Robley Light's Curriculum Vitae

CURRICULUM VITAE

ROBLEY J. LIGHT

(Revised 2/1/2004)

PERSONAL

Address:	Home	Office
	1811 Atlantis Place Tallahassee, FL 32303 (850) 523-7899	Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Florida State University Tallahassee, FL 32306-4390 (850) 644-3844 email: rlight@chem.fsu.edu home page: http://www.chem.fsu.edu/editors/rlight/vita
Birth:	November 8, 1935, Roanoke, Virginia
Married:	Jeanne K. Light, 1960
Children:	George Evans Light, Born 1964

EDUCATION

William Fleming High School
Roanoke, Virginia, 1948-53
(Salutatorian; varsity letter in wrestling)

Virginia Polytechnic Institute
Blacksburg, Virginia, 1953-57
B.S. in Chemistry, with honors, 1957
(graduated first in class of 710;
undergraduate thesis: advisor Frank Vingiello;
corps of cadets; regimental staff;
varsity letter in wrestling)

Duke University
Durham, North Carolina, 1957-60
Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, 1961
(advisor: Charles R. Hauser
minor: Biochemistry)

Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1960-62
Postdoctoral Research
(advisor: Konrad Bloch)

EMPLOYMENT

General Foods Company, Hoboken, New Jersey, summer 1954

DuPont Company, Belle, West Virginia, summer 1955

Union Carbide, South Charleston, West Virginia, summer 1956

DuPont Company, Wilmington, Delaware, summer 1957

Department of Chemistry, Florida State University

Instructor (1962-1963)

Assistant Professor (1963-1967)
Associate Professor (1967-1972)

Professor (1972-2003)

Professor Emeritus (2003-present)

Adjunct Professor 2004

Liaison, New Building Planning, 2003-2004

College of Medicine, Florida State University

Courtesy Appointment (2002-2004)

ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS

Associate Chairman, Department of Chemistry, Florida State University (1974-1977)

Acting Director, Program in Medical Sciences, Florida State University (1978-1979)

Courtesy Appt., Acting Dean, U. of Fla. Medical School (1978-1979)

Chairman, Department of Chemistry, Florida State University (1983-1990)

Program Director, Instrumentation and Instrument Development, DIR/BBS, National Science Foundation (1990-1991)

Member, Advisory Council, National Center for Research Resources, National Institutes of Health (1990-1991)

HONORS

Honor Societies:

Phi Beta Kappa (elected at Duke University)

(FSU Chapter President: 1971-72, 1993-94)

Phi Kappa Phi (elected at Virginia Tech)

(FSU Chapter President: 1994-95)

Omicron Delta Kappa (elected at Virginia Tech)

Phi Lambda Upsilon (elected at Virginia Tech)

Sigma Xi (elected at Duke University)

Fellowships:

Phi Kappa Phi Fellowship, 1957-1958

NSF Predoctoral Fellowship, 1958-1960

NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship, 1960-1962

Awards:

USPHS Research Career Development Award, 1967-1972

(full salary for five years)

George Miller Award for Excellence in Teaching

(University award, Florida State University, 1967)

Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung, U.S. Senior Scientist Award, 1977

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

Research Interests:

Biosynthesis and metabolism of fungal polyketides, fatty acids, and lipids.

Regulation of secondary metabolism.

Structure and function of lipids.

Flavonoid biosynthesis.

Research Leaves:

Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, April-June, 1967 (Laboratory of Lowell Hager)

Department of Medical Chemistry, Royal Veterinary College, Stockholm, Sweden, July-December, 1970 (Laboratory of Bengt Samuelsson)

Biology Institute II, University of Freiburg, Freiburg., West Germany, March-October, 1977 (Laboratory of Klaus Hahlbrock)

Professional Societies:

American Chemical Society

American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Undergraduate Thesis:

The Use of Polyphosphoric Acid and Phenyl Acid Phosphate as Cyclodehydration Agents and an Attempted Unequivocal Synthesis of 10-(2-Napthyl)-1,2-benzanthracene and 9-(1-Napthyl)-1,2-benzanthracene. Virginia Polytechnic Institute, 1957. (Thesis advisor: Frank A. Vingiello.)

Doctoral Dissertation:

Some Acylations and Aldol Type Condensations Involving Dicarbanions of Beta-Diketones. Certain Cyclizations. Duke University, 1960. (Dissertation advisor: Dr. Charles R. Hauser.)

Dissertations Directed:

James S. V. Hunter, Studies on the Biosynthesis of 8,9,13-Triacetoxydocosanoic Acid in Yeast, 1970.

Theodore W. Esders, Biosynthesis of Glycolipids in Candida bogoriensis, 1971.

Steven W. G. Fehler, Studies on the Biosynthesis of Non-Isoprenoid Alkanes in the Blue-Green Algae Anabaena variabilis, 1972.

