Harvard professor of mathematics and biology whose Program for Evolutionary Dynamics received $6.5 million in donations from Jeffrey Epstein. The program was named the Jeffrey Epstein Program for Mathematical Biology until the name was removed in 2019.
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Martin Nowak is mentioned in documents or reporting related to the Epstein case. Being mentioned does not imply any wrongdoing, criminal conduct, or inappropriate behavior.
This dossier was generated by AI (Claude) from court filings, government releases, and other documentary sources in our database. It may contain errors or misattributions. Always verify claims against the linked source documents.
Background
Martin Nowak is an Austrian-American professor of biology and mathematics at Harvard University and the founding director of the Program for Evolutionary Dynamics (PED). Before joining Harvard, Nowak was based at Princeton University. His academic work focuses on mathematical biology, evolutionary dynamics, and game theory, including research on cancer evolution and infectious diseases. He authored the academic text 'Evolutionary Dynamics: Exploring the Equations of Life,' published by Harvard's Belknap Press, which is cited in network theory literature.
Nowak was recruited from Princeton to Harvard reportedly with the assistance of Jeffrey Epstein's introductions and financial support. At Harvard, he assumed a joint appointment in biology and mathematics while directing the PED program, which was initially named the Jeffrey Epstein Program for Mathematical Biology and Evolutionary Dynamics. The program name was changed in 2019 following renewed scrutiny of Epstein's crimes.
Nowak has co-authored academic work with researchers including Moshe Hoffman and Erez Yoeli, publishing game-theory research on cooperation dynamics. He appeared alongside other high-profile scientists at Epstein-organized gatherings and was listed in event planning documents alongside figures such as Steven Pinker, Michael Gazzaniga, and Vilayanur S. Ramachandran.
Epstein Connection
Martin Nowak is one of the most extensively documented academic recipients of Jeffrey Epstein's financial patronage. Epstein funded Harvard's Program for Evolutionary Dynamics, which Nowak directed. The program was originally named after Epstein. Nowak himself credited Epstein's introductions for facilitating his move from Princeton to Harvard. Multiple documents show a sustained personal and professional relationship spanning at least 2010 to 2018, evidenced by frequent direct email correspondence, attendance at Epstein-hosted social gatherings with global elites, and coordination of visits. Nowak was CC'd on communications between Epstein and MIT Media Lab director Joi Ito, and was involved in proposals to connect Epstein's network with international academic institutions, including a plan to receive PhD graduates from Tsinghua University annually. The Jeffrey Epstein VI Foundation listed Nowak among leading scientists it supported.
Key Allegations(10)
Nowak's Harvard Program for Evolutionary Dynamics received a major donation from Epstein, reported as $35 million in some sources.
documentedAccording to The Boston Globe, the actual amount received from Epstein was US$6.5 million.
documentedFact-checking questionnaires reference a $30 million figure for Epstein's funding of Nowak's Harvard program.
allegedNowak credited Epstein's introductions for facilitating his move from Princeton to Harvard.
documentedEpstein funded a program at Harvard that was named the Epstein Program for Mathematical Biology and Evolutionary Dynamics, and recruited Nowak from Princeton to lead it.
documentedAlan Dershowitz became a Faculty Affiliate of Nowak's Epstein-funded program at Harvard.
documentedNowak attended Epstein-hosted cocktail parties and dinners alongside former world leaders, tech executives, and financiers.
documentedNowak maintained regular email correspondence with Epstein from at least December 2010 through February 2018.
documentedNowak proposed receiving two PhD graduates annually from Tsinghua University as part of an arrangement communicated on Epstein's behalf.
documentedLegal Status
Martin Nowak has not been charged with or convicted of any crime. He appears extensively in Epstein case documents as a recipient of Epstein's financial patronage and as a social/professional associate. He is named in FBI/police compilations, court filings, oversight documents, and Epstein's own email records.
Notable Statements(1)
“Just like other people collect art, he collects scientists.”
Contradictions(1)
Epstein donated $35 million to Harvard's Program for Evolutionary Dynamics in 2003.
According to The Boston Globe, the actual amount received from Epstein was US$6.5 million, significantly less than the $35 million figure cited in Epstein-affiliated press materials and some oversight documents. Separately, fact-checking questionnaires reference a $30 million figure.
