Igor Lednev

Igor K. Lednev is a Professor at the University at Albany, State University of New York. He received his Ph.D. in 1983 graduating from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Russian Federation. Dr. Lednev then held a position as a group leader at the Institute of Chemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences. As an academic visitor, he worked in several leading laboratories around the world including York and Durham Universities, UK and University of Tsukuba, Japan. In 1997, Dr. Lednev came to the US and joined Sanford Asher’s laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh where they built the first nanosecond time resolved temperature-jump apparatus with ultraviolet Raman spectroscopic detection and utilized it for the kinetic studies of protein folding. Dr. Lednev accepted an Assistant Professor position at the University at Albany in 2002. He was promoted to full Professor in 2013.

Prof. Lednev’s research is focused on the development and application of novel laser spectroscopy for medical diagnostics and forensic purposes. To name a few accomplishments, he developed a new approach for the noninvasive, early diagnostics of neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, etc.) and novel methods for the detection and characterization of biological stains, gunshot residue, hair and other trace evidence recovered at a crime scene. The fundamental research is focused on understanding the structure and formation mechanism of amyloid fibrils, protein aggregates related to neurodegenerative diseases. A new type of protein folding-aggregation phenomenon, spontaneous refolding of amyloid fibrils, and a new type of a reversible purple protein chromophore were discovered.

Dr. Lednev co-authored over 200 publications in peer-reviewed journals. His work was covered by media more than 60 times including TV and radio interviews, publications in the Wall Street Journal, Chemical & Engineering News, Forensic Magazine, etc. Discovery Channel Canada featured his work on using Raman spectroscopy for gunshot residue analysis. 323 people from 53 countries registered for Dr. Lednev’s recent webinar on Raman microspectroscopy for forensic purposes and medical diagnostics.

Dr. Lednev served as an advisory member on the White House Subcommittee for Forensic Science. He is a Governing Board member of the Society for Applied Spectroscopy Dr. Lednev co-organized the 2nd International Conference on Vibrational Optical Activity and Bio-Medical Applications of Raman Spectroscopy in 2010 and the 1st National Institute of Justice Forensic Science Symposium at Pittcon in 2018. Dr. Lednev is on the editorial boards of the Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, Forensic Chemistry and Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Proteins and Proteomics. He is a member of the International Steering Committee of the International Conference on Raman Spectroscopy (ICORS).