Richard H. Ebright facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Richard H. Ebright
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|---|---|
| Born |
Richard High Ebright
June 11, 1959 |
| Alma mater | Harvard University |
| Awards | Searle Scholar Award (1989), National Institutes of Health MERIT Award (2013) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Molecular biology |
| Institutions |
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| Thesis | Structure-function studies with the catabolite gene activator protein (CAP) of Escherichia coli (1986) |
Richard High Ebright is an American scientist who studies molecular biology. This field looks at how tiny parts of living things, like DNA and proteins, work. He is a professor at Rutgers University and a director at the Waksman Institute of Microbiology.
Contents
Early Life and School
Richard Ebright was born on June 11, 1959. He went to Harvard University for his college studies. In 1981, he earned a degree in biology with the highest honors. He then continued his studies at Harvard. In 1987, he received his PhD in microbiology and molecular genetics. From 1984 to 1987, he was a special junior fellow at Harvard.
His Work as a Scientist
In 1987, Dr. Ebright started working at Rutgers University. He became a professor in the Department of Chemistry. He also became a director at the Waksman Institute of Microbiology. For many years, from 1997 to 2013, he was also an investigator for the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
What He Studies
Dr. Ebright's research focuses on how cells work at a very small level. He studies how proteins interact with DNA. This helps us understand how genes are turned on and off. He has also studied how bacteria make RNA. This process is called transcription. His work has helped find new ways to fight bacterial infections.
Awards and Recognition
Dr. Ebright has received several important awards for his scientific work. In 1994, he won the Schering-Plough Award. In 1995, he received the Walter J. Johnson Prize. He also got a National Institutes of Health MERIT Award in 2013.
He has been chosen as a fellow by several important science groups. These include the American Academy of Microbiology and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. His story is even featured in a high school textbook in India. The piece is called 'The Making of a Scientist'.
Keeping Science Safe
Dr. Ebright is also interested in making sure science is done safely. He believes that laboratories working with certain germs should be very careful. He supports strong safety rules to prevent any accidental release of harmful materials. This is called biosafety and biosecurity. It helps keep everyone safe.
Understanding Virus Origins
Dr. Ebright has shared his thoughts on how the SARS-CoV-2 virus started. This virus caused the COVID-19 pandemic. He has said that the virus's genetic makeup does not show it was made as a weapon. However, he also believes that we cannot rule out the idea that it might have come from a lab accident. He has asked for a full investigation into how the pandemic began. He also wants steps taken to lower the risk of future pandemics.
Dr. Ebright and another professor, Bryce Nickels, started a group called Biosafety Now. They have spoken out about the idea that the COVID-19 virus might have leaked from a lab.
