Nancy Allbritton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nancy Allbritton
|
|
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Louisiana State University (BS) Johns Hopkins University (MD) Massachusetts Institute of Technology (PhD) |
| Known for | Single-cell analysis |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Biomedical Engineering |
| Institutions | University of Washington University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University |
Nancy L. Allbritton is a leading scientist in Biomedical Engineering. She is currently a Professor of Bioengineering. She also serves as the Dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Washington.
Before this, she was a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She also worked at North Carolina State University. Dr. Allbritton is famous for her work in single-cell analysis. This means she studies individual cells very closely.
She uses engineering to create special tools. These tools help scientists understand living cells and tissues better. Her work helps us learn how cells communicate and react.
Contents
Nancy Allbritton's Education
Nancy Allbritton has a strong background in science. In 1979, she earned a bachelor's degree in physics. She studied at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge.
Later, in 1985, she received a medical doctor (MD) degree. This was from Johns Hopkins University. She then earned a PhD in medical physics and engineering. This degree was from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1987.
Her Career Journey
After her PhD, Dr. Allbritton became a researcher. She worked at Stanford University from 1989 to 1994. Then, she became a professor at the University of California at Irvine. She taught in many different science and engineering departments. She stayed at UC Irvine for 13 years, until 2007.
In 2007, Dr. Allbritton moved to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She became a distinguished professor there. From 2009 to 2019, she led the Biomedical Engineering Department. This department was shared between UNC Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University. She also held positions in chemistry and materials science.
On November 1, 2019, Dr. Allbritton started a new role. She became a Professor of Bioengineering. She also became the Dean of Engineering at the University of Washington College of Engineering. In 2021, she also became an editor for a science journal.
What Dr. Allbritton Researches
Dr. Allbritton is very interested in studying single cells. She uses special methods like capillary electrophoresis (CE). She also uses tiny engineered devices.
Her research helps us understand how cells work. For example, she studies how fats signal within cells. She also finds specific immune cells. Her lab even captures tiny parts of the intestine.
She also works on "organ-on-a-chip" technology. This involves making tiny devices. These devices act like real organs, such as the small and large intestine. They help scientists study how organs work outside the body. Her lab also works on moving special cell sorting methods from the lab to hospitals.
Awards and Honors
Dr. Allbritton has received many important awards for her work:
- 1982-1985: Health Sciences and Technology Fellowship, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- 1995: Searle Scholar Award
- 1995: Beckman Young Investigator Award
- 2003-2004: Distinguished Mid-Career Faculty Award for Research, University of California, Irvine
- 2009: Mary K. and Velmer A. Fassel Award, Iowa State University
- 2015: NIH Director’s Transformative Award, National Institutes of Health
- 2016: Award in Chemical Instrumentation, ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry
- 2017: Edward Kidder Graham Leadership Award, UNC
- 2017: Innovator of the Year, UNC-Chapel Hill
- 2020: Ralph N. Adams Award in Bioanalytical Chemistry, Pittcon
- 2021: Pritzker Distinguished Lecture Award, Biomedical Engineering Society
Images for kids
See also
In Spanish: Nancy Allbritton para niños