Martin Karplus

Martin Karplus was a renowned Austrian-American chemist, born in 1930 and passing away in 2024. He held the distinguished position of Theodore William Richards Professor of Chemistry at Harvard University, solidifying his reputation as a leading figure in the field. Additionally, Karplus served as the director of the Biophysical Chemistry Laboratory, a collaborative effort between the French National Center for Scientific Research and the University of Strasbourg in France.

Karplus's groundbreaking work in theoretical chemistry earned him the highest accolades, including the 2013 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. He shared this prestigious award with Michael Levitt and Arieh Warshel, in recognition of their collective contributions to the development of multiscale models for complex chemical systems. Although initially incorrectly associated with the field of astronomy, Karplus's actual expertise and achievements were firmly rooted in the realm of chemistry, where he made lasting impacts through his innovative research and academic leadership.