Dr. Dennis Dougherty

Biography

Dennis Dougherty is the George Grant Hoag Professor of Chemistry at the California Institute of Technology. He completed his B.S. and M.S. at Bucknell University in 1974 and earned his Ph.D. from Princeton University in 1978. His career at Caltech began as an Assistant Professor from 1979 to 1985, followed by a promotion to Associate Professor until 1989, and he has been a Professor since then, assuming the role of Hoag Professor in 2002. He served as the Executive Officer for Chemistry from 1994 to 1999. His research focuses on organic chemistry and chemical biology, particularly in understanding ion channels and neuroreceptors, which are crucial for functions related to memory, learning, and sensory perception. Dougherty's work aims to develop novel pharmaceuticals to treat conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia, leveraging techniques that combine organic synthesis, molecular biology, and electrophysiology.

Research Interests