Montana State University biochemist Brian Bothner has been named a College of Letters and Science Distinguished Professor — the highest honor the college gives to its faculty — recognized for research that sits at the intersection of chemistry and biology and for more than a decade of work developing Montana's next generation of scientists.

What this means for you
MontanaBothner's Montana INBRE directorship connects MSU's research enterprise to baccalaureate colleges and community institutions statewide, channeling NIH funding toward biomedical research capacity across Montana — a meaningful pipeline for students and faculty at smaller campuses.
Gallatin CountyThe free public lecture at the Museum of the Rockies is open to Bozeman-area residents; no ticket or registration required.
BozemanThe event takes place Oct. 8 at the Museum of the Rockies, 600 W. Kagy Blvd., with a 6 p.m. reception preceding the 7 p.m. talk.
Watch nextDistinguished Professor Lecture, 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, Museum of the Rockies, Bozeman — free and open to the public.

Bothner will deliver a Distinguished Professor Lecture titled "So Many Molecules, So Little Time" at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman. An hors d'oeuvres reception begins at 6 p.m.; drinks are available for purchase. The event is free and open to the public.

A professor in MSU's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Bothner has built his research career around mass spectrometry — a technique he has applied creatively to understand how viruses function and how biological systems respond to stress. His work spans proteomics, metabolomics, and cellular biology, probing what he calls "the fine line between pure chemistry and biology."

The origin story is decidedly practical. Training as a triathlete in the 1980s, Bothner became curious about "bonking" — the sharp energy crash that hits endurance athletes when glycogen stores run out. The metabolic mystery that coaches couldn't fully explain at the time pulled him from passive student to motivated scientist. "It was one of the things that took me from being a student just going through the motions to 'I want to learn this stuff because I want to know this,'" he said.

For Bothner, though, mentorship ranks above research in his own accounting of his impact. "It's part of my job to inspire people to find out what their thing is," he said. "Training the next generation is the most important impact I can have as a faculty member."

That commitment extends statewide. Since 2016, Bothner has directed Montana INBRE — the IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence — a National Institutes of Health-funded program that links MSU and other Montana institutions to strengthen biomedical research capacity and improve health outcomes across the state.

"Brian Bothner exemplifies the highest ideals of the college and the university," said William Thomas III, dean of the College of Letters and Science. "He's both a world-leading researcher and an inspiring and dedicated classroom teacher who has transformed the lives of thousands of MSU's students."

The Oct. 8 lecture is free and no registration information was included in the announcement; attendees can arrive for the 6 p.m. reception at the Museum of the Rockies, 600 W. Kagy Blvd., Bozeman.