Chemist thrives on teaching, ‘potential for new discovery’

No one likes traffic problems, and it turns out cells are no different.

Far from the static blobs so often portrayed in textbooks, cells are more like miniature cities, filled with organelles that play specific roles. Assistant professor of biomolecular chemistry Jon Audhya studies the internal protein transport systems — the cellular equivalent of freight carriers — that are necessary to keep things humming along smoothly inside the cell. Defects in these systems have been linked to a range of diseases including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases, and immune dysfunction.

Wisconsin Week: How did you first get interested in biology?

Audhya: While I was growing up, my father taught me how important it is to make a difference in the world. His contribution has been a long and successful career in the pharmaceutical industry. At 73, he is now studying the roles of vitamin deficiencies in the progression of autism. Although I may not have known it then, my passion for science likely started with Saturday afternoons sitting on my dad’s lab bench, pipetting water between test tubes and imagining that I was a scientist.

WW: What do you enjoy most about your work?

JA: Every day is different, with the potential for a new discovery — possibly even a major breakthrough. I have the freedom to pursue any line of investigation that I choose, and that freedom is absolutely priceless. In addition, I truly enjoy watching my students learn and progress with their projects. Teaching, both in the lab and the classroom, is very enjoyable, especially during eureka moments that I am lucky enough to witness.

WW: What outcomes do you see from your work for society?

JA: Currently we have several funded projects in the lab, some of which focus on basic mechanisms of oncogenesis, others that deal with viral infection, one that addresses a neurodegenerative disorder, and a new grant to study a basic process necessary for normal heart development. My hope is that the outcomes of these projects will shed new light on the mechanisms underlying the initiation or progression of common diseases that impact our society.

WW: What might you be doing right now if you weren’t at work?

JA: I would be spending the day with my infant daughter. Every day she’s learning new skills, and watching her go through these transitions is amazing. We sometimes spend time together in the lab. She’s not quite ready to perform an experiment, but it shouldn’t be long now.

WW: If you hadn’t become a scientist, what field might you have gone into?

JA: I would have likely gone into medicine. However, I must admit that I’m not terribly fond of sick people, and my bedside manner leaves something to be desired. I probably would have gotten over it, but I’m glad I’ll never have to find out.