Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

2018 Gold Medal Award

Perkins

Perkins

AWARD CITATION

Awarded for achievements in science and engineering. Dr. Perkins is recognized for creating the world's best atomic force microscope (AFM) tailored to biological measurements, and using it to reveal 10 times greater detail than previously possible about the structure and dynamics of key membrane proteins. Membrane proteins are the gatekeepers of all cells, controlling which chemicals leave and enter cells, and are the target of half of all new drugs. Perkins' AFM technologies and results are already being applied to improve drug design and advance biomedical research on cancer and brain diseases, and to better understand normal physiology. 

Dr. Perkins also received the Ron Brown Excellence in Innovation Award for this work.

INDIVIDUAL AWARD

Thomas Perkins

Physicist
Physical Measurement Laboratory