About
Indian-origin scientist Gautam Dey, a Group Leader at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany, has been awarded the 2026 EMBO Gold Medal, one of Europe’s prestigious honours for outstanding contributions to the life sciences. He shares the award with Omaya Dudin of the University of Geneva, Switzerland.
Dey has been recognized for his research into the evolutionary origins of nuclear organization and cell division. His work focuses on evolutionary cell biology and seeks to understand how fundamental cellular structures and processes emerged and developed over evolutionary time.
The EMBO Gold Medal is awarded annually to scientists in the early stages of their independent careers who are based within European Molecular Biology Conference (EMBC) member states. In 2026, EMBO selected two recipients to recognise scientific excellence and collaboration in life sciences. Each awardee receives a medal and a €10,000 bursary.
Gautam Dey has an academic background spanning India, the United States and the United Kingdom. He studied Biochemistry at the University of Delhi, completed a research master’s at the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bengaluru, earned his PhD from Stanford University, and subsequently conducted postdoctoral research at University College London (UCL). He became a group leader at EMBL in 2020/2021.
His research includes the evolutionary origins of cell division and nuclear organization, while his broader scientific work uses comparative and modern molecular approaches to study the diversity and evolution of cellular life.
The EMBO Gold Medal is intended for scientists early in their independent research careers who are based within EMBC member states. Candidates are nominated by EMBO Members and EMBO Young Investigators, and the EMBO Council selects the award recipients.