Biography

Dr. Sobrado is the Richard K. Vitek/FCR Endowed Chair of Biochemistry in the Department of Chemistry. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Sobrado was a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at Virginia Tech (2007-2024). In addition, he was the Principal Scientist at the Fralin Center (2024), a Professor of Health Science (2016 – 2024), Program Director – Chemistry Division for the National Science Foundation (2021-2023), and before that the Associate Director, Virginia Tech Center for Drug Discovery (2019-2021) and the Graduate Program Director, Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech (2015-2021).

In addition to being a Professor and a Researcher, Dr. Sobrado serves as an Associate Editor for Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, and an editorial board member of the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Disciplines

Biochemistry, Enzymology, Analytical Biochemistry, Drug discovery

Education

2003-2007       Postdoctoral training in Enzymology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI
2003-2004       Postdoctoral training in Cell Biology, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
1997-2003       Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
1993-1997       B.A. in Biology, Merrimack College, North Andover, MA 

Professional Experience

2024 –                        Richard K. Vitek/FCR Endowed Chair of Biochemistry, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO
2024 –                        Professor, Department of Chemistry, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO
2024 –                        Principal Scientist, Fralin Hall, Virginia Tech, Blacksbury, VA
2021- 2023              Program Director, Division of Chemistry, National Science Foundation, Alexandria, VA
2007- 2024             Assistant, Associate, and Professor of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA

Honors and Awards

2024 – Richard K. Vitek/FCR Endowed Chair of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Missouri University of Science and Technology
2021 – Martin H. Freeman Lecture, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT
2017 – Keynote Speaker, 8th Southeast Enzyme Conference, Atlanta, GA
2014 – Excellence in Basic Research Award from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
2014 – ASBMB Research Spotlight for the month of March
2013 – Everson Lecture, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
2011 – National Technology Prize, Clodomiro Picado Twight, Costa Rica