Edward Boyden is an American biochemist, neuroscientist. He is currently an Associate Professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. (Photo: MIT News)
• Education and Experiences
1995-1999 BS, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1999-2005 Ph.D, Stanford University
2005-2006 Postdoc, Stanford University
2006-2007 Visiting researcher, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2007-2011 Associate Professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2011 – Associate Professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Awards and Honors
2016 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences
2015 BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award
2015 Society for Neuroscience Young Investigator Award
2015 Carnegie Prize in Mind and Brain Sciences
2014 Schuetze Award in Neuroscience
2013 Jacob Heskel Gabbay Award
2013 Grete Lundbeck European Brain Research Prize (“The Brain Prize”)
2011 Perl/UNC Neuroscience Prize
2011 A F Harvey Prize
2010 Nature Methods Method of the Year
2007 Society for Neuroscience, Research Award for Innovation in Neuroscience (RAIN)
2006 Technology Review TR35, World’s Top 35 Innovators under Age 35
• Research
Development of light genetics technology
At the Karl Disseroth lab, in collaboration with Feng Zhang, Dr. Boyden demonstrated that he can control neural behavior in millisecond-timescale by introducing photosensitizing archaebacterium rhodopsin protein into nerve cells.[1] This invention has brought a breakthrough in current optical genetics (Optogenetics) research.[2]
• References
- “Millisecond-timescale, genetically targeted optical control of neural activity” Boyden, E. S. ; Zhang, F.; Bamberg, E.; Nagel, G.; Deisseroth, K. Nature Neurosci. 2005, 8, 1263. doi:10.1038/nn1525