Key Relationships(7)
Epstein was a major financial patron of Nowak's Harvard program. The program was named after Epstein. Nowak credited Epstein's introductions for his move from Princeton to Harvard. Extensive email correspondence spanning 2010-2018 documents an ongoing personal and professional relationship. [d-15385, d-35787, d-29206, efta-efta02039331, efta-efta02023188, efta-efta02020412, efta-02238899]
Joi Ito (former MIT Media Lab director) CC'd Nowak on emails to Epstein discussing planned visits and events. Ito and Nowak are referenced together in coordination of meetings with Epstein. [d-14990, d-27053, efta-efta02040422, efta-efta02043498]
Alan Dershowitz became a Faculty Affiliate of the Epstein-funded program that Nowak directed at Harvard. [d-35787]
Steven Pinker and Martin Nowak were listed together at an Epstein-organized event at Spring Mountain Vineyard in Napa, CA. [efta-efta02032023]
Larry Summers appears in the same Epstein gathering documents as Nowak, as both were part of Epstein's circle of academic and elite contacts at his Manhattan residence. [d-25072, d-29604]
Nathan Myhrvold is listed alongside Nowak as an attendee at Epstein-hosted events. Fact-checking questionnaires ask whether the subject met with both Myhrvold and Nowak. [d-24034, d-22233]
Lesley Groff (Epstein's assistant) coordinated scheduling for meetings at Nowak's Institute as late as February 2016. [efta-efta02059593]
Timeline(19 events)
Epstein makes a major gift to Harvard to establish the Program for Evolutionary Dynamics, named the Jeffrey Epstein Program for Mathematical Biology and Evolutionary Dynamics. Nowak is recruited from Princeton to lead it.
Palm Beach Post article quotes Nowak saying Epstein 'collects scientists' and identifies him as director of the Program for Evolutionary Dynamics and a reported recipient of Epstein's largest science grant.
Nowak emails Epstein a Wikipedia link about mathematician Clifford Taubes, saying 'that's him.'
Nowak emails Epstein a link to Harvard Physics faculty page for David Nelson.
Nowak emails Epstein asking 'shall i email zeilinger? is it for thursday late afternoon,' suggesting coordination to connect Epstein with physicist Anton Zeilinger.
Nowak emails Epstein directly, addressing him as 'jeffrey.'
Nowak emails Epstein apologizing for being 'cut off' during a phone call and says he called back.
Nowak emails Epstein.
Nowak sends Epstein a Wired article titled '9 Equations True Geeks Should (at Least Pretend to) Know.'
Nowak emails Epstein: 'I'm in vermont skiing for 2 days.'
Nowak emails Epstein.
Nowak sends Epstein an academic paper on 'Power Laws are Logarithmic Boltzmann Laws.'
Nowak sends Epstein a link to an academic paper on deception.
Google search results forwarded to Epstein by Richard Kahn list Nowak among 'People also search for' alongside Ghislaine Maxwell and Les Wexner.
Meeting coordinated at Nowak's Institute, with Epstein's assistant Lesley Groff involved in scheduling.
Nowak is CC'd on email from Joi Ito to Epstein discussing a planned visit on April 1 and an Anonymous operation targeting Trump's page.
Masha Drokova emails Nowak asking him to confirm what specific research Epstein funded and whether any pending papers might appear in top journals like Nature or Science.
Nowak responds to a scheduling email: 'The schedule is great. Shall I ask Moshe to come.'
The Jeffrey Epstein Program for Mathematical Biology name is removed from Harvard's Program for Evolutionary Dynamics following renewed scrutiny of Epstein after his arrest.
At a Glance
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Offshore Connections (4)
Cross-referenced against the ICIJ Offshore Leaks Database (814K+ entities from Panama Papers, Paradise Papers, Pandora Papers, and Bahamas Leaks). Matches are based on name similarity and do not imply wrongdoing.
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Black Book Entry
Document Mentions
Schedule (50)
2012-01-26 to 2015-10-16 · 31 entries verified across multiple documents
Appointment with Martin Nowak
Cambridge
Lindsay Borthwick to meet with Martin Nowak
the Institute
Meet Martin Nowak at the Institute
the Institute
Lindsay Borthwick to meet with Martin Nowak at the Institute
Martin Nowak's Institute, 1 Brattle Square, suite 6, Cambridge MA
Lindsay Borthwick to meet with Martin Nowak at the Institute
the Institute
Meet with Martin Nowak at the Institute
the Institute
Meet Martin Nowak at the Institute, Lindsay to meet at 11am
Martin's Institute
Meet Martin Nowak at the Institute
the Institute
Appointment with Martin Nowak
Breakfast with Martin Nowak
Breakfast with Martin Nowak
Breakfast w/Martin Nowak
Appointment with Martin Nowak
Appointment with Martin Nowak at Harvard
Harvard
Appt w/Martin Nowak
Appointment with Martin Nowak
Appt w/Martin Nowak
Appointment with Martin Nowak and others
Appt w/Martin Nowak and Others
Appointment with Martin Nowak and Others
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