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In 2008, she became a lecturer in Molecular Visualization for the Department of Cell Biology at [[Harvard Medical School]].<ref name=":2" /> Her position at Harvard was modeled around her own research interests and her contributions to the scientists at the university. While working with Tomas Kirchausen, she created an animation on [[clathrin-mediated endocytosis]].<ref name=":3" />
In 2008, she became a lecturer in Molecular Visualization for the Department of Cell Biology at [[Harvard Medical School]].<ref name=":2" /> Her position at Harvard was modeled around her own research interests and her contributions to the scientists at the university. While working with Tomas Kirchausen, she created an animation on [[clathrin-mediated endocytosis]].<ref name=":3" />


In 2010, Iwasa organized and taught a course on visualizing molecular and cellular processes with 3D animation in Porto, Portugal. In 2013, she joined the [[University of Utah School of Medicine]] as a research assistant professor for the Department of Cell Biology. She returned to Portugal in 2014 to teach a 3D animation workshop for scientific animation.<ref name=":2" /> In 2014, she also completed a project called Molecular Flipbook, a free, open-source software program designed to animate molecules. In 2016, Iwasa released a life-cycle animation on [[HIV/AIDS|HIV]]. Her project used animation to illustrate the molecular mechanisms the virus utilizes to enter into and exit target cells.<ref>Iwasa, Janet. [biochem.web.utah.edu/iwasa/projects/HIV.html "Visualizing HIV Entry and Egress."]</ref><ref name=":3" />
In 2010, Iwasa organized and taught a course on visualizing molecular and cellular processes with 3D animation in Porto, Portugal. In 2013, she joined the [[University of Utah School of Medicine]] as a research assistant professor for the Department of Cell Biology. She returned to Portugal in 2014 to teach a 3D animation workshop for scientific animation.<ref name=":2" /> In 2014, she also completed a project called Molecular Flipbook, a free, open-source software program designed to animate molecules. In 2016, Iwasa released a life-cycle animation on [[HIV/AIDS|HIV]]. Her project used animation to illustrate the molecular mechanisms the virus utilizes to enter into and exit target cells.<ref>Iwasa, Janet. [https://biochem.web.utah.edu/iwasa/projects/HIV.html "Visualizing HIV Entry and Egress."]</ref><ref name=":3" />


=== Publications ===
=== Publications ===
In addition to her university work, Iwasa's renowned molecular and cellular visualizations have been featured in numerous scientific journals including ''[[Nature (journal)|Nature]]'', ''[[Science (journal)|Science]]'', and ''[[Cell (journal)|Cell]]'', as well as the ''[[New York Times]]''.<ref>Olsen, Erik (15 November 2010). "Molecular Animation: Where Cinema and Biology Meet". ''The New York Times''. Retrieved 6 June 2017.</ref><ref>"Janet Iwasa". Secret Life of Scientists and Engineers. PBS. Retrieved 29 November 2017.</ref>
In addition to her university work, Iwasa's renowned molecular and cellular visualizations have been featured in numerous scientific journals including ''[[Nature (journal)|Nature]]'', ''[[Science (journal)|Science]]'', and ''[[Cell (journal)|Cell]]'', as well as the ''[[New York Times]]''.<ref>Olsen, Erik (15 November 2010). "Molecular Animation: Where Cinema and Biology Meet". ''The New York Times''. Retrieved 6 June 2017.</ref><ref>"Janet Iwasa". Secret Life of Scientists and Engineers. PBS. Retrieved 29 November 2017.</ref>


