University of Wisconsin–Madison biochemistry professor Vatsan Raman has been honored as a 2025-2026 Vilas Associate, an award presented by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research. This prestigious recognition highlights outstanding research contributions in various fields.
Raman’s lab specializes in systems and synthetic biology, focusing on the design and understanding of biological systems, including biomolecules, regulatory pathways, and entire organisms. His team is working on allosteric protein engineering, developing synthetic bacteriophages with novel host interactions, and creating high-throughput assays to analyze disease-relevant gene variants.
Expressing gratitude for the recognition, Raman stated, “Receiving the Vilas Associate award is a true honor. I appreciate the generous support from the Vilas Foundation, which allows us to pursue ambitious scientific questions and advance innovation.”
Since joining UW–Madison’s Biochemistry Department in 2015, Raman has conducted research at the intersection of biochemistry, computational science, and engineering. His expertise spans biomolecular folding, chemical biology, structural biology, quantitative biology, and synthetic biology.
The Vilas Associates Competition selects awardees through a rigorous evaluation process conducted by divisional research committees. Winners receive summer salary support for two years, along with $25,000 in flexible research funding. The award is funded by the William F. Vilas Estate Trust.
Raman’s academic background includes a B.S. from Baroda University in India, an M.S. from Missouri University of Science and Technology, a Ph.D. from the University of Washington, Seattle, and postdoctoral research at Harvard Medical School’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering.
