Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo
Brazilian, born in Santiago, Chile, 1939. Biochemist, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas e Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile (UCh ), 1962; Privat Dozent, UCh, 1968; Full Professor, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo ( IQUSP ), 1984. Presently Emeritus Professor at the IQUSP. Scientific publications under Chaimovich, H (ORCID 0000-0001-9380-2157). Research Interests: Biochemistry, with emphasis on Physical Organic Chemistry and Biomimetic Systems, micelle and vesicle structure and applications, micellar and enzyme catalysis. Some of his main scientific contributions are: full kinetic description of apyrase (1965) and aminoacyltRNA synthase (1970), description of vesicle formation with synthetic surfactants (1978); a theory for the quantitative analysis of kinetics in aggregates (1979); remarkable catalysis of a chemical reaction in a prebiotic system (1982); water activity in reverse micelles (1986); the first description of a mitochondrial uncoupling protein not associated with higher mammals, the Plant Uncoupling Mitochondrial Protein (1995); chemical trapping at aggregate interfaces (2000); shape transitions and interfacial composition in micelles (2005). More recently he has been interested in unravelling ion selectivity at interfaces in several aggregated systems (2019) and the mechanisms of peptide/membrane interactions (2019). He also publishes regularly, under Chaimovich H in scientific journals, book chapters, magazines and newspapers, articles related to Higher Education, Science and Technology Policy and participated in a number of National and International Committees and Boards on the same themes. Positions occupied. Chairman, Department of Biochemistry, IQUSP, 1985- 89 , 1994- 96; Coordinator , Bachelor of Molecular Sciences, USP, 1990 -94; President of the Brazilian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 1994- 96; Research Chancellor, USP, 1997 -01; Director, IQUSP, 2002- 06; Deputy Director, Institute of Advanced Studies, USP, 2006 –09; Vice – President for External Relations of the International Council for Science, (ICSU) 2005- 08; Co -Chair of the Inter-American Network of Academies of Science, (IANAS) 2004 -10; Member of National Council of Science and Technology, CCT, 2007- 16; Vice-President, Brazilian Academy of Sciences, 2007- 15; CEO, Butantan Foundation, 2009 -11; Special Advisor of the Scientific Directorate, São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), 2011-15; President of the Brazilian Research Council, 2015 -16; Adjunct Coordinator, FAPESP, 2017 -to date. TWAS ROLAC Prize for Science Diplomacy and TWAS Medal, Tamandaré Merit Medal and Naval Order of Merit, Brazilian Navy; Emeritus Professor, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo (IQUSP); Honoris Causa Doctor from the Chilean Universities of Chile and Temuco; Member of the Brazilian, São Paulo, LatinAmerica and TWAS Academies of Science; Corresponding Member of the Academies of Science of Chile, Guatemala and Venezuela; AAAS Fellow; Commandeur dans l´Ordre des Palmes Académiques, Premier Ministre, France; Scopus Prize, Elsevier; Brazilian Order of Merit.