Jacqueline Barton

Error creating thumbnail:

Jacqueline Barton AIC Gold Medal 2015

Jacqueline Barton
Born	Jacqueline Ann Kapelman May 7, 1952 New York City, New York, United States
Nationality	American
Alma mater	Barnard College, Columbia University
Known for	DNA research
Awards	National Medal of Science, Priestley Medal, ACS Award in Pure Chemistry
Scientific career
Fields	Chemistry
Institutions	California Institute of Technology
Doctoral advisor	Stephen J. Lippard

Jacqueline Ann Barton (née Kapelman; born May 7, 1952) is an American chemist known for her pioneering research on the chemistry of DNA. She is currently the John G. Kirkwood and Arthur A. Noyes Professor of Chemistry at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).

Early life and education

Barton was born in New York City, New York. She attended Barnard College, where she received her B.A. in 1974. She then pursued her Ph.D. in Inorganic chemistry at Columbia University under the supervision of Stephen J. Lippard, completing it in 1979.

Career

After completing her Ph.D., Barton held a postdoctoral position at Bell Laboratories and then joined the faculty at Hunter College. In 1989, she moved to the California Institute of Technology, where she has remained since. Her research has focused on the electron transfer properties of DNA and the development of metal complexes as probes of DNA structure and function.

Research

Barton's research has significantly advanced the understanding of how DNA can conduct electricity. Her work has implications for biochemistry, molecular biology, and the development of biosensors. She has demonstrated that DNA can act as a conduit for electron transfer, which has potential applications in nanotechnology and molecular electronics.

Awards and honors

Barton has received numerous awards for her contributions to science, including the National Medal of Science in 2011, the Priestley Medal in 2015, and the ACS Award in Pure Chemistry in 1988. She is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Personal life

Barton is married to fellow chemist Peter Dervan, who is also a professor at Caltech. They have collaborated on several research projects and have co-authored numerous scientific papers.

See also

• DNA
• Electron transfer
• California Institute of Technology
• National Medal of Science
• Priestley Medal