Duke University

KEWAUNEE EVENT LECTURESHIP 2008

Buddy Ratner, PhD Professor of Bioengineering Joint with Chemical Engineering Director, University of Washington Engineered Biomaterials (UWEB) Thrust Areas Engineered Biomaterials and Tissue Bioengineering Molecular Bioengineering and Nanotechnology

 

April 17, 2008
CIEMAS A & B
4:00 pm

 

 

KEWAUNEE EVENT MENTORSHIP ACHIEVEMENT AWARD 2008

Ping Beall, PhD

Dr. Beall, after receiving her MS and PhD in physiology and surface chemistry from Tulane University, did her postdoctoral studies in biochemistry and biophysics at Michigan State University and University of Penn. She came to Duke Dept. of Physiology and Pharmacology in 1973 to work with Dr. D C Tosteson. In 1975 she joined the Dept. of Anatomy as an assistant medical research professor. Her research activities focused on the molecular structure and functions of cell membranes. Her work on 2-D computer image analyses of Na-K ATPase protein crystalline arrays and monoclonal antibody labeling of ATPase was funded by NIH and Duke Medical Center Research Awards. Before joining the laboratory of Drs. Robert Hochmuth and David Needham, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering and Material Science and center for Biochemical Engineering in 1989, she briefly associated with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Health Effects Research Laboratory, Division of Developmental Toxicology, Research Triangle Park, NC. There, she studied the biological mechanisms of environmental toxicants on membrane structure and functions. In the laboratory of Dr. Hochmuth, her research interests were in cell mechanics, particularly in the biophysical, morphology and adhesive properties of human leukocytes. In collaboration with Dr. Farshid Guilak of Duke Orthopaedic Surgery she worked on the viscoelastic properties of chondrocytes and chrondrons. In additions to her own research she helped to direct research activities of graduate and undergraduate students in Dr. Hochmuth's laboratory. She also participated in Duke Pratt School of Engineering Summer Outreach Programs mentoring undergraduate and high school students. She retired from Duke Pratt School of Engineering in June of 2002 but returned just a week later. She finally retired the second time in 2004.