Endowment To Benefit Microbiology Grad Students retired microbiology professor, who received initial inspiration for his research work from mentors at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, has decided to return the favor at his alma mater. Jnanendra Kumar Bhattacharjee, a graduate student in SIU’s Department of Microbiology from 19611965, studied yeast genetics under the guidance of the late Carl Lindegren. Bhattacharjee credits him for laying the groundwork for a distinguished career in which he conducted yeast genetics research for 45 years. In appreciation for his experiences at SIU, Bhattacharjee, and his wife, Tripti, have established the Dr. Jnanendra K. and Tripti Bhattacharjee Endowment to support various endeavors of SIU Carbondale’s microbiology graduate students. “The educational and research opportunities I
received at SIU Carbondale were invaluable. And consequently, the professional success and accomplishments I’ve enjoyed occurred as a result of that experience,” Bhattacharjee says. “Additionally, my wife and I were quite impressed with the wonderful hospitality and the advances in the microbiology department during our visit to campus. “Therefore, establishing this endowment presented me with an opportunity to give back to the department so that other graduate students can receive the same opportunities and encouragement that benefited me.” Doug Fix, chair of the SIU Carbondale biology and microbiology department, says the endowment will provide funds for professional development activities. It will support graduate students interested in attending major conferences, which enables them to present their research
Ramona Caudillo James B. & Rosemary S. Childress Pamela B. Colesworthy Kelli E. Collins Linda J. Corder Mildred F. Corn Margaret A. Costello Jason P. Covington Jon S. Covington Jackie L. & R. Richard Cox George E. Cruft Walter H. Cunnington, Jr. Paulette Curkin Michael R. D’Addio Robert V. Davis Larry R. & Mary C. DeJarnett Timothy J. Dembski Robert H. Dickson, Jr. Ralph W. Dieckmann George H. & Judy A. Dillinger Carolyn F. Donow, Ph.D. & Herbert S. Donow, Ph.D. J. Nick Earll
Leo A. & Lois M. Eason James P. Economos, DDS John C. Edgar Joseph W. Elliott Edwina S. Elwell & Jeffery S. Elwell, Ph.D. Paul J. Feeney Donna Feldman Shawn Ferguson-Putt David S. Finley & Nancy J. Logan J. Thomas Fly, Sr. Barbara A. & Patrick J. Forkin Kim O. Fornero Patricia A. Frank Verl E. Free Helmuth H. Fuchs Virginia Furlong Lawrence J. & Kathleen O. Gage Marian George Robert L. Gergen Donald L. Gilleland Linda M. Gosse Elizabeth F. Goyak Gina M. & Frank T. Gramarosso
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Tripti and Jnanendra Bhattacharjee
and meet fellow researchers in the field to discuss future employment possibilities. “Dr. Bhattacharjee has always been a contributor to the microbiology program. We are particularly grateful to him for providing this support for our graduate students,” Fix says. “And most recently, we are honored by his incredibly generous donation that has created a new endowment.” Bhattacharjee, a professor emeritus of microbiology at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and a fellow of the American Academy of Martha L. Greenwood Leland G. Hall Pamela G. Hall Robert H. Hamilton Sharon L. Gearhart-Hans & Gerald A. Hans Neil B. Hansen Amber B. Hanson & Homer H. Hanson, MD Thomas L. Hanson Robert B. Hardcastle Robert C. Hardwick Jane L. Hardy Ronald W. Hari Tommy J. Harris, Sr. Darrell W. & Georgia C. Harrison Bret A. Hartung Mickey V. Haslett James M. & Susan L. Hawkinson John S. Heakin Philip J. Hejtmanek Karen Bedwell Herhahn Lois T. Herr & William M. Herr, Ph.D. Nancy A. Herzog Kenneth R. Hetge
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Microbiology, received his doctorate in microbiology from SIU Carbondale in 1965. He subsequently conducted postdoctoral research under the late Murray Strassman at the Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, and ascended to assistant member, 19661968. Bhattacharjee joined Miami’s faculty in 1968, where he mentored a large number of undergraduate, M.S., Ph.D. students, and postdoctoral fellows until his retirement in 2005. He is grateful for his experience at SIU Carbondale. “The University presented me with outstanding opportunities. I’m forever grateful to so many. My successful family and professional life really goes back to the education and experiences I received at SIU, and I relish that period in my life. I have a great deal of gratitude and I’m humble for the experience.” For more information, contact Tanna Morgan at 618-4537061 or tanna@siu.edu. Anne M. Hill Gary D. Hill William C. Hill Jane L. Hodgkinson Jeff W. Holder Shayne C. Hollandsworth Dorothy E. Holmes Louis P. Hoover Mary K. Houchin Charles F. Howe Stephen J. Howe William M. Hutton Candis S. Isberner, Ph.D. & Fred R. Isberner, Ph.D. Dorothy A. Ittner Britt A. & Marcus S. Jackson Larry G. James Carol H. Johnson Marvin K. & Melanie K. Kaiser Gregory J. Kamrow Elliot S. Kaye James R. Keene