Pittcon 2024: An Interview with Pittsburgh Analytical Chemistry Award Winner John Yates

John R. Yates is the Ernest W. Hahn Professor at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California, specializing in Molecular Medicine & Neurobiology. He is renowned for his work in tandem mass spectrometry analysis of protein mixtures, mass spectrometry bioinformatics, and proteomics-related biological studies.

Yates is credited with inventing the SEQUEST software for correlating tandem mass spectrometry data with sequences in databases and pioneering the shotgun proteomics technique for analyzing protein mixtures. His laboratory has developed proteomic methods for studying protein complexes, posttranslational modifications, organelles, and quantitative protein expression analysis.

Click here for a recap of Yates' lecture from this year's Pittcon.

Yates has received numerous awards, including the ASMS Biemann Medal, HUPO Achievement Award, Christian Anfinsen Award (Protein Society), Analytical Chemistry Award (ACS), Ralph N. Adams Award, Thomson Medal (IMSF), John B. Fenn Award (ASMS), and HUPO Discovery Award. Currently, he serves as the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Proteome Research.

LCGC International sat down with Yates at Pittcon, held this year a short drive from La Jolla in San Diego, to discuss the following topics:

• Explain a little bit about the algorithm you developed and the path from there to receiving this year’s Pittsburgh Analytical Chemistry Award. (0:13)
• What does it mean to you to receive this award? (1:07)
• If you were to pick one thing in your career, what would you say you are most proud of? (1:46)
• What are you working on now, and what can we look for from you in the future? (2:14)
• What’s the best part about this year’s Pittcon being almost in your own backyard? (2:53)