We are pleased to announce that Professor Arieh Warshel, the 2013 Nobel laureate in Chemistry and one of the pioneers in computational chemistry, has officially joined NAAI. Professor Warshel has made revolutionary contributions in developing multi-scale molecular simulation methods and has had a profound impact in promoting the cross fusion of computational chemistry and artificial intelligence, empowering the fields of biomedical and materials science. His joining has made NAAI feel honored.
Creating a new era of computational chemistry and laying the foundation for AI driven scientific discoveries
Arieh Warshel, born on November 20, 1940 in Kibbutz, Israel, is a chemist, biologist, Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, member of the National Academy of Sciences in the United States, foreign member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, winner of the 2013 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, distinguished professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), and distinguished professor at the University of Southern California.
Aliyah Vasil obtained a Bachelor's degree from the Israel Institute of Technology in July 1966; Obtained a master's degree from Weizmann Institute of Science in August 1967; Obtained a doctoral degree from the Weizmann Institute of Science in January 1969; Worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Harvard University from 1970 to 1972; From 1972 to 1973, he served as a research scientist at the Weizmann Institute of Science; From 1973 to 1976, he served as a senior scientist at the Weizmann Institute of Science; From 1976 to 1979, he served as an assistant professor at the University of Southern California; Associate Professor at the University of Southern California from 1979 to 1984; Professor at the University of Southern California since 1984; Appointed as an Outstanding Professor at the University of Southern California in 2011; In 2016, he was appointed as an outstanding professor at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen).
Professor Arieh Warshel, together with Michael Levitt and Martin Karplus, was awarded the 2013 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his pioneering work in developing multi-scale models for complex chemical systems. His research is the first to combine quantum mechanics with classical mechanics, constructing a multi-scale computational framework for molecular dynamics, enabling scientists to reveal the dynamic behavior and chemical reaction mechanisms of biomolecules such as proteins and DNA through computer simulations.
This breakthrough not only completely changed the research paradigm of chemistry, biology, and drug design, but also laid the foundation for the application of artificial intelligence in the field of molecular simulation. The algorithms and models developed by Professor Warshel provide key theoretical tools for machine learning to predict molecular interactions and optimize drug molecule design. In recent years, he has actively promoted the application of artificial intelligence technology in simulating ultra large scale biological molecular systems, accelerating the process of precision medicine and new material development.
Interdisciplinary Leader: Connecting Computational Science and AI
As an outstanding professor at the University of Southern California (USC), Professor Warshel has long advocated for interdisciplinary innovation. The team he leads combines deep learning with molecular dynamics to develop an AI model that efficiently predicts the free energy of protein ligand binding, significantly reducing the cost of new drug development. Its research results have been widely applied in AI driven structural biology projects such as AlphaFold, helping to solve the mysteries of complex biomolecules.
Professor Warshel is also committed to promoting the transformation of scientific research education. He led the establishment of an interdisciplinary program in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics at USC, cultivating a generation of researchers with both computational and life science perspectives. He has repeatedly emphasized publicly that "artificial intelligence is not only a tool, but also a new language that expands the boundaries of human scientific cognition
NAAI's Vision: Empowering the Integration of Science and Society with AI
The addition of Professor Warshel demonstrates NAAI's commitment to the strategic direction of "AI for Science". His work proves that the deep integration of artificial intelligence and basic science can solve major challenges facing humanity, from disease treatment to sustainable energy development.
NAAI looks forward to Professor Warshel's profound interdisciplinary experience to further promote the association's global collaboration in fields such as biological computing and AI assisted molecular design.
From computer screens to Nobel Prize tables: the gaze of a scientific prophet
Professor Arieh Warshel was born in 1940. He served in the Israeli Defense Forces and pursued further studies at the Weizmann Institute of Science before completing his postdoctoral research at Harvard University. His scientific career has always been filled with the courage to challenge tradition - in the 1970s, when computers were not yet able to handle simple molecular calculations, he predicted that the era of simulating life systems would come.
Conclusion: The Igniter of Cross Domain Starfire
The addition of Professor Arieh Warshel marks a crucial step for NAAI in deepening collaborative innovation between artificial intelligence and basic sciences. His achievements remind the world that the most profound technological progress often arises in the "no man's land" where disciplines intersect. As he once said in his Nobel lecture, "We are not only building models, but also telescopes for understanding life." In the era of AI, this telescope will look towards the vast scientific sky.