Robert W. Bryant, Jr., Biosynthesis of the Polyketide Stipitatonic Acid, 1973.

Michael L. Bucholtz, The Metabolism of Glycolipids in the Yeast, Candida bogoriensis, 1974.

Adrian J. Cutler, The Control of Glycolipid Production in Candida bogoriensis, 1978.

Douglas L. McCullough, Protein Phospholipid Interactions: Hydrolysis of Soy Lecithin Vesicles by Venom Phospholipase A₂, 1978.

Raymond F. DeGrella, The Uptake and Utilization of Fatty Acids by Dispersed Adult Rat Heart Myocytes, 1979.

Rebecca S. Goodloe, Studies on the Hydrocarbon Composition and Biosynthesis from Two Blue Green Algae, 1980.

Jeffrey W. Priest, Application of HPLC and FPLC to the Detection and Purification of Patulin Biosynthetic Enzymes from Penicillium Patulum, 1988.

Paul Kirsch, Production of a Genomic DNA Library in Lambda Phage for Penicillium patulum, and Isolation and Partial Characterization of Patulin Pathway Induction-Phase-Specific Clones from the Library. 1989.

Theses Directed:

Sharon A. Arihood, The Metabolism of 6-Methylsalicylic Acid and Patulin in Penicillium patulum, 1965.

W. C. Chiang, Lipids of Penicillium griseofulvum, 1965.

Patricia B. Ward, Fatty Acids of Three Plankton Organisms, 1966.

Aaron L. Trenary, Comparative Studies of Fatty Acid De Novo Synthesis and Elongationin Candida bogoriensis, 1982.

Jay A. Hammer, Purification and Characterization of the Glucosyltransferases of Torulopsis sp., 1983.

Delbert D. Bauzon, Partial Purification of an NADPH-Cytochrome C Reductase of Penicillium Patulum., 1995.

Timothy M. Breeden. The Initial Purification Scheme of an NADPH-Cytochrome C Reductase from Candida bombicola., 1996

Publications:

1. Light, R.J. and Hauser, C.R., Aroylations of beta-Diketones at the Terminal Methyl Group to Form 1,3,5-Triketones. Cyclizations to 4-Pyrones and 4-Pyridones., J. Org. Chem., 25, 538-546 (1960).

2. Light, R.J. and Hauser, C.R., Cyclization of 1,5-Diphenyl-1,3,5-pentanetrione with Ethyl Oxalate. 3,5-Dibenzoyl-1,2,4-cyclopentanetrione and its Quinoxaline., J. Org. Chem., 26, 1296-1298 (1961).

3. Light, R.J., Harris, T.M. and Hauser, C.R., Carbonyl versus Conjugate Addition of Dipotassio-benzoylacetone with Certain alpha, beta-Unsaturated Ketones., J. Org. Chem., 26, 1344-1347 (1961).

4. Light, R.J. and Hauser, C.R., Condensations of Dialkali beta-Diketones with Ketones or Aldehydes to Form Hydroxy-beta-Diketones. Dehydration Products. Equilibrium Factors., J. Org. Chem., 26, 1716-1724 (1961).

5. Bloch, K., Baronowsky, P., Goldfine, H., Lennarz, W., Light, R.J., Norris, A.T. and Scheuerbrandt, G., Biosynthesis and Metabolism of Unsaturated Fatty Acids., Federation Proceedings, 20, 921-927 (1961).

6. Light, R.J., Lennarz, W.J. and Bloch, K., Metabolism of Hydroxystearic Acids in Yeast., J. Biol. Chem., 237, 1793-1800 (1962).

7. Lennarz, W.J., Light, R.J. and Bloch, K., A Fatty Acid Synthetase from E. Coli., Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., 40, 840-846 (1962).

8. Meyer, F., Light, R.J. and Bloch, K., Fatty Acid Metabolism in Anaerobic Yeast., Biochem. Probl. Lipids, Proc. Intern. Conf., 7th Birmingham, Engl. 415-421 (1962).

9. Hampton, K.G., Light, R.J. and Hauser, C.R., Twofold Terminal Alkylations of Disodio-beta-Diketones with Methylene Halides to Form Bis-beta-Diketones., J. Org. Chem., 30, 1413-1416 (1965).

10. Light, R.J. and Wascheck, C., Liver Fatty Acids of Rana Grylio Tadpoles and Frogs., Comp. Biochem. Physiol., 15, 167-173 (1965).

11. Light, R.J., Acetate Metabolism in Penicillium griseofulvum. Incorporation of 1-C¹⁴-2-H³-Acetate into 6-Methylsalicyclic Acid and Fatty Acids., Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 112, 163-169 (1965).

12. Arihood, S. and Light, R.J., Inhibition of 6-Methylsalicylic Acid Synthesis in Penicillium patulum., Nature, 210, 629-630 (1966).

