Stephen W Ragsdale
Stephen W. Ragsdale was born in Rome, Georgia. He received his BS and PhD degrees in Biochemistry from the University of Georgia before joining Harland Wood's laboratory for a postdoctoral stint at Case Western Reserve University. He had appointments as Assistant Professor at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Associate/ Full Professor at the University of Nebraska, and Professor/David Ballou Collegiate Professor in the Department of Biological Chemistry at the University of Michigan. Much of his research has focused on microbial biochemistry related to bioenergy generation, metalloproteins, and the biochemical pathways related to the formation and uptake of greenhouse gases in the earth's atmosphere. These include purification and elucidation of the structures and functions of the metal centers and overall structures of the major proteins, metal centers, and reaction intermediates in the Wood-Ljungdahl Pathway of CO2 fixation and the key enzymes in methanogenesis. He also has elucidated structures, function and regulation of heme oxygenase and how redox, CO, and heme regulate metabolism in humans. He has published over 230 papers, including reviews and primary publications. Active in the various societies, he is a Fellow of the American Society of Microbiology and the American Association of Arts and Sciences, and serves on Editorial Boards, and grant review panels for NIH, Department of Energy, and NSF, including current membership on the NIH MSFA study section. He is interested in academic and lay science education and many of his former students and postdoctoral associates are employed in academia, industry, and national labs. He teaches courses in Biochemistry and lectures in the areas of climate change, creative process, spirituality, and ethics. He (a guitarist) composes and performs science-based music he and his wife (Marlena Studer, a well-known jazz vocalist) perform in various local and international venues.
Abstracts this author is presenting: