Jeffrey Vinokur Explained

Jeffrey Vinokur
Other Names:Dr. Jeff, The Dancing Scientist
Education:PhD, Biochemistry (UCLA)
Birth Place:Montvale, New Jersey
Known For:science demonstrations, hosting
Occupation:scientist, entrepreneur
Years Active:2010-present
Website:www.DancingScientist.com
Module:
Embed:yes
Fields:Biochemistry
Thesis Title:Discovery of a novel mevalonate pathway and its potential to produce biofuels.
Thesis Url:https://escholarship.org/uc/item/81s1f174

Jeffrey Vinokur (born August 24, 1990), also known as Dr. Jeff[1] [2] and The Dancing Scientist,[3] is an American scientist, entrepreneur and Emmy-nominated host of more than 100 educational science shows for children.[4] [5]

He is also the founder of Generation Genius, an educational streaming platform, which, as of Nov 2021, is used in approximately 30% of schools in the United States.[6] With Vinokur as CEO, Generation Genius ranked as the #88 fastest growing company in America on the Inc500 list in 2022[7] and was featured on TIME Magazine’s TIME100 list of most influential companies in 2023.[8]

Vinokur has performed as “The Dancing Scientist” on national TV shows including Good Morning America, The Today Show,[9] The View,[10] 'America's Got Talent,[11] and Discovery Channel,[12] as well as live stage shows performed at the World Science Festival,[13] Smithsonian Institution,[14] and the USA Science and Engineering Festival.[15] [16]

Early life

Jeffrey Vinokur was born in 1990 to Russian immigrant parents. He attended Montvale Public Schools.[17] His early interest in science was fueled by doing kitchen science experiments in elementary school, which later progressed to creating a chemistry lab in his parents' garage at age 14, where he would do amateur experiments like making sodium metal from household supplies.[17] Vinokur began conducting biochemistry research at age 15 at Rutgers University.[18]

While a senior at Pascack Hills High School, he began learning the dance genre of "popping" through online videos and DVDs.[15] He later traveled to New York City to take classes from leading practitioners of the dance style such as Jazzy J of The Electric Boogaloos.[19] Afterwards he began posting dance tutorials on YouTube under the username "TheRussianTiger," and the videos have since garnered millions of hits.

Vinokur first combined science and dance together while attending the University of Wisconsin–Madison as a biochemistry major where he conducted biofuels research.[20] He received guidance from UW-Madison chemistry professor Bassam Shakhashiri, UW-Madison physics professor Clint Sprott, and lecture demonstrator Jim Maynard. The performance was later premiered on America's Got Talent in 2010.[21] [22]

Career

TV & Media Appearances

Vinokur premiered as "The Dancing Scientist" on the fifth season of America's Got Talent where he successfully placed in the Top 100 acts out of 70,000 auditions.[23] [24] [19] [25] The America’s Got Talent appearance lead to Vinokur hosting a monthly science segment on the local CBS News in Madison, Wisconsin beginning in 2011.[26] The local news appearances lead to him co-hosting a series of science segments on the Discovery Channel (Canada) show Daily Planet in 2012.[12]

Since 2014, Vinokur has been performing science demonstrations on national TV talk shows, with appearances on Good Morning America,[27] The Today Show,[28] The View, Rachael Ray,[29] The Queen Latifah Show,[30] Fox & Friends,[31] Home & Family,[32] AMHQ With Sam Champion,[33] as well as internationally on "Nippon-yo! Sekai-wo Taose! FUJIYAMA," a show on Fuji TV in Japan.[34]

In 2020, Vinokur appeared in a Super Bowl commercial for TurboTax.[35]

In 2023, Vinokur was nominated for a national Emmy award as part of the Children's and Family Emmy Awards. The category of nomination was “Outstanding Interactive Media” and the awards were presented by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.[4]

Live Shows

Vinokur’s live stage shows have been performed at the World Science Festival,[36] Liberty Science Center,[17] Maryland Science Center,[37] Saint Louis Science Center,[19] USA Science and Engineering Festival,[15] Caltech,[38] Singapore Science Festival, Smithsonian Institution, and toured over 400 schools nationwide.[39] [40] [41]

Generation Genius

In 2017, Vinokur founded and became CEO of Generation Genius, Inc. The educational technology company produces educational videos in partnership with the National Science Teaching Association.[2]

Generation Genius raised $2.7 million in seed funding which included contributions from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and over $1 million raised from equity crowdfunding.[42] [43] [6] [2]

Vinokur hosts three original series on the platform, consisting of over 100 episodes, covering science topics taught in grades K-8 science.

