Harvard professor of mathematics and biology who founded the Program for Evolutionary Dynamics (PED). Jeffrey Epstein donated approximately .5 million to the PED, which was temporarily renamed the Jeffrey Epstein Program for Mathematical Biology. Nowak appears more than 4,000 times in the records released under the 2025 Epstein Files Transparency Act, including emails discussing private travel with Epstein.
In 2021 Harvard suspended Nowak from supervising undergraduate research for two years and permanently closed the PED. Harvard lifted the sanctions against Nowak in 2023. In February 2026 he was again placed on administrative leave as new DOJ file releases renewed scrutiny of his relationship with Epstein.