Dr. Carl Parker

Biography

Carl S. Parker is a Professor of Biochemistry at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Rochester in 1973 and obtained his Ph.D. from Washington University in St. Louis in 1977. After joining Caltech as an Assistant Professor of Chemical Biology in 1981, he was promoted to Associate Professor in 1987 and then to Professor in 1992. Parker's research focuses on the molecular mechanisms controlling gene expression, particularly in response to physiological stress, such as heat shock. His lab investigates how cells activate massive transcriptional responses that lead to the synthesis of heat shock proteins, which are crucial for cell survival under stress conditions. Over the years, Parker has also served as the Executive Officer from 2000 to 2004. His work continues to contribute to a deeper understanding of cellular stress responses and gene regulation.

Research Interests