Martin Jay Sherwin was an esteemed American historian renowned for his extensive research on the history of nuclear weapons and nuclear proliferation. Throughout his illustrious career, he held esteemed positions at several prestigious institutions, including Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of California, Berkeley, and Tufts University, where he not only served as the Walter S. Dickson Professor of English and American History but also established the Nuclear Age History and Humanities Center.

Emerging from Dartmouth College with a B.A. and a Ph.D. in history from the University of California, Los Angeles, Sherwin's academic journey was marked by excellence and a passion for understanding the complexities of the atomic era. His tenure as a professor at Tufts University was characterized by his deep knowledge and his commitment to nurturing young minds until he became an emeritus professor in May 2007. Subsequently, he continued to share his expertise as a University Professor at George Mason University.

In recognition of his remarkable contributions to historical scholarship, Sherwin received numerous awards and grants. His exemplary work, in partnership with co-author Kai Bird, on the biography American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer earned them the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for Biography in 2006, cementing his legacy as an influential figure in the field of history.