13. Harris, T.M., Harris, C.M. and Light, R.J., The Isolation of Triacetic Acid Lactone from Cultures of Penicillium patulum., Biochem. Biophys. Acta, 121, 420-423 (l966).

14. Light, R.J., Harris, T.M. and Harris, C.M., Metabolism of Triacetic Acid and Triacetic Acid Lactone., Biochemistry, 5, 4037-4043 (1966).

15. Light, R.J. and Easton, D.M., Saponifiable Fatty Acids of Myelinated and Unmyelinated Nerve Fibers of Garfish., J. Neurochem., 14, 141-142 (1967).

16. Light, R.J., The Biosynthesis of 6-Methylsalicyclic Acid. Crude Enzyme Systems from Early and Late Producing Strains of Penicillium patulum., J. Biol. Chem., 242, 1880-1886 (1967).

17. Light, R.J., Effects of Cycloheximide and Amino Acid Analogues on Biosynthesis of 6-Methylsalicylic Acid in Penicillium patulum., Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 122, 494-500 (1967).

18. Light, R.J. and Hager, L.P., Molecular Parameters of 6-Methylsalicylic Acid Synthetase from Gel Filtration and Sucrose Density Gradient Centrifugation., Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 125, 326-333 (1968).

19. Light, R.J., 6-Methylsalicylic Acid Decarboxylase from Penicillium patulum, Biochem. Biophys. Acta, 191, 430-438 (1969).

20. Fehler, S.W.G. and Light, R.J., Biosynthesis of Hydrocarbons in Anabaena variabilis. Incorporation of [methyl-¹⁴C]- and [methyl-²H₃]-Methionine into 7- and 8-Methylheptadecanes., Biochemistry, 9, 418-422 (1970).

21. Light, R.J., Enzymatic Studies on the Polyketide Hypothesis, J. Ag. Food Chem., 18, 260-267 (1970).

22. Hunter, J.S.V. and Light, R.J., Synthesis of 11-Oxo [1,11-¹⁴C]eicosanoic and 13-Oxo [1,13-¹⁴C]docosanoic Acids by the Acylation of Cyclic Enamines., Biochemistry 9, 4283-4288 (1970).

23. Hunter, J.S.V. and Light, R.J., Biosynthetic Studies on 8,9,13-Triacetoxydocosanoic Acid. In Vivo Incorporation of Fatty Acid Precursors., Biochemistry, 9, 4289-4296 (1970).

24. Light, R.J. and Samuelsson, B., Identification of Prostaglandins in the Gorgonian, Plexaura homomalla., Eur. J. Biochem., 28, 223-240 (1972).

25. Esders, T.W. and Light, R.J., Characterization and In Vivo Production of Three Glycolipids from Candida bogoriensis. 13-Glucopyranosylglucopyranosyloxydocosanoic Acid and its Mono- and Diacetylated Derivatives. J. Lipid Research, 13, 663-671 (1972).

26. Esders, T.W. and Light, R.J., Glucosyl- and Acetyltransferases Involved in Biosynthesis of Glycolipids from Candida bogoriensis., J. Biol. Chem., 247, 1375-1386 (1972).

27. Fehler, S.W.G. and Light, R.J., Biosynthesis of Methylheptadecanes in Anabaena variabilis. In Vitro Incorporation of S-[methyl-¹⁴C]-Adenosylmethionine., Biochemistry, 11, 2411-2416 (1972).

28. Esders, T.W. and Light, R.J., Occurrence of a UDP-Glucose:Sterol Glucosyltransferase in Candida bogoriensis., J. Biol. Chem., 247, 7494-7497 (1972).

29. Light, R.J., Identification and Analysis of Arachidonic Acid in Plexaura homomalla Var. R. and Var. S., Biochem. Biophys. Acta, 296, 461-465 (1973).

30. Bryant, R.W. and Light, R.J., Stipitatonic Acid Biosynthesis. Incorporation of [Formyl-¹⁴C]3-Methylorcylaldehyde and [¹⁴C]Stipitaldehydic Acid, A New Tropolone Metabolite., Biochemistry, 13, 1516-1522 (1974).

31. Light, R.J., Discussion of Analysis of Prostaglandins in Plexaura homomalla, in F.M. Bayer and A.J. Weinheimer, Eds., "Prostaglandins from Plexaura homomalla: Ecology, Utilization and Conservation of a Major Medical Marine Resource. A Symposium." University of Miami Press, Coral Gables, FL 1974, pp. 139-146.

32. Light, R.J. and Vogel, G., 6-Methylsalicyclic Acid (2, 6-Cresotic Acid) Decarboxylase from Penicillium patulum., in Methods in Enzymology, (Hash, J.H., ed.) Vol. XLIII, pp. 530-540, Academic Press, New York, 1975.

33. Bucholtz, M.L. and Light, R.J., Acetylation of 13-Sophorosyloxydocosanoic Acid by an Acetyltransferase Purified from Candida bogoriensis., J. Biol. Chem., 251, 424-430 (1976).

