Wolfenden symposium
2-27-2026
Dear Biochemistry & Biophysics and Chemistry Colleagues,
As many of you know, Laurie Betts and I are organizing a symposium honoring the life and work of our late UNC colleague, Dick Wolfenden, one of the great enzymologists and protein scientists.
The symposium will be held on Monday, May 18, 2026, on campus in Bioinformatics 1131.
Luminaries in the fields of proteins and enzymes have agreed to attend, including Dan Herschlag from Stanford, John Richard from SUNY Buffalo, George Rose from Hopkins, and Vern Schramm from Einstein. Each will give a talk in the morning.
The purpose of this message is to invite a selection of current UNC trainees. This is a chance for students and postdocs to absorb several amazing talks in one morning. We already have about 50 folks signed up. Given our budget, we think we can sustain (i.e., provide lunch and coffee for) up to 50 trainees. If you have a student (one or two only, please) who would benefit from these talks please the name(s), email address(es) and your name to our spreadsheet of trainee names.
Laurie and I will send a program in due courses.
Sincerely,
Gary and Laurie
Gary J. Pielak, Ph.D., Kenan Distinguished Professor
UNC, Department of Chemistry
UNC School of Medicine Biochemistry and Biophysics, Chemistry Faculty, and our trainees,
There will be a symposium to celebrate the contributions of Richard (Dick) Wolfenden on May 18, 2026. Dick joined the Department in 1970 and was a renowned enzymologist, a member of the National Academy of Sciences, and an enormously valued mentor and colleague. He retired in 2018 and passed away recently.
The one-day event will be on campus in the Pagano Seminar Room of the Lineberger Cancer Center.
More details will come closer to the event. We are grateful to Drs. Gary Pielak and Laurie Betts who co-chair the organizing committee.
Gary Pielak gary_pielak@unc.edu
Laurie Betts laurie.betts0508@gmail.com
Obituary: https://obits.endswellfuneralhome.com/richard-wolfenden You may sign online guest book.
