Graham Walker

Graham Charles Walker, born in 1948, is a distinguished American biologist who has made groundbreaking contributions to understanding DNA repair mechanisms and cellular responses to genetic damage. As an American Cancer Society Professor and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor at MIT's Department of Biology, his research has fundamentally advanced our knowledge of DNA repair, mutagenesis, and bacterial symbiosis. After completing his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois and postdoctoral work at UC Berkeley, he joined MIT in 1976, where his laboratory has made pivotal discoveries about translesion DNA synthesis, bacterial-host interactions, and the Rhizobium-legume symbiosis. His work has significant implications for cancer treatment and antibiotic effectiveness. Walker's commitment to education is exemplified through his development of innovative educational software tools, including StarBiochem, StarGenetics, and StarCellBio. His scientific excellence has been recognized through numerous honors, including election to the National Academy of Sciences in 2013, fellowship in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the Environmental Mutagen Society Award. As an internationally respected scientist, he has also served as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Bacteriology and co-authored the influential textbook "DNA Repair and Mutagenesis".