34. Bucholtz, M.L. and Light, R.J., Hydrolysis of 13-Sophorosyloxydocosanoic Acid Esters by Acetyl- and Carboxylesterases Isolated from Candida bogoriensis., J. Biol. Chem., 251, 431-437 (1976).

35. Light, R.J., Book Review of "The Enzymes of Biological Membranes: Vol. 2, The Biosynthesis of Cell Components". Trends in Biochemical Sciences, 2, 47 (1977).

36. Kreuzaler, F., Light, R.J. and Hahlbrock, K., Flavonone Synthase Catalyses CO₂ Exchange and Decarboxylation of Malonyl-CoA. FEBS Letters, 94, 174-178 (1978).

37. Cutler, A.J. and Light, R.J., Regulation of Hydroxydocosanoic Acid Sophoroside Production in Candida bogoriensis by the Levels of Glucose and Yeast Extract in the Growth Medium. J. Biol. Chem., 254, 1944-1950 (1979).

38. Light, R.J. and Hahlbrock, K., Randomization of the Flavonoid A Ring During Biosynthesis of Kaempferol from [1, 2-¹³C₂]Acetate in Cell Suspension Cultures of Parsley. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung 35c, 717-721 (1980).

39. DeGrella, R.F. and Light, R.J., Uptake and Metabolism of Fatty Acids by Dispersed Adult Rat Heart Myocytes. I. Kinetics of Homologous Fatty Acids. J. Biol. Chem., 255, 9731-9738 (1980).

40. DeGrella, R.F. and Light, R.J., Uptake and Metabolism of Fatty Acids by Dispersed Adult Rat Heart Myocytes. II. Inhibition by Albumin and Fatty Acid Homologues, and the Effect of Temperature and Metabolic Reagents. J. Biol. Chem., 255, 9739-9745 (1980).

41. Cutler, A.J. and Light, R.J., Effect of Glucose Concentration in the Growth Medium on the Synthesis of Fatty Acids by the Yeast Candida bogoriensis. Can. J. Microbiol., 28, 223-230 (1982).

42. Goodloe, R.S. and Light, R.J., Structure and Composition of Hydrocarbons and Fatty Acids from a Marine Blue Green Alga, Synechococcus sp. Biochim. Biophys. Acta., 710, 485-492 (1982).

43. Goodloe, R.S. and Light, R.J., Biosynthesis of Hydrocarbon in Anabaena variabilis. In Vivo Incorporation of [18-¹⁴C]Stearate. Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 711, 261-265 (1982).

44. Breithaupt, T.B. and Light, R.J., Affinity Chromatography and Further Characterization of the Glucosyltransferases Involved in Hydroxydocosanoic Acid Sophoroside Production in Candida bogoriensis. J. Biol. Chem., 257, 9622-9628 (1982).

45. DeGrella, R.F. and Light, R.J., Uptake of Fatty Acids by Isolated Heart Myocytes. Basic Res. Cardiol., 80, Suppl. 2, 107-110 (1985).

46. Priest, J.W. and Light, R.J., Patulin Biosynthesis: Epoxidation of Toluquinol and Gentisyl Alcohol by Particulate Preparations from Penicillium patulum. Biochemistry, 28, 9192-9200 (1989).

47. Priest, J.W. and Light, R.J., Applications of HPLC to Quantitation of Metabolites and Enzymes of the Patulin Pathway from Penicillium patulum. J. Chromatog. 513, 237-246 (1990).

48. Priest, J.W., and Light, R.J., Patulin Pathway Metabolites from Penicillium patulum. LC Separations. In Atlas of Chromatograms, J. Chromatog. Sci., 29, 273 (1991).

49. Light, R.J., Yeast Hydroxy Fatty Acids and Fungal Polyketides: Lessons Learned from the Konrad Bloch Laboratory. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 292, 1213-1219 (2002).

Abstracts:

R. J. Light, W. J. Lennarz, and K. Bloch, 9 (and 10)-Hydroxystearic Acid and Anaerobic Growth of Yeast. Paper No. 99, Division of Biological Chemistry, American Chemical Society Meeting, Chicago, 1961.

R. J. Light, T. M. Harris, and C. M. Harris, Metabolism of Triacetic Acid and its Lactone in Penicillium patulum. Federation Proc., 25, 768 (1966).

J. S. V. Hunter and R. J. Light, Biosynthesis of 8,9,13-Triacetoxydocosanoic Acid. Federation Proc., 27, 817 (1968).

R. J. Light, Biosynthesis of 6-Methylsalicylic Acid, Abstract C26, 5th International Symposium on the Chemistry of Natural Products, London, 1968.

R. J. Light, Enzymatic Studies on the Polyketide Hypothesis, Symposium on Biosynthesis in Division of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, American Chemical Society Meeting, New York, 1969.

