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David Baker
2024 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry | Director, UW Institute for Protein Design | Pioneer of Computational Protein Design & AI-Driven Biology
Few scientists have reshaped their field as fundamentally as David Baker, the 2024 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry who invented the ability to design proteins from scratch. Director of the UW Institute for Protein Design and co-founder of 21 biotech companies, Baker reveals how AI and biology are converging to solve humanity's greatest challenges in medicine and sustainability.
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David Baker biography
David Baker is the 2024 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry and one of the most transformative scientists working at the intersection of biology, artificial intelligence, and medicine. As professor of biochemistry and director of the Institute for Protein Design at the University of Washington, Baker has spent three decades solving what was once considered one of science’s hardest problems: how to design entirely new proteins — molecules that do not exist in nature — from scratch.
Nobel Prize speaker David Baker is best known for developing Rosetta, a computational software suite that cracked the code of protein structure prediction and design. In 2003, his team achieved a landmark breakthrough — designing Top7, the first artificial protein with a completely novel fold. This opened a new frontier in synthetic biology, enabling the creation of proteins that can function as targeted drugs, next-generation vaccines, biosensors, and environmental remediation tools. Baker has since published more than 650 peer-reviewed papers, secured over 100 patents, and co-founded 21 biotechnology companies, several of which have been acquired by major pharmaceutical players including AstraZeneca and Eli Lilly.
His entrepreneurial output has reshaped the biotech landscape of Seattle and beyond. Spinout companies from his lab — including Sana Biotechnology, Lyell Immunotherapeutics, and Xaira Therapeutics — collectively represent hundreds of millions in investment and some of the most promising therapeutic pipelines in oncology, immunology, and gene therapy. More than 100 of his trainees have gone on to independent faculty positions worldwide.
The Nobel Prize and the AI-Protein Design Revolution
In 2024, Baker was awarded half of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his foundational work in computational protein design, sharing the prize with Demis Hassabis and John Jumper of Google DeepMind. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences recognized how his methods — now supercharged by AI tools like RoseTTAFold, developed in his lab — are enabling a new generation of molecules with functions never before seen. The Institute for Protein Design has been backed by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, NIH, and the TED Audacious Project, and is widely regarded as the Bell Labs of protein science.
As a speaker, David Baker brings to life one of the most consequential scientific revolutions of our time. His talks translate cutting-edge protein design and AI-driven biology into a vision that resonates powerfully with executive, scientific, and policy audiences alike — illustrating how engineered proteins will reshape medicine, sustainability, and what it means to harness living systems. Audiences leave with a profound understanding of why this moment in biotech is unlike any before it, and what it means for the future of health, industry, and human potential.
David Baker Speaking Videos
Nobel Prize lecture: David Baker, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2024
5 challenges we could solve by designing new proteins | David Baker
David Baker Keynote Topics
For billions of years, evolution has been the sole architect of proteins — the molecules that make life possible. Baker's talk explores how his team broke that monopoly, developing computational tools that can now design entirely new proteins with functions never before seen in nature. Audiences gain a vivid understanding of why this is a pivotal technological moment, comparable to the discovery of electricity or the invention of the transistor, and what it means for drug development, vaccine design, and the future of biotechnology.
Artificial intelligence has already transformed how we find information and generate content. Its next frontier is life itself. Baker explores how AI-driven approaches — from RoseTTAFold to generative protein design — are radically accelerating the pace at which scientists can engineer molecules to address disease, climate change, and industrial challenges. This talk is particularly compelling for technology, healthcare, and investment audiences seeking a grounded view of where AI's most consequential impact will unfold.
With 21 biotechnology companies co-founded and more than 100 trainees leading labs worldwide, Baker is as much a builder as he is a scientist. This session draws on his experience creating Rosetta Commons — a global open-source community — and spinning out companies acquired by AstraZeneca and Eli Lilly. He shares lessons on how open collaboration, not secrecy, can accelerate both scientific progress and commercial success, offering a counterintuitive model for innovation that resonates with leaders across industries.
Newly designed proteins are already showing promise as cancer therapies, universal flu vaccines, plastic-degrading enzymes, and biosensors for environmental monitoring. Baker takes audiences through five grand challenges — in health, sustainability, and technology — that protein design is uniquely positioned to address. The session offers a forward-looking framework for understanding how engineered biology will become a core platform for solving systemic global problems, and why the window to engage with this transformation is now.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking David Baker
Why David Baker?
Booking David Baker for your event is a decision that places your audience at the frontier of one of the most exciting scientific revolutions in history. As the 2024 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry and the world's leading authority on computational protein design, Baker offers an unparalleled perspective on how AI and biology are converging to reshape medicine, sustainability, and innovation. His ability to connect groundbreaking science to real-world applications — drug development, vaccine design, climate solutions — makes him an extraordinary fit for events in healthcare, biotech, technology, and leadership. Beyond his scientific stature, Baker is a serial entrepreneur who has co-founded 21 biotechnology companies, giving him a rare combination of academic depth and entrepreneurial credibility. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to check his availability and secure one of the most sought-after voices in science today.
What did David Baker win the Nobel Prize for?
David Baker was awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his pioneering work in computational protein design. Specifically, he and his team developed methods — most notably the Rosetta software suite — to design entirely new proteins with functions not found in nature. This breakthrough, first demonstrated in 2003 with the creation of Top7, the first artificial protein with a novel fold, has opened transformative possibilities in drug development, vaccine design, and materials science. Baker shared the prize with Demis Hassabis and John Jumper of Google DeepMind, who were honored for protein structure prediction via AlphaFold.
What is the Rosetta software and why does it matter?
Rosetta is the computational software suite developed by David Baker and his colleagues at the University of Washington, originally designed to predict how proteins fold and later extended to design new proteins from scratch. It is the foundational tool behind much of the modern field of protein engineering. Rosetta is made freely available to academic researchers through Rosetta Commons, and has been adopted by more than 70 institutions worldwide. The platform has since evolved to incorporate AI-based methods — including RoseTTAFold — that dramatically accelerate the design of molecules with novel biological functions, from cancer therapies to biodegradable materials.
What topics does Nobel Prize speaker David Baker cover at events?
David Baker speaks on the frontiers of AI-driven biology, computational protein design, the future of medicine and vaccine development, biotech entrepreneurship, open science, and the convergence of artificial intelligence and life sciences. His talks are especially relevant for audiences in healthcare, pharmaceutical, technology, and investment sectors seeking to understand how the protein design revolution will reshape industry over the coming decades. Whether addressing C-suite executives, scientific communities, or innovation-focused conferences, Baker delivers clarity and vision that few scientists can match. To bring David Baker to your next event, reach out to Aurum Speakers Bureau.
How to book David Baker as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book David Baker as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about David Baker's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for David Baker or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is David Baker speaking fee?
David Baker speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire David Baker to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book David Baker.
How can I contact David Baker?
We only work with David Baker on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking David Baker and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having David Baker speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact David Baker for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book David Baker for a virtual keynote?
Yes, David Baker is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book David Baker for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
