Dean DellaPenna | |
Birth Place: | Steubenville, Ohio, US |
Education: | BSc., Botanical Cellular Biology, 1984, Ohio University PhD, 1987, University of California, Davis |
Workplaces: | Michigan State University University of Nevada, Reno University of Arizona |
Dean DellaPenna is an American plant biochemist. He is a university distinguished professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at Michigan State University.
DellaPenna was born in Steubenville, Ohio but raised in Wintersville, Ohio. Following high school, DellaPenna worked in a steel mill before attending Ohio University.[1] He subsequently became the first member of his family to enroll at college. After taking Botany 101 as a first year elective, he chose to pursue a career as a plant biochemist.[2] Upon graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1984, DellaPenna went on to earn his PhD at the University of California, Davis and was a postdoctoral researcher at Washington State University.[1]
Following his postdoctoral position at Washington State University, DellaPenna joined the faculty at the University of Arizona from 1990 to 1996 before moving to the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR).[1] During his tenure at UNR, DellaPenna cloned a gene in a mustard-type plant that increased its production of vitamin E in seeds.[3] [4] Following this discovery, DellaPenna was recruited to join the faculty at Michigan State University in 2000.[5]
In 2013, DellaPenna was named a university distinguished professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, the highest honor bestowed on faculty members by the university.[6] Following this, DellaPenna was also honored as an MSU Foundation Professor in recognition of his "exceptional contributions to research and instruction."[7] While serving in these roles, he was also elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences.[8]
DellaPenna has been recognized as a Pioneer Member of the American Society of Plant Biologists. [9]