Peter Kollman
Encyclopedia
Peter Andrew Kollman was a professor
of chemistry
and pharmaceutical chemistry at the University of California, San Francisco
.
He is known for his work in computational chemistry
, molecular modeling and bioinformatics
, especially for his role in the development of the AMBER
force field
and molecular dynamics
software package.
in 1966 and his M.A. and Ph.D. from Princeton University
in 1967 and 1970 respectively. His PhD supervisor was Leland C. Allen, who had received his PhD in 1956 from MIT supervised by John C. Slater
. After a post-doctoral position at the University of Cambridge
with David Buckingham, Kollman was hired as an assistant professor by UCSF, where he spent the rest of his career.
In 1995, he was distinguished with the Computers in Chemistry Award from the American Chemical Society
.
He is survived by his mother, Gusti, sisters Miriam and Gerda, wife, Mercedes, and four children, Eli, Sarah, Daniel and Artemis.
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
and pharmaceutical chemistry at the University of California, San Francisco
University of California, San Francisco
The University of California, San Francisco is one of the world's leading centers of health sciences research, patient care, and education. UCSF's medical, pharmacy, dentistry, nursing, and graduate schools are among the top health science professional schools in the world...
.
He is known for his work in computational chemistry
Computational chemistry
Computational chemistry is a branch of chemistry that uses principles of computer science to assist in solving chemical problems. It uses the results of theoretical chemistry, incorporated into efficient computer programs, to calculate the structures and properties of molecules and solids...
, molecular modeling and bioinformatics
Bioinformatics
Bioinformatics is the application of computer science and information technology to the field of biology and medicine. Bioinformatics deals with algorithms, databases and information systems, web technologies, artificial intelligence and soft computing, information and computation theory, software...
, especially for his role in the development of the AMBER
AMBER
AMBER is a family of force fields for molecular dynamics of biomolecules originally developed by the late Peter Kollman's group at the University of California, San Francisco. AMBER is also the name for the molecular dynamics software package that simulates these force fields...
force field
Force field (chemistry)
In the context of molecular modeling, a force field refers to the form and parameters of mathematical functions used to describe the potential energy of a system of particles . Force field functions and parameter sets are derived from both experimental work and high-level quantum mechanical...
and molecular dynamics
Molecular dynamics
Molecular dynamics is a computer simulation of physical movements of atoms and molecules. The atoms and molecules are allowed to interact for a period of time, giving a view of the motion of the atoms...
software package.
Biography
Kollman obtained his B.A. from Grinnell CollegeGrinnell College
Grinnell College is a private liberal arts college in Grinnell, Iowa, U.S. known for its strong tradition of social activism. It was founded in 1846, when a group of pioneer New England Congregationalists established the Trustees of Iowa College....
in 1966 and his M.A. and Ph.D. from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in 1967 and 1970 respectively. His PhD supervisor was Leland C. Allen, who had received his PhD in 1956 from MIT supervised by John C. Slater
John C. Slater
John Clarke Slater was a noted American physicist who made major contributions to the theory of the electronic structure of atoms, molecules and solids. This work is of ongoing importance in chemistry, as well as in many areas of physics. He also made major contributions to microwave electronics....
. After a post-doctoral position at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
with David Buckingham, Kollman was hired as an assistant professor by UCSF, where he spent the rest of his career.
In 1995, he was distinguished with the Computers in Chemistry Award from the American Chemical Society
American Chemical Society
The American Chemical Society is a scientific society based in the United States that supports scientific inquiry in the field of chemistry. Founded in 1876 at New York University, the ACS currently has more than 161,000 members at all degree-levels and in all fields of chemistry, chemical...
.
He is survived by his mother, Gusti, sisters Miriam and Gerda, wife, Mercedes, and four children, Eli, Sarah, Daniel and Artemis.