SCIENCE WRITING & COMMUNICATION
MPH graduate Colleen Dundas (‘16) is a Public Liaison Officer and Science Writer at NIH, working alongside researchers, clinicians and other leaders in science. This role, heavily focused on strong and clear communication between people, requires a deep understanding of communities— an area where Dundas thrives due to her rigorous coursework and hands-on experience while at UAlbany. “When I think of how my education has supported my career, I think not only about how my MPH in epidemiology has provided me with a solid academic foundation for understanding the complex and meaningful research at NIH, but also about how my hands-on field work experience has provided me skills that will forever be useful, from adaptability and creativity to listening, relationship building, and leadership,” says Dundas. At NIH, Dundas plans and develops webinars, creates plain language resources to share with underserved communities, and conducts outreach initiatives to reach populations disproportionately affected by various conditions. Of note, she co-leads the NIH-wide American Indian and Alaska Native Health Communications group, which shares strategies and effective communication approaches to develop and disseminate health information to Tribal communities. Dundas also serves on the NIH Language Access Plan Committee, which establishes the steps NIH will take to help to ensure that individuals with limited English language proficiency have meaningful access to NIH programs and activities.
CRYOELECTRON MICROSCOPY
Biomedical Sciences PhD graduate Joshua Strauss (‘13) is Assistant Professor and Director of the CryoEM Core facility at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill. Cryo-electron microscopy, or cryoEM, is a biophysical technique for imaging biological samples like proteins, viruses and cells— and helps researchers to determine atomic models of different proteins. CryoEM and other 3D imaging methods were pioneered by researchers at NYSDOH’s renowned Wadsworth Center, where Strauss studied while completing his academic program, and are used by scientists around the world. “My interest in cryoEM is a direct result from my studies at UAlbany,” says Strauss. “The Wadsworth Center has a long history in the development of cryoEM and being able to continue with this is a great source of pride for me.” Now, Strauss has set up the CryoEM Core facility at UNC, where he operates the facility, trains researchers and works with investigators to determine structure protein complexes using cryoEM. Of note, this fall Strauss and colleagues published their first structure from the UNC CryoEM Core in Science— the first of many to come.
“I am especially grateful to my UAlbany mentors, John Justino and Carol Whittaker, for cultivating my passions and supporting many of my endeavors and valuable experiences over the years, both abroad and here in the U.S.,” says Dundas.
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