Iwasa's knowledge of cellular animation has also led her to publish several different works of scientific literature. Her work with Robert Savage's Lab led to her first publication in 2000 in ''Development Genes and Evolution'', "The leech hunchback protein is expressed in the epithelium and CNS but not in the segmental precursor lineages", with co-authors Suver and Savage.<ref>Iwasa, J. H, et al. “The Leech Hunchback Protein Is Expressed in the Epithelium and CNS but Not in the Segmental Precursor Lineages.” ''Development Genes and Evolution'', vol. 210, no. 6, 19 May 2000, pp. 277–288. ''Springer Nature '', doi:10.1007/s004270050315.</ref> In 2007, she published an article on her research at the University of California with Mullins, "Actin filament capping and disassembly play opposing roles in determining network architecture at the leading edge."<ref>Iwasa JH, Mullins RD. Actin filament capping and disassembly play opposing roles in determining network architecture at the leading edge. Curr Biol. 2007 Mar 6; 17(5):395-406</ref> In 2010, she published "Animating the model figure" in ''Trends Cell Biol.''<ref>Iwasa JH (2010). Animating the model figure. ''Trends Cell Biol'', ''20''(12), 699-704.</ref> In 2015, she released her textbook, ''Karp’s Cell and Molecular Biology: Concepts and Experiments'', with co-authors Gerald Karp and Wallace Marshal.<ref>Iwasa, JH and Marshall, W (December 2015). ''Karp's Cell Biology: Concepts and Experiments'' (8). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons, Inc.</ref> In 2016, she published "The Scientist as Illustrator" in ''Trends Immunol.''<ref>Iwasa JH (2016). "The Scientist as Illustrator". ''Trends Immunol'', ''37''(4), 247-50.</ref>
Iwasa's knowledge of cellular animation has also led her to publish several different works of scientific literature. Her work with Robert Savage's Lab led to her first publication in 2000 in ''Development Genes and Evolution'', "The leech hunchback protein is expressed in the epithelium and CNS but not in the segmental precursor lineages", with co-authors Suver and Savage.<ref>Iwasa, J. H, et al. “The Leech Hunchback Protein Is Expressed in the Epithelium and CNS but Not in the Segmental Precursor Lineages.” ''Development Genes and Evolution'', vol. 210, no. 6, 19 May 2000, pp. 277–288. ''Springer Nature '', {{doi|10.1007/s004270050315}}.</ref> In 2007, she published an article on her research at the University of California with Mullins, "Actin filament capping and disassembly play opposing roles in determining network architecture at the leading edge."<ref>Iwasa JH, Mullins RD. Actin filament capping and disassembly play opposing roles in determining network architecture at the leading edge. Curr Biol. 2007 Mar 6; 17(5):395-406</ref> In 2010, she published "Animating the model figure" in ''Trends Cell Biol.''<ref>Iwasa JH (2010). Animating the model figure. ''Trends Cell Biol'', ''20''(12), 699-704.</ref> In 2015, she released her textbook, ''Karp’s Cell and Molecular Biology: Concepts and Experiments'', with co-authors Gerald Karp and Wallace Marshal.<ref>Iwasa, JH and Marshall, W (December 2015). ''Karp's Cell Biology: Concepts and Experiments'' (8). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons, Inc.</ref> In 2016, she published "The Scientist as Illustrator" in ''Trends Immunol.''<ref>Iwasa JH (2016). "The Scientist as Illustrator". ''Trends Immunol'', ''37''(4), 247-50.</ref>


== Recognition and honors ==
== Recognition and honors ==

Revision as of 23:08, 9 December 2017

Janet Iwasa is a data visualization expert and research assistant professor of biochemistry at the University of Utah, renowned for her contributions to molecular and cellular visualizations.

Early life and education

Janet Iwasa was born in 1978 in Bloomington, Indiana. When her father joined the National Institutes of Health, her family moved to Maryland.[1][2] Iwasa was the youngest child in the family, and she grew up determined to be different from her two older brothers. Her father's career in physics inspired her to become a scientist herself. In high school, she participated in a summer internship at the Institute for Genomic Research.[1]

In 1999, she graduated magna cum laude from Williams college with bachelor's degrees in Biology and Asian Studies.[3] In her junior year at Williams, she joined Professor Robert Savage's lab, studying the formation of segmented patterns in leeches on a cellular level.[4] In 2006, she received her PhD in cell biology from the University of California, San Francisco for her research on the actin cytoskeleton.

Iwasa became invested in microscopy during her first year at UCSF. In Dyche Mullins' lab, she studied actin networks in motile cells. During lab meetings with Ron Vale's group, she gained knowledge about kinesin structure and function. When she viewed a kinesin animation by Graham Johnson, she was inspired to pursue 3D animation. With Dyche's approval, Iwasa began taking animation classes at San Francisco State University.[1][5] After graduation, she studied animation at the Gnomon School for Visual Effects in Hollywood, California. She was the oldest student in her Gnomon animation course, as well as the only woman. She applied her skills in animation to biology, bringing cellular functions and interactions to life.[1]

Career and research

In 2006, Iwasa began working as a postdoctoral fellow under Jack Szostak with Harvard University and the Massachusetts General Hospital.[3][6] In 2007, Iwasa gained teaching experience at Harvard Medical School with a course named "Visualizing Molecular Processes with Maya." In this course, she worked as a teaching assistant, writing tutorials and supervising projects.[3]

In 2008, Iwasa created and presented a multimedia exhibit for the Boston Museum of Science titled Exploring Life's Origins.

