Public Lecture: How Playing with Unrealistically Simple Systems Gives Insight into Real Cell Membranes

PHI BETA KAPPA
Pi of New York Chapter

ELMIRA COLLEGE
Elmira, New York 14901
Instituted November 29, 1940
cordially invites you to attend the public lecture of

Dr. Sarah L. Keller
Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar
University of Washington

Thursday, October 4, 2012

How Playing with Unrealistically Simple Systems Gives
Insight into Real Cell Membranes

4:30 P.M.
Kolker Lecture Hall

Budding architects can learn some fundamental design principles by playing with LEGOs. Likewise, we can learn some fundamental properties of cell membranes and the proteins that reside in them by playing with toy systems, which are in this case artificial membranes made in the laboratory.

Sarah Keller is a biophysicist who investigates self-assembling soft condensed matter systems. Recently, her research has focused on how simple lipid mixtures within bilayer membranes give rise to complex phase behavior. She joined the department of chemistry at the University of Washington in 2000 and is the recipient of the department’s 2004 Outstanding Teaching Award, as well as the university’s 2006 Distinguished Teaching Award. She is also currently the Associate Dean for Research Activities for the UW College of Arts and Sciences.

Her research has been recognized by the Avanti Young Investigator Award (American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology); the Margaret Oakley Dayhoff Award (Biophysical Society); a Cottrell Scholar Award (Research Corporation); and a CAREER Award (National Science Foundation). In 2011 she was elected to the Washington State Academy of Sciences and was named a fellow of the American Physical Society.

Degrees:
B.A. Rice University, 1989
M.A. Princeton University, 1991
Ph.D. Princeton University, 1995