Annual Shields Award Recognizes Outstanding Postdoctoral Research
On May 11, 2016, the Dennis Shields Award for Outstanding Postdoctoral Research was presented to two Einstein postdoctoral fellows for published research performed at Einstein. The award was established in 2004 to acknowledge important contributions of postdocs.
Drs. Anne Bresnick, Richard Lipton, Erin Sundermann, Myles Poulin and Vern Schramm with Mrs. Toni ShieldsIt also honors the memory of Dr. Dennis Shields, the first director of the Belfer Institute for Advanced Biomedical Studies, through which he championed Einstein’s postdocs. He passed away in 2008.
“Dennis was remarkable for his love and enthusiasm for biomedical research and for his commitment to improving the quality of postdoctoral education at Einstein,” said Dr. Anne Bresnick, current director of the institute, who succeeded Dr. Jonathan Backer in the role. “I hope to continue Dennis and Jon’s work to ensure that postdocs at Einstein know they are valued and supported.”
This year’s award recipients were Erin Sundermann, Ph.D., in the laboratory of Dr. Richard Lipton, and Myles Poulin, Ph.D., in the laboratory of Dr. Vern Schramm.
Research fellows discuss their studies with colleagues and guests at the poster session preceding the awards ceremony“It’s a tremendous honor,” said Dr. Poulin of the award. “I was thrilled to learn I’d been selected and to be able to share my research with colleagues in the Einstein community.”
Dr. Sundermann echoed his sentiment, adding, “Receiving this award has given me renewed enthusiasm in my research and optimism for the future.”
Both awardees received $5,000 and the opportunity to present their research as part of the award ceremony. The event included a postdoctoral poster session and reception.
Five additional postdocs received awards for their poster presentations. The award will support their travel to a professional conference or the purchase of reagents, books or software. The postdocs were:
- Riyasat Ali, Ph.D., microbiology & immunology, laboratory of Dr. Teresa DiLorenzo
- Srinivas Aluri, Ph.D., molecular pharmacology, laboratory of Dr. David Goldman
- Matthew Benoit, Ph.D., physiology & biophysics, laboratory of Dr. Hernando Sosa
- Sara Donnelly, Ph.D., anatomy and structural biology, laboratory of Dr. Louis Hodgson
- Thomas Garner, Ph.D., biochemistry, laboratory of Dr. Evripidis Gavathiotis
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Posted on: Monday, June 20, 2016