“Dr. Marina Holz has a superb academic pedigree, and has significant research in the influence of hormone receptors on cell replication,” says Dr. Halperin. “But the other striking thing is her extensive track record of mentoring young people in their research.” Kira Lebron, an M.S. candidate, is one of four graduate students working in Dr. Holz’ lab. In researching faculty projects to support over the summer, Ms. Lebron noticed Dean Holz’s investigations into the mTOR signaling pathway that had interested her. “Dr. Holz seemed like someone who would be a good fit as a mentor for me,” Ms. Lebron says. After meeting in September, Dr. Holz offered her a spot in her lab.
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SCIENCE TODAY INVOLVES MORE COLLABORATION, NETWORKING AND INTER-DISCIPLINARY TEAMS TO MOVE RESEARCH FORWARD. IT’S NO LONGER SILOED.
“Besides being an internationally recognized researcher in the area of breast cancer cell biology. Dr. Holz impressed us with her vitality, insights and strong interpersonal skills,” says Joseph D. Etlinger, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, and member of the faculty search committee for the GSBMS dean position. “Dr. Holz is well-positioned to attract collaboration from faculty and to support students by creating a foundation for their future success. Her ability to engage them in her active research program makes her an excellent role model.”
— DR. HOLZ
“Dean Holz has surpassed my expectations as a mentor,” says Ms. Lebron. “She makes time to meet with us individually every week—giving us guidance on next steps and helping us troubleshoot. She is not only interested in our projects, but also our personal development; she always looks for fellowships and opportunities to help us branch out.”
will perform diagnostic tests, uncover new disease states and communicate with physicians to improve patient care and treatment outcomes. In addition to studying at NYMC, students receive clinical laboratory training at hospitals within the Westchester Medical Center Health Network.
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Fueling Dr. Holz’s passion for research is the hope that it will extend beyond the laboratory to eventually create clinical breakthroughs. “New York Medical College is perfectly suited for this translational research because not only do we have strong basic science research programs, but we also have a close relationship with our clinical affiliated hospitals,” she says. “Working with clinicians to make connections is more important than ever. Science today involves more collaboration, networking and inter-disciplinary teams to move research forward. It’s no longer siloed.”
Céline Cassé, Ph.D., assistant professor of biochemistry at the University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez Campus, met Dean Holz in July 2018 through the American Society for Cell Biology’s Faculty Research and Education Development (FRED) Mentoring Program, which aims to help postdocs and young faculty at minority serving institutions build grantsmanship skills. Dean Holz served as Dr. Cassé’s mentor, guiding her in writing proposals, defining their research experiments and structuring research goals. During the workshop, Dr. Cassé became aware of a funding opportunity involving a deadline that fell just a few days after the workshop ended. “Before we went our separate ways, Dr. Holz encouraged me to apply for the grant; she gave me valuable tips on the experimental design of the project and strategies to raise the chances of success. Even though we had known each other for only a couple of days, I was impressed by Dr. Holz’s leadership skills.”
“One of my goals is to align the experience of graduate students with the modern demands of science and professional careers to be suited for the 21st century,” Dr. Holz says. “With new technology, computation, artificial intelligence and the concept of ‘deep learning,’ experiments that used to take years now take only days. Progress is faster. The learning curve is steeper. There is more data to deal with. Our students need to know how to process the data, work with others and piece together research from different areas of science.”
Back in Puerto Rico, Dr. Cassé kept in touch with Dean Holz for guidance in crafting the proposal. “Because Dr. Holz had established a climate of trust I felt confident in sending her my questions,” she explains. “She would diligently address every single one of them; with her insight my proposal ultimately got selected for funding, and I landed the first research grant of my career. I am so glad I could meet such a fantastic role model. Dr. Holz’s strong ethics and leadership skills make her perfectly fit for the highest administrative appointments in academia.” ■
SCIENTIFIC SPHERES, NOT SILOS
Dr. Holz is also methodical about preparing students for a wider range of science-related careers. “In today’s world, students will have the chance to work in various spheres of influence: not just academia, but also industry, government, policy, law and writing.” She is enthusiastic about the Graduate School’s new Master of Science in Clinical Laboratory Sciences, a degree program that positions students to work in medical, industrial or pharmaceutical laboratories. As clinical laboratory scientists, they 20
C H I R O N I A N 2019