Venki Ramakrishnan

Biography

Abstract

Venki Ramakrishnan was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2009, alongside Thomas A. Steitz and Ada E. Yonath "for studies of the structure and function of the ribosome." He has held positions at Yale University, the Brookhaven National Laboratory, University of Utah, and the Medical Research Council Laboratory at Cambridge University.

Important Dates

April 1, 1952Birth, Chidambaram (India).

1971Obtained BSc in Physics, Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara (India).

1976Pursued second graduate degree in Biology, University of California, San Diego.

1976Obtained PhD in Physics, Ohio University, Athens (Ohio).

1978Postgraduate Researcher, Yale University, New Haven (Conn.).

1983 – 1995Researcher, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton (N.Y.).

1991 – 1992Sabbatical at MRC (Medical Research Council) Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge University, Cambridge (England).

1995 – 1999Researcher, University of Utah, Salt Lake City (Utah).

1999Researcher, MRC (Medical Research Council) Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge University, Cambridge (England).

2000Built complete atomic model of the ribosome 30S subunit, Advanced Photon Source (APS), Argonne National Laboratory.

2002Member, European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO).

2003 – presentFellow and President (2015-present), Royal Society.

2007Awarded the Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine.

2009Awarded Nobel Prize in Chemistry alongside Thomas A. Steitz and Ada E. Yonath, "for studies of the structure and function of the ribosome".

2012Knighted.

Occupation

Biochemist.

Places

Birth

Chidambaram (India)

Undergraduate Education

Vadodara (India)

Graduate Education

Athens (Ohio)

Employment

New Haven (Conn.)

Salt Lake City (Utah)

Cambridge (England)

Subjects

Biochemistry.

Structural chemistry.

Relationships

People

Family

Kapka, Tanya

Step-Daughter.

Ramakrishnan, Raman

Son.

Rosenberry, Vera, 1948-

Wife, married 1975.

Advisors & Collaborators

Moore, Peter B. 1939-

Advisor at Yale University.

Tanaka, Tomoyasu, 1919

PhD advisor at Ohio University.

Additional

Steitz, Thomas A.

Shares 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, "for studies of the structure and function of the ribosome."

Yonath, Ada

Shares 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, "for studies of the structure and function of the ribosome."

Institutions

Major Positions

Argonne National Laboratory

Built complete atomic model of the ribosome 30S subunit, Advanced Photon Source.

Brookhaven National Laboratory

Researcher.

Laboratory of Molecular Biology

Sabbatical position and Researcher.

University of Utah

Researcher.

Yale University

Postdoctoral Researcher.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

European Molecular Biology Organization

Member.

Fondation Louis-Jeantet

Awarded the Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine (2007).

Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda

Received BSc Degree in Physics (1971).

Ohio University. Department of Physics and Astronomy

Received PhD in Physics (1976).

Royal Society (Great Britain)

Fellow and President.

Resources

Published Resources

Subject

Academy of Achievement Biography: Venki Ramakrishnan.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) Profile of Venkatraman Ramakrishnan.

Royal Society member biography: Venki Ramakrishnan.

The Guardian: Venkatraman Ramakrishnan interview: 'It takes courage to tackle very hard problems in science.'

Venkatraman Ramakrishnan Nobel Prize biography - "From Chidambaram to Cambridge: A Life in Science."