Dr. Amanda Brown Returns to Einstein to Inspire the Next Generation of Scientists
Einstein community members filled the LeFrak Auditorium on February 19 to welcome a distinguished alumna back home and honor the legacy of a beloved biochemistry professor. Amanda Brown, Ph.D. ’96, was elated to see former mentors, including Bill Jacobs, Ph.D., professor of microbiology and immunology and of genetics and the Leo and Julia Forchheimer Chair in Microbiology & Immunology, in the audience along with current Einstein students as she delivered the keynote talk for this year’s Marie M. Daly Memorial lecture.
Left to right: Maria Alejandra Feliz Norberto, Ph.D. student; Imran Jan, Ph.D. student; William Jacobs Jr., Ph.D., Dr. Brown, and Zimo Huang, Ph.D. student
Amanda Brown, Ph.D., sharing a photo of her first-year Einstein class
Each year Einstein graduate students choose a speaker for the event who has impressed them and from whom they hope to gain insights into research and how to excel at a career in science. “As we gather today, let us celebrate the achievements of Dr. Daly and Dr. Brown and reflect on the importance of creating pathways that allow every aspiring scientist to thrive,” said Yaron Tomer, M.D., the Marilyn and Stanley M. Katz Dean and chief academic officer at Montefiore Einstein. “I encourage all of us to carry forward their spirit of commitment to scientific excellence.”
Dr. Brown’s talk, “Where Curiosity Leads: Systemic Disruption and Rebalancing of Neuro-Glial Circuitry in Viral Infection,” highlighted her current research on the neurological implications of HIV, and her curiosity-driven approach to science. She also highlighted the importance of mentorship and sharing knowledge with the next generation of physicians and researchers. “Hold tight to the reason why you decided to become a physician or to do research. It’s about our charge to want to improve the lives and well-being of everyone,” said Dr. Brown.
About Dr. Brown
Left to right: Dean Yaron Tomer, M.D., Dr. Brown, and Min Um-Mandhyan, executive director, alumni relations and development
After earning her doctoral degree from Einstein, Dr. Brown completed a postdoctoral fellowship in HIV-1 pathogenesis at the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center and joined the department of neurology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 2004.
Now an assistant professor at Hopkins, Dr. Brown’s research is focused on elucidating the role of key macrophage host cell factors that are critical for HIV replication and neuropathogenesis using cellular, molecular, and genetic approaches. Read more.
About Dr. Daly
Marie Daly, Ph.D., in her Einstein lab
Dr. Daly was the first African American woman in the United States to earn a Ph.D. in chemistry. She received her degree from Columbia University and continued her groundbreaking research on health and the heart at Einstein.
Dr. Daly was an outstanding member of the departments of biochemistry and medicine from 1960 to 1986. During her last years at Einstein, she contributed significantly to the understanding of the uptake of creatine by muscle cells. (Creatine is an important compound in the bioenergetics of muscle.) She was also a member of the admissions committee.
Posted on: Tuesday, March 25, 2025