I grew up in the town of Edwardsville in southern Illinois and had no idea what I wanted to do until my dad brought home a magazine with "Genetic Engineering" on the cover. I was immediately sold. I attended Bradley University and graduated with a BS in Biotechnology. I took a job at Monsanto in St. Louis after graduation where I worked with Peter Isakson on interleukin signaling. I entered graduate school at Saint Louis University where I earned my PhD with Joe Baldassare. We were one of the first labs to connect MAPK signaling from growth factor receptors to cyclin D expression and cell cycle progression. I did my postdoc with Chuck Sherr and Martine Roussel down at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. It was my first time living in the "south". Julie and I absolutely fell in love with Memphis.
I met my wife, Julie, in college and we have been married for 30 years! We have three young adults: Samantha (24), Will (21), and Katie (19). All of them have or are going to college in Indiana. Of course, I can't leave out the beloved family dog, Schaefer (RIP 2024).
I have lots of hobbies and side gigs. My dad got me hooked on science fiction as a kid and we still read a lot of the same books. He introduced me to Piers Anthony, Isaac Asimov, JRR Tolkien, and Michael Crichton. Now we read Christopher Paolini (Eragon series) and George RR Martin and I'm trying to get him to read Liu Cixin (Three Body Problem series). I will also read anything about Ulysses S. Grant and any book from Siddhartha Mukherjee.
I have always played soccer, through college. All of my kids played growing up. A friend and I started a local youth soccer club that is still around after 16 years. I have been to several STLCity MLS games in this inaugural season and nothing beats it. I will always cheer for the Cardinals and Blues, but the atmosphere at City games is a must see!
I also enjoy building things out of wood. There always seems to be a new project on the horizon and the need for a new tool.
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