Leading biochemist appointed to Anniversary Chair at the University of York
Posted on 22 March 2004
Professor Davies is currently a Royal Society University Research Fellow and professor in the Department of Chemistry, and his new professorship has been created within the department.
Professor Davies’ appointment brings to 10 the number of Anniversary Chairs announced by the University as part of a major research expansion. It announced in June 2003 that it hoped to appoint up to 10 new professors to celebrate its 40th anniversary.
The main theme of Professor Davies’ research is the study of the structure and mechanisms of action of enzymes that catalyse the synthesis and breakdown of carbohydrates. He employs X-ray crystallography together with investigations of chemical reactivity to work out how the enzymes come to be such remarkable catalysts. It is now realised that many proteins only acquire their unique characteristics by working in conjunction with carbohydrates. An understanding of this relationship will be essential to new advances in medicine. Enzymes that break down carbohydrates are essential to digestion, but also find application, for instance, in biological washing powders.
Gideon Davies has worked in Europe and Canada; he has spoken at many international conferences and has also given science lectures to schoolchildren visiting the University of York.
Professor Robin Perutz, Head of the Department of Chemistry, added: "Professor Davies is an outstanding researcher and outstanding teacher. He is a world leader in his field, an area of research with huge implications for fundamental understanding, for medicine and for industry. We are delighted that he has received this recognition of his wonderful research in York and that he is taking up this appointment."
Notes to editors:
- The Department of Chemistry at York has a research rating of 5 and expenditure from research grants of about £6m a year. Its particular specialities are: structural biology, green chemistry, photochemistry, analytical science, atmospheric chemistry, synthesis, reaction mechanisms and science education. It has 45 academic staff, including 10 with independent funding from The Royal Society and the Wellcome Trust, about 75 research fellows and about 120 research students.