D. L. McCullough and R. J. Light, Kinetic Studies of Phospholipase A in an Aqueous Assay System. Federation Proc., 29, 904 Abs (1970).

T. W. Esders and R. J. Light, Biosynthesis of Mono- and Diglucosyl Hydroxy Fatty Acids in Candida bogoriensis. Federation Proc., 30, 1080 Abs (1971).

R. W. Bryant, Jr., and R. J. Light, An Intermediate in the Biosynthesis of Stipitatonic Acid, Abstract 764, Ninth International Congress of Biochemistry, Stockholm, 1973.

M. L. Bucholtz and R. J. Light, Biosynthesis and Metabolism of Hydroxy Acid Sophoro-sides in Candida bogoriensis, Abstract 14-2-024., Tenth International Congress of Biochemistry, Hamburg, 1976.

R. J. Light and K. Hahlbrock, Biosynthesis of Flavonoids. Direction of Cyclization of the A Ring Determined by C-13 NMR. Federation Proc., 37, 1712 (1978), and abstracts of the 12th FEBS Meeting, Dresden, No. 310.

T. B. Breithaupt and R. J. Light, Copurification of Two Hydroxy Fatty Acid Glucosyltransferases. Federation Proc., 39, 2085 (1980).

R. J. Light, Chalcone Synthase: Structural Features and Mechanism of Action, Hoppe -Seylers Z. Physiol. Chem., 362, 8 (1981).

R. J. Light and A. L. Trenary, Biosynthesis of Hydroxydocosanoic Acid in the Yeast Candida bogoriensis, Federation Proc., 43, 1864 (1984).

R. J. Light and J. W. Priest, Hydroquinone Epoxidation by Cell Free Extracts of Penicillium Patulum, J. Cell Biol. 107 (6, Pt.3) 622a (1988).

P. J. Gilmer and R. J. Light, Faculty Professional Enhancement Program at Florida State University, 11th Biennial Conference on Chemical Education, Atlanta, Ga., August 1990, Abstract 033.

Federal and Other Research Grants:

NIH (Direct Costs only, sole PI on all grants)
	Grant No.	Year	Amount ($)
Title:	Metabolsm and Function of Aromatic Mold Metabolites
	NIH R01-AM07536-01 NIH R01-AM07536-S1 NIH R01-AM07536-02 NIH R01-AM07536-03 NIH R01-AM07536-03S1	1963-64 1964-65 1964-65 1965-66 1966-67	17,768 12,500 18,328 17,148 3,936

Title:	Lipid Protein Interactions and Lipid Micelles
	NIH R01-AM08791-01 NIH R01-AM08791-02 NIH R01-AM08791-03	1964-65 1965-66 1966-67	11,920 11,338 10,911
Title:	Lipid Metabolism, Structure and Function (Research Career Development Award)
	NIH K3-AM11762	1967-72	Full Salary
Title:	Hydroxy Fatty Acid Metabolism and Function
	NIH-AM15150-01 NIH-AM15150-02 NIH-AM15150-03 NIH-AM15150-04 NIH-AM15150-05 NIH-AM15150-06 NIH-AM15150-07 NIH-AM15150-08 NIH-AM15150-09 NIH-AM15150-10	1972-73 1976-74 1974-75 1975-76 1976-77 1977-78 1978-79 1979-80 1980-81 1981-82	38,086 25,200 25,819 16,453 17,104 30,648 39.961 41,515 42,924 44,389

NSF (Direct and Indirect Costs, sole PI on all grants)
	Grant No.	Year	Amount ($)
Title:	Metabolism and Function of Aromatic Mold Metabolites
	GB-5754	1967-68	35,100
Title:	Secondary Metabolism in Fungi
	GB-8325	1969-70	30,000
Title:	Secondary Metabolites and Other Polyketides in Microorganisms
	GB-26325 GB-43535	1971-73 1974-76	24,000 40,000
Title:	Secondary Metabolism and Polyketides in Plants and Microorganisms
	PCM-7623310	1977-79	44,000
Title:	Mechanism and Regulation of Polyketide Biosynthesis
	PCM-8213610	1983-85	90,790
Other
Florida Heart Association
Title:	Fatty Acid and Lipid Metabolism in Hear Cells
	(Stipend for Graduate Student, Ray Degrella)	1977-78	6.000
Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung
	U.S. Senior Scientist Award, supporting travel and research in Germany	1977	DM 35,000
NSF IPA Assignment
	NSF's portion of salary and fringe benefits during 15 mo. IPA assignment in Washington as Program Director	1990-91	114,495

Chemistry Department Grants (PI or CoPI as Department Chairman)
	Olin Corporation (support for analyses in laser and nmr labs. Grant written by Van Wart)	1985-89	10,000
	NSF Instrumentation Program--funds for laser instrumentation. Grant written by Hilinski	1986-87	85,000
	Shell Oil Co. Departmental grant for support of graduate program	1988-89	10,000
	Jesse Ball DuPont Fund--Support for undergraduate summer research program and a summer visiting faculty program. CoPI with Penny Gilmer, who administered the grant once funded.	1987-88 1988-89 1989-90	93,211 46,030 24,166

Invited Seminars or Lectures outside of F.S.U. Chemistry Department:

November, 1964 - Tulane University, Biochemistry Department.