As of Nov 2021, Generation Genius videos, hosted by Dr. Jeff, are used by 3 million students each week with subscriptions in more than 30% of all elementary schools in the United States.[6]

In 2022, Generation Genius ranked #88 fastest growing company in America on the Inc500 list[7] and in 2023 appeared on Time Magazine’s TIME100 list of most influential companies in 2023.[8]

Scientific Research

Vinokur received a PhD in "Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology" from UCLA in 2017.[44] During his graduate studies, he published research on the discovery of new enzymes, protein structures and a new biochemical pathway in ancient bacteria that grow in some of the most extreme conditions on Earth.[45] [46] [47]

His research shows how some enzymes are able to work in harsh conditions and how they can potentially be modified to produce biofuels.[48] For his research, Vinokur is a recipient of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship and NIH-UCLA Chemistry Biology Interface Fellowship.[49] [44]

Personal life

Vinokur has stated publicly that he almost never uses personal social media despite having a career working in media and multiple verified accounts. In an interview, he states, "I'm not active on a personal level on social media... I don't want to be spending time thinking of interesting things to say and taking pictures of my food... I just want to eat quick and get back to growing Generation Genius to reach as many kids as possible."[50]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: DR. JEFF. 28 December 2020. tarr.uspto.gov.
  2. Web site: Fox. MeiMei. Generation Genius Is Disrupting EdTech With Its Engaging STEM Series For Classrooms. 2021-12-27. Forbes. en.
  3. News: THE DANCING SCIENTIST. 28 December 2020. tsdr.uspto.gov.
  4. Michael Schneider,Web site: Children's & Family Creative Arts Emmys 2023 Full Winners List: Netflix, Disney, 'Sesame Street,' Jack Black and More. variety.com. 16 December 2023 . 27 December 2023.
  5. News: Dancing Scientist . Academic Entertainment . 2011-06-27 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110714072526/http://academicentertainment.com/dancingmadscientist . 2011-07-14 .
  6. Web site: Nadeem. Mehr. How a pair of startup founders made their first million dollars after being rejected by 500 investors. 2021-12-27. Business Insider. en-US.
  7. Destiny Torres,Web site: Fundraising Genius. labusinessjournal.com. 18 September 2022 . 27 December 2023.
  8. Web site: TIME100 MOST INFLUENTIAL COMPANIES 2023. time.com. 21 June 2023. 27 December 2023.
  9. News: NBC Today Show, 5-23-2014. NBC News. May 23, 2014. 2014-10-19.
  10. News: ABC The View . ABC Studios. June 27, 2014. 2014-10-19.
  11. News: UW-Madison student mixes passions for science, dancing. Stacy. Forster. University of Wisconsin-Madison. September 15, 2010. 2011-06-27.
  12. News: Daily Planet: December 5, 2012. Daily Planet. 2012-12-05. 2013-01-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20130104204615/http://watch.discoverychannel.ca/daily-planet/december-2012/daily-planet---december-5th-2012/#clip820946. January 4, 2013. dead.
  13. Web site: NYU to Host Fourth Annual World Science Festival Events—June 1-5.
  14. News: Jeffrey Vinokur Performance. https://archive.today/20130414150846/https://discoverytheater.org/ticketing/tickets/reserve.aspx?performanceNumber=224681. dead. 2013-04-14. . July 2012 . 2013-01-12.
  15. Ariana Ricarte,News: 'Dancing Scientist' performs to have kids follow in his steps. 28 December 2020. dailybruin.com. 9 May 2013.
  16. News: 2012 Science and Engineering Festival. National Academy. April 2012. 2013-01-12.
  17. News: Science Onstage. Grow. Summer 2011. 2011-06-27.
  18. News: Rutgers' Waksman Scholar Uses Hip Hop to Ignite the Joy of Science in Youth . Robin . Lally . . June 2012 . 2013-01-12 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130514222908/http://news.rutgers.edu/focus/issue.2012-05-30.4224061348/article.2012-06-25.2185460562 . 2013-05-14 .
  19. News: Interview with Jeffrey Vinokur/The Russian Tiger/Dancing Scientist. DancersGlobal. 2011-06-27.
  20. News: Worland. Gayle. November 20, 2010. Madison Dance Conference to feature free lessons and performances. Wisconsin State Journal. 2011-06-27.
