Biologist Alan D. Grossman appointed as department head
Alan D. Grossman, a distinguished researcher in the field of microbial genetics and molecular biology, has been appointed as the new head of the Department of Biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), effective August 1, 2023.
Grossman, who received his PhD in molecular biology from the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1984, joined MIT's Department of Biology in 1988. He has since made significant contributions to the field, with his research focusing on the mechanisms regulating bacterial DNA replication and cellular responses to replication stress.
With over three decades at MIT, Grossman has served in various roles, including director or co-director of the biology graduate program for seven years, associate department head from 2012 until June 2023, and interim head of the Department of Biology from June 2023. He has also served on the graduate committees for biology, computational and systems biology, and microbiology.
Grossman's research combines various approaches to study how bacteria sense internal and external conditions, control basic cellular processes, and regulate bacterial DNA replication. His lab studies horizontal gene transfer, the primary means by which antibiotic resistance is spread among bacteria.
Tania Baker, the E.C. Whitehead Professor of Biology, previously held the position of department head but stepped down. The graduate program in microbiology at MIT is an interdepartmental, interdisciplinary endeavor with more than 50 participating faculty members, and Grossman was instrumental in its establishment in 2008.
Michael Sipser, dean of the School of Science and the Barton L. Weller Professor of Mathematics, expressed support for Grossman's appointment, lauding his extensive experience in service, research, education, and outreach.
Grossman's life has been marked by more than academic achievements. In 2006, he underwent a life-saving heart transplant. Despite these challenges, he continues to make groundbreaking contributions to the field of microbiology.
For those interested in learning more about Grossman's current projects, consulting his lab’s MIT webpage or recent publications would provide the latest insights, as these were not highlighted in the recent search results.
- Alan D. Grossman, a distinguished graduate in molecular biology, has been appointed as the new head of the Department of Biology at MIT, effective August 1, 2023, having joined the department in 1988.
- With over three decades at MIT, Grossman has served in various roles, including director or co-director of the biology graduate program, associate department head, and interim head of the Department of Biology.
- His research, which combines different approaches to study bacterial sensing, cellular processes, and DNA replication, has been instrumental in the establishment of the graduate program in microbiology at MIT in 2008.
- Grossman's lab studies horizontal gene transfer, the primary means by which antibiotic resistance is spread among bacteria, contributing significantly to the field of research in science education.
- Michael Sipser, the dean of the School of Science, praised Grossman's extensive experience in service, research, education, and outreach, expressing support for his appointment.
- Despite facing personal challenges, including a life-saving heart transplant in 2006, Grossman continues to make groundbreaking contributions to the field of microbiology, demonstrating his resilience in science and education-and-self-development.
- For those interested in learning more about Grossman's current projects, his lab’s MIT webpage or recent publications would provide the latest insights, as these were not highlighted in the recent search results.
