Carolyn R. Bertozzi
T. Z. and Irmgard Chu Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Professor of Molecular and Cell Biology
University of California, Berkeley
Department of Chemistry
Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley, 1993
B.S. Harvard University, 1988
The Rochester Section of the American Chemical Society is proud to announce the selection of Professor Carolyn R. Bertozzi, the T. Z. and Irmgard Chu Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Professor of Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of California, Berkeley, as the 2009 recipient of the Harrison Howe Award.
Carolyn Bertozzi is recognized as one of the leading scientists of her generation. In addition to her Berkeley appointment, she is an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and Director of the Molecular Foundry, a nanoscience institute at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The 2009 Harrison Howe Award is the latest in a series of prestigious awards that Professor Bertozzi has received. Select awards from the past ten years alone include the Ernst Schering Prize (2007); Elected member of the National Academy of Sciences (2005); Havinga Medal, Univ. Leiden (2005); Iota Sigma Pi Agnes Fay Morgan Research Award (2004); Elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2003); Irving Sigal Young Investigator Award of the Protein Society (2002); Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2002); Donald Sterling Noyce Prize for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching (2001); UC Berkeley Distinguished Teaching Award (2001); ACS Award in Pure Chemistry (2001); Merck Academic Development Program Award (2000); UC Berkeley Department of Chemistry Teaching Award (2000); Presidential Early Career Award in Science and Engineering (PECASE) (2000); MacArthur Foundation Award (1999); Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award (1999); and the Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award (ACS) (1999).
Bertozzi’s research interests lie at the intersection of chemistry and biology, with a particular focus on understanding the relationship of cell surface glycosylation to normal cell function, and to human disease. Bertozzi has designed elegant experiments that have made historic contributions to the way in which researchers can profile changes in cell surface glycosylation associated with cancer, inflammation, and bacterial infection. She is most noted for her pioneering work in the field of bioorthogonal chemistry on living systems. In addition, Bertozzi has demonstrated the ability to use carbon nanotubes and nanocrystals as possible diagnostic imaging and drug delivery agents. As one of her colleagues states, “...Her work is characterized by exceptional creativity, a deep understanding of biology, and elegance in experimental design, execution, and descriptive prose. She is an enthusiastic lecturer, an exemplary citizen, and a fabulous role model for chemists and biochemists world-wide.”
The award will be presented at a public lecture at the University of Rochester Medical School on October 1, 2009 at 7:30 pm in the Class of ’62 Auditorium, with a reception to follow. Bertozzi will also present a technical lecture to local students and chemists at 2:00 pm in the Class of ’62 Auditorium at University of Rochester on October 1, 2009.
The Harrison Howe Award is dedicated to the memory of Harrison E. Howe, 1881—1942, a cofounder of the ACS Rochester Section and a well-known chemist, editor, and author. The award was established to recognize a scientist who has made outstanding contributions to chemistry or closely related fields and who shows great potential for further achievement. Recent winners of the award include Charles Lieber (2002), Jack Szostak (2003), Michael Marletta (2004), Laura Kiessling (2005), and Daniel Nocera (2008).
For more information about the 2009 Harrison Howe Award lectures and event please contact Patrick Holland, Associate Professor of Chemistry or Lory Hedges, Development Administrator, at the University of Rochester at hhowe@chem.rochester.edu.
Bertozzi's faculty webpage at UC Berekeley can be found here.