Sergey Semenov, PhD
Weizmann Institute of Science
Biography:
Dr. Sergey N. Semenov grew up in Podolsk, Russia. He earned his Master’s degree in chemistry with honors from Moscow State University in 2006, and his PhD in chemistry with honors from the University of Zurich, Switzerland, in 2011. He then held a Marie Curie fellowship in the group of Prof. Wilhelm Huck at Radboud University Nijmegen, followed by a postdoctoral position with Prof. George Whitesides at Harvard University (2014–2017). In 2018, he joined the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel, where he is currently a Senior Scientist (Assistant Professor). His research focuses on emergent phenomena in nonequilibrium chemical systems.
Abstract:
Living matter functions conceptually differently from non-living matter. It is active and is organized in space and time through the interaction of five major types of processes: biochemical reactions, diffusion, noncovalent self-assembly, phase separation, and mechanical motion. This design provides adaptivity, evolvability, and the ability to self-replicate, which are unique for life. In contrast, the chemists’ ability to build dynamically organized systems (e.g., chemical oscillators) is limited. Interconnections and feedback loops between different processes make them non-modular (holistic) and, consequently, hard to understand and rationally construct. Nevertheless, the ability to construct dynamically organized systems opens possibilities (i) to obtain materials with life-like properties and (ii) to probe the role of dynamic self-assembly in the origin of Life. In this talk, I propose using the chemists’ ability to design and synthesize molecules for the rational construction of dynamic systems and materials. By designing molecules, we can control (i) the reactions in which they will participate, (ii) the rates of these reactions, (iii) the diffusion coefficients of these molecules, and (iv) noncovalent interactions that are responsible for the self-assembly and phase separation behaviors of these molecules. Therefore, we should be able to control the necessary processes and interactions, and, consequently, the dynamic structures emerging from these interactions. I will illustrate this strategy with the rational design of chemical oscillators,1-3 waves,4 patterns,5 self-regulated hydrogel actuators,6, 7 and self-assembled colloidal microstructures.8 In perspective, this work opens a path toward constructing life-like dynamic materials and observing emergent phenomena in prebiotically relevant chemistry. 1. S. N. Semenov et al., Nature, 2016, 537, 656 - 660. 2. A. I. Novichkov et al., Nat. Commun., 2021, 12, 2994. 3. X. Li et al., Nat. Commun., 2024, 15, 3316. 4. A. Paikar et al., Chem. Sci., 2025, 16, 659-669. 5. E. Bortnikov, A. Paikar et al., Nat. Commun., 2026, 17, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-71999-4. 6. A. Paikar et al., Adv. Mater., 2022, 34, e2106816. 7. F. Liao et al., Adv. Mater., 2025, 37, e16185. 8. A. I. Hanopolskyi et al., Chem, 2023, 9, 3666-3684.
Dr. Sergey N. Semenov grew up in Podolsk, Russia. He earned his Master’s degree in chemistry with honors from Moscow State University in 2006, and his PhD in chemistry with honors from the University of Zurich, Switzerland, in 2011. He then held a Marie Curie fellowship in the group of Prof. Wilhelm Huck at Radboud University Nijmegen, followed by a postdoctoral position with Prof. George Whitesides at Harvard University (2014–2017). In 2018, he joined the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel, where he is currently a Senior Scientist (Assistant Professor). His research focuses on emergent phenomena in nonequilibrium chemical systems.
Abstract:
Living matter functions conceptually differently from non-living matter. It is active and is organized in space and time through the interaction of five major types of processes: biochemical reactions, diffusion, noncovalent self-assembly, phase separation, and mechanical motion. This design provides adaptivity, evolvability, and the ability to self-replicate, which are unique for life. In contrast, the chemists’ ability to build dynamically organized systems (e.g., chemical oscillators) is limited. Interconnections and feedback loops between different processes make them non-modular (holistic) and, consequently, hard to understand and rationally construct. Nevertheless, the ability to construct dynamically organized systems opens possibilities (i) to obtain materials with life-like properties and (ii) to probe the role of dynamic self-assembly in the origin of Life. In this talk, I propose using the chemists’ ability to design and synthesize molecules for the rational construction of dynamic systems and materials. By designing molecules, we can control (i) the reactions in which they will participate, (ii) the rates of these reactions, (iii) the diffusion coefficients of these molecules, and (iv) noncovalent interactions that are responsible for the self-assembly and phase separation behaviors of these molecules. Therefore, we should be able to control the necessary processes and interactions, and, consequently, the dynamic structures emerging from these interactions. I will illustrate this strategy with the rational design of chemical oscillators,1-3 waves,4 patterns,5 self-regulated hydrogel actuators,6, 7 and self-assembled colloidal microstructures.8 In perspective, this work opens a path toward constructing life-like dynamic materials and observing emergent phenomena in prebiotically relevant chemistry. 1. S. N. Semenov et al., Nature, 2016, 537, 656 - 660. 2. A. I. Novichkov et al., Nat. Commun., 2021, 12, 2994. 3. X. Li et al., Nat. Commun., 2024, 15, 3316. 4. A. Paikar et al., Chem. Sci., 2025, 16, 659-669. 5. E. Bortnikov, A. Paikar et al., Nat. Commun., 2026, 17, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-71999-4. 6. A. Paikar et al., Adv. Mater., 2022, 34, e2106816. 7. F. Liao et al., Adv. Mater., 2025, 37, e16185. 8. A. I. Hanopolskyi et al., Chem, 2023, 9, 3666-3684.
