David R Benson

David R. Benson is an Associate Professor and Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Kansas. He also serves as the REU Program Director. Holding a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of California, Los Angeles (1990), and a B.S. from Pennsylvania State University (1985), Benson has dedicated his career to understanding the chemistry and biochemistry of heme proteins.

• Education: B.S. (Pennsylvania State University, 1985), Ph.D. (University of California, Los Angeles, 1990)
• Postdoctoral Training: National Institutes of Health Fellow at University of California, Berkeley (1990-1993)

His research focuses on the structural and functional analysis of heme proteins, including hemoglobin, myoglobin, cytochromes, and peroxidases. The work explores how nature fine-tunes these proteins for high-efficiency biological processes like dioxygen transport, electron transport, and hydrocarbon oxidation. His group combines synthetic chemistry with biochemical techniques to study model heme compounds and natural proteins like cytochrome b5, revealing insights into ligand-sensing mechanisms, redox potential control, and protein folding stability.

Key trends in his publications (2005-2007) include comparative studies of cytochrome b5 variants across species, investigations into synthetic heme peptides, and analyses of non-covalent interactions governing protein functionality. His work bridges inorganic chemistry, structural biology, and molecular biophysics.

• Scientific Awards: Walter and Roy Cross Professional Service Award

Benson actively mentors students through undergraduate and graduate research opportunities, particularly via the Chemistry REU Program. His laboratory integrates chemical synthesis with biochemical methodologies to explore fundamental aspects of heme protein behavior.