About
James Rothman is a distinguished biochemist and molecular biologist, currently serving as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Cell Biology at Yale University and Research Professor at University College London (UCL). He holds multiple professorial roles, including Wallace Professor of the Biomedical Sciences at Yale and Clyde and Helen Wu Professor of Chemical Biology (previously at Columbia University). His career spans over four decades, with foundational contributions to understanding cellular processes like vesicle trafficking and membrane fusion.
- B.A. in Physics, Yale University, 1971
- Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry, Harvard Medical School, 1976
His research focuses on protein sorting, membrane fusion proteins, and cell secretion machinery, particularly the SNARE complex's role in neurotransmitter release and cellular trafficking. His groundbreaking work earned him the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
Awards:
- 2013 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
- 2010 Kavli Prize in Neuroscience
- 1996 Gairdner Foundation International Award
He directs the Nanobiology Institute at Yale and previously led Columbia University's Sulzberger Genome Center. His leadership roles include founding the Department of Cellular Biochemistry and Biophysics at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
