Chemist John Yates receives 2019 ASMS John B. Fenn Award for innovations that advanced mass spectrometry
June 14, 2019
The American Society for Mass Spectrometry (ASMS) has named Scripps Research Professor John Yates III, PhD, as the 2019 recipient of the prestigious John B. Fenn Award for Distinguished Contributions in Mass Spectrometry.
Yates is the lead inventor of the SEQUEST software and algorithm that laid a critical foundation for the field of proteomics and dramatically enhanced the accuracy and effectiveness of mass spectrometry to answer important biological and clinical questions. He also enabled large-scale studies to identify the components of protein complexes in a single-cell organisms and mammalian cells.
Thanks to Yates’ innovations, thousands of researchers around the world routinely use proteomics to study proteins in almost every organelle to understand differences between normal and disease states.
“I am honored to receive this award from the ASMS,” Yates says, “and I am humbled to be included with past winners who have been recognized for their revolutionary contributions to mass spectrometry.”
ASMS honored Yates with the award at its annual meeting, held June 2-6 in Atlanta, Georgia. The meeting draws more than 6,500 scientists from academic, industrial and governmental laboratories.
Earlier this year, Yates also received the Khwarizmi International Award, granted by the Republic of Iran’s Ministry of Science Research & Technology and the Iranian Organization for Science & Technology. The award seeks to recognize the efforts made by researchers, innovators and inventors from all over the world and to celebrate their invaluable contributions to science and technology.
Yates holds a PhD in chemistry from University of Virginia, an MS in chemistry from University of Maine, and a BA in zoology, also from University of Maine.
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