Peter Hegemann
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Peter Hegemann is a Hertie Senior Research Chair for Neurosciences and a professor of Experimental Biophysics at the Department of Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany. He is known for his discovery of channelrhodopsin, a type of ion channels regulated by light, thereby serving as a light sensor. This created the field of optogenetics, a technique that controls the activities of specific neurons by applying light. He has received numerous accolades, including the Rumford Prize, the Shaw Prize in Life Science and Medicine, and the Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research. Obtained the Nobel Prize in medicine in 2026 for his work in optogenetics.
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Oct 5, 2026
Center
Co-winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for work on light-gated ion channels.
Centrists see international scientific collaboration as a positive counterpoint to rising nationalism and isolationism.