Biology Department Head, Tania Baker, Resigns from Position

Biology Department Head, Tania Baker, Resigns from Position

Tania Baker, the E.C. Whitehead Professor of Biology, is stepping down as the head of the Department of Biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) effective May 31. Baker has been a cornerstone of the MIT faculty since 1992, serving as associate department head for the Department of Biology from 1999 to 2004 and making critical contributions to the department's growth and development.

Under Baker's leadership, the Biology faculty members in the Whitehead Institute, the Koch Institute, and in Building 68 have seen greater coordination and cohesion. Her commitment to teaching has earned her a Margaret MacVicar Faculty Fellowship and a School of Science Teaching Prize for Excellence in Undergraduate Education.

Baker's research investigates how AAA+ unfoldases enzymes recognize and manipulate damaged cellular proteins, providing insights into protein quality control and cellular stress responses. Her work has been instrumental in the career development of many junior faculty members, and she has earned numerous honours, including election as a member of the National Academy of Sciences and a fellow to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Alan D. Grossman, the Praecis Professor of Biology and associate department head of the Department of Biology, will lead the department until a permanent department head can be appointed. Grossman joined MIT's Department of Biology in 1988 after a postdoc fellowship in the Department of Cellular and Developmental Biology at Harvard University.

Grossman is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and was recently elected to the National Academy of Sciences. His current research seeks to define mechanisms controlling DNA replication and cellular responses to replication stress, with a focus on the organism Bacillus subtilis. Grossman's research combines various approaches to study how bacteria sense internal and external conditions, and control basic cellular processes, including gene expression and DNA replication.

Grossman has been instrumental in establishing the graduate program in microbiology at MIT in 2008 and served as its first director until 2012. The graduate program in microbiology at MIT is an interdepartmental, interdisciplinary endeavour with more than 50 participating faculty members. The program integrates educational resources across participating departments and creates an educational and research community for training students in studying microbial systems.

Grossman's lab also studies mechanisms controlling horizontal gene transfer, the primary means by which antibiotic resistances are spread between bacteria. His research has significantly advanced understanding of bacterial gene regulation, chromosome structure, and cellular differentiation processes.

Michael Sipser, the Barton L. Weller Professor of Mathematics and interim dean of the School of Science, has stated that Grossman is an eminent biologist and a marvelous educator, currently serving as Associate Head representing Building 68 in the Biology Department.

Grossman received a bachelor's degree in biochemistry from Brown University in 1979 and a PhD in molecular biology from the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1984. His reputation as a leading figure in bacterial genetics and as a longstanding faculty member of MIT's Biology Department is well established, and his research continues to impact how scientists understand microbial life and gene regulatory mechanisms.

1. Tania Baker's departure marks the end of her tenure as the head of the MIT Department of Biology, effective May 31.
2. Since 1992, Baker has been a significant figure in the MIT faculty.
3. Baker served as the associate department head for the Department of Biology from 1999 to 2004.
4. Under Baker's leadership, Biology faculty members in the Whitehead Institute, the Koch Institute, and Building 68 experienced increased coordination.
5. Baker's commitment to teaching earned her a prestigious Margaret MacVicar Faculty Fellowship.
6. She also received a School of Science Teaching Prize for Excellence in Undergraduate Education.
7. Baker's research focuses on AAA+ unfoldases enzymes and their role in cellular protein manipulation.
8. Her research has provided valuable insights into protein quality control and cellular stress responses.
9. Baker's work has been instrumental in the career development of many junior faculty members.
10. She has earned numerous honours, including election as a member of the National Academy of Sciences.
11. Alan D. Grossman will lead the Department of Biology until a permanent head can be appointed.
12. Grossman joined MIT's Department of Biology in 1988.
13. Grossman's research focuses on DNA replication and cellular responses to replication stress.
14. Grossman is also a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
15. Grossman played a significant role in the establishment of the graduate program in microbiology at MIT in 2008.
16. The graduate program in microbiology at MIT is an interdepartmental and interdisciplinary endeavour.
17. The program integrates educational resources across participating departments.
18. Grossman's lab studies mechanisms controlling horizontal gene transfer.
19. His research has significantly advanced understanding of bacterial gene regulation and cellular differentiation processes.
20. Michael Sipser, the interim dean of the School of Science, praised Grossman as an eminent biologist and a marvelous educator.
21. Grossman received a bachelor's degree in biochemistry from Brown University in 1979.
22. He obtained his PhD in molecular biology from the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1984.
23. Grossman's reputation as a leading figure in bacterial genetics is well established.
24. His research continues to impact how scientists understand microbial life and gene regulatory mechanisms.
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