Jack E. Dixon

Jack E. Dixon has distinguished himself in the field of biochemistry and molecular biology.

Jack E. Dixon

He is currently dean of scientific affairs at the University of California-San Diego, living in LaJolla, Calif.

Born and raised in Nashville, Tenn., Dixon received his undergraduate education at the University of California Los Angeles in 1966 and his doctorate in chemistry from UC-Santa Barbara in 1971. He was then a postdoctoral fellow at UC-San Diego.

Dixon came to Purdue in 1973, joining the faculty in the Department of Biochemistry and remaining here for 18 years. He was named Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry in 1986.

In 1991, Dixon moved to Ann Arbor, Mich., to become chair of the Department of Biological Chemistry at the University of Michigan. In 2003, he moved to the UC-San Diego to become dean of scientific affairs as well as being a professor of pharmacology, cellular and molecular medicine, chemistry, and biochemistry.

UC-San Diego is one of the nation’s top academic institutions devoted to medical research, education, and health care services. The School of Medicine ranks No. 1 in the country among all medical schools in research funding per faculty member, No. 1 in clinical research, and No. 3 in basic research.

Dixon has brought a strong background and expertise in biochemistry and molecular biology to his research investigations. His research has focused on a group of proteins that govern a chemical reaction called "phosphorylation," the addition of a phosphate group to a compound. This biochemical reaction serves as a major signaling mechanism in cells. Insights into the plague or "Black Death," Down syndrome, and cancer reflect some of the important outcomes from Dixon’s research.

As a professor, Dixon has authored or co-authored more than 250 scientific articles. His research is supported by the National Institutes of Health and the Walter Cancer Institute. He served as the president of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and is a member of the Institute of Medicine, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the National Academy of Sciences.