John Shanklin

John Shanklin is a Distinguished Biochemist and Chair of the Biology Department at Brookhaven National Laboratory, where he has led research since joining in 1992 and achieving tenured senior biochemist status in 2002. His work focuses on plant lipid biochemistry and engineering sustainable bioenergy solutions.

His educational background includes a BSc from the University of Lancaster (UK), followed by M.Sc. and Ph.D. studies in Horticulture at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Shanklin's research centers on lipid modification enzymes—particularly fatty acid desaturases—and regulatory mechanisms controlling oil accumulation in plants. He pioneers 'Green Factory' engineering to produce industrial feedstocks on non-arable lands, avoiding food-fuel competition through advanced genetic engineering and structural enzyme analysis using BNL's National Synchrotron Light Source. His work targets carbon capture optimization and lipid homeostasis regulation via SnRK1/TOR kinase pathways.

Major recognitions include:

• Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (1997)
• Terry Galliard Medal for Plant Lipid Biochemistry (2000)
• Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2008)
• Brookhaven National Laboratory Science and Technology Award (2013)
• DOE Office of Energy Research Young Scientist Award (1997)
• DuPont Science and Engineering Educational Aid Grant (1996)
• U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science Pollution Prevention Award (2004)
• Nathan Edward Tolbert Endowed Lectureship Award (2001)

As Department Chair, Shanklin serves on the BNL Council and Distinguished Lectureship Committee while advancing DOE Office of Science missions. His laboratory leverages Brookhaven's National Synchrotron Light Source and Laboratory of Biomolecular Structure for cutting-edge enzyme characterization.