Sergey Semenov

2026 Israel Award Winner — Faculty

Sergey Semenov

Current Position:
Senior Scientist, Department of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science

Institution:
Weizmann Institute of Science

Discipline:
Organic Chemistry

Recognized for: Establishing how complex chemical systems can be built from simple molecules, unlocking a new class of life-like materials that create shape and pattern through self-organization.

Areas of Research Interest and Expertise:
Organic chemistry, physical organic chemistry, nonlinear dynamics, soft materials

Previous Positions:

  • MSc in Chemistry, Moscow State University
  • PhD in Chemistry, University of Zurich (Advisor: Prof. Heinz Berke)
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Radboud University of Nijmegen (Advisor: Prof. Wilhelm T. S. Huck)
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard University (Advisor: Prof. George M. Whitesides)

Research Summary:
Sergey Semenov, PhD, is exploring how complex, dynamic behavior can be built from simple chemical building blocks. By designing molecules that interact under controlled conditions, the work shows how chemical systems can generate rhythms, traveling waves, patterns, and materials that change shape on their own. These behaviors are common in living systems but are very challenging to design. Semenov’s research reveals new principles for programming matter to organize itself, opening new possibilities for life-like materials that respond, adapt, and form structure without external control, advancing efforts to create smarter materials and deepen understanding of how complexity emerges in nature.

“This prestigious award provides much-needed encouragement for our research on the molecular design of dynamic chemical systems, including chemical oscillators. We aim to narrow the gap between how nature orchestrates molecular processes and how well chemists can do so.”

Key Publications:

  1. A. Paikar, A. I. Novichkov, A. I. Hanopolskyi, V. A. Smaliak, X. Sui, N. Kampf, E. V. Skorb, S. N. Semenov*. Spatiotemporal Regulation of Hydrogel Actuators by Autocatalytic Reaction Networks. Advanced Materials, 2022.
  2. A. I. Hanopolskyi, T. A. Mikhnevich, A. Paikar, B. Nutkovich, I. Pinkas, T. Dadosh, B. S. Smith, N. Orekhov, E. V. Skorb, S. N. Semenov*. Interplay between Autocatalysis and Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation Produces Hierarchical Microcompartments. Chem, 2023.
  3. X. Li, P. Fomitskaya, V. A. Smaliak, B. S. Smith, E. V. Skorb, S. N. Semenov*. Selenium Catalysis Enables Negative Feedback Organic Oscillators. Nature Communications, 2024.
  4. A. I. Novichkov, Y. Diskin-Posner, L. J. W. Shimon, G. Leitus, C. Flamm, S. N. Semenov*. Autocatalytic Reaction between HCN and Cysteamine Produces Hydrophobic, Catalytic, Liquid Compartments. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2025.

Other Honors:

2024 Scientific Council Prize for Chemistry
2018 Clore Prize

In the Media:

Website