Director of International Institute for Nanotechnology and George B. Rathmann Professor of Chemistry, Northwestern University Dr. Mirkin is a chemist and a world-renowned nanoscience expert. He has developed spherical nucleic acid-nanoparticle conjugates and nanoparticle-based biodetection and therapeutics schemes, invented Dip-Pen Nanolithography, and contributed to developments in supramolecular chemistry. He directs the International Institute for Nanotechnology at Northwestern University and is a professor of chemistry, chemical and biological engineering, biomedical engineering, materials science and engineering, and medicine at the university. He has authored more than 500 manuscripts and 500 patents worldwide and founded four companies, Nanosphere, NanoInk, AuraSense, and AuraSense Therapeutics, which are commercializing nanotechnology applications in the life science and semiconductor industries. He is currently listed as one of the most cited chemists (Thomson Reuters) and nanomedicine researchers (Nanomedicine Registry).