Dr. Dennis
Pederson
Professor
Dennis Pederson received his B.S. from the University of Puget Sound in 1962 and his Ph.D. from Purdue University in 1968. From 1968-70 he was a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the laboratory of Professor Jan Hermans, Jr. at the University of North Carolina. His work there dealt with the evaluation of thermodynamic parameters associated with structural changes in proteins. Dr. Pederson has been at CSUSB since 1970.
Dr. Pederson's research interests are in the area of protein structure. In 1977-78 he spent a sabbatical year in the lab of Professor Herbert Zuber at the Eidgenossiche Technische Hochschule in Zurich. There he studied thermal and kinetic characteristics of enzymes isolated from thermophilic bacteria. In 1984-85 he spent a sabbatical leave in the lab of Dr. Geoffrey Smith at the Australian National University in Canberra. There his work focused on the mechanisms microorganisms, particularly cyanobacteria, use to adapt to temperature changes. In 1991-92 he spent a sabbatical year in the lab of Professor John Gallon at the University of Wales, Swansea, continuing his studies on the use of temperature stress to probe nitrogen fixation in cyanobacteria. In 1998-99 he spent a sabbatical year in the laboratory of Professor Richard Perham at the University of Cambridge. There his work focused on characterization of a recently discovered thermophilic bacteriophage.
Dr. Pederson teaches introductory chemistry in the general education program (Chem 100), introductory chemistry (Chem 205) and biochemistry (Chem 207) in the health sciences-nursing sequence, general chemistry for biology and chemistry majors (Chem 216), chemistry for prospective elementary school teachers (Chem 304), and upper-division biochemistry (Chem 436, 437, 439). He also plays a major role in student advising in the department, with particular focus on students planning for careers in the health professions. He has served for a number of years as chair of the Health Professions Advisory Committee, a committee that coordinates the dissemination of information on health-related careers and writes summary letters of recommendation for students applying to medical and dental school.
Dennis Pederson is a member of the American Chemical Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Sigma Xi, and the California Association of Chemistry Teachers.
