Richard M. Murray is a preeminent scholar at the forefront of integrating engineering principles with biological systems. He currently serves as the Thomas E. and Doris Everhart Professor of Control & Dynamical Systems and Bioengineering at the California Institute of Technology, a position he has held since 2009. After earning his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Caltech in 1985, he completed his graduate studies at UC Berkeley, receiving his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences in 1991. Murray has held significant leadership roles at Caltech including Chair of the Division of Engineering and Applied Science from 2000-2005 and Director of Information Science and Technology from 2006-2009, demonstrating his commitment to advancing interdisciplinary research.
Murray pioneered the application of control theory to biological systems, establishing foundational frameworks that have transformed synthetic biology into a rigorous engineering discipline. His influential textbooks, including Feedback Systems: An Introduction for Scientists and Engineers and Biomolecular Feedback Systems, have become standard references that bridge theoretical principles with practical applications. He co-developed the widely adopted Python Control Systems Library, providing essential tools for researchers and engineers worldwide. Murray has mentored over 120 early-career researchers, including 80 PhD students and 40 postdoctoral scholars, fostering a new generation of scientists who seamlessly integrate engineering and biological principles. His work on biomolecular feedback circuits has provided critical methodologies for designing predictable and robust synthetic biological systems.
Beyond his academic contributions, Murray has significantly influenced national science policy as a founding member of the Department of Defense's Defense Innovation Advisory Board from 2016-2020. He co-founded Tierra Biosciences and serves as a steering group member of the Build-a-Cell Initiative, an international collaboration dedicated to creating synthetic live cells from non-living components. His recent research focuses on developing developer cells - non-living biological machines that offer advantages over traditional genetically engineered organisms for various applications. Murray continues to advance the field through open-source tools and collaborative frameworks that enable systematic engineering of biological systems at scale, positioning synthetic biology to address complex challenges in medicine, manufacturing, and environmental sustainability.
