Carrie Partch, professor of chemistry and biochemistry at UC Santa Cruz, will be honored by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) with the 2022 NAS Award in Molecular Biology for her contributions to the molecular understanding of circadian rhythms.
Partch’s transformative work has shed light on the protein-based signaling mechanisms and structural assemblies that give rise to daily cycles known as circadian rhythms in most living things. These daily cycles affect virtually every aspect of our physiology and are driven by the interactions of clock proteins in our cells.
Partch’s studies reveal protein dynamics and interactions at the core of molecular circadian timing mechanisms in both mammals and in cyanobacteria. Her unique approach to the field combining biochemistry, molecular biophysics, and structural biology has provided a deeper mechanistic understanding of how these clocks function at the molecular level.
The NAS Award in Molecular Biology is presented with a medal and a $25,000 prize.
Partch is among 18 individuals being honored this year with NAS awards recognizing their extraordinary scientific achievements in a wide range of fields spanning the physical, biological, social, and medical sciences. The winners will be honored in a ceremony during the National Academy of Sciences' 159th annual meeting in April.
The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit institution that was established under a congressional charter signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. It recognizes achievement in science by election to membership, and—with the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Medicine—provides science, engineering, and health policy advice to the federal government and other organizations.
