Israel Prize Awarded to TAU Biochemist for Research into Molecular Biology and Proteins
Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Prof. Nathan Nelson wins Israel's top honor

Prof. Nathan Nelson of Tel Aviv University's Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Renewable Energy Center has been awarded the 2012 Israel Prize in the field of Life Sciences. The prize will be awarded in Jerusalem on the eve of Israel's Independence Day in April 2013.

An expert in biochemistry and molecular biology, Prof. Nelson is internationally renowned for his research into cell membrane molecular proteins and complexes. His most significant achievements include the isolation and structural determination of super-complexes involved in cellular energy transduction, including solving the structure of the plant PSI super-complex — a complicated protein system that governs the process of photosynthesis. He is additionally credited with the discovery and functional determination of genes coding various neurotransmitter transporters, metal-ion transporters, and others.

A step forward for renewable energy

Prof. Nelson is now employing his experience in photosynthesis as a researcher at the Renewable Energy Center, working to develop a clean and sustainable energy source.

The winner of many prestigious prizes in Israel and abroad, he is also a member of the European Organization for Excellence in Life Sciences and has served as the president of the Israel Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the director of the Daniella Rich Institute for Structural Biology. He has more than 250 published articles to his credit and over 15,000 citations in academic articles globally.

Tel Aviv University is proud to add number 74 to its list of recipients of the Israel Prize. The prizes are given every year by the state of Israel to those who have displayed excellence in their fields of study or made a strong contribution to Israeli culture.

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