Natasha Kassulke, (608) 219-8042, natasha.kassulke@wisc.edu
Madison – The Wisconsin Institute for Discovery (WID) will usher in a new year with a new director: Jo Handelsman, a Yale University professor and the associate director for science in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Dr. Handelsman back to Madison. In addition to being a world class researcher, she is nationally renowned for her impact as a teacher, role model, mentor, and an advocate for women and minorities in science careers,” says Marsha Mailick, UW-Madison’s vice chancellor for research and graduate education. “Jo is an inspiring individual who brings creativity, a spirit of experimentation, exemplary leadership skills and a commitment to rigor, that makes her a great fit for UW-Madison.”
Handelsman begins her position on Feb. 1 and will report to Mailick. In addition to being named WID director, Handelsman will be honored with a distinguished named chair.
At Yale, Handelsman is a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor, the Frederick Phineas Rose Professor in the Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, and founder of the Yale Center for Scientific Teaching. For the last two years, she also has held the White House position.
Mailick calls this an exciting time for WID as it begins a new chapter under Handelsman’s leadership.
“I’m confident that moving forward WID will be a catalyst for discovery at UW-Madison,” Mailick says. “Jo is committed to WID’s mission and was instrumental in developing it while at UW-Madison several years ago.”
Handelsman has a long history with UW-Madison, having earned her Ph.D. from the university in molecular biology in 1984. She has held several positions at UW-Madison, first as assistant professor in the Department of Plant Pathology from 1985 to 1991, then associate professor in the department from 1991 to 1995, and professor in the department from 1995 to 2007.
She became professor and chair of the UW-Madison Bacteriology Department in 2007 and served in that role until 2009. She was co-founder of the Women in Science and Engineering Leadership Institute at UW-Madison and co-director from 2001 to 2007 and founded the Wisconsin Program for Scientific Teaching.
READ MORE AT http://news.wisc.edu/jo-
