May symposium will honor Weintraub winners

Twelve graduate students from institutes throughout North America will receive the 2011 Harold M. Weintraub Graduate Student Award during the annual Weintraub science symposium Friday, May 6 in Pelton Auditorium. The symposium will feature presentations by the recently announced winners, including a doctoral candidate from the University of Washington.

Established in 2000, the Weintraub Award honors a founding member of the Basic Sciences Division, the late Dr. Harold Weintraub, who died from brain cancer in 1995 at age 49. Weintraub was an international leader in the field of molecular biology; among his many contributions, he identified genes responsible for instructing cells to differentiate, or develop, into specific tissues such as muscle and bone.

"Hal was one of the most outstanding scientists of his generation, as well as one of the most unpretentious. He had the knack of identifying the important questions in biology and designing experimental approaches that were creative, simple and elegant," said Dr. Mark Groudine, the Center's deputy director and a former friend and colleague of Weintraub.

"By nurturing colleagues, students and postdocs, and helping all of us become better scientists, Hal was instrumental in establishing the collegial atmosphere at the Hutchinson Center. We believe having a symposium recognizing the achievements of young scientists is a great way to honor Hal and the recipients of this award," said Groudine, who was instrumental in establishing the award.

The Basic Sciences Division solicited nominations internationally and selected the awardees — all advanced students at or near the completion of their studies in the biological sciences — based on the quality, originality and significance of their work.

The award recipients will receive a certificate, travel expenses and an honorarium from the Weintraub and Groudine Fund, established to foster intellectual exchange through the promotion of programs for graduate students, fellows and visiting scholars.

[Adapted from a Hutchinson Center news release by Kristen Woodward.]