ROCKVILLE, MD – The Biophysical Society is pleased to announce that Peter H. von Hippel, PhD, Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Oregon will receive the 2021 Ignacio Tinoco Award. Von Hippel will be honored at the Society’s 65th Annual Meeting, being held virtually, February 22-26, 2021.
The Award, founded in 2018, recognizes meritorious investigators who make fundamental and/or seminal contributions to the physical chemistry of biopolymers and/or who actively promote and sustain a collaborative, inclusive, and engaging research environment in the field. Von Hippel is being recognized for his long-standing contributions to our understanding of nucleic acids and their interactions.
“This award honors the legacy of Ignacio “Nacho” Tinoco, who challenged our community to continually push our fundamental understanding of biophysics,” said BPS President Catherine A. Royer, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York. “He promoted an open, inclusive, and collaborative research environment in his field, positively impacting all of those who were around him. Peter honors the example set forth by Nacho and we are pleased to award him for his many years of highly innovative scientific contributions as well as his commitment to fostering inclusive and collaborative research teams.”
The Ignacio "Nacho" Tinoco Award honors the scientific contributions, work, and life of an outstanding biophysical chemist, educator, and mentor. Tinoco’s contributions to the spectroscopic, thermodynamic, structural, and single-molecule study of biopolymers consistently deepened our understanding of fundamental biophysical principles, constantly moving this field toward new frontiers. Through his unconditional devotion to science, he established a highly cooperative, generous, inclusive, and friendly environment for scientific discovery and advancement. This award recognizes meritorious investigators who make fundamental and/or seminal contributions to the physical chemistry of biopolymers and/or who actively promote and sustain a collaborative, inclusive, and engaging research environment in the field.