Jennifer Anne Doudna (born February 19, 1964, in Washington, D.C.) is an American biochemist and molecular biologist renowned for co-inventing the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology, a breakthrough that has revolutionized genomics, medicine, agriculture, and beyond. She shared the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Emmanuelle Charpentier for this discovery, becoming one of only a few women to win in that category. As of 2026, she serves as the Li Ka Shing Chancellor’s Chair Professor in the Departments of Chemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of California, Berkeley, and is an investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. She's also the founder of the Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI), which focuses on applying CRISPR to real-world challenges like disease, climate change, and food security.
Early Life and Education
Doudna grew up in Hilo, Hawaii, where her father's work as a professor sparked her interest in science. She earned her bachelor's degree in biochemistry from Pomona College in 1985 and her Ph.D. from Harvard Medical School in 1989, studying under Nobel laureate Jack Szostak. She conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Colorado Boulder with Thomas Cech, another Nobel winner, focusing on RNA and ribozymes.
Career and CRISPR Breakthrough
Doudna's early work explored RNA structures and functions, including discoveries on ribozyme catalysis and Dicer enzyme processing. In 2012, collaborating with Charpentier, she adapted the bacterial CRISPR-Cas9 system into a precise tool for editing DNA—often called "genetic scissors." This innovation allows scientists to cut and modify genes with unprecedented accuracy, leading to applications in treating genetic disorders (e.g., sickle cell anemia), developing climate-resilient crops, and combating viruses.
She has co-founded several companies, including Caribou Biosciences and Scribe Therapeutics, the latter achieving a key milestone in 2026 for in vivo CRISPR therapies targeting neurological disorders in partnership with Eli Lilly. Through IGI, she's spearheading a $1 billion initiative to commercialize gene editing, with 31 spinouts valued at $9 billion as of early 2026. She's also on the board of Johnson & Johnson and advocates for ethical CRISPR use.
Awards and Honors
Doudna has received over 50 major awards. Here's a selection of key ones:
Her journey of Li Ka Shing Chancellor’s Chair Professor
Jennifer Doudna's journey to becoming the Li Ka Shing Chancellor’s Chair Professor in the Departments of Chemistry and of Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of California, Berkeley, and an Investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), reflects a distinguished career built on groundbreaking RNA and genome-editing research, strategic moves across institutions, and recognition of her transformative contributions.
Early Career and HHMI Investigator Appointment
Doudna's path began after her PhD from Harvard (1989) and postdoctoral work at the University of Colorado Boulder (with Thomas Cech, a Nobel laureate in RNA catalysis). She started her independent career at Yale University in 1994 as an Assistant Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry. There, she advanced her work on RNA structures and ribozymes.
In 1997, she was appointed an HHMI Investigator—a highly prestigious, long-term position that provides flexible funding for innovative research. This appointment (which she has held continuously since) came during her time at Yale and supported her rising prominence in structural biology and RNA mechanisms. By 2000, she was promoted to the Henry Ford II Professor at Yale and elected to the National Academy of Sciences.
Move to UC Berkeley (2002)
In 2002, following the birth of her son Andrew, Doudna and her husband (fellow biochemist Jamie Cate) both accepted professorships at UC Berkeley. She joined as a Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (in what is now the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology), aligning with her expertise and family priorities. This move marked her transition to Berkeley, where she continued RNA-focused research that would eventually lead to CRISPR.
At Berkeley, her lab made key discoveries on CRISPR systems (starting around 2005–2011 collaborations, e.g., with Jillian Banfield on bacterial immunity). The pivotal breakthrough came in 2012: collaborating with Emmanuelle Charpentier, she demonstrated CRISPR-Cas9 as a programmable gene-editing tool—revolutionizing biology.
Li Ka Shing Chancellor’s Chair Appointment
The Li Ka Shing Chancellor’s Chair (often referred to as the Li Ka Shing Chancellor’s Chair in Biomedical and Health Sciences) is an endowed professorship at UC Berkeley, supported by a major gift from philanthropist Li Ka-shing (via his foundation). This endowment helps recruit and retain top talent in biomedicine.
