Jack W. Szostak

Jack W. Szostak is a University Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Chicago. His research focuses on the chemical and physical processes underlying the transition from prebiotic chemistry to biological evolution, with a particular emphasis on synthetic protocell systems that undergo Darwinian evolution. Szostak's work explores self-replicating genetic polymers and membrane boundaries to understand life's origins and develop biomedical applications.

• Department of Chemistry
• HHMI Investigator

His research spans Chemical Biology, Biophysics, and Prebiotic Chemistry, targeting the spontaneous emergence of cellular systems through interdisciplinary approaches combining organic and physical chemistry principles.

Szostak has been recognized with the prestigious 2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his groundbreaking contributions to understanding fundamental biological processes.

Contact: jwszostak@uchicago.edu. Office located at Room 255, Searle Chemical Laboratory, 5735 S Ellis Ave, Chicago, IL 60637.