Govindjee

Background

Was born on October 24, 1933 in Allahabad, India. Arrived in United States, 1956, naturalized, 1972. Son of Vishveshwar Prasad and Savitri Devi Asthana.

Education

Bachelor of Science, University Allahabad, 1952. Master of Science, University Allahabad, 1954. Doctor of Philosophy, University Illinois, 1960.

Career

Lecturer botany University Allahabad, 1954-1956. Graduate fellow University Illinois, Urbana, 1956-1958, research assistant, 1958-1960, United States Public Health Service postdoctoral trainee biophysics, 1960-1961, member faculty, since 1961, associate professor botany and biophysics, 1965-1969, professor biophysics and plant biology, 1969-1999, distinguished lecturer School Life Sciences, 1978, emeritus professor biophysics, plant biology and biochemistry, since 1999.

Achievements

• Achievements include discovery of several new fluorescing forms of chlorophyll a. Discovery of the presence of chlorophyll a in what is now called Photosystem II. Discovery of the two-light effects on chlorophyll a fluorescence.
  
  Discovery of Emerson Enhancement in NADP reduction. Discovery of the time (in picoseconds) taken by the reaction center of Photosystem II to undergo primary charge separation. Discovery of the theory for the molecular mechanism of thermoluminescence in plants.
  
  Discovery of an understanding of chlorophyll a fluorescence changes with time. Discovery of the unique role of bicarbonate ions in the electron and proton transfer on the electron acceptor side of Photosystem II.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Bible on the Go, Vol. 30: Words from the Prophet Isaiah, Part 1 (Isaiah 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 35, 40, 53, 60, 64)

    ( Straight from the New International Reader's Version, t...)

  • Light Emission by Plants and Bacteria (Cell Biology)
  • Light Emission by Plants and Bacteria (Cell Biology) by Govindjee Amesz Jan (1986-11-01) Hardcover
  • Excitation Energy and Electron Transfer in Photosynthesis
  • Excitation Energy and Electron Transfer in Photosynthesis
  • Chlorophyll a Fluorescence: A Signature of Photosynthesis
  • Discoveries in Photosynthesis, Vol. 20
  • Buddhist Sanskrit Texts: no. 1, Lalita-vistara; no. 2, Samadhirajasutra; no. 3, Lankavatarasutra; no. 4, Astasahashrikaprajnaparamita; no. 5, Gandavyuhasutram; no. 6, Saddharmapundarikasutram; no. 7, Dashabhumikasutram; no. 8, Suvarnaprabhasasutram; no. 9
  • Volume 80 Nos. 1-3, 2004 - Photosynthesis Research

Membership

Founder, Govindjee and Rajni Govindjee Award for excellence in Biological Research University Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Fellow American Association for the Advancement of Science, National Academy of Sciences (India). Member American Society Plant Biologists, Biophysics Society of America, American Society Photobiology (council 1976, president 1981), International Photosynthesis Society (executive committee, publication committee 1995-1901, honorary president 13th International Photosynthesis Congress 2004), Sigma Xi (emeritus).

Interests

• Photography.

Connections

Married Rajni Varma, October 24, 1957. Children: Anita Govindjee, Sanjay Govindjee.

Father:

Vishveshwar Prasad

Mother:

Savitri Devi Asthana

Spouse:

Rajni Varma

child:

Anita Govindjee

child:

Sanjay Govindjee