News

Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences Celebrates 35 Years

kstuber — Wed, 07 May 2008 13:44:31 -0500

Ralph Quatrano appointed interim dean of the faculty Arts & Sciences

kstuber — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:40:10 -0500

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Chancellor Wrighton announced the appointment of Ralph Quatrano as the interim dean of the faculty Arts & Sciences, effective July 1, 2008.

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Ralph S. Quatrano, Ph.D., the Spencer T. Olin Professor and chair of the Washington University Department of Biology, has been named interim dean of the faculty of Arts & Sciences effective July 1, 2008, according to Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton. He succeeds Executive Vice Chancellor Edward S. Macias, Ph.D., dean of Arts & Sciences and the Barbara and David Thomas Distinguished Professor in Arts & Sciences. Macias will relinquish his duty as Arts & Sciences dean on June 30, 2008, and become provost of Washington University on Jan. 1, 2009, following a six-month sabbatical. Quatrano will serve as interim dean of Arts & Sciences until a regular term dean is appointed. Plans are under way to begin a comprehensive search for the next regular term dean. Quatrano takes the interim position after having planned to step down as chair on June 30, 2008, and then take a leave.

"Ralph has been an important leader in Arts & Sciences since joining Washington University nearly a decade ago," said Wrighton. "Throughout his professional career, he has demonstrated a strong ability to connect people and ideas and guide them towards a common goal. Ralph will benefit from the strong foundation that Ed Macias has built in Arts & Sciences, and he will be a key leader in implementing plans for the future that have been developed. I am grateful to Ralph for agreeing to serve Washington University in this significant way."

Quatrano, who came to Washington University in 1998 to chair the biology department, oversees one of the nation's most highly regarded biology departments with exceptional strengths in a number of areas including the plant sciences. He directed the hiring of 12 new faculty members as chair and recently served as Director of the Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences. His research group, comprising graduate students and post-doctoral researchers, often collaborates with Washington University School of Medicine researchers as well as with scientists from Monsanto and the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center.

He is internationally known for his work on model plant systems to elucidate the molecular and cellular mechanisms controlling seed development and how cells acquire polarity. More recently he has used the moss Physcomitrella patens to study the mechanism of drought tolerance and took a leadership role in a consortium of more than 100 international researchers and the Joint Genome Institute of the Department of Energy to sequence and annotate the moss genome. This latter effort culminated in a major publication earlier this year in Science with Quatrano as corresponding author.

Since 1970, Quatrano has been a visiting professor or investigator at five different institutions, including most recently the University of Naples, Cambridge University, and the University of Leeds as well as with Stanford University and the University of Washington. He has given invited seminars at institutions worldwide and has published more than 160 research papers. He has won teaching awards at the undergraduate and graduate levels and has mentored 20 graduate students and 40 postdoctoral fellows and visiting scientists.

From 1986-89, Quatrano was research manager in molecular biology for DuPont Co., Wilmington Del. From 1968-1986, Quatrano was a faculty member in botany at Oregon State University, Corvallis. His last two years there he founded and directed the University's Center for Gene Research and Biotechnology.

He was editor-in-chief of the journal, The Plant Cell, the premier journal of plant biology, elected president of the American Society of Plant Biology, a member of the Advisory Committee for Biological Sciences for the National Science Foundation until 2001, the Scientific Advisory
Committee of the Rockefeller Foundation International Program on Rice Biotechnology, and from 1991-98 he was Member on the Board of Reviewing Editors for Science magazine, the publication of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). He is a Fellow of the AAAS and the St. Louis Academy of Science as well as an inaugural fellow of the American Society of Plant Biology.

Quatrano earned his bachelor's in botany with honors from Colgate University in 1962; his master's in botany from Ohio University, Athens, in 1964; and his doctorate in biology from Yale University in 1968.

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Roediger wins Warren Medal for contributions to experimental psychology

kstuber — Fri, 02 May 2008 08:57:21 -0500

Bornstein named Stella Koetter Darrow Professor in Catholic Studies

kstuber — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 08:47:42 -0500

Strategic Plan Online

kstuber — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:47:27 -0500

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<p> The <a href="http://theplan.artsci.wustl.edu/background" target="_blank">Arts & Sciences Strategic Plan, <em>Building on Excellence</em></a> is now available online. </p>

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Created with input from faculty, staff, students, and our National Council, this plan will guide both our decisions and our fundraising appeals over the next decade.

Take a few minutes to read through these goals and strategies, as well as provide any feedback through the link on the footer of every page.

We look forward to hearing from you and to working together in the future to achieve these ambitious goals.

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Faculty Awards Presented by ArtSci Council

kstuber — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:36:24 -0500

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Each Spring, ArtSci Council, the undergraduate organization and executive governing body for the College of Arts & Sciences, provides the opportunity for undergraduate students to recognize and honor outstanding Arts & Sciences faculty, deans, and staff who have positively and profoundly influenced their educational experiences at Washington University. The Council solicits nominations from all Arts & Sciences students, and the 6-10 winners are honored at a Faculty Awards Recognition Ceremony. The award is viewed as a very prestigious honor and Chancellor Wrighton, Dean Macias, and Dean McLeod are frequently in attendance to congratulate the year’s recipients.

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2008 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Professor Jonathan Chase, Biology
Professor Tili Boon Cuillé, Romance Languages & Literatures
Professor Richard Loomis, Chemistry
Dean Sean McWilliams, College of Arts & Sciences
Professor Jill Pasteris, Earth & Planetary Sciences
Professor Bradley Stoner, Anthropology
Ms. Wei Wang, Asian & Near Eastern Languages & Literatures

For more information on past awardees please visit the Arts & Sciences web site.

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Professor Messbarger pursues 'learned women' of Italian Enlightenment

kstuber — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 08:55:19 -0500

Macias named provost, will step down as dean

kstuber — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 08:28:30 -0500

Mellon Foundation to help endow interdisciplinary fellowships

kstuber — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 09:33:40 -0500

Geologist decries floodplain development

kstuber — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:44:30 -0500

African Film Festival: eight films from eight nations

kstuber — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 09:38:14 -0500

2007-08 Outstanding Staff Award Winners

kstuber — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:26:18 -0500

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Congratulations to the <a href="/node/1930">winners of the 2007-08 Arts & Sciences Outstanding Staff Awards</a>.

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2007-08 Winners

Debra Barco, Center for Inquiry in Science Teaching & Learning
Henry Biggs, College of Arts & Sciences
Mindy Danner, Department of Philosophy
Andrew Johnstone, Department of Biology
Donna Kepley, Women and Gender Studies
Jane McConnell, Department of Psychology
Christine Monteith, Department of Physics
Krystél Mowery, International and Area Studies
Paul Norman - Dean's Award, Physical Facilities

Based on outstanding creative contributions and exemplary performance, these awards are presented annually to non-teaching personnel who have contributed significantly to the effectiveness of our teaching, advising, counseling, and research efforts in Arts & Sciences. Please read more on the award recipients and their contributions to Arts & Sciences and Washington University.

Reception

You are invited to join a reception on Thursday, May 1st from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the Women's Building Formal Lounge. The awards ceremony will begin at 3:30 p.m.

Please RSVP by April 15th to Jennifer Gibbs (jgibbs@wustl.edu).

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Performing Arts Department to present Young Choreographers Showcase

kstuber — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:35:08 -0500

Mary Jo Bang wins national award for poetry

kstuber — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 13:33:36 -0500

Mary Jo Bang wins national award for poetry

kstuber — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 13:33:21 -0500