Erin J. Adams, PhD, will serve as the next Chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, effective July 1, 2026. She will succeed Tobin R. Sosnick, PhD, who has led the Department with distinction since August 2011 and will remain an active member of the Biological Sciences Division (BSD) faculty, continuing his research and teaching.
Adams, the Joseph Regenstein Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, has served as Vice Provost for Research since September 2023. In that role, she has overseen the University’s research enterprise, strengthening the infrastructure that supports discovery across disciplines and advancing large-scale, collaborative initiatives that position the University of Chicago at the forefront of scientific innovation.
An internationally recognized leader in molecular immunology, Adams’ research explores how the immune system distinguishes between healthy and diseased tissue, with implications for infectious disease, cancer, and autoimmunity. She is also a dedicated educator and mentor, recognized with the BSD’s Distinguished Educator Award in 2019, and a committed contributor to and supporter of the academic community through programs that support trainees and early career scientists, including launching the NIH-sponsored myCHOICE program.
Adams brings to this role a deep understanding of the Department, having been a valued member of the faculty since 2005, as well as a proven ability to lead complex organizations, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and advance excellence in research. Her combination of scientific vision, institutional experience, and collaborative leadership positions her well to guide the Department into its next chapter. As Chair, she will build on existing strengths in structural biology, molecular mechanisms of disease, and quantitative and interdisciplinary approaches, while advancing the integration of basic discovery with translational and clinical efforts across the BSD and UChicago Medicine.
Sosnick’s 15-year tenure as Chair has been marked by sustained excellence in research, education, and faculty development. Under his leadership, the Department has strengthened its national and international reputation while fostering a collaborative and intellectually vibrant environment.
A renowned scientist, Sosnick has made significant contributions to our understanding of protein and RNA folding and function, with research spanning experimental and computational approaches and extending into areas such as membrane proteins and optogenetics. His work has advanced fundamental insights into how biomolecules achieve their functional forms, with broad implications across biology and medicine.
