Page 6 - The Hormel Institute 2024 Annual Report

6 | THE HORMEL INSTITUTE
// UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
Assistant Professor
Background and Experience
Before joining The Hormel Institute, my career spanned across the fields of material science and epidemiological diseases. My academic and research journey began with a focus on material science, where I explored the properties and applications of various materials in both industrial and biomedical contexts. This foundation in material science eventually led me to study epidemiological diseases, where I applied my expertise in modeling and analysis to understand the spread and impact of infectious diseases. My interdisciplinary approach allowed me to develop innovative models that bridge the gap between physical sciences and public health, offering new insights into disease dynamics and control strategies.
Why I Chose The Hormel Institute
I chose to come here because it offered
a unique opportunity to apply my expe- rience in mathematical modeling and computer science to biomedical research. The Institute’s strong focus on translat-
ing scientific discoveries into practical applications resonated with my goal of developing models with real-world impli- cations for public health. Our collaborative environment, which brings together leading experts across various biomedical disci- plines, provided the perfect platform for me to expand my interdisciplinary research. The resources and mission of HI align perfectly with my aspirations to contribute
to advancements in disease understanding and management.
Professor
Background and Experience
Originally from the Midwest, I completed
my graduate work in molecular biology and structure guided genetics at the University of Arizona, Tucson. I studied as a postdoc at Purdue University. My work has continued from that time to focus on understanding virus and host interactions.
I left Purdue when I started my own lab as
a junior faculty member and moved to the College of Medicine at Penn State. There, I became the founding director of the cryoEM imaging facility. In 2017, my lab moved to the main campus of Penn State at State College, because I was asked to build and direct the new imaging center there for PSU.
In transitioning here, my lab has continued to work on understanding how viruses can be defeated, the development of antiviral drugs, and ways to neutralize cancer-causing viruses.
Why I Chose The Hormel Institute
The decision to move my lab in 2023 was due to two things: the mission and the progressive approach of the Institute. The overarching mission is to improve human health, educate, and train. This mission fits well with my research aims and my goals to teach and train junior scientists, as well as my passion for outreach. My lab is also engaged in improvements to human health that include agriculture-oriented aims like investigating chronic wasting disease and emerg- ing diseases of farm animals. I think we fit here, very well!
We are aggressively leading the research frontier. This progressiveness at HI was highly appealing to me, as well as my lab members who moved here with me (nine of us in total). By joining HI, we have gained access to state-of-the-art equipment and facilities where we can work at the top of our game. The support from the administrative staff and core facilities is the best I have ever experi- enced in my career. The amazing support from the community is something I have never experienced before either. I have been warmly welcomed by both the community and the Institute. I am grateful and happy to be here.