World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!

D-Index & Metrics

Microbiology

D-Index
128
Citations
83771
World Ranking
84
National Ranking
43

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2009 - ASM Lifetime Achievement Award, American Society for Microbiology
  • 2000 - US President's National Medal of Science "For his brilliant and original insights, through molecular studies of RNA sequences, to explore the history of life on Earth. His vision has revolutionized our view of life's evolution and diversity.", Presented by Dr. Neal Lane, Assistant to the President for Science & Technology, at a dinner awards ceremony at the National Building Museum, Washington, DC, Friday, December 1, 2000. Award accepted by Professor Gary J. Olsen, University of Chicago.
  • 1988 - Member of the National Academy of Sciences
  • 1984 - Fellow of the MacArthur Foundation

Overview

Carl R. Woese was affiliated with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the United States. Their academic career included significant contributions to molecular biology and evolutionary studies.

Woese's work centered on exploring the history of life on Earth through molecular studies of RNA sequences. This approach provided new perspectives on life's evolution and biodiversity.

The scientist was recognized with multiple awards throughout their career. Among these were the ASM Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society for Microbiology in 2009, and the US President's National Medal of Science in 2000 for their insights into molecular evolution. Additionally, Woese was a Member of the National Academy of Sciences from 1988 and a Fellow of the MacArthur Foundation in 1984.

Woese's research influenced broad scientific discussions on evolutionary biology and microbiology. Although detailed data on their publications, coauthors, and specific subfields of study is not available, the impact of their molecular research approach was reflected in the accolades and institutional recognition they received.

Best Publications

  • Towards a natural system of organisms: proposal for the domains Archaea, Bacteria, and Eucarya.

    Carl R. Woese;Otto Kandler;Mark L. Wheelis

  • Phylogenetic structure of the prokaryotic domain: The primary kingdoms

    Carl R. Woese;George E. Fox

  • Methanogens: reevaluation of a unique biological group.

    W E Balch;G E Fox;L J Magrum;C R Woese

  • COMPLETE GENOME SEQUENCE OF THE METHANOGENIC ARCHAEON, $i(METHANOCOCCUS JANNASCHII)

    Carol J. Bult;Owen R. White;Hamilton O. Smith;Carl R. Woese

  • THE RDP (RIBOSOMAL DATABASE PROJECT)

    Bonnie L. Maidak;Gary J. Olsen;Niels Larsen;Ross A. Overbeek

  • The complete genome sequence of the hyperthermophilic, sulphate-reducing archaeon Archaeoglobus fulgidus

    Hans-Peter Klenk;Rebecca A. Clayton;Jean-Francois Tomb;Owen White

  • The Phylogeny of Prokaryotes

    GE Fox;E Stackebrandt;RB Hespell;J Gibson

  • The Ribosomal Database project

    Niels Larsen;Gary J. Olsen;Bonnie L. Maidak;Michael J. McCaughey

  • The universal ancestor

    Carl Woese

  • The winds of (evolutionary) change: breathing new life into microbiology.

    Gary J Olsen;C. R. Woese;R. Overbeek

  • Thermotoga maritima sp. nov. represents a new genus of unique extremely thermophilic eubacteria growing up to 90°C

    Robert Huber;Thomas A. Langworthy;Helmut König;Michael Thomm

  • On the evolution of cells

    Carl R. Woese

  • A new version of the RDP (Ribosomal Database Project)

    Bonnie L. Maidak;James R. Cole;Charles T. Parker;George M. Garrity

  • Lessons from an evolving rRNA: 16S and 23S rRNA structures from a comparative perspective.

    Robin Gutell;Niels Larsen;Carl R. Woese

  • Ribosomal RNA: a key to phylogeny.

    Gary J. Olsen;Carl R. Woese

  • Detailed analysis of the higher-order structure of 16S-like ribosomal ribonucleic acids.

    C. R. Woese;R. Gutell;Ramesh Gupta;H. F. Noller

  • Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetases, the Genetic Code, and the Evolutionary Process

    Carl R. Woese;Gary J. Olsen;Michael Ibba;Dieter Söll

  • Comparative Anatomy of 16-S-like Ribosomal RNA

    Robin R. Gutell;Bryn Weiser;Carl R. Woese;Harry F. Noller

  • Interpreting the universal phylogenetic tree

    Carl R. Woese

  • Mitochondrial origins

    D Yang;Y Oyaizu;H Oyaizu;G J Olsen

  • The Ribosomal Database Project (RDP)

    Bonnie L. Maidak;Gary J. Olsen;Niels Larsen;Ross A. Overbeek

Frequent Co-Authors

George E. Fox
George E. Fox University of Houston
Gary J. Olsen
Gary J. Olsen University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Karl O. Stetter
Karl O. Stetter University of Regensburg
Robin R. Gutell
Robin R. Gutell The University of Texas at Austin
Nikos C. Kyrpides
Nikos C. Kyrpides Joint Genome Institute
Michael T. Madigan
Michael T. Madigan Southern Illinois University Carbondale
David A. Stahl
David A. Stahl University of Washington
Ross Overbeek
Ross Overbeek Argonne National Laboratory
Harry F. Noller
Harry F. Noller University of California, Santa Cruz
Norman R. Pace
Norman R. Pace University of Colorado Boulder

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