Biologist Alan D. Grossman appointed to lead the Department of Biology
Microbiologist Alan D. Grossman Takes Over as Head of MIT's Department of Biology
Prominent American microbiologist, Alan D. Grossman, has been named the new head of the Department of Biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), effective Aug. 1. Grossman, who has been serving as interim head following Tania Baker's stepping down in June, is widely recognised for his pioneering studies in microbiology and biology.
Grossman's research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of bacterial chromosome segregation. He was among the first to identify the Spo0J protein, a ParB homologue, which is essential for chromosome segregation in Bacillus subtilis. His work has shed light on how Spo0J binds to specific cis-acting DNA sequences called ParS sites to execute its function in chromosome segregation.
Grossman's significant contributions to the field include characterising bacterial chromosome segregation processes, discovering that Spo0J binds specific DNA sites to mediate chromosome partitioning, and advancing the understanding of bacterial cell cycle and genome stability mechanisms.
Grossman received a BA in biochemistry from Brown University in 1979 and a PhD in molecular biology from the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1984. After a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University, he joined MIT's Department of Biology in 1988.
Grossman has served as associate department head since 2012 and was director or co-director of the biology graduate program for seven years. He has also been instrumental in the establishment of the graduate program in microbiology in 2008. The graduate program is an interdepartmental, interdisciplinary endeavour with more than 50 participating faculty members.
Michael Sipser, dean of the School of Science and the Barton L. Weller Professor of Mathematics, expressed his support for Grossman's appointment. "Alan has been an outstanding leader for our department, and I am confident that he will continue to guide us towards even greater heights," said Sipser.
Grossman's goals as the new head of the Department of Biology at MIT include recruiting and mentoring excellent young faculty, supporting educational and outreach efforts, and building strong and beneficial relationships with other departments.
In addition to his scientific work, Grossman is noted for publicly sharing his experience with a life-saving heart transplant in 2006 and advocating for organ donation, adding a personal dimension to his public profile.
Grossman is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Academy of Microbiology, and a member of the National Academy of Sciences. He served for many years on the graduate committees for biology, computational and systems biology, and microbiology.
Grossman expresses gratitude for the support and encouragement from the MIT community and looks forward to continuing to serve and work closely with colleagues.
