Thierry Emonet

Thierry Emonet is a Professor of Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology & Physics at Yale University. Trained as an astrophysicist before shifting his focus to biology, Emonet applies computational methods to the understanding of biological systems. By combining mathematical modeling with biophysical experiments, he shows how bacteria and insects navigate their environment. His discoveries include new insight on how microscopic organisms gather and react to information; how insects’ sense of smell enables them to navigate their environments; and how bacteria move and act collectively, akin to the behavior of a flock of birds. These findings have illuminated the natural world: they enable us to make predictions about how biological systems will act and react and how living systems respond to environmental fluctuations at all scales, from the smallest individual molecule to the population level. Before coming to Yale in 2007, Thierry studied physics at the ETH Zürich. He received his PhD (cum laude) in theoretical astrophysics from the University of La Laguna (Spain) in 1998, before doing postdocs at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder CO and The University of Chicago, discovering key mechanisms that enable magnetic field to float to the surface of the Sun to create Sunspots. During his postdoc Thierry became fascinated with the question of where individuality comes from and what is its functional role in life and he switched to biology. His work is supported by NIH, NSF, the Paul G Allen Family Foundation (Distinguished Allen Investigator), the Whitehall Foundation, the James S. McDonnell Foundation and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Outside of science, Thierry’s main interest is rock climbing and art. He grew up at the intersection of science and art and he is married to renowned sculptor Susan Clinard