Oral Histories

Interview of Roderick MacKinnon

Subtitle:
Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences: Roderick MacKinnon
Series:
Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences
Topic:
Science, Medicine, and Technology
Interviewer:
Maestrejuan, Andrea R.
Interviewee:
MacKinnon, Roderick
Supporting Documents:
Records relating to the interview are located in the office of the UCLA Library's Center for Oral History Research.
Language:
English
Copyright:
Regents of the University of California, UCLA Library.
Series Statement:
Interviews in this series, sponsored by the Pew Charitable Trusts, document the research of "outstanding scientists from quality institutions" chosen by the Pew Scholars Program to receive four-year stipends.
Abstract:
Childhood in Massachusetts; childhood interest in nature; enters medical school despite misgivings; interest in ion channel research; MacKinnon's willingness to teach himself new techniques; the role of observation in MacKinnon's experimental technique; the professional risks involved in focusing on ion channel structure; National Institutes of Health support of basic research; writing grants to meet the different criteria of individual funding.