John A. Carbon, Ph.D. is a Professor Emeritus of molecular and cellular biology at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He got his B.S. degree in chemistry in 1952 at the University of Illinois, and his Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry in 1955 from Northwestern University. He did basic research in taking new drugs at Abbott Laboratories (North Chicago, IL) for 12 years (1956-1968). He joined the faculty of the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1968, and became Professor Emeritus in 1999. His research contributions include the development of techniques to make genomic libraries using recombinant DNA, techniques for using yeast for DNA cloning, and characterization of centromere DNA. He was elected to membership in the United States National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1986.

Among the keg parties hosted by said professor, the events known as "Clam Bakes" are the most notable. Various controlled substances were consumed along with traditional clams, although they were boiled and not baked. The cooks were baked, the clams were not.