Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology

The Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology is one of 18 academic departments of Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine. Biochemistry and Cell Biology is also one of four partner departments in the Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) graduate program, which awards PhD degrees through the Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies. Currently there are over 160 graduate students in the MCB program.

Biochemistry and Cell Biology's commitment to excellence in research, education, and service is an important part of our mission. Collegial and collaborative interactions among faculty, postdoctoral research associates and fellows, graduate students, Dartmouth undergraduate students and staff are integral to our culture. A general theme of our research is focused on defining molecular mechanisms that underlie fundamental cellular processes and yet our studies continue to provide key insights on aging, atherosclerosis, cancer, diabetes, neurotransmission, prion disease, kidney disease and a range of human health related issues.

November 2019

Biochemistry and Cell Biology Retreat 2019

This year we were fortunate to host the annual BCB Retreat at the quaint and rustic Killington Grand Resort Hotel.  The spectacular views, crisp air, and early snow provided a fantastic backdrop for interacting with colleagues, sharing ideas, and showcasing the department’s latest research advances.

Highlights from the two-day gathering included a Keynote lecture by Dr. Tania Baker from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  Her current research explores mechanisms and regulation of enzyme-catalyzed protein unfolding, ATP-dependent protein degradation and remodeling of the proteome during cellular stress responses.

The retreat also provided an opportunity for our up and coming Ph.D. students and post-docs to take the stage.  Noor Taher, a grad student in the Madden Lab, gave a fantastic talk describing the characterization of CFTR inhibitory Factor-like Proteins from Burkholderia  cenocepacia.

Likewise, post-docs, Kristi Miller (Moseley Lab) and Raj Chakrabarti (Higgs Lab), presented exciting talks on cell polarity and mitochondrial dynamics, respectively.  Not to be outdone, and rounding out the session, we also heard from Kristina Godek (Compton Lab), Cathy Chang (Chang Lab), and faculty members Chris Shoemaker, Arminja Kettenbach and Bill Wickner from the eponymous Shoemaker, Kettenbach, and Wickner labs.

The retreat also included a record-setting poster session, 33 in total.  Not only was the session well attended, the setting provided a wonderful atmosphere for exchange of scientific ideas, social interaction, and laughter.

Lastly, we would be remiss if we did not acknowledge the hard work and efforts of Ashley, Rae, Emily and Lydia in planning the retreat and ensuring it ran smoothly.  With that in mind, we look forward to the 2020 BCB Retreat.

October 2019

Congratulations to Biochemistry and Cell Biology graduate student Tak Shun Fung for his selection as a 2019 John H. Copenhaver, Jr. and William H. Thomas, MD 1952 Fellow.  The Copenhaver Fellowship is awarded to a fourth or fifth year Ph.D. student “who best exemplifies the qualities of a scholar through a demonstrated record of accomplishment and a commitment to the pursuit of new knowledge.”  Tak Shun is conducting his thesis research with Professor Harry Higgs where he has defined two distinct actin filament populations that influence mitochondrial dynamics through INF2- and Arp2/3-dependent pathways.  In his nomination letter, Higgs states that “Tak Shun’s accomplishments over the past two years have resulted in a fundamentally new understanding of how mitochondria communicate with the cytoplasm in mammalian cells.” The Copenhaver fellowship will provide stipend support for the 2019-20 academic year.

June 2019

Graduating Biochemistry and Cell Biology Ph.D. student Morgan Gilman received the 2019 John W. Strohbehn Award for Excellence in Biomedical Research at Dartmouth. During the investiture ceremony for the Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies, the Geisel School of Medicine announced Morgan as this year’s recipient for outstanding accomplishments during her thesis research. “The John W. Strohbehn medal is presented annually to a graduating Ph.D. student that best exemplifies the qualities of a scientific scholar. Someone who possesses personal qualities of intellectual curiosity, dedication, and commitment to the pursuit of new scientific knowledge and to teaching, as well as a sense of social responsibility to the research community.”

Morgan had an exceptionally productive graduate career with eight publications from her thesis work in Jason McLellan’s lab. Many of her studies were published in the fields top journals including Science, Science Immunology, PLoS Pathogens and Nature Communications. Morgan plans to conduct her postdoctoral work with Andrew Kruse at Harvard Medical School where she will combine structural biology with approaches to design novel antibiotics that target bacterial cell wall synthesis.

April 2019
Congratulations to Corey Allard and Elaina Melton who received the 2018 E. Lucile Smith Award for Scientific Excellence in Biochemistry. This annual Award recognizes an outstanding graduate student and postdoctoral research associate for their demonstrated research accomplishments and contributions to our academic community.

Corey Allard is a Ph.D. candidate in Jamie Moseley’s Lab. His work focuses on the long-standing question of how cells are able to sense and control their own size. He has shown that the spatial positioning of different signaling molecules helps the cell to measure its own geometry from the inside. These same molecules can be rearranged to help reprogram cell size in response to stresses like starvation.

Elaina Melton, a postdoctoral research associate in TY Chang’s Lab, focuses on investigating the relationship between cholesterol metabolism and inflammation in mouse models of Atherosclerosis and Obesity. Elaina has accepted a Research Assistant Professor position in the Center for Molecular and Translational Medicine at Georgia State University.

This award honors the ground-breaking career of Dr. E. Lucile Smith, the first woman to attain the rank of Professor of Biochemistry at the Medical School and is given through the generosity of Dr. Smith's nephew Gray Parker, his wife Mary Kay, and the Booth-Bricker Fund.