Biophysicist wins presidential early career award

Contact: David Lyons, (505) 665 9198 (00-049)

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LOS ALAMOS, N.M., April 11, 2000 -- Xian Chen of the Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory has received the prestigious Presidential Early Career Award from the National Science and Technology Council, a cabinet-level agency that coordinates federal research and development in science, technology and space.

Chen, a biophysicist in Los Alamos' Chemical Science and Technology Division, and fellow award winners from other participating federal agencies will be recognized during a White House ceremony.

The Presidential Early Career Award is the highest honor given to young scientists and engineers by the U.S. government. It recognizes those who show exceptional potential for science excellence and leadership in their respective fields. Winning researchers also receive funding for their research for five years.

"You are a shining example to future generations of researchers. You represent the best of the group of scientists and engineers who will be responsible for America's 21st century greatness," wrote Neal Lane, assistant to the president for science and technology, in his congratulatory letter to Chen.

"I state with no hesitation that Dr. Chen is among the top one percent of all the scientists whom I have come across during my academic career," echoed Vahid Majidi, Chen's group leader, who recognized his novel work early in his career and nominated Chen for the award. "The presidential award was designed exactly with scientists like Chen in mind."

Chen described his winning the award as an exciting experience.

"I am deeply honored by those who felt I was deserving of consideration for the presidential awarded and supported my nomination," he said. Chen also thanked Lloyd Smith of the University of Wisconsin, his Los Alamos postdoctoral mentor and collaborator E. Morton Bradbury and others for their support throughout his career.

"I have committed myself to excelling in science," Chen said. "I consider winning this highly prestigious award as the beginning of a successful journey, or as the old Chinese saying goes, 'The first step of a long march.'"

Chen received his bachelor's degree in chemistry from Peking (now Beijing) University, one of most prestigious universities in China, in 1985. He received his doctorate in organic chemistry from Penn State University in 1991. Chen then worked as a postdoctoral associate at the University of Florida Medical School before joining Los Alamos' Life Sciences (now Bioscience) Division as a postdoctoral fellow in November 1993. He now is a staff member in the Analytical Chemistry Sciences Group.

Chen's current research focuses on functional genomics, how genes function and interact with each other, an integral component of the Human Genome Project. Chen is involved in developing new analytical methods using biological mass spectrometry for determining gene products and their functions. He is also one of the initiators of Los Alamos' Biological Mass Spectrometry Program.

He has patents pending on three new analytical techniques, including a method of stable-isotope-assisted mass spectrometry that verifies DNA sequencing data, detects genetic variations within the human genome and helps researchers identify massive gene products. He also has authored or co-authored more than 20 scientific papers.

Chen is a member of the American Chemical Society, American Society for Mass Spectrometry and Biophysical Society.

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