Bollinger honored with ASBMB William C. Rose Award
J. Martin Bollinger Jr., professor of chemistry and of biochemistry and molecular biology, has been named a recipient of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) William C. Rose Award.
The award recognizes outstanding contributions to biochemical and molecular biological research and a demonstrated commitment to the training of younger scientists as epitomized by the late Dr. Rose. In recognition of this honor, Bollinger will present a named lecture at the 2022 ASBMB Annual Meeting.
Bollinger's research focuses on enzymes that use metal ions to catalyze—initiate or accelerate—reactions involving oxygen. The metal ions in these enzymes react with oxygen and form potent intermediates that break strong bonds between carbon and hydrogen atoms during biochemical transformations of organic compounds. Such biochemical transformations are central to the regulation of normal cellular physiology and to the development and progression of important human diseases. The central objective of his research, which he conducts jointly with Carsten Krebs, professor of chemistry and of biochemistry and molecular biology, is to elucidate the principles underlying nature's design of these amazing catalysts.
Bollinger’s previous awards and honors include the Eberly College of Science Distinguished Faculty Mentoring Award in 2021, the Camille and Henry Dreyfus New Faculty Award in 1995, the Searle Scholar Award in 1996, the Early Career Award by the Society of Biological Inorganic Chemistry (SBIC) in 2008, the Penn State Faculty Scholar Medal for Outstanding Achievement in 2009, and the Penn State Howard Palmer Mentoring Award for 2011 to 2012. In addition, he was elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2010.
Prior to joining the faculty at Penn State, Bollinger was a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard Medical School from 1993 to 1995. He earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry at Penn State in 1986 and a doctoral degree in biochemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1993.