Jacob S. Sherkow

Jacob S. Sherkow is a Professor of Law at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Law, specializing in the intersection of bioscientific developments with patent law, regulation, and bioethics. He has authored over 40 articles in journals like Science, Nature, and law reviews such as the Yale Law Journal and Stanford Law Review, earning multiple prizes for his scholarship.

Education:

• J.D., University of Michigan Law School (cum laude), where he served as an editor of the Michigan Law Review and received the Fred L. Leckie and James N. Adler Scholarships
• M.A. in Biotechnology, Columbia University
• B.Sc. in Molecular Biology and English Literature, McGill University

Sherkow's research explores how advancements in biosciences reshape legal frameworks, particularly in patent law and bioethics. His work bridges empirical and normative analyses, influencing policy and regulatory discussions globally.

Scientific and Academic Recognition:

• Appointed to the National Academy of Medicine as an Emerging Leader in Health and Medicine (2018)
• Recipient of the Class of 2017 Teaching Award

Beyond scholarship, Sherkow has practiced as a certified Editor in the Life Sciences (BELS) and provided expertise in patent litigation to investment firms. He has served on the editorial board of the CRISPR Journal, advised France’s National Assembly on biotechnology patenting, and been a community representative on the New York Genome Center’s Institutional Biosafety Committee. His prior roles include Visiting Scholar and Fellow at Stanford Law School's Center for Law and the Biosciences, and patent litigator at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher in New York.