Timothy Cernak Named Inaugural Allen J. Sedman Research Professor

Media Contact: Lindsay Groth, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications, [email protected]  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: (Ann Arbor, Mich.) – Timothy Cernak, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, has been named the inaugural Allen J. Sedman, M.D., Ph.D. Research Professor, effective Oct. 1, 2026.

“I’m honored to be named the inaugural Allen J. Sedman, M.D., Ph.D. Research Professor and grateful to Aileen and Allen Sedman for their investment in scientific discovery,” stated Cernak.

Cernak is an accomplished scientist, educator and mentor whose research combines chemical synthesis, artificial intelligence and robotics to discover new chemical reactions and develop innovative approaches to drug discovery. His laboratory integrates chemistry, automation and high-throughput experimentation to advance the development of medicines, natural products and chemical biology tools that support human health and biodiversity.

“This appointment recognizes Dr. Cernak’s innovative research and his outstanding contributions to advancing scientific discovery through interdisciplinary approaches to medicinal chemistry,” remarked Dean Vicki Ellingrod.

Since joining the College of Pharmacy in 2018, Cernak has established collaborations across the University of Michigan, contributing to initiatives spanning data science, life sciences, global health, cancer research and infectious disease. He also serves on multiple advisory boards and was a co-founder of Iambic Therapeutics, and has received numerous honors, including a 2023 Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship.

Established in May 2026 through a generous pledge from Aileen and Allen Sedman, the professorship supports the research programs of outstanding tenure-track faculty scholars. Allen Sedman is a College of Pharmacy alumnus who earned his PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences before building a successful career in pharmaceutical drug development.

“Named research professorships are an investment in our outstanding faculty, who advance science, educate future changemakers and translate discovery into medication for patients,” said Ellingrod. “We are grateful to Aileen and Allen Sedman for their generosity. By supporting exceptional faculty, donors help provide the resources and flexibility to pursue new ideas and move the College forward.”

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About the College of Pharmacy

The University of Michigan College of Pharmacy has been leading at pharmacy’s edge for 150 years. The first and oldest pharmacy school at a state university, the College — currently ranked #3 in the nation — has and continues to shape education in the field. Its faculty are internationally recognized and are innovators in drug discovery, development and delivery, precision pharmacotherapy, outcomes research, and clinical practice. More than 5,000 alumni are enhancing patient care and outcomes from the bench to the bedside, in boardrooms and communities, government agencies, and within healthcare companies. Learn more about the College of Pharmacy