In 2008, she became a lecturer in Molecular Visualization for the Department of Cell Biology at Harvard Medical School.[3] Her position at Harvard was modeled around her own research interests and her contributions to the scientists at the university. While working with Tomas Kirchausen, she created an animation on clathrin-mediated endocytosis.[5]

In 2010, Iwasa organized and taught a course on visualizing molecular and cellular processes with 3D animation in Porto, Portugal. In 2013, she joined the University of Utah School of Medicine as a research assistant professor for the Department of Cell Biology. She returned to Portugal in 2014 to teach a 3D animation workshop for scientific animation.[3] In 2014, she also completed a project called Molecular Flipbook, a free, open-source software program designed to animate molecules. In 2016, Iwasa released a life-cycle animation on HIV. Her project used animation to illustrate the molecular mechanisms the virus utilizes to enter into and exit target cells.[7][5]

Publications

In addition to her university work, Iwasa's renowned molecular and cellular visualizations have been featured in numerous scientific journals including Nature, Science, and Cell, as well as the New York Times.[8][9]

Iwasa's knowledge of cellular animation has also led her to publish several different works of scientific literature. Her work with Robert Savage's Lab led to her first publication in 2000 in Development Genes and Evolution, "The leech hunchback protein is expressed in the epithelium and CNS but not in the segmental precursor lineages", with co-authors Suver and Savage.[10] In 2007, she published an article on her research at the University of California with Mullins, "Actin filament capping and disassembly play opposing roles in determining network architecture at the leading edge."[11] In 2010, she published "Animating the model figure" in Trends Cell Biol.[12] In 2015, she released her textbook, Karp’s Cell and Molecular Biology: Concepts and Experiments, with co-authors Gerald Karp and Wallace Marshal.[13] In 2016, she published "The Scientist as Illustrator" in Trends Immunol.[14]

Recognition and honors

From 1999 to 2004, Iwasa was honored as a member of the NSF Graduate Fellowship. From 2006 to 2008, she was a member of the NSF Discpery Corps Postgraduate Fellowship.[3] In 2008, she earned an honorable mention for her entry in the AAAS International Science & Engineering Visualization Challenge. In 2012, she was listed as one of Fast Company's "100 Most Creative People."[3][15] In 2014, she was recognized as a TED Fellow, a FASEB BioArt Winner, and one of Foreign Policy Magazine's "100 Leading Global Thinkers."[3][16][17] In 2016, the University of Utah credited Iwasa as an Entrepreneurial Faculty Scholar. In 2017, she was honored as a TED Senior Fellow.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Reynolds, Sharon. "Meeting Janet Iwasa". Retrieved 2017-12-08.
  2. ^ Fleichman, John (February 2009). "ASCB Profile: Janet Iwasa" (PDF). ASCB Newsletter: 39–41. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Janet Iwasa, Ph.D., University of Utah, Curriculum Vita
  4. ^ rpsci98 - BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT, https://science.williams.edu/wp-content/blogs.dir/72/files/RS98html/RepSci98Web-BIOLOGY.html.
  5. ^ a b c Iwasa, Janet H. "Crafting a Career in Molecular Animation." Molecular Biology of the Cell, vol. 25, no. 19, 29 Oct. 2014, pp. 2891–2893. NCBI, doi:10.1091/mbc.e14-01-0699.
  6. ^ "Szostak Lab: Former Post-Doctoral Fellows". Molecular Biology. Harvard Medical School. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  7. ^ Iwasa, Janet. "Visualizing HIV Entry and Egress."
  8. ^ Olsen, Erik (15 November 2010). "Molecular Animation: Where Cinema and Biology Meet". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  9. ^ "Janet Iwasa". Secret Life of Scientists and Engineers. PBS. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  10. ^ Iwasa, J. H, et al. “The Leech Hunchback Protein Is Expressed in the Epithelium and CNS but Not in the Segmental Precursor Lineages.” Development Genes and Evolution, vol. 210, no. 6, 19 May 2000, pp. 277–288. Springer Nature , doi:10.1007/s004270050315.
  11. ^ Iwasa JH, Mullins RD. Actin filament capping and disassembly play opposing roles in determining network architecture at the leading edge. Curr Biol. 2007 Mar 6; 17(5):395-406
  12. ^ Iwasa JH (2010). Animating the model figure. Trends Cell Biol, 20(12), 699-704.
  13. ^ Iwasa, JH and Marshall, W (December 2015). Karp's Cell Biology: Concepts and Experiments (8). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons, Inc.
  14. ^ Iwasa JH (2016). "The Scientist as Illustrator". Trends Immunol, 37(4), 247-50.
  15. ^ Cain, Patrick (27 April 2012). "100 Most Creative People: 25. Janet Iwasa". Fast Company. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  16. ^ "Janet Iwasa". TED Speakers. TED.com. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  17. ^ "Foreign Policy Unveils Sixth Annual "100 Leading Global Thinkers" Issue". Foreign Policy Group. 17 November 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2017.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Janet_Iwasa&oldid=814622616"