Squire Booker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Squire Booker
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| Born | September 9, 1965 Beaumont, Texas
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| Alma mater | B.A. in Chemistry at Austin College (1987) Ph.D. in Biochemistry at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1994) |
| Known for | Biochemistry research with iron-sulfur clusters enzymes |
| Awards | Presidential Early Career Award in Science and Engineering (2004) American Chemical Society Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award (2011) |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | Penn State University (1999-Present) |
Squire Booker is an American scientist who studies biochemistry at Pennsylvania State University. Biochemistry is the study of chemical processes inside living things. He leads a research team that explores how tiny things called enzymes work.
Dr. Booker is a top expert in his field. He is an investigator for the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and holds a special title called the Eberly Distinguished Chair in Science at Penn State. He also helps edit a science journal for the American Chemical Society.
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Early Life and Inspiration
Squire Booker was born on September 9, 1965, in Beaumont, Texas. He grew up in a segregated community, which meant that people were separated based on their race. His grandmother raised him with help from his three uncles.
Two of his uncles were big inspirations for him. One uncle worked at NASA, which got him interested in space and astronomy. Another uncle was a math teacher who sparked his love for solving difficult problems. Because of them, he decided to study chemistry in college, as it combined his passion for both math and science.
Education
Booker earned his first degree in chemistry from Austin College in 1987. He then went on to get his Ph.D. in biochemistry from the famous Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1994.
After finishing his Ph.D., he continued his training as a scientist. He did research in Paris, France, and at the University of Wisconsin. In 1999, he became a professor at Pennsylvania State University, where he continues to teach and do research today.
Important Research on Bacteria
Dr. Booker's research focuses on enzymes, which are special proteins that speed up chemical reactions in our bodies. He is especially interested in enzymes that use iron and sulfur to work.
Fighting Superbugs
One of his major projects involves studying a type of bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus. This bacteria can live on our skin and in our noses without causing problems. However, sometimes it can cause infections.
Some strains of this bacteria have become "superbugs." A superbug is a bacteria that has learned how to survive even when treated with antibiotics. One famous superbug is called MRSA.
Booker's team discovered that these bacteria have a special protein called Cfr. Antibiotics usually work by attacking a part of the bacteria cell called the ribosome, which is like a factory that makes proteins. When the ribosome is blocked, the bacteria dies. But the Cfr protein protects the ribosome, allowing the bacteria to survive. Booker figured out exactly how this defense works.
Understanding E. coli
Booker's lab also studies another common bacteria, Escherichia coli (E. coli). His team figured out the 3D shape of a protein from this bacteria called RImN. Understanding the shape of proteins helps scientists understand how they work. This knowledge is helping in the larger fight against antibiotic resistance.
The main goal of his research is to create new medicines that can stop these bacteria's defenses. If he can do that, our current antibiotics will become effective again, helping to prevent dangerous infections.
Promoting Diversity in Science
Dr. Booker works hard to make sure that science is open to everyone. He encourages students from all backgrounds to study Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
He was the head of a committee for the American Association of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology that focused on supporting minority scientists. In 2010, he helped run a workshop to discuss the challenges that people from minority groups face in science.
In 2019, he was invited to give a special speech at MIT. He was chosen because of his amazing scientific work and his efforts to make STEM more inclusive. In his speech, he told the new graduates that it was their turn to help society and to support each other, no matter their background.
Honors and Awards
Dr. Booker has received many awards for his work. Here are some of them:
- 2022: Hans Neurath Award from the Protein Society
- 2018: Evan Pugh Professor at Pennsylvania State University (the university's highest honor for a professor)
- 2017: Elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
- 2015: Selected as a Hughes Medical Investigator (a very high honor for medical researchers)
- 2014: Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
- 2011: American Chemical Society Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award
- 2004: Presidential Early Career Award in Science and Engineering, given at the White House
