Robert K. Yu, PhD, MedScD
Professor and Director, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Medical College of Georgia
Dr. Robert K. Yu is Professor and Director of the Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics at the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia (2000-present). He also holds the Chair of Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar. Dr. Yu received a PhD degree in biochemistry under Professor H. E. Carter from the University of Illinois, Champaign/Urbana (1967) and an MedScD degree from Tokyo University (1980). His past academic positions include postdoctoral and faculty appointments at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY (1967-72); Assistant to Full Professor, Yale University, New Haven, CT (1973-88); Professsor and Chair, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Medical College of Virginia, VCU, Richmond (1988-2000). His major research interests are in neurochemistry and developmental neurobiology, particularly as related to glycoconjugates in health and diseases. His research has culminated in the publication of more than 360 full papers, 2 patents, and 3 books. For his achievements, he has been elected as an Academician of the Academia Sinica (2004). He has also won numerous awards, including the Jacob Javits Neurosciences Investigator Award (1984-91); Virginia's Outstanding Scientist of the Year Award (1995); Alexander von Humboldt Senior Scientist Award (1991-3); an honorary degree from Yale University (1985); Distinguished Alumnus Award, Tunghai University, Taiwan (2002); the Achievement Award, Chinese Engineers and Scientists Association of Southern California (CEASC) (2003); Mahesh Distinguished Research Award, MCG (2006); and Outstanding Faculty Award, MCG (2006). He served as President, American Society for Neurochemistry (2001-3); President, Society of Chinese Bioscientists in America (SCBA) (2008 to present); US Delegate to IUPUC, National Academies of Sciences (2006-9). He is a Founder and Co-Organizer (with Professor Ray Wu) of the China-U.S. Biochemistry Admissions (CUSBA) Program (1994-present). He is also an honorary professor at several universities.
