About Simon
Interests and Skills
I am an inorganic/physical chemist whose career has focused on the function of metals in biology as well as in catalysis and materials science. I have studied these using a range of physical techniques like spectroscopy, electrochemistry and kinetics. I am a leading expert in the application of infrared (IR) spectroscopy to biological systems and I am an experienced EPR and synchrotron X-ray (EXAFS, Soft X-ray and XMCD) spectroscopist with over half my publications involving these techniques. Much of my work has involved the development of novel instrumentation for this work as well as software tools for instrument control and the analysis of complex data.
My interest and enjoyment in working in biological chemistry stems not only from its relevance (it’s about life!) or its huge potential applications (in biotechnology, agriculture, bioinspired industrial catalysis, novel materials and so forth). It's also because these problems are often technically challenging as experimental materials are often impure, severely limited in quantity and dilute in the metal of interest. The field has responded by developing a diverse range of sensitive physical techniques, and I very much enjoy working with and developing these as they provide their own challenges. I also like the interdisciplinary nature of the subject as it draws on the all the main branches of physical science (chemistry, physics, biology) as well as aspects of engineering, making a scientifically diverse and exciting working environment.
These web pages summarize my main research themes and experience:
Simon J. George Ph.D. B.Sc
Career Summary
Employment and Appointments
2023 - Present Research Scientist, Carl Sagan Center, The SETI Institute, Mountain View CA
2015 - Present Consultant and Owner, Simon Scientific, Berkeley CA
2010 - 2014 Full Project Scientist: Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, CA
2002 - 2010 Scientist: Physical Biosciences / Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley CA
1999 - 2006 Honorary Lecturer (Honorary Faculty): University of East Anglia, Norwich UK
1998 - 2003 Senior Scientist: Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich UK
1994 - 1998 Scientist: Nitrogen Fixation Laboratory, John Innes Centre, Norwich UK
1993 - 1998 Consultant: Structural Molecular Biology, Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, Menlo Park CA
1991 - 1994 Assistant Researcher: Department of Applied Science, University of California, Davis CA
1990 - 1991 Scientist: National Synchrotron Light Source, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton NY
1988 - 1991 Staff Chemist: School of Chemical Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
1980 - 1982 3 x 12-Week Summer Appointments
Researcher, Propellants Explosives and Rocket Motor Establishment, Waltham Abbey, U.K.
Education
1986 - 1988 SERC Post-Doctoral Fellow: School of Chemical Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich UK
1983 - 1986 Ph.D. in Chemistry: School of Chemical Sciences University of East Anglia, Norwich UK
Thesis: "Magnetic Circular Dichroism of Iron-Sulphur Proteins"
Supervisor: Professor Andrew J. Thomson OBE FRS
1979 - 1983 B.Sc. (Hons) in Chemistry: University of London King's College, London UK
• Printable CV (PDF) • NIH Biosketch (PDF)
Publications
Publication Statistics
Total publications (January 02, 2024): 100
Citations (Google Scholar): 5712
h‐index (Google Scholar): 48
Selected Publications
96. Oxygen K-edge X-ray absorption spectra of liquids with minimization of window contamination
Linda I. Vogt, Julien J. H. Cotelesage, Charles J. Titus, Samin Sharifi, Albert E. Butterfield, Peter Hillman, Ingrid J. Pickering, Graham N. George, Simon J. George,
J. Synchr. Rad. 2021, 28, 1845-1849. https://doi.org/10.1107/S1600577521009942
89. The HydG enzyme generates an Fe(CO)2(CN) synthon in the biosynthesis of the FeFe hydrogenase H‑Cluster
Jon M. Kuchenreuther, William K. Myers, Daniel L. M. Suess, Troy A. Stich, Vladimir Pelmenschikov, Stacey A. Shiigi, Stephen P. Cramer, James R. Swartz, R. David Britt, Simon J. George
Science 2014, 343, 424-427. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1246572
86. A Radical Intermediate in Tyrosine Scission to the CO and CN− Ligands of FeFe] Hydrogenase
Jon M. Kuchenreuther, William K. Myers, Troy A. Stich, Simon J. George, Yaser NejatyJahromy, James R. Swartz, R. David Britt
Science 2013, 342, 472-475. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1241859
78. Steric Control of the Hi-CO MoFe Nitrogenase Complex Revealed by Stopped-Flow Infra-red Spectroscopy
Zhi-Yong Yang, Lance C. Seefeldt, Dennis R. Dean, Stephen P. Cramer, Simon J. George
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2011, 50, 272-275. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201005145
76. Synchrotron X-ray analyses indicate phosphate-bound gadolinium in nephrogenic systemic fibrosis
Simon J. George, Samuel M. Webb; Jerrold L. Abraham, Stephen P. Cramer
Brit. J. Dermatol., 2010, 163, 1077-1081. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2133.2010.09918.x
59. EPR and infrared spectroscopic evidence that a kinetically competent paramagnetic intermediate is formed when acetyl-coenzyme A synthase reacts with CO
Simon J. George, Javier Seravalli, Stephen W. Ragsdale
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 13500-13501. https://doi.org/10.1021/ja0528329
37. Time-resolved binding of carbon monoxide to nitrogenase monitored by stopped-flow infrared spectroscopy
Simon J. George, Gillian A. Ashby, Christopher W. Wharton, Roger N. F. Thorneley
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1997, 119, 6450-6451. https://doi.org/10.1021/ja971088s
26. Copper L-edge spectral studies - a direct experimental probe of the ground-state covalency in the blue copper site in plastocyanin
Simon J. George, Michael D. Lowery, Edward I. Solomon, Stephen P. Cramer
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1993, 115, 2968-2969. https://doi.org/10.1021/ja00060a052
24. Variable temperature magnetic circular dichroism
Andrew J. Thomson, Myles R. Cheesman, Simon J. George
Meth. Enzymol, 1993, 225, 199-232. https://doi.org/10.1016/0076-6879(93)26011-W
18. Identification and characterization of zinc binding sites in protein kinase C
Stevan R. Hubbard, W. Robert Bishop, Paul Kirschmeier, Simon J. George, Stephen P. Cramer, Wayne A. Hendrickson
Science 1991, 254, 1776-1779. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1763327
9. Electrochemical and spectroscopic characterization of the conversion of the 7Fe into the 8Fe Form of ferredoxin III from Desulfovibrio africanus - identification of a 4Fe-4S] cluster with one non-cysteine ligand
S. J. George, F. A. Armstrong, E. C. Hatchikian, A. J. Thomson
Biochem. J. 1989, 264, 275-284. https://doi.org/10.1042/bj2640275
Latest Update: 26 January 2024
Page maintained by Simon J. George (simon@simonscientific.com)