The Russek Student Achievement Day was established twelve years ago to recognize the scientific, academic, and service accomplishments of the graduate students studying at the Boston University School of Medicine. The Department of Genetics and Genomics is proud to announce this year’s student awards.

Damien Slater (right), a fourth year student in the laboratory of Dr. Cyrus Vaziri (left) and the Genetics and Genomics Russek Student Achievement First Prize Winner, has been studying the appropriate coordination between DNA replication and cell cycle events for his doctoral research. While studying the licensing of DNA replication, Damien has made many important contributions towards understanding the mechanisms that ensure each origin of replication is used a single time during each cell cycle. His work has also uncovered a novel activity of Rb, the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein, which works to prevent G1 progression in the absence of fully licensed replication origins.

In describing his graduate experience, Damien notes that he is, “pleased with the overall learning experience and the opportunity to develop critical thinking and communication skills.” He also highlights the fact that his own successes have been due to an excellent relationship with his dissertation advisor, Cyrus Vaziri, and with members of the Department of Genetics and Genomics.

“I've been fortunate to have such a supportive and generous mentor in Cyrus Vaziri. His guidance and open nature have given me the freedom to explore questions that interest me and has provided a stimulating environment to work in. I've also been lucky to be associated with the Department of Genetics and Genomics. It's provided great facilities and access to dedicated, intelligent, creative people, willing to exchange ideas and nurture development of young (and not-so-young) scientists.”

Damien’s work will be featured as a seminar during Russek Student Achievement Day. Damien is, “very pleased to have been chosen to represent the department this year at the Russek Student Achievement Day. This is a great opportunity to discuss our work with the rest of the BU community and will, hopefully, have the added effect of drawing attention to the interesting work being done in the Department of Genetics & Genomics.”

The work of Panagiotis (Panos) Papageorgis and Courtney Sill will also be recognized at the Russek Student Achievement Day in the Second Prize and Honorable Mention categories respectively. Posters of their work will be on display during the Student Achievement Day activities.

Panos has made excellent progress as a third year student in Dr. Sam Thiagalingam’s lab with his his work on epigenetic factors influencing cancer progression. Panos has been an integral member of the Department, and his work was recognized at our Departmental retreat where he won the poster prize this year. Panos also served as a TA for the Principles in Genetics and Genomics class. Panos notes that, “such awards, especially during these early stages of my career, give me greater motivation and enthusiasm for a successful scientific career in research.”

Courtney has distinguished herself as a fourth year student in Dr. Michael Christman’s lab with her screen for a suppressor of the essential histone acetyltransferase activity of yeast ESA1. In addition, Courtney is the Departmental representative, former secretary, current president, and career fair chair of the newly formed GMSSO (Graduate Medical Sciences Student Organization). Furthermore, she has participated extensively over the past three years in aiding Genetics and Genomics graduate student recruiting activities. Her help in all of these arenas has truly made BUSM a better place to be a graduate student.

The Department of Genetics and Genomics extends congratulations to our student award winners! Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of all of our graduate students at the Student Achievement Day events held in Hiebert on May 5, 2006.