  21. News: Jeffrey Vinokur . 28 December 2020. news.cals.wisc.edu. 30 August 2011.
  22. News: America's Got Talent. 28 December 2020. imdb.com.
  23. News: Dancing Mad Scientist Jeffrey Vinokur at Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery. Adam. Parkzer. The Badger Herald. December 11, 2010. 2011-06-27.
  24. News: Pictures: Dancing Mad Scientist . Thomas . Ricks . CW 11 News, Saint Louis . May 20, 2011 . 2011-06-27 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110524215444/http://www.kplr11.com/kplr-pictures-dancing-mad-scientist20110520%2C0%2C2508878.photogallery . May 24, 2011 .
  25. News: Q&A: Jeffrey Vinokur, The Dancing Scientist. Kevin. Donaldson. Young Hollywood. July 16, 2014. 2014-10-19.
  26. News: Video: UW Students Gives Tips About Chemistry of Cooking. CBS News, Madison, Wisconsin. March 4, 2011. 2011-06-27.
  27. Web site: 'Generation Genius. goodmorningamerica.com. 9 November 2021 . 27 December 2023.
  28. News: NBC Today Show, 9-30-2014. NBC News. Sep 30, 2014. 2014-10-19.
  29. News: The Rachael Ray Show: 10-13-2014. The Rachael Ray Show. October 13, 2014. 2014-10-19.
  30. News: Crazy Awesome Science Courtesy of the Dancing Scientist!. https://archive.today/20141020002507/http://queenlatifah.com/fun/entertainment/dancing-scientist-jeffrey-vinokour/. dead. October 20, 2014. . August 4, 2014 . 2014-10-19 .
  31. News: Fox News Channel, Fox & Friends, 5-23-2014. Fox News Channel. April 19, 2014. 2014-10-19.
  32. News: Hallmark Channel, Home & Family Show . Hallmark Channel. April 1, 2014. 2014-10-19.
  33. News: AMHQ W/ Sam Champion, 7-11-2014 . . July 11, 2014 . 2014-10-19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141107235544/http://wap.weather.com/video/dancing-scientist-does-experiments-51007 . November 7, 2014 .
  34. Web site: 坂上忍「『フジヤマ』は、"総合格闘技"なんだと思います」. 2021-01-10. フジテレビ. ja.
  35. News: TurboTax Super Bowl 2020 TV Commercial, 'All People Are Tax People' Featuring Keith L. Williams . 28 December 2020. ispot.tv.
  36. News: World Science Festival Hosts Family Street Fair. Amanda. Ferri . NearSay. May 18, 2011. 2011-06-27.
  37. News: Watch a mad scientist and more at Carnival Science Days at Maryland Science Center. Betsy. Stein. Maryland Family Magazine. June 9, 2011. 2011-06-27.
  38. News: Jeffrey Vinokur, The Dancing Scientist: So You Think You Can Do Science. 28 December 2020. caltech.edu. 1 April 2016.
  39. News: National Tours. 26 December 2020. dancingscientist.com.
  40. News: Singapore Science Festival 2014: Science Rocks!. 26 December 2020. littledayout.com. 18 July 2014.
  41. News: Be Rock Star Singapore Science Fest. 28 December 2020. todayonline.com.
  42. News: 15 October 2020. UCLA Graduate Students Featured Generation Genius Video. chemistry.ucla.edu. 28 December 2020.
  43. News: Generation Genius, Inc. 28 December 2020. startengine.com.
  44. Web site: UCLA Electronic Theses and Dissertations: Jeffrey Vinokur.
  45. Jeffrey M. Vinokur, Matthew C. Cummins, Tyler P. Korman & James U. Bowie,News: An Adaptation To Life In Acid Through A Novel Mevalonate Pathway . 28 December 2020. nature.com.
  46. Jeffrey M. Vinokur, Tyler P. Korman, Zheng Cao, and James U. Bowie,Evidence of a Novel Mevalonate Pathway in Archaea. 2014 . pubs.acs.org. 10.1021/bi500566q . Vinokur . Jeffrey M. . Korman . Tyler P. . Cao . Zheng . Bowie . James U. . Biochemistry . 53 . 25 . 4161–4168 . 24914732 . 1217728 . 4081127 .
  47. Structural analysis of mevalonate-3-kinase provides insight into the mechanisms of isoprenoid pathway decarboxylases. onlinelibrary.wiley.com. 25 November 2014. 10.1002/pro.2607 . Vinokur . Jeffrey M. . Korman . Tyler P. . Sawaya . Michael R. . Collazo . Michael . Cascio . Duillio . Bowie . James U. . Protein Science . 24 . 2 . 212–220 . 25422158 . 4315659 .
  48. Vinokur, Jeffrey Vinokur,News: Discovery of a Novel Mevalonate Pathway and its Potential to Produce Biofuels. 28 December 2020. escholarship.org.
  49. News: Street-dance scientist: CALS alumnus Jeff Vinokur brings science to the masses. 28 December 2020. news.cals.wisc.edu. 20 July 2015.
  50. Dave Schlom and Matt Fidler,News: Blue Dot 192: Mr. Wizard for Generation Z: A Conversation With Jeff Vinokur. 28 December 2020. mynspr.org. 20 October 2020.

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