This summer, the College of Biological Sciences welcomes two new department heads. Sivaraj Sivaramakrishnan started as head of the Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development (GCD) on August 1. Cari Vanderpool became head of the Department of Plant and Microbial Biology (PMB) August 25.
Dr. Sivaramakrishnan joined the GCD faculty in 2015 and served as director of graduate studies from 2019-22. He has an extensive record of service to the University and his field, and leads a successful research program focused on understanding how proteins in cells communicate and work together. His work has implications for drug discovery. Dr. Sivaramankrishnan completed his Ph.D. in biomedical engineering at Northwestern University and a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University.
“GCD has an outstanding scientific community that delivers on the dual missions of research and education in both CBS and the Medical School,” says Dr. Sivaramakrishnan. “I look forward to channeling our strengths towards clinical/translational impacts of our research and expanding our educational mission through interactive/critical thinking curricula.”
Before joining the College of Biological Sciences, Dr. Vanderpool was a professor and associate dean for research in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She studies RNA-mediated mechanisms of genetic regulation in bacteria. Her work focuses on plant-microbe interactions and the genetics and physiology of gut microbes. Dr. Vanderpool received her Ph.D. in microbiology from the Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology (MICaB) program at the University of Minnesota and an NIH postdoctoral fellowship with the National Cancer Institute.
“I’m excited to be back in Minnesota and to lead PMB,” says Dr. Vanderpool. “What drew me here is the department’s breadth of expertise and the way our researchers are tackling fundamental biological problems that connect to some of society’s biggest challenges related to the environment and sustainability. I look forward to working with our faculty, staff, and students to support their success and to strengthen PMB’s role as a leader in research, education, and engagement.”
“Both Dr. Sivaramakrishnan and Dr. Vanderpool bring unique strengths to their roles that will benefit not only their respective departments, but the College as a whole,” says CBS Dean Saara DeWalt. She notes that both have established highly successful research programs and have proven track records as academic leaders. “I look forward to working with them both to identify opportunities to advance the critical work happening within their departments and across the College.” –Stephanie Xenos