Daniel Lew

Daniel Lew. He is a prominent cell biologist recognized for his fundamental discoveries in understanding how cells control their division and shape. His research, primarily conducted at Duke University, has illuminated the mechanisms of the cell cycle and cytoskeleton dynamics. Lew's work employs a combination of genetics, live-cell imaging, and biochemistry in model organisms like the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

Early life and education

Daniel Lew was born in London, England, and developed an early interest in the biological sciences. He pursued his undergraduate studies at the University of Cambridge, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Natural Sciences. He then moved to the United States for his doctoral training, completing a PhD in Biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His graduate work, conducted under the mentorship of renowned scientists, laid the groundwork for his future investigations into cellular regulation.

Career

Following his PhD, Lew undertook postdoctoral research at the University of California, San Francisco, further specializing in cell cycle control. He subsequently joined the faculty at Duke University in the Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology. At Duke University, he established a highly productive laboratory and rose through the academic ranks, eventually being appointed as a full professor. His leadership extended to serving on numerous editorial boards for prestigious journals like Molecular Biology of the Cell and Current Biology.

Research and contributions

Daniel Lew's research has made seminal contributions to several key areas of cell biology. A major focus has been the mitotic exit network, a signaling pathway that controls the final stages of cell division. His team identified critical regulators like the GTPase Tem1 and its associated kinases, elucidating how their spatial regulation ensures accurate cytokinesis. In parallel, his work on cellular morphology revealed how the actin cytoskeleton and associated proteins like the formin Cdc12 are assembled and controlled to determine cell shape. These studies often utilized the powerful genetics of Schizosaccharomyces pombe and advanced techniques in fluorescence microscopy.

Awards and honors

In recognition of his impactful research, Daniel Lew has been elected to several esteemed scholarly societies. He was elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences, one of the highest honors for a scientist in the United States. He is also a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. His work has been consistently funded by the National Institutes of Health, and he has received notable awards such as the Chico State Award for excellence in research.

Personal life

Daniel Lew maintains a private personal life, with details largely kept out of the public sphere. He is known within the scientific community as a dedicated mentor who has trained many successful postdoctoral researchers and graduate students who have gone on to independent careers at institutions like Stanford University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Outside the laboratory, he has interests in history and classical music.

Category:Cell biologists Category:American biologists Category:Duke University faculty Category:National Academy of Sciences members