Charles E. Samuel

Charles E. Samuel is a Research Professor and Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). He holds the C.A. Storke II Professorship and has served in leadership roles, including Director of the Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Program (1987-95) and Chair of the Department of Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology (MCDB) (1995-98 and 2001-04). He earned his B.S. in Chemistry from Montana State University and his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from UC Berkeley. His research focuses on interferon-mediated antiviral mechanisms, RNA editing enzymes (ADAR1/PKR), and virus-host interactions. He is an associate editor of the Journal of Biological Chemistry and Journal of Interferon & Cytokine Research.

Education:

• B.S., Chemistry, Montana State University
• Ph.D., Biochemistry, UC Berkeley

Research interests include:

• Mechanisms of interferon action
• RNA editing and innate immunity
• PKR and ADAR enzymes in viral pathogenesis
• Measles virus replication and stress responses

Key awards:

• NIH MERIT Award
• Humboldt Forschungspreis
• Fellowships: AAAS and American Academy of Microbiology

Advising: Supervised over 40 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Grants include NIH-funded projects on interferon biology and antiviral mechanisms. His lab investigates viral factories, stress granules, and gene delivery systems using cationic liposomes.