Chemist Carl Wittwer Offers a Tale of Academics and Industry April 18

USU chemistry alum Carl T. Wittwer recalls that his days at Utah State weren’t all spent laboring over a hot Bunsen burner and memorizing complicated acronyms and formulas. He indulged his interest in mime, as well.

“I took classes from (former) theatre instructor Ron Ross and later joined his mime troupe,” says Wittwer, who attended USU from 1975 to 1982. “We gave a few summer performances at the (Caine) Lyric Theatre – it was a fun time.”

 

Utah State’s chemistry and biochemistry department welcomes Wittwer back to campus as guest speaker Tuesday, April 18, as he reminisces about the academic experiences that shaped his professional journey. He presents “A Tale of Academics and Industry: Real-time DNA Analysis,” at 3 p.m. in the Eccles Science Learning Center auditorium, room 130, on campus. His talk is free and open to the public.

 

Wittwer holds the Watkins Endowed Chair of pathology at the University of Utah and serves as chief science officer and vice president for research for Idaho Technology, a company he co-founded in 1990.

 

“It’s a distinct honor to have Dr. Wittwer join us and share how his education and experiences at Utah State influenced his scientific career,” says Steve Scheiner, chemistry and biochemistry department head and professor. “In addition, he’ll discuss how he converted research innovations into successful commercial ventures.”

 

Wittwer is the recipient of the department’s 2006 Alumni Achievement Award.

 

Wittwer earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and a doctorate in biochemistry from Utah State. He received a medical degree from the University of Michigan School of Medicine in 1984.

 

He developed innovative rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques that perform DNA amplification in 10 to 15 minutes. These techniques, now used throughout the world in real-time PCR instruments, permit timely analysis of tiny DNA samples, which aid multiple scientific applications. Wittwer also holds the patent for the R.A.P.I.D. system that serves as the platform for U.S. military defense against biological weapons.

 

A 2003 recipient of the Governor’s Medal for Science and Technology, as well as numerous awards from the scientific community, Wittwer has published 100 peer-reviewed papers and holds more than 20 patents covering DNA detection methods, including the LightCycler system for research and diagnostics.

 

Wittwer says he and his wife, Dr. Noriko Kusukawa, are frequently humbled and instructed by their young son, Tori.

 

For more information about the lecture, contact the USU department of chemistry and biochemistry at 435-797-1619.