Tufts University: 175 Years of Innovation

Scientist and entrepreneur David R. Walt joined the Tufts Chemistry department as faculty in 1981 and became a University Professor in 2013. His pioneering work in single‑molecule detection and DNA analysis has dramatically reduced the cost of genetic sequencing and helped transform modern biomedical research and diagnostics. He is the scientific founder of Illumina, a leading genomics company whose work is built on Walt's microarray and sequencing technologies. Walt's work at Illumina and beyond helps pave the way toward advancements in oncology, reproductive health, and genetic and infectious disease prevention.