Professor Itamar Willner is a distinguished Israeli chemist who has been a professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem since 1986, establishing himself as a world leader in molecular science. Born on January 27, 1947, he earned his PhD in Physical Organic Chemistry from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem between 1974 and 1978 before completing a post-doctoral fellowship at UC Berkeley in Physical Chemistry. His academic career progressed from Senior Lecturer at the Hebrew University from 1981 to 1983, through Associate Professor from 1983 to 1986, culminating in his promotion to full Professor in 1986, a position he has held for nearly four decades with international recognition. His journey from doctoral studies to professorship reflects a trajectory of exceptional scientific development deeply rooted in Israel's academic tradition while maintaining strong international collaborations.
Professor Willner has pioneered groundbreaking research at the intersection of chemistry, nanotechnology, and biology, with seminal contributions to supramolecular chemistry, molecular self-assembly, and nanobiotechnology. His innovative work has led to the creation of bio nano functional systems including DNA molecular machines, logic gates, and hybrid assemblies that integrate biomacromolecules with metal nanoparticles, establishing new paradigms in molecular engineering. With an impressive h index of 175 as of 2025, his research impact is substantial, with several papers receiving over 1,000 citations and influencing multiple scientific disciplines. His contributions span molecular and biomolecular electronics, optoelectronics, plasmonic nanoparticles, nanocarriers for drug delivery, and stimuli responsive materials, demonstrating remarkable breadth while maintaining scientific depth in creating functional nanoscale systems.
Beyond his research accomplishments, Professor Willner has shaped the scientific community through extensive editorial leadership, serving on the boards of nearly 20 prestigious journals including JACS, ACIE, Nano Letters, and ACS Nano, thereby influencing the direction of chemical research globally. His exceptional contributions have been recognized with the Israel Prize in Chemistry in 2002, the Bergmann Award in 1986, the Kolthoff Award in 1993, and election to multiple prestigious academies including the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences as a foreign academician. His collaborative spirit extends internationally through longstanding partnerships with Chinese scholars, co leading the establishment of the Ministry of Education International Joint Laboratory for Structurally Controllable Molecular Engineering in 2017. Professor Willner continues to advance the frontiers of nanoscience, with ongoing research focused on developing novel applications in photo electrochemical probes, drug delivery systems, and molecular devices that promise to transform precision chemistry and molecular engineering for future generations.
