Michael J. Overduin
The information listed below is current as of the date the transcript was finalized.
Interview Details
Interview Sessions
Abstract of Interview
Michael J. Overduin was born in Ontario, Canada, the second oldest of five children. Overduin's father received master's degrees in English and music and was a teacher who traveled around Ontario to develop new programs at various schools—in music, English, and theater; in addition, he was well-respected in musical communities, especially those associated with churches, he put out several CDs, and, later in life, became a professor (without a PhD). Overduin's mother was a teacher as well, before having her children, and musically inclined too—classical music was a mainstay of the Overduin household. As a child Overduin was interested in music (though never performed) and art, and he appreciated the creativity of science. His interests and his parents' belief in education cultivated his love of biology and nature; influential teachers in school and early laboratory experiences proved formative as well. Overduin matriculated at Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada and pursued a major in biology and a minor in mathematics. While in college he completed a thesis with Bernard Glick on the transformation of Pseudomonas aeroginosa and Esherichia coli by electroporation. After receiving his baccalaureate of science, he chose to attend Rockefeller University for graduate studies in structural biology, working in the laboratory of David Cowburn. Overduin's graduate work used nuclear magnetic resonance to determine the structure of a signal transduction protein; additionally, he worked with David Baltimore. For his postdoctoral fellowship, he worked with Mitsuhiko Ikuraat the University of Toronto and focused on the structural protein cadherin and its involvement in cell adhesion. After his time in Toronto, he accepted a position at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and began research on the domain structure of receptors involved in endocytosis. He also assisted in establishing an NMR spectroscopy facility and biomolecular structure program while there. After several years at Colorado, he moved to the University of Birmingham, Birmingham, England, helping build the NMR spectroscopy facility there, and continuing his research on complex systems and protein domains of therapeutic targets. The interview concludes with Overduin's thoughts on his laboratory management style; the process of writing journal articles; the issue of patents; the role of the scientist in educating the public about science; setting the national science agenda; recruiting foreign students as science graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in the United States; and balancing his career and time with his family. Overduin's oral history ends with his reflections on the impact of the Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences on his research and what he likes most about being a principal investigator.
Education
Year | Institution | Degree | Discipline |
---|---|---|---|
1988 | Wilfrid Laurier University | BSc | Honours Biology with Mathematics Minor |
1993 | The Rockefeller University | PhD | Biochemistry, Genetics, and Physical Chemistry |
Professional Experience
University of Toronto
University of Colorado, Health Sciences Center
University of Birmingham
Honors
Year(s) | Award |
---|---|
1988 | Gold Medal for Highest Achievement, Dept. of Biology, Wilfrid Laurier University |
1993 to 1995 | National Cancer Institute of Canada Postdoctoral Fellowship Award |
1995 | Alumnus of the Year, Wilfrid Laurier University |
1997 to 1998 | Howard Hughes Medical Institute Pilot Project Award |
1998 to 1999 | Howard Hughes Medical Institute Junior Faculty Startup Award |
1998 to 2000 | Basil O'Conner Award, March of Dimes |
1998 to 2002 | Pew Scholar, Pew Charitable Trusts |
1998 to 2003 | FIRST Award, National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute |
2001 | Faculty Excellence in Research Award, Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Health Scienes Center |
2003 | Chair of Structural Biology, University of Birmingham |
Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award |
Table of Contents
Family background. Parents. Religion. Siblings. Childhood experiences. Qualities of a good scientist. Reasons for becoming a principal investigator. Interests as a boy and man. Early schooling. School projects. Interest in art. Creativity in science. Attends middle and high school. Influential high-school teacher. Competition in science. Attends Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Canada. Social life in school. Laboratory experience in high schooland college. Reasons for pursuing science. Extracurricular activities. Attends graduate school at Rockefeller University. New York City. Graduate program at Rockefeller University. Works in structural biology under David Cowburn using nuclear magnetic resonance to determine the structure of a signal transduction protein.
David Cowburn's management style. Work with David Baltimore. Criteria for developing new projects. Collaboration in science. Postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Toronto. Meets future wife. Works in Mitsuhiko Ikura' s laboratory at the University of Toronto. Ikura' s management style. Postdoctoral work on the structural protein cadherin and its involvement in cell adhesion. Laboratory management style. Accepts a position at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. Setting up lab. Research in structural biology and biochemistry at the University of Colorado on the domain structure of receptors involved in endocytosis. Moves to the University of Birmingham England. Building the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy facility at Birmingham. Managing an NMR facility. Current research in studying complex systems and protein domains of therapeutic targets. Future research on the mechanism of action of membrane proteins. Scientific collaborations between academia and industry. Tenure at University of Colorado. Teachingresponsibilities. Professional duties.
Administrative duties. Source of ideas. Writing journal articles. Patents. Funding history. Role of the scientist in educating the public about science. National science agenda. Gender. Underrepresented groups in science. Recruiting foreign students as science graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in the United States. Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences.