Samuel W. Schaffter (PhD JHU Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Schulman group, 2020) has received the 2021 Robert Dirks Molecular Programming Prize, which recognizes exceptional early-career achievement by a researcher who has not yet accepted a tenure-track position. Dr. Schaffter received a $4000 prize and gave a public (virtual) lecture to more than 100 researchers at the Foundations of Nanoscience Conference on Wednesday, April 13, 2021. Dr. Schaffter’s award cited his important contributions to the design of dynamic molecular networks, or circuits, for new materials capable of sensing and adapting to biomolecular signals in the environment and for his design of a chemical feedback system that he showed could increase the robustness, and adaptability of a crystal growth process.