Doudna assumed this chair around the time of her CRISPR prominence, particularly tied to the establishment of the Li Ka Shing Center for Genomic Engineering (launched ~2014 with a $10 million gift from the Li Ka Shing Foundation to advance CRISPR applications). Sources consistently describe her as holding the chair in the Departments of Chemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology, reflecting her joint appointments and interdisciplinary work. While the exact appointment year isn't pinpointed in public records (likely post-2012 breakthrough and around 2014–2015 amid rising recognition), it solidified her status as a leading figure in genomic innovation at Berkeley.
She also founded the Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI) in 2014 (with Jonathan Weissman), a Berkeley-UCSF collaboration to translate CRISPR for health, agriculture, and climate challenges—further cementing her leadership role.
Current Roles and Ongoing Impact
Today (as of 2026), Doudna remains:
Li Ka Shing Chancellor’s Chair Professor in Chemistry and Molecular & Cell Biology at UC Berkeley.
HHMI Investigator (since 1997).
Additional affiliations include senior investigator at Gladstone Institutes and adjunct roles.
Her journey—from Yale's early faculty days, to HHMI support in 1997, Berkeley arrival in 2002, CRISPR co-invention (2012), Nobel Prize (2020 shared with Charpentier), and endowed chair—highlights persistence, collaboration, and turning fundamental RNA science into tools addressing global challenges.
This endowed position not only recognizes her achievements but enables continued leadership in ethical, impactful genome editing.
Here are her most recent and prominent contributions on climate change (as of mid-February 2026):
Forbes Article/Interview (February 17, 2026): In "Jennifer Doudna's $1 Billion Plan To Bring Gene Editing To Market," she outlines IGI's push for commercializing CRISPR, including climate applications. A key example is editing cow microbiomes to cut methane emissions (a major greenhouse gas). The initiative tests this on calves, funded partly by prior grants like the $70M Audacious Project. This ties into her broader $1B ecosystem for affordable gene editing in agriculture/environment.
Berggruen Institute/YouTube Interview (February 10, 2026): Titled "Nobel-Winner Jennifer Doudna on How CRISPR Will Combat Climate Change, Disease & Hunger," this hour-long discussion covers CRISPR's role in tackling climate challenges through agriculture (e.g., resilient crops) and microbiome edits for lower emissions. She emphasizes ethical applications and real-world impact.
Other notable recent mentions (late 2025 and ongoing IGI work she references):
In a Berkeley Talks episode (August 2025, still highlighted in 2026), she discusses CRISPR's planetary health impacts, including reducing methane from cattle (about a third of global emissions from farmed animals).
MIT Technology Review interview (November 2024, referenced in 2026 contexts): She predicts a "coming revolution" in CRISPR for climate-adapted crops/animals, following IGI's Climate & Agriculture Summit.
Ongoing IGI projects she leads/founds (e.g., microbiome editing for climate/health via the Audacious initiative) continue to generate coverage, with her advocating for CRISPR in carbon sequestration and drought-resistant plants.
Recent News (as of February 2026)
In a February 10 interview, Doudna discussed CRISPR's potential to address climate change, diseases, and hunger, emphasizing ethical boundaries and applications like editing human embryos for rare diseases.
Scribe Therapeutics hit a second success milestone with Eli Lilly for CRISPR-based treatments in neuromuscular diseases.
She's actively involved in pushing gene editing toward commercialization, with IGI's efforts creating thousands of jobs and billions in value.
Jennifer Doudna has discussed climate change in several recent interviews, articles, and talks, often highlighting how CRISPR gene-editing technology—through her work at the Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI)—can address it via sustainable agriculture, microbiome editing (e.g., reducing methane emissions from livestock), carbon removal in plants/soils, and climate-resilient crops. She doesn't publish traditional peer-reviewed "articles" as primary author on this topic frequently (her focus remains on foundational CRISPR research), but she contributes through opinion pieces, interviews, and IGI initiatives.
For the absolute latest, check her IGI profile (innovativegenomics.org/people/jennifer-doudna) or recent podcasts/interviews, as she frequently speaks on this in talks (e.g., upcoming events like her March 2026 talk at Duke on "Genome Editing the Future: Transforming Human and Planet Health with CRISPR"). Her views stress CRISPR's potential for food security and emissions reduction amid climate challenges.
Doudna is married to biochemist Jamie Cate (since 2000) and has a son. She's an advocate for women in STEM and has authored books like A Crack in Creation on CRISPR's story. For more, check her IGI profile or recent talks! (And since today is February 19, happy 62nd birthday to her!)