During her undergraduate education at Cornell University, Claudia Therese Benack Evans, Ph.D., developed an interest in biochemistry, having been mentored by several excellent professors. Commencing her career as a physical scientist in the human health studies division of the Environmental Measurements Laboratory with the New York Department of Energy in 1975, she went on to serve the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the U.S. Air Force Technical Application Center between 1988 and 2001. Since that time, she has acted in myriad positions within the realms of biotechnology, health research, and development applications, culminating in her current role of chair of the national evaluation committee of the Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Foundation Inc., a role she has held since 2018.
ARCS Foundation Inc., is a national organization dedicated to cultivating the potential in undergraduate and graduate scholars through financial awards in science, engineering, and medical research. Believing in the importance of STEM education, the foundation works in collaboration with numerous universities and government agencies to support the academic drive of the world’s most innovative leaders of tomorrow. Since its founding in 1958, ARCS Foundation Inc., has awarded more than $100 million to over 10,000 ARCS Scholars in prominent STEM programs at premier universities across the nation.
Dr. Benack’s expertise focuses intently on her research in metabolic regulation, protein chemistry, and enzymology, with applications in preclinical vaccine development, biodefense, cancer, and diabetes. A renowned professional with four degrees and countless course hours in additional education, she has authored and co-authored myriad articles in professional journals and served as an editorial reviewer and advisor of the Biochemical Journal, the Journal of Molecular Endocrinology, and the American Journal of Physiology. Interviewed in 2004 by The Washington Post in light of her contributions to the industry, she also holds expertise in army applications for defense threats and biological weaponry.
Achieving much throughout her career, Dr. Benack previously gave opening remarks and introductions to the National Academy of Sciences, where she notably conversed with Nobel Laureate John Mather. She also served as the president of the Dallas chapter of Sigma Xi in the late 1990s, having maintained affiliation with other prominent organizations such as the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the Biochemical Society, the Association of Women in Science, and the International Association for Women Bioscientists. Looking toward the future, Dr. Benack intends to experience the continued growth and success of her career.
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