His research consistently bridges molecular biology, chemistry, and evolutionary theory to address fundamental questions about life’s origins.

• Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (2009)
• Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research (1998)
• Canada Gairdner International Award (2005)
• Elected to the National Academy of Sciences (1998)
• Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator (1998–2022)

Szostak has mentored numerous prominent scientists, including Jennifer Doudna, Andrew Murray, and David Bartel. His lab has been supported by HHMI funding and has produced transformative work across genetics, RNA biology, and origins of life research. He co-founded a biotechnology startup to translate evolved proteins into therapeutic applications, one of which is now in clinical trials.

He leads an active research laboratory focused on building synthetic protocells capable of growth, division, and evolution. His team investigates fatty acid membranes, nucleotide chemistry, and coupled replication systems, operating at the intersection of chemistry, biology, and engineering.