Jennifer Doudna
American biochemist who co-developed CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing.
Jennifer Anne Doudna (born February 19, 1964) is an American biochemist who has pioneered work in CRISPR gene editing, and made other fundamental contributions in biochemistry and genetics. She received the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, with Emmanuelle Charpentier, "for the development of a method for genome editing." She is the Li Ka Shing Chancellor's Chair Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and has been an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute since 1997. In 2012, Doudna and Charpentier were the first to propose that CRISPR-Cas9 could be used for programmable editing of genomes, a discovery called one of the most significant in the history of biology.
- born
- February 19, 1964
- field
- Biochemistry, genetics
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Pioneering CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Jennifer Doudna was born February 19, 1964, in Washington, D.C., to Dorothy Jane (Williams) and Martin Kirk Doudna. When she was seven, the family moved to Hawaii so her father could teach American literature at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Growing up in Hilo, she was fascinated by its flora and fauna. In sixth grade, her father gave her James Watson's 1968 book *The Double Helix*, which was a major inspiration. Her 10th-grade chemistry teacher, Jeanette Wong, encouraged her interest in science. She graduated from Hilo High School in 1981. Doudna studied biochemistry at Pomona College, earning a Bachelor of Arts in 1985, and earned a Ph.D. in biological chemistry and molecular pharmacology from Harvard Medical School in 1989, supervised by Jack W. Szostak. After postdoctoral work at the University of Colorado Boulder with Thomas Cech, she joined Yale University as an assistant professor in 1994. At Yale, her group crystallized and solved the three-dimensional structure of the catalytic core of the Tetrahymena Group I ribozyme. She moved to the University of California, Berkeley in 2002. In 2012, Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier first proposed that CRISPR-Cas9 could be used for programmable editing of genomes. She directs the Innovative Genomics Institute, a collaboration between Berkeley and UCSF.
Reader's Guide
Jennifer Doudna's significance stems from her co-discovery that the bacterial CRISPR-Cas9 system could be programmed to edit genomes, a breakthrough widely considered one of the most significant in the history of biology. This discovery, made with Emmanuelle Charpentier in 2012, transformed genetic research and opened new avenues for treating diseases including sickle cell anemia, cystic fibrosis, Huntington's disease, and HIV. Doudna's earlier work on ribozyme structure, including solving the three-dimensional structure of the catalytic core of the Tetrahymena Group I ribozyme, established her as a leading structural biologist. Her awards include the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, the 2015 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, the 2000 Alan T. Waterman Award, and induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2023. She has also been a prominent voice on the ethics of genome editing, calling for a worldwide moratorium on clinical application of gene editing using CRISPR and supporting its use in somatic but not germline editing. Her legacy is defined by her role in launching the CRISPR revolution and her ongoing leadership in developing genome editing technology for human health, agriculture, and climate change.
Did You Know?
- Doudna was introduced to CRISPR in 2006 by Jillian Banfield, who found Doudna through a Google search for 'RNAi and UC Berkeley.'
- Her Ph.D. dissertation was on a system that increased the efficiency of a self-replicating catalytic RNA, supervised by Jack W. Szostak.
- In 2009, she took a leave of absence from Berkeley to work at Genentech but left after two months and returned to Berkeley to study CRISPR.
- Doudna's group solved the three-dimensional structure of the catalytic core of the Tetrahymena Group I ribozyme, showing a core of five magnesium ions forming a hydrophobic core.
- As of 2025, Doudna has an h-index of 166 according to Google Scholar and of 134 according to Scopus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Jennifer Doudna?
Jennifer Doudna is an American biochemist born in 1964 who became globally recognized for her groundbreaking research in genetics and genome editing. She holds a named professorship at UC Berkeley and has long been affiliated with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
What is Jennifer Doudna's most famous contribution?
She is best known for co-developing the CRISPR-Cas9 system, a revolutionary tool that lets scientists precisely cut and modify DNA sequences. This work fundamentally changed how researchers approach genetic engineering and disease treatment.
Did Jennifer Doudna win a Nobel Prize?
Yes, she was awarded the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry alongside Emmanuelle Charpentier for developing a precise method for editing genomes. The recognition highlighted how their technique transformed biological research across multiple fields.
Where does Jennifer Doudna teach and conduct research?
She serves as the Li Ka Shing Chancellor's Chair Professor at the University of California, Berkeley. She has also been a long-standing investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, a role she has held since 1997.
Why do fans of medical pioneers consider Jennifer Doudna a key figure?
Her CRISPR work gave the scientific community a versatile, affordable, and precise way to rewrite genetic code, opening doors to potential cures for inherited diseases and new approaches in cancer therapy. She is widely regarded as one of the most impactful biologists of the 21st century.
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