The Fellow Award recognizes current members of the SIVB who have been active members for at least 10 years. A Fellow has made outstanding contributions in their area of specialization or discipline to include research, teaching, and administration in public government, academic or private industry activities. The Society for In Vitro Biology honored Barabara B. Doonan, Todd J. Jones, J. Denry Sato, and Guy Smagghe, with the SIVB Fellow Awards. The last issue of the In Vitro Report featured J. Denry Sato, and this issue features Guy Smagghe and Barbara Doonan. The next issue of the In Vitro Report will feature Todd J. Jones.
Guy Smagghe
Guy Smagghe
Dr. Guy Smagghe was awarded the Fellow Award from the Society for In Vitro Biology during the 2007 In Vitro Biology Meeting in Indianapolis, IN. Guy received his M.Sc. degree in Agricultural Engineering and his Ph.D. degree in Agricultural and Applied Biosciences from Ghent University (Ghent Belgium) in 1991 and 1995, respectively. After receiving his Ph.D. he was a visiting scientist at ETH in Zurich, Switzerland, and at the Polytechnical University in Madrid, Spain. This was followed by a Postdoctoral Fellowship from 1996-2002 at Ghent University in the Department of Crop Protection. Dr Smagghe currently holds appointments as a part-time professor in the Department of Biology at the Free University of Brussels, and as a full Professor in the Department of Crop Protection/Laboratory of Agrozoology at Ghent University. He has been an active member of the SIVB since January of 1997. Since becoming a member of the SIVB he has been elected as Vice Chair of the Invertebrate section (2002-2003) and as Chair of the Invertebrate section (2004-2007). He also serves as an elected member at large for the SIVB board of Directors (2006-2009). Dr. Smagghe has also been instrumental in the success of the annual SIVB meetings and World Congresses as a member (2002-present) and Vice Chair (2005 and 2007) of the Programming Committee, and by serving as a Convener (2001 – present), and invited speaker (2000, 2001 and 2005). He also serves as a reviewer for In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology-Animal (2003 – present), and has served on the SIVB nomination committee (2004) and SIVB membership committee (2004- present). Dr Smagghe has also supported the SIVB by getting European students and professionals to contribute to SIVB meetings, thus expanding the scope of the organization and its recognition abroad. He is internationally recognized for his research on insect biochemistry and physiology with an emphasis on novel insecticides, insect growth regulators, and the use of insect cell cultures. Dr. Smagghe’s research has led to a better understanding of how novel pesticides work by affecting an insect’s endocrine system or other physiological systems. His research has also led to advances in the area of biorational insecticides, which are both efficacious and environmentally friendly. His research contributions are evidenced by 97 peer-reviewed publications, 6 book chapters, 2 patents, and numerous international collaborations. He has also edited 1 book and been invited to give numerous talks and keynote lectures at various meetings and congresses. Dr. Smagghe has also made significant contributions to in vitro biology and science by serving as a research mentor. At Ghent University, he has mentored ~50 students from Belgium, Algeria, Span, China, Japan and Mexico in the last 10 years.
Information provided by Marcia Loeb and Guy Smagghe
Robert Lawrence presents Barbara Doonan with the Fellow Award
Barbara B. Doonan
Dr. Barbara B. Doonan was awarded the Fellow Award from the Society for In Vitro Biology during the 2007 In Vitro Biology Meeting in Indianapolis, IN. In August 2007, Barbara Doonan celebrated 28 years as an industrial scientist. Her current position is Principal Scientist and Executive at UST Inc. in Stamford CT, the new headquarters location as of September 10, 2007. At UST since 1989, she has applied her broad background and expertise in toxicology, biochemistry, and molecular biology to address company interests in areas such as wine, smokeless tobacco and health, ingredients, lab safety and plant biotechnology. Prior to joining UST, she was a visiting scientist at the Cold Spring Harbor laboratory of Dr. Elizabeth Moran researching cell cycle control in the adenovirus E1A system utilizing recombinant technologies. Her career in industry initiated in 1979 at General Foods Corporation (GF). As a Research Scientist in the GF Nutrition and Health division, she directed preclinical animal toxicology GLP studies, pharmacokinetic and metabolism studies to elucidate mechanisms of action and a series of studies designed to determine carcinogenic and mutagenic potential of various compounds (e.g. halogenated hydrocarbons). Many of these projects were conducted in support of GF’s domestic and international coffee businesses addressing questions related to coffee and health. Her in-depth knowledge of the coffee crop was further enhanced as she transitioned into the GF Biotechnology Programs where she directed studies utilizing cell culture and microbial fermentation technologies for production of natural compounds e.g. specific flavors/unique enzymes from coffee precursors. Both the toxicological and biotechnology programs entailed responsibilities involving interactions with various government regulatory agencies. Interactions with the FDA and USDA both to assure compliance with existing regulations and to participate in the development of appropriate regulations for successful genetic manipulations.
Nancy Reichert and Robert Lawrence congratulate Barbara Doonan
In addition to teaching duties while a graduate student, research at the Master’s level focused on the study of bacteria and their viruses via development of a novel transformation system. Building on this foundation, she further expanded her background concentrating on the biosynthesis and metabolism of phosphate compounds in cyanobacteria and the development of improved cytochemical techniques for visualization of enzyme activities at the molecular level. After receiving her doctoral degree from City University of New York, Dr. Doonan spent a year as an assistant professor at William Paterson College in Wayne NJ, teaching General Biology, Human Anatomy and Physiology, and Electron Microscopy and mentoring undergraduate research projects.
Barbara has been a member of the SIVB since 1992, received a Distinguished Service Award in 2004 and was honored with a Toxicology and Plant SIVB Fellow Award in 2007. She has served as a member of Development Committee and has had a major role in maintenance of UST Funding Support for SIVB (Programs, Silent Auction and Group socials). In addition to SIVB, Barbara Doonan is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Institute of Food Technologists, Sigma Xi, the American Chemical Society, the Mid Atlantic Society of Toxicology and AAAS.
Information provided by Robert H. Lawrence and Barbara B. Doonan
