Russell W. Carlson is Professor of Biochemistry Molecular Biology at the University of Georgia and a fellow of the International Society for Complexity, Information and Design. Dr. Carlson is also the Technical Director of the Center for Plant and Microbial Complex Carbohydrates at the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center (CCRC).

Russell Carlson’s research group focuses on determining how a bacterium can infect a plant or animal cell. One system under investigation is the beneficial (symbiotic) infection of legumes (pea, bean, alfalfa, clover, etc.) by nitrogen-fixing bacteria called rhizobia. Complex molecules that are part of the cell membrane of these bacteria are required for infection of the plant root cells and the focus of this research is to determine the function of specific changes to these molecules that occur when the bacterium comes into contact with the plant cell. This project has potential practical applications for the improvement of crop yields, understanding plant development, and how the plant defends itself against potential pathogens.

Dr. Carlson also has projects directed toward determining the mechanism of virulence of pathogenic bacteria such as those which cause meningitis. This work has potential applications for the development of vaccines, and for the prevention of sepsis (also known as toxic shock). To support this research, Dr. Carlson has received grants in excess of $3.5 million from the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. He has published more than 100 articles in various peer-reviewed journals, has three patents, and has given numerous invited lectures at various meetings and Universities throughout the U.S. as well is in Europe and South America.

Dr. Carlson received his B.A. in chemistry in 1968 from North Park College (Chicago), and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in biochemistry from the University of Colorado in 1974 and 1976, respectively. In 1996 Dr. Carlson was elected scientific councillor of the International Endotoxin Society, and he is the discoverer on two and co-discoverer on a third patent application. Dr. Carlson has over 93 publications.

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