MCB Permit No
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
A Magazine | The School of Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | Issue 9, 2015 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign School of Molecular and Cellular Biology Nonprofit org. U.S. postage 393 Morrill Hall PAID 505 South Goodwin Avenue Champaign, IL MCB Permit no. 75 Urbana, IL 61801 mcb.illinois.edu UMBRELLA OPPORTUNITIES: GRADUATE PROGRAM GIVES STUDENTS CHANCE TO EXPLORE College of Liberal Arts and Sciences LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR TABLE OF CONTENTS 4 Umbrella Opportunities Graduate Program Gives Students Chance to Explore It was a beautiful fall in Champaign Illinois, reminiscent of what was typical before 6 Heart and Splicy Development the last couple of years of early snow. Matching the sunny weather is the warm glow The Kalsotra Lab reflected by the accomplishments of our faculty, staff, students and alumni that we 7 Targeting Cancer with T Cells are pleased to share with you in this edition of our annual magazine. David Kranz, PhD ’82, Microbiology 8 First in Class In October we celebrated the success of three alumni who were recognized by the Guy Padbury, MS ’85, PhD ’88, Biochemistry College of Liberal Arts and Sciences during their homecoming celebration. Tom 9 Gene taranis Key to Regeneration of Fruit Fly Epithelial Tissues Cycyota (B.S. ’80 Biology) received the LAS Humanitarian Award for his Smith-Bolton Lab outstanding service as President and CEO of AlloSource. His work to improve the lives of many through the use of donated human tissue is legendary. At the same 10 An Interview with Ann Carpenter PhD ’03, Cell and Developmental Biology event, an LAS Alumni Achievement Award was bestowed upon David Kranz (M.S. ’80, Ph.D ’82 Microbiology), Phillip A. Sharp Professor in the Department 11 CDB Tunji Toogun Memorial Graduate Fellowship Fund of Biochemistry on the Urbana campus, for his entrepreneurial spirit exemplified 12 Sacred Gifts Tom Cycyota, BS ’80, Biology Dr. Stephen G. Sligar by the successful move of two start-up companies to commercialization by the pharmaceutical industry. Guy Padbury (MS ’85, Ph.D. ’88 Biochemistry), Senior 13 Pleurobranchaea, a simple creature leading to complex discoveries Vice President of Merck, also received the LAS Alumni Achievement Award for The Lab of Rhanor Gillette, Professor Emeritus his leadership in several major corporate efforts to bring new therapeutics to the 13 MIP Welcomes Dr. Phyllis Wise to Faculty marketplace. 14 Drs. Benita S. Katzenellenbogen and John A. Katzenellenbogen have been awarded the Fred Conrad Koch Lifetime Achievement Award by the Endocrine Society. As a Professor in MCB, I am often asked what I consider the most rewarding 15 MIP Professor Emeritus: Arthur DeVries aspect of my chosen profession. My response certainly credits the thrill of 16 Science and Outreach in Dr. Lori Raetzman’s Lab scientific discovery and the joy of teaching. But the most important is observing the success of our students as they progress through their careers. I had the 17 The Microbial Man pleasure of serving as Guy Padbury’s Ph.D. advisor nearly three decades ago! The For 62 Years, Ralph Wolfe Has Explored the Microbial Universe graduate students in our four MCB departments continue to impress, across a 18 Nutritional Immunity: Using Hunger to Fight Infection wide range of career paths. In this edition of the MCB magazine you will learn Kehl-Fie Lab further details of these accomplishments. 19 Striking Gold U of I Alum Uses Humble Yeast in Battle Against Parkinson’s and Other Diseases A final word must be mentioned regarding the financial situation facing the State 20 Helicobacter pylori Gastric Infection Impairs Cognitive Performance in Rats of Illinois, as most are aware from the news. The budget impasse, reflected in a The Blanke Lab partisan chasm between the legislature and Governor’s office has left the 21 Microbiology Welcomes Dr. Christopher Brooke to the Faculty University without a budget until spring. This has created trepidation among 22 Milestones in Excellence faculty, staff and alumni. The School of Molecular and Cellular Biology remains 24 Mentors of Success one of the crown jewels of the University. We have one of the largest majors on A Growing Alumni Mentoring Program in MCB is Helping Students Map Their Careers campus and garner external research funds, which on a per-faculty basis, is one of 26 List of Recent Graduates the highest across the entire University. That said, the future success of state public institutions in the dual mission of MC B is published by the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology education and research is challenged. We are increasingly dependent on external MCB Director Development MCB Communications Office sources of revenue to support the infrastructure and the recruitment and