Randy Hampton

Randy Hampton was born in New York State a surpassingly long time ago. He earned a A.B. in Chemistry and Mathematics as Ohio Wesleyan University, and by a circuitous route that included doing research at University of Michigan, running the office at Zingerman’s Delicatessen, and participating in field work in music and comedy, he earned a Ph.D. in Biochemistry at University of Wisconsin-Madison and at Merck & Co. in Rahway, NJ. After a postdoctoral fellowship at U. C. Berkeley, he took his current position in the Division of Biological Sciences at U. C. San Diego. His research interests include cellular management of misfolded proteins, sterol regulation and the cholesterol pathway, metabolism, and ubiquitin in health and disease. His pedagogical interests involve finding ways to communicate to tomorrow’s physicians and biomedical professionals the critical differences between sickness and wellness, and the role of science in exploring that boundary. To this end he teaches three separate classes in Metabolism, Exercise Physiology and Nutrition. During his time at UCSD, Dr. Hampton has earned 7 separate teaching awards. His interests outside the academe include running, 5 string banjo, secular spirituality, and the complex synergies that govern the lives of us all. Most recently, (Aug 2018) he got married for the first time, to his lovely wife Marrie (with 2 r’s), making him a newlywed who is applying for Medicare. Whatever the day brings, his gratitude for his career, and in particular opportunities like Biotech Demystified, is heartfelt and astronomical.