The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
What is your hometown?
Springfield, Ohio
When did you join the University of Iowa faculty?
January, 2006
How/when did you become interested in science and medicine?
Throughout both grade school and high school I was very interested in the biological and physical sciences. From dissecting frogs to reacting acids and bases, science was always fun and the connection to biology made it relevant.
What interested you to pursue a career in Biochemistry?
Understanding nature and its intricacies at a molecular level has always fascinated me. The connection from the molecular scale to the organism is what drives my interest in biochemistry.
What led to your interest in signal transduction as it relates to human disease?
Biology is abundant in processes that are controlled by signal transduction pathways. Cancer and other diseases occur in part, due to the deregulation of these pathways. Thus, understanding normal signal transduction ultimately will yield insights into human disease.
Is there a teacher or mentor who helped shaper you career?
I’ve had many great teachers and mentors along my academic trajectory. I think my Ph.D. and Postdoctoral mentors had the most impact in shaping my career.
How or why did you choose the University of Iowa?
The University of Iowa has a unique blend of excellent facilities, family-friendly environment, and a heavy focus on research which was a very attractive combination.
The University of Iowa’s faculty members are united to provide exceptional patient care while advancing innovations in research and medical education. How does your work help translate new discoveries into patient centered care and education?
My work is in basic science, but it could have implications to disease. It is our hope that through understanding the basic concepts of signal transduction we might find unique opportunities for therapeutic intervention.
What kinds of professional opportunities or advantages does being a faculty member at an academic medical center provide?
Access to state-of-the-art facilities is one of the perks found at the UI Carver College of Medicine. Another advantage is the unique research perspectives found within the College and this allows for a high degree of collaboration that otherwise might not occur.
Please describe your professional interests.
My interests span from protein structure to cellular function, with signaling transduction being the connection between the two. We are studying a class of signaling molecules known as GTPases which act as molecular switches. When active, these proteins interact with partner proteins to propagate information that ultimately leads to phenotypic changes in cells. These signal transduction pathways are central to gene expression and cell growth, thus when deregulated they can contribute to diseases such as cancer. We use a combination of structural techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and crystallography coupled with biochemical assays to decipher how proteins and protein-protein interactions help regulate and specify particular signal transduction pathways.
How does working in a collaborative and comprehensive academic medical center benefit your work?
The collegial atmosphere at the University of Iowa has fostered much scientific collaboration in unexpected fields. This contributes to the excitement of science and allows me to look at my own field with a fresh perspective.
What are some of your outside interests?
Spending time with my family and enjoying outdoor activities are how I spend most of my free time.
Do you have an insight or philosophy that guides you in your professional work?
I follow my interests and try to trust my instincts.
What is the biggest change you've experienced in your field since you were a student?
One major change in my field (and most other fields) is the shear amount of data that is generated that one must somehow manage to sort through.
What one piece of advice would you give to today's students?
Its sounds cliché, but find a topic or problem you are passionate about and always be prepared. Knowing your field and not being afraid to step out of your comfort zone are two ways of being prepared. With this combination, good things will happen.