Dieter Söll is Sterling Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry at Yale University. He received his early education in Germany (Tübingen, Berlin) and England (Durham University) before earning his PhD (1962) in Chemistry at the Technische Hochschule, Stuttgart, Germany. After post-doctoral training with H.G. Khorana at the University of Wisconsin he joined (1967) the faculty of Yale University. A contributor to over 500 scientific papers, Söll's research interests have varied widely from genetics, molecular biology, genomics, and evolution of protein biosynthesis to gravity perception in plants. The recurring theme of his research is the understanding of the role of transfer RNA and aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases in interpreting the genetic code. Currently he is working on expanding the genetic code in the realm of synthetic biology. Söll is a member of the US National Academy of Sciences, associate member of the European Molecular Biology Organization, corresponding member of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology, fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and fellow of the Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Australia.