Top UC Berkeley Scientist Poached By Rival University

BERKELEY, CA — UC Berkeley is losing one of its top scientists.

John Kuriyan, who now serves as distinguished professor of molecular and cell biology and professor of chemistry at UC Berkeley, on Tuesday was named the new dean of Vanderbilt University’s School of Medicine Basic Sciences, Vanderbilt University said in a statement.

Kuriyan is considered among the world’s leading structural biologists.

The move is effective Jan. 1, 2023.

“As a superlative and highly accomplished biomedical scholar, Kuriyan fully understands Vanderbilt’s university-wide ambitions to catapult our research reputation forward,” C. Cybele Raver, a Vanderbilt provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs said in a statement.

“That he has chosen to advance his career at Vanderbilt speaks volumes about our capacity to make quantum leaps in the life-changing innovation for which he is known.”