James S. Nowick

James S. Nowick
Treasurer
Professor, Department of Chemistry
University of California, Irvine

Professional Positions

University of California, Irvine, Professor, Department of Chemistry, 1998 - present
University of California, Irvine, Secondary Appointment, Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2019 - present
University of California, Irvine, Chair, Department of Chemistry, 2016 - 2019
University of California, Irvine, Associate Professor, Dept. of Chemistry, 1996 - 1998
University of California, Irvine, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Chemistry, 1991 - 1996

Education

MIT, NSF Postdoctoral Fellow with Professor Julius Rebek, 1989 - 1991
MIT, Ph.D. 1990, NSF Graduate Fellow and ACS Graduate Fellow with Professor Rick Danheiser, 1985 - 1989
Columbia University (Columbia College), A.B. 1981, Undergraduate Research Assistant with Professors David Tyler, Thomas Katz, and Jacqueline Barton, 1981 - 1985

APS Service

2013, 2017, Helped judge posters at the American Peptide

Awards & Honors

2017, Charles R. Bennett Service Through Chemistry Award from the ACS Orange County Section
2016, American Chemical Society (ACS) Fellow
2015, Open Education Consortium Creative Innovation Award for Open Education Excellence
2009, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellow
2009, NOGLSTP Scientist of the Year Award
1999, UCI School of Physical Sciences Award for Outstanding Contributions to Undergrad. Education
1998, American Chemical Society Arthur C. Cope Scholar
1997, Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research
1997, Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship
1996, Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award
1995, Presidential Faculty Fellow Award
1995, UCI Award for Outstanding Faculty Contributions to Undergraduate Research
1994, Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation Young Investigator Award
1992, National Science Foundation Young Investigator Award
1992, American Cancer Society Junior Faculty Research Award
1991, Camille and Henry Dreyfus New Faculty Award
1989, Sigma Xi, full membership
1989, National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship in Chemistry
1988, American Chemical Society Division of Organic Chemistry Graduate Fellowship
1985, DuPont Scholar Award
1985, National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship
1985, American Institutes of Chemists Student Award
1985, Sigma Xi, associate membership
1984, Phi Beta Kappa
1982, CRC Handbook Award

Research Interest

My research interests focus on the structures and interactions of β-sheets, as well amyloidogenic peptides and peptide antibiotics. My students and I are interested in elucidating the molecular basis of Alzheimer’s disease through the design synthesis and study of peptide model systems that mimic oligomers of the β-amyloid peptide. We have also helped elucidate the mechanism of action of the peptide antibiotic teixobactin and are developing new antibiotics based on what we have learned.

Personal Statement

I have benefitted from the APS since first being invited to attend and speak at the American Peptide Symposium in 2001. I have enjoyed a number of APS meetings since then, and have been very impressed with the community that the APS helps foster and how welcoming it is for younger scientists. I am happy to have the opportunity to contribute to this environment and pay it forward through service to the APS. I have served as co-Chair of the Chemistry and Biology of Peptides Gordon Research Conference, and I have experience in networking and fundraising. I have created the PeptideLinks.net website to help link research groups in the peptide community, and I am well connected to the community. I have held leadership positions in the ACS and helped organize symposia and fundraise; I also help organize a biennial foldamers meeting. I have helped set up an endowed graduate student poster award for the Materials Research Society, and I am familiar with the benefits that endowments provide; I have also helped organize endowments at UCI. During my term as Treasurer, I would like to apply these skills in service of the APS.