February, 1965 - University of Florida, Chemistry Department.

May, 1967 - Monmouth College, Chemistry Department.

December, 1967 - Jacksonville University, Chemistry Department.

December, 1968 - Symposium speaker, Southern Regional ACS meeting, Tallahassee, Symposium on "New Ideas for General Chemistry".

February, 1969 - University of Miami, Biochemistry Department.

September, 1969 - Symposium speaker, National ACS meeting, New York, Symposium on "Biosynthesis in Plants".

April, 1970 - University of Florida, Biochemistry Department.

September, 1970 - Royal Veterinary College, Department of Medical Chemistry, Stockholm, Sweden.

April, 1977 - Biological Institute II, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, i. Br., West Germany. Plant Biochemistry Department.

June, 1977 - Laboratory of Biochemistry, University of Bordeaux II, Talence, France.

July, 1977 - Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry, Martinsried, Munich, West Germany.

March, 1980 - Biological Institute II, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, i. Br., West Germany. Plant Biochemistry Department.

June, 1980 - International Symposium on Frontiers in Lipid Research, Falmouth, Mass.

October, 1980 - Westfalische Wilhelms University Munster, West Germany. Department of Plant Biochemistry and Institute of Lipid Research.

October, 1980 - Symposium on the Biochemistry of Phenolic Compounds in Higher Plants, Saig, West Germany.

June, 1981 - Annual Meeting of American Section of International Society for Heart Research; Workshop on Isolated Myocytes: Research Applications. Burlington, VT.

February, 1982 - Merck, Sharp and Dohme Research Laboratories, Rahway, N.J.

February, 1982 - New England Nuclear, Boston, Mass.

October, 1982 - Va. Polytechnic Inst., Biochemistry Department.

July, 1984 - Zagreb University, Zagreb Yugoslavia.

February, 1985 - Ponce School of Medicine, Ponce, Puerto Rico, Department of Biochemistry.

April, 1988 - Symposium speaker, Florida Section ACS meeting, Tampa, Fl.

January, 1989 - Beckman Instrument Co., Altex Division, San Ramon, CA.

September, 1993 - Department of Chemical Engineering, Florida State University

September, 1993 - Division of Basic Medical Sciences, Mercer University Medical School

TEACHING ACTIVITIES

Courses Taught:

General Biochemistry for Arts and Sciences Majors

(2 semester course)

General Biochemistry for Human Science Majors

(1 semester course)

General Chemistry for Science Majors

General Chemistry for Liberal Studies

Organic Chemistry for Human Science Majors

Graduate Biochemistry courses

Medical Biochemistry (selected topics)

Recognition:

George Miller Award for Excellence in Teaching, 1967

Committees:

President's Council for Excellence in College Teaching (1990-present)

University Selection Committee, Teaching Incentive Awards (1993)

Arts and Sciences Ad Hoc Committee on Science Education (Chairman, 1983-84)

Advisory Committee, Office of Science Teaching Activity (Chairman, 1983-90)

Joint Committee on Science and Math Teaching Program (1983-84)

Rhodes Scholarship Committee (1980-82)

Fulbright Screening Committee (1986-90)

Textbook:

Light, R.J., A Brief Introduction to Biochemistry, W.A. Benjamin, Inc., New York, 1968, 166 pp. (also in Japanese translation).

Course Innovations:

Following my terms as Chairman of Chemistry and the rotation as a Program Officer at NSF, I have focused more attention on teaching activities. I have been experimenting with a variety of new ways to enhance the classroom experience of my students, including the use of email and internet resources, and the encouragement of group cooperative activities. These include using the homework/course management systems CAPA and LON-CAPA (Michigan State University) in general chemistry courses.

Class Web Pages

As part of the continued experimentation with new ways of communicating with students and presenting course material, I have a class web page for each course I am teaching. These pages can be accessed through an index page at:

http://www.chem.fsu.edu/~rlight/course-pages.html

Miscellaneous:

Reviewer for numerous biochemistry and freshman chemistry textbook manuscripts.

(West, William C. Brown, John Wiley, Prentice Hall, Simon and Shuster)

FSU Delegate to 37th Triennial Council, Phi Beta Kappa, 1994

Speaker, FSU Phi Kappa Phi Initiation, April 1994

Speaker, FSU Darwin Lecture Series, September, 1982

Danforth Associates Program, mid-1960's

ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES

Associate Chairman, Department of Chemistry, 1974-77

Primary responsibilities were the development of class schedules and the assignment of teaching duties to graduate teaching assistants.
Represented the Chairman at many college and university meetings and during his absence from campus.
In charge of the departmental OPS (Other Personal Services) budget from which graduate student appointments were made.