retention Stephen G. Sligar Angela Lucas 393 Morrill Hall, MC-119 of the best faculty and staff. We sincerely thank our alumni and friends for their 505 South Goodwin Avenue Managing Editor Joan Tousey continued support and guidance in these endeavors. Urbana, IL 61801 Steph Adams Sean D. Williams I wish you all a happy new year! Additional Editing Photography phone | 217.265.6594 Steph Adams fax | 217.265.6595 Judith Lateer L. Brian Stauffer [email protected] Graphic Design Joseph Storch Pat Mayer www.mcb.illinois.edu Steve Sligar Kurt Bielema Director Produced by the MCB Communications Office for the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology. The University of Illinois is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution. Printed on recycled paper with soy-based ink. 12.038 2 MCB Umbrella Opportunities: Graduate Program Gives Students Chance to Explore By Brian Wallheimer When looking for a graduate school program, microbiology, did undergraduate research in student,” Edwards says. “Having a small lab listening to your students is so valuable.” it would have been easy for Pooja Agashe to physiology. He thought he might end up in Cell environment allows a lot of one-on-one with the Joanna Shisler, an associate professor of narrow her focus and zero in on microbiology. and Developmental Biology or Molecular and professor to talk about science. That was really microbiology, says better student-lab matches That would be continuing along a path she Integrative Physiology. He decided to explore positive for me. Your mentor and your PI are also improve the likelihood students will be started with a bachelor’s degree in the field and the school and was intrigued by a microbiology going to be a huge factor in your success.” enthusiastic about their work. led to four years working in industry after rotation. He was hooked. “Whenever you have people who work for graduation. “Some people come in and are really INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS you who are excited and motivated, you’re going Agashe chose Illinois’ School of Molecular focused to do one thing,” Hess says. “I came in Like many international students, Amrute to get a better environment and better and Cellular Biology knowing she might with a different attitude. I followed what Bhate was nervous about coming to a graduate experience,” Shisler says. continue down the microbiology path, but program in a country on which she had never Chen has students who come from different knowing the structure of the graduate program set foot. She did not have the opportunity to science backgrounds and approach questions could lead her down another road altogether. meet with prospective advisors in person or tour much differently than she is used to. That would “It’s very easy to get pigeonholed in science. their labs to get a feel for the environment that not be likely without the school’s umbrella You work so narrowly on one piece of research,” she would be working in prior to coming to the approach. says Agashe, a first-year student in the fall of U.S. “They push me. They definitely make my 2015. “Because I spent time in industry, I did “American students choose a university. They research program better,” Chen says. have some ideas about what I wanted to do, but get to come to campus for an interview. They I realized there is so much research going on in “Some people come in get to tour the campus and meet the faculty STRONGER SCHOOL the university.” members,” says Bhate, who is from Mumbai, The school used the direct-admit approach, “When you’re that young, you Agashe is one of the hundreds of students and are really focused to India. “I didn’t have that opportunity.” in which the four departments separately don’t understand how big the who have enrolled in the school since its But under the umbrella structure, Bhate was admitted students into their programs, before transition to an umbrella approach to admitting do one thing. I came in able to set many of those concerns aside. transitioning to the umbrella structure around world is or the diversity of graduate students, which allows new students to with a different attitude. “These rotations really help us because while 10 years ago. Chen says that approach worked explore laboratories in each of the school’s we can look up lab pages on the Internet, we well before the school was organized and there choices you have. I really departments. Students do three rotations of five I followed what interested can’t get a feel for them,” says Bhate, who is in were fewer students, but now the program has enjoyed the opportunity to try weeks each to get a feel for the type of research Biochemistry. “You get in touch with all the expanded and has multiple students in more happening in the lab and how they might fit in me during the rotations.” students who have been in the program, and than 80 laboratories.