Lynn Kamerlin Receives Biochemical Society Honor

Lynn Kamerlin, professor and Georgia Research Alliance Vasser Woolley Chair in Molecular Design in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, has been awarded the 2026 Inspiration and Resilience Award by the Biochemical Society. This award honors Kamerlin’s “outstanding promise and resilience,” recognizing her achievements and contributions to the field of molecular bioscience in the face of significant challenges.

“Academic CVs rarely, if ever, carry the human stories underlying professional accomplishments,” Kamerlin says. “I have chosen to be open about my battles with infertility and my experiences as a rare disease patient to help others feel less alone. Because of that decision, receiving this award, which recognizes those experiences and their role in shaping my career beyond my visible professional accomplishments, really means a lot to me.”

She hopes that her story and the visibility of this award will encourage and inspire other scientists who are navigating their career paths and facing their own challenges. 

Kamerlin, who joined the Institute in 2022, has also served as a Lise Meitner Guest Professor of Molecular Design at Lund University in Sweden since 2025. She obtained a Ph.D. in Theoretical Organic Chemistry from the University of Birmingham and completed her postdoctoral research at the University of Vienna and University of Southern California. 

Her research lab focuses on understanding the role of conformational dynamics — changes in the  three-dimensional shape of a protein — in protein evolution, and how these dynamics can be exploited to engineer novel proteins with tailored biocatalytic properties. 

Kamerlin has been extensively involved in high-level science policy, particularly relating to open science and researcher careers. She served as chair of the Young Academy of Europe and as a member of the executive council of the Protein Society. Kamerlin has also been deeply engaged in efforts to support women in science, broaden European participation in research, and promote the careers of young scientists.