Dr. Wenbin Lin stands as a preeminent figure in the field of chemistry, renowned for his innovative contributions to materials science and molecular design. Currently serving as Chair Professor at Westlake University and James Franck Professor Emeritus of Chemistry at the University of Chicago, he maintains significant affiliations with the UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Ludwig Center for Metastasis Research. Dr. Lin earned his BS from the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei in 1988 and completed his PhD in chemistry at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1994 under the tutelage of Professors Gregory S. Girolami and Ralph G. Nuzzo. Following an NSF postdoctoral fellowship at Northwestern University with Professor Tobin J. Marks, he launched his independent academic career at Brandeis University in 1997 before advancing to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he became the Kenan Distinguished Professor in 2011, and subsequently joined the University of Chicago in 2013.
Dr. Lin's groundbreaking research has centered on designing molecular materials for sustainability and human health, with his laboratory pioneering the development of metal-organic framework (MOF) catalysts and inventing nanoscale MOFs for biomedical applications. His work has resulted in over 430 peer-reviewed publications with more than 75,000 citations, establishing him among the most cited chemists annually since 2014 and earning recognition as one of the top 10 chemists of the 1999-2009 decade based on per-article citations. Several of his innovative nanomedicines have been successfully translated from bench to bedside, with five different nanomaterials entering clinical trials, including one currently in phase 2 clinical testing for cancer therapy. His research spans multiple critical areas including catalysis for sustainable chemistry, artificial photosynthesis, biofuel development, and uranium extraction from seawater, addressing fundamental challenges in environmental sustainability and energy security.
Beyond his research achievements, Dr. Lin has demonstrated significant leadership through founding two clinical-stage biopharmaceutical companies that have advanced his laboratory discoveries toward practical medical applications. His scientific influence is further recognized through numerous prestigious honors including the Royal Society of Chemistry Horizon Prize in 2024, election as a Foreign Fellow of the European Academy of Sciences in 2023, and the OKeanos-CAPA Senior Investigator Award in 2018. As a dedicated mentor and scientific leader, he has shaped the careers of numerous researchers while advancing interdisciplinary collaboration between chemistry, materials science, and oncology. Dr. Lin continues to drive innovation at the intersection of molecular design and human health, with his current research focused on developing next-generation nanomedicines for cancer immunotherapy and novel materials for sustainable energy solutions.
