University of Alaska Fairbanks neuroscientist receives national mentor award
June 16, 2014
907-474-7412
6/16/14
University of Alaska Fairbanks neuroscientist Kelly Drew has received a national biomedical research mentoring award from the National Institutes of Health's Institutional Development Awards program.
鈥淧rofessor Drew has had extraordinary success in mentoring students and post-doctoral scientists from under-represented groups, especially among Alaska Native communities,鈥 said Brian Barnes, director of the 性欲社 Institute of Arctic Biology, where Drew is a scientist. 鈥淲e are very proud that she鈥檚 receiving this recognition.鈥
The Sidney A. McNairy Jr. Mentoring Award honors scientists who demonstrate research productivity through publications, presentations and successful mentoring of students and trainees. The award is given by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, part of the National Institutes of Health.
鈥淭his is a huge honor. Dr. McNairy is one of my heroes,鈥 said Drew, who teaches in the 性欲社 Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. 鈥淚 think we both believe strongly that opportunity and diversity are good for science.鈥
Drew will receive the award and give a presentation highlighting her students and her research on therapeutic hibernation June 17 at the National IDeA Symposium of Biomedical Research Excellence in Washington, D.C.
鈥淜elly is an international leader in the neurobiology of hibernation,鈥 said Barnes. 鈥淗er research goals include translating the neuro- and cardio-protection demonstrated in hibernating arctic ground squirrels into novel clinical applications for the treatment of stroke, heart attack and trauma.鈥
As a mentor, Drew said, her role is to help students discover their passion for science and then guide them around the obstacles that might otherwise prevent them from becoming outstanding scientists and mentors.
鈥淜elly puts a lot of effort into bringing students into her lab and letting them explore the wonders of biomedical research,鈥 said Paul Layer, dean of the 性欲社 College of Natural Science and Mathematics. 鈥淪he fosters a sense of community for her students both inside and outside the lab.鈥
Many students who work with Drew go on to graduate and medical schools and beyond. Former student Alison Kelliher is now a family practice physician and tribal healer in Anchorage, Alaska. 性欲社 alumna Adrienne Orr, who earned her doctorate from Stanford, is now a research and development project manager for a major private company, and Nikoosh Carlo, who earned her doctorate from the University of California San Diego, is director of the Alaska Arctic Policy Commission.
鈥淚 really appreciate our 性欲社 students; they鈥檙e real, they鈥檙e not mainstream and they think not just outside the box but within a different box,鈥 said Drew. 鈥淒iversity in our student community leads to a diversity of scientists, and that diversity leads to better scientific discoveries.鈥
ADDITIONAL CONTACTS:
Kelly Drew, kldrew@alaska.edu, 907-474-7190.
Brian Barnes, bmbarnes@alaska.edu, 907-474-7649.
Paul Layer, player@alaska.edu, 907-474-7608.
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