Acting Director, Program in Medical Sciences, 1978-79

In 1969 I had chaired an ad hoc committee appointed by the Dean of Arts and Sciences to investigate FSU's potential involvement in medical education. As a result of this committee's work, the Program in Medical Sciences was established in 1971. Under this program, thirty students, most from the undergraduate student body at Florida State, are selected for medical school and receive their first year of basic science courses at Florida State before transferring to join eighty-five students in the second year of medical shcool at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Emphasis on selection of students has been on students from rural backgrounds, especially from under served areas of North Florida, and on students interested in primary care specialties.
A member of the Advisory Committee of the program during its formative years, I was asked to serve as Acting Director in 1978 while we searched for a replacement when the first director of the program resigned. During this period I also chaired the search committee which recruited the program's second permanent Director.

Chairman, Department of Chemistry, 1983-1990

Seven research faculty hired during this period have received tenure and have funded research programs. One of them received a Presidential Young Investigator award, two received Sloan awards, two received Dreyfus awards, and one received a university teaching award. (Two faculty who did not receive tenure also received university teaching awards).
In collaboration with Dr. Penny Gilmer, then Director of our Departmental Summer Undergraduate Research Program, a foundation grant from the Jesse Ball DuPont fund was obtained to support a program for summer research by visiting faculty from small undergraduate colleges.
Chaired an ad hoc committee appointed by the Dean of Arts and Sciences in 1983 and charged with the task of exploring ways the College should become involved in the problems of science and mathematics instruction in the secondary schools. The Science Education Department at Florida State at that time was in the midst of internal turmoil and the College of Education was not graduating many science and math teachers. This committee spawned a variety of activities, including the development of an undergraduate degree program in Arts and Sciences geared to the training of high school mathematics and science teachers. This program is lighter on pedagogy and heavier on content than that in the School of Education, and it combines course work in two disciplines. There are currently about twenty-five juniors and seniors enrolled in the program. This committee also recommended establishment within the College of an office charged with coordinating and supporting faculty activities in working with secondary schools and their students and teachers. This office has received state and federal funding to run a summer science camp for high school students, has sponsored outreach programs such as "Saturday at the Sea" designed to motivate interest in science, has co-sponsored on behalf of the College both county and regional science fairs, and continues to seek ways to coordinate College activities with a new and vigorous Science Education Department in the School of Education. This office advises students majoring in the above mentioned BS program in science and math teaching and administers a seminar course developed as part of that program.
At the request of then University President Bernard Sliger, I accompanied a few other faculty on two trips to Yugoslavia to develop contacts that could expand the University's Yugoslav-American Program to include activities in the sciences. We have had several very good Croatian and Serbian (former Yugoslav) students in both our Chemistry and Molecular Biophysics graduate programs.
Departmental contract and grant funding doubled during this period. The departmental NMR facility doubled in size from three major instruments to six. A bioanalytical facility was set up which now contains peptide and DNA synthesis and peptide sequencing capability and numerous HPLC and FPLC systems, an aggregation of equipment with a list price over $0.5 million. Substantial laser spectroscopy capability was added, including picosecond laser equipment. Through the help of some DARPA funding to the State of Florida, together with departmental and university funding, one new faculty member was set up with an MOCVD reactor costing close to $1 million.

Structural Biology Program Development, 1987-1990

Following a faculty decision to reorient the research thrust of the 25-year old Institute of Molecular Biophysics toward Structural Biology, I developed a plan for funding a Structural Biology Program which involved a request to the Board of Regents and State Legislature for three years of ramped funding for faculty and staff positions and a grant application to the Lucille P. Markey Charitable Trust for seed money to launch the program. I wrote the grant application which Vice President Turnbull submitted to the Markey Trust. Fiscal year 1991-92 marked the third increment in the state allocation to the program, and a grant of $4.0 million to be spread over five years was awarded by the Markey Trust in late 1990 (the largest foundation grant the University had ever received, I was told). A director has now been hired, four junior and two other senior faculty (including a National Academy of Science member) have been recruited into the program, and a several more new faculty are to be added over the next few years, divided between the Departments of Chemistry and Biological Science.

Program Director, National Science Foundation, 1990-91

Administered the Instrumentation and Instrument Development Program in the Division of Instrumentation and Resources (now Biological Instrumentation Resources) of the Biological, Behavioral and Social Sciences Directorate (now the Biology Directorate). This involved review of about 200 grant applications for support of shared instrument purchases and research on new instrument development. Managed an annual budget of about $10 million.
Served as an ad hoc member of the Advisory Council for the National Center for Research Resources at NIH and coordinated instrumentation funding with the NIH Shared Instrumentation Grant program, attending many NIH study section reviews in the process.
Interacted closely with many other program officers at NSF, not only in other BBS Divisions, but also in Chemistry, Materials Science, and Engineering, jointly reviewing and funding a number of grants with them.
Participated in several site visits in connection with the program.

