Akos Vertes

Last updated
Akos Vertes
NationalityHungarian
Alma mater Eötvös Loránd University
AwardsHillebrand Award
Scientific career
Fields Biochemistry
Institutions University of Antwerp
George Washington University

Akos Vertes is a Hungarian-American professor of chemistry, biochemistry and molecular biology at the George Washington University and a Doctor of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.

Contents

Early life and career

Vertes was born in Budapest, Hungary. He graduated from the Veres Pálné Gimnázium in 1971 and then got his B.S. and Ph.D. in chemistry from the Eötvös Loránd University in 1974 and 1979 respectively. In 1979 he was appointed research associate at the Hungarian Central Research Institute for Physics and in 1987 was promoted to senior research associate; from 1986 to 1989 he served as its Deputy Head. Until 1991 was an assistant professor at the University of Antwerp in Belgium. [1]

In 1991 he immigrated to the United States and was hired by the George Washington University as an associate professor of Analytical chemistry. [2] and was promoted to professor in 2000 and to Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in 2003.

In 1997 he became deputy chair of its Department of Chemistry. In 2002 he founded the W. M. Keck Institute for Proteomics Technology and Applications in Washington, D.C. and became co-director. From 2003 to 2008 he also worked as an adjunct professor at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. [2]

In 2014 Akos led GWU's Columbian College of Arts and Sciences team to investigate chemical and biological threats. [3]

Research and inventions

In 2008 Akos Vertes had worked with Peter Nemes to develop a laser ablation electrospray ionization, a miniature version of the previous lasers requiring only a desk-sized space in the lab. [4] Four years later this technology, which in the future became known as the LAESI-DP 1000 Direct Ionization System, was ranked as one of the 100 most technologically significant products of 2012 by the R&D Magazine [5] and was ranked top 10 invention by The Scientist . [6]

In 2009 Vertes and colleagues developed a new technology called matrix-assisted laser analytical ionization or MALDI. [7]

In 2012 he worked with Genia Photonics to develop a laser that can detect explosives and illegal drugs. [8]

In 2015 he had created a nano-device called REDIchip capable to detect materials that are made up of as little as 100,000 molecules. [9]

Awards

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References

  1. ↑ "Professor Akos Vertes". Vertes Research Group. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  2. 1 2 John DiConsiglio (January 28, 2014). "Vertes Victories". George Washington Today. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  3. ↑ "University Receives Up to $14.6 Million to Investigate Biological and Chemical Threats". George Washington Today. January 28, 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  4. ↑ Maggie Fox (February 7, 2008). "New laser spectrometer provides instant analysis". Reuters . Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  5. ↑ "George Washington University Invention Ranked in Top 100 of Most Technologically Significant Products of the Year". George Washington University. June 20, 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  6. ↑ "MPR Collaborator Protea Biosciences Wins". March 2, 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  7. ↑ 活细胞研究新技术 [New technology for living cell research]. ebiotrade.com. November 23, 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  8. ↑ John Brandon (July 12, 2012). "Will new airport laser scan you for explosives -- and your lunch?". Fox News . Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  9. ↑ Lauren Ingeno (June 22, 2015). "GW Chemist Detects Invisible Threats". George Washington Today. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  10. ↑ "Three Professors Awarded 2007 Oscar And Shoshana Trachtenberg Prizes". George Washington University. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  11. ↑ "2012 Hillebrand Award to Professor Akos Vertes" . Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  12. ↑ "Two GW Researchers Named Fellows of the National Academy of Inventors". George Washington Today. December 11, 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
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