The Executive Board of Utrecht University has appointed Dr. Alexander Makarov as Professor by Special Appointment of High Resolution Mass Spectrometry at the Department of Chemistry and the Bijvoet Center. Makarov is Director of Global Research for Life Sciences Mass Spectrometry at Thermo Fisher Scientific. His appointment is a further strengthening of the close research collaboration between Thermo Fisher Scientific and the Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics group of Prof. Albert Heck as well as a valuable strengthening in the education of Life Sciences students at the Faculty of Science.
Physicist Alexander Makarov (1966), is the inventor of the Orbitrap mass analyzer, which changed the field of chemical analysis including proteomics, the analysis of proteins. Understanding protein function, in the context of health and disease research, is nowadays heavily reliant on proteomics. Since its introduction in 2005, Orbitrap-based mass spectrometers quickly conquered the research market and led to many breakthroughs in the field of physical, chemical and life sciences.
Bridge that connects academia and industry
The objective of the new chair is to research new applications to the analysis of large proteins and protein assemblies. This could allow detailed measurements of a range of biologically important species.
Makarov also looks forward to working closer with master and PhD students. “I hope that this appointment will become a bridge that connects academia and industry, allowing students as well as industrial scientists to reach across the divide and engage in mutual learning”. Through his appointment, students will get the opportunity to do part of their research at Thermo Fisher Scientific and learn about research in a company environment.
Bijvoet Center and Thermo Fisher Scientific
In the Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research, pharmacists, chemists and biologists perform research and offer a research training programme on the relation between the structure and function of biomolecules. The Center is one of the partners in Utrecht University’s Life Sciences programme, that focusses on ‘Public health, from molecule to population’.
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science. It’s mission is to enable their customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. With revenues of $13 billion, it has approximately 39,000 employees and serves customers within pharmaceutical and biotech companies, hospitals and clinical diagnostic labs, universities, research institutions and government agencies, as well as in environmental and process control industries. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. includes three premier brands, Thermo Scientific, Fisher Scientific and Unity Lab Services.