Venkatraman Ramakrishnan

Date of Birth: April 5, 1952

Zodiac Sign: Aries

Biography

Venkatraman “Venki” Ramakrishnan is an Indian-American and British structural biologist renowned for his work on the structure and function of the ribosome, the molecular machinery responsible for synthesizing proteins in all living cells. Born in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India, Ramakrishnan has had an illustrious career that spans several decades and continents. He earned his bachelor’s degree in physics from Baroda University in India before moving to the United States to complete a Ph.D. in physics at Ohio University. Ramakrishnan transitioned from physics to biology during his postdoctoral work at Yale University, where he began studying the ribosome. His groundbreaking research led to a detailed understanding of the ribosome’s atomic structure, work for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2009, alongside Thomas A. Steitz and Ada E. Yonath. The trio’s work has had a profound impact on the field of molecular biology and has provided insights that are critical for developing antibiotics. He has held various academic and research positions, including a long tenure at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, UK, where he served as the Deputy Director. In 2015, he was elected as the President of the Royal Society, a position he held until 2020. Currently, he continues to contribute to scientific research and education.

5 Interesting Facts about Venkatraman Ramakrishnan

1. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2009.

2. He initially studied physics and only later transitioned to biology.

3. Ramakrishnan has been elected as a Foreign Member of the US National Academy of Sciences.

4. He is an author and has written a popular science book titled “Gene Machine,” which details his journey to the Nobel Prize.

5. Despite his global recognition, Ramakrishnan remains deeply connected to his Indian roots and has frequently visited India for academic and research collaborations.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Venkatraman Ramakrishnan

1. “Science is not a solitary pursuit but a communal effort.”

2. “Curiosity-driven research is the engine of human progress.”

3. “The ribosome is a masterpiece of molecular machinery.”

4. “Understanding the ribosome’s structure was like climbing Mount Everest.”

5. “Science needs to be communicated effectively to the public.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

While exact figures are not publicly available, Venkatraman Ramakrishnan’s net worth is estimated to be in the range of $1-5 million, largely derived from his academic positions, research grants, and publications.