I am pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Phyllis Strauss as Interim Director of the Biochemistry Program. Phyllis will be replacing Associate Professor David Budil for the final year of his two year term as Director, so that he may increase his efforts in the Dean’s Office to develop the College’s research base.

Faculty, advisors, and staff of the Biochemistry Program.

In the past year, David led the Biochemistry Program through a series of major changes and accomplishments, including accreditation by the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB), the hiring of the Program’s first dedicated Academic Specialist, Dr. Kirsten Fertuck, publication of the Program’s first newsletter, development of a full alumni database, and recruitment of the largest class of incoming freshmen, including 7 USP scholars, in the Program’s history.

The tremendous growth of the Biochemistry Program over the past several years underscores the need for a more stable and dedicated governance structure than the present two year alternation of  the directorship between two departments.  I am charging the Chairs of Biology and of Chemistry & Chemical Biology with the Biochemistry Committee, to propose to me a revised governance structure for the Biochemistry Program by the end of next academic year.

Please join me in thanking Prof. Budil for his service to the Biochemistry Program, and in thanking Prof. Strauss for stepping up again to this important role.

J. Murray Gibson
Dean, College of Science