Faculty Senate

President, FSU Faculty Senate, 1998-2000.
Member of Faculty Senate Steering Committee, 1996-2002.
Faculty Professional Relations and Welfare Committee, 1993-96.

Co-chair, 1994-95, Chair 1996-97

Miscellaneous

A colleague, Dr. William Marzluff, and I developed a proposal for an undergraduate degree program in Biochemistry to be offered by the Chemistry Department. There are currently almost as many undergraduate Biochemistry majors as Chemistry majors.
Asked by the Vice President of Research to act as a neutral party and chair a committee which could consider the conflicting needs of several departments and develop a recommendation for construction of new laboratory animal facilities. A new building housing these facilities as well as those research groups heavily involved in animal research has been built and is now occupied.

University Committees

Faculty Honors Committee, Division of Basic Studies and College of Arts and Sciences, 1964-68

Faculty Co-chairman, 1966 Pow Wow

Board of Student Publications, 1967-68

Academic Standards Committee, College of Arts and Sciences, 1967-68

Faculty-Student Committee on Student Publications, 1968

Faculty Advisory Committee on Basic Medical Science Program, Chairman, 1969

Intellectual Climate Committee, 1969-70

Biomedical Science Program Committee, 1970

Selection Committee, Executive Vice President, 1971

Self Study Committee on Faculty, 1971

Advisory Committee, Program in Medical Sciences, 1973-78

University Curriculum Committee, 1977-79

University of Florida Medical Advisory Committee, 1978-79

Selection Committee, Director, Program in Medical Science, Chairman, 1978

University Sabbatical Committee, 1978

F.S.U. Public Service Coordinating Council, 1978

Special Services Advisory Board, 1980-82

Rhodes Scholarship Committee, 1980-82

Arts and Sciences Ad Hoc Committee on Science Education, Chairman, 1983-84

Advisory Committee, Office of Science Teaching Activity, Chairman, 1983-90

Joint Committee on Science and Math Teaching Program, 1983-84

Committee on Biotechnology Graduate Program, 1983-84

Search Committee, Chairman of Chemical Engineering, 1984-85

Board of Regents Chancellor's Advisory Committee on Basic Research Funding, 1986

Ad Hoc Committee, Laboratory Animal Facilities Development, 1986

Fulbright Screening Committee, 1986-90

Science Area Committee, 1983-90; Chairman, 1987-88.

Science Center Planning Committee, Chairman, 1987-90

Planning Committee for Development of the University Center, 1988

Campus Development Committee, 1987-90

President's Council for Excellence in College Teaching, charter member, 1990-present

Faculty Senate Profess. Relations and Welfare Committee, 1993-96,

Co-chair, 1994-95, Chair, 1996-97

Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha of Florida Chapter

Vice President, 1969-70, 1992-93

President, 1971-72, 1993-94

Phi Kappa Phi, FSU Chapter, President, 1994-95

Doctoral Review Committee for Chemical Engineering, Chairman, 1995-96

Doctoral Review Committee for School of Information Studies, 1997-98

Faculty Senator, Chemistry Department, 1996-2002

Faculty Senate Steering Committee, 1996-2002

President, Faculty Senate, 1998-2000

Board of Trustees, FSU Foundation, 1998-2000

Board of Directors, FSU Alumni Association, 1998-2000

FSU Athletic Board, 1998-2000

NCAA Certification Self-Study Committee, 1998-99

Academic Integrity Subcommittee

Campus Development Committee, 1998-2001

Search Committee, Assistant Vice President for Technology Integration, 1998

Advisory Committee, Employee Assistance Program, 1998-99

Auxiliary Services Board, 1998-2000

Campus Networking Committee, Chairman, 2002-2003

Area, College, and University Promotion and Tenure Committees, 2002-2003

Departmental Committees (1991-2003only)

Departmental Self Study Committee for SACS Review, Chairman, 1993

Capital Equipment Committee, 1991-93, Chairman, 1992-93

Graduate Recruiting and Admissions Committee, 1991-93

Graduate Curriculum and Advisory Committee, 1991-92, Chairman, 1995-2003

Undergraduate Curriculum and Advisory Committee, 1991-93

Computer Development Committee, 1991-93

Space and Staff Resources Committee, 1991-93

General Chemistry Committee, 1993-2003, Chairman, 2000-2003

NMR Committee, Chairman, 1991-93

Bioanalytical (BASS) Lab Committee, 1991-94, Chairman, 1993-94, 1994-95

Executive Committee, 1992-2003

Safety Committee, 1993-94, 1994-95

Structural Biology Liaison Committee for Faculty Additions, 1991-93

Taxol Royalty Committee, 1998-2000

New Chemistry Building Planning Committee, 2000-2003