UTSA adjunct professor receives honor from the American Society for Cell Biology
(Jan. 20, 2015) - William R. Brinkley, Ph.D. and adjunct professor of biology in the UTSA College of Sciences, was recently honored with the E. B. Wilson Medal from the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB). The medal, the organization’s highest honor for far-reaching contributions to cell biology over a lifetime in science, was presented to Brinkley at the 54th Annual Meeting in Philadelphia.
Recognized as America’s first cell biologist, Edmund Beecher Wilson was a pioneering zoologist and geneticist who authored “The Cell,” one of the most famous textbooks in modern biology. Each year, an ASCB nominating committee reviews submissions and decides on award recipients named in his honor.
The first adjunct professor hired by UTSA with a membership in the National Academy of Sciences, Brinkley advocated for research funding and strengthened relationships with the national scientific community. He has served as an advisory committee member and external evaluator for the UTSA Research Centers in Minority Institutions. The program is supported by a $12.6 million grant from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities at the National Institutes of Health. Additionally, with his previous experience at other UT System institutions, Brinkley has offered guidance on best practices to develop in the university’s march to Tier One.
“We are very honored to have Bill Brinkley’s leadership and direction help us as we continue to cultivate student education in cell and molecular biology,” said George Perry, dean of the UTSA College of Sciences. “His numerous accomplishments over his career include originating approaches and developing microscopy viewing techniques for cell biology that are still being used today in laboratories around the world.”
An educator at the Baylor College of Medicine for more than 20 years, Brinkley is a dean emeritus of the Graduate School of Biomedical Science and a distinguished service professor in the department of molecular and cellular biology. His research has largely focused on how human cells divide and on defining the mitotic apparatus, a cellular structure that separates the genome during mitosis.
Brinkley is best known for discovering the kinetochore, a crescent-shaped, three layered laminated plate. The kinetochore attaches to the center of a duplicated chromosome to microbule spindle fibers that pull it apart from another duplicated chromosome during cell division. The culmination of the entire process of DNA replication is the basis of growth. Brinkley has been a member of the ASCB since 1963 and served as past president in 1980. An author of more than 150 peer-reviewed papers, Brinkley has received numerous awards including the distinguished Merit Award from the U.S. National Institute of Health’s National Cancer Institute.
He earned his doctoral degree in zoology from Iowa State University and his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biology from Sam Houston State University.
Established in 1960, the American Society for Cell Biology has more than 9,000 members representing 62 countries. The non-profit organization is an inclusive, international community of biologists studying the cell and is dedicated to advancing scientific discovery, advocating sound research policies, improving education, promoting professional development and increasing diversity in the scientific workforce.
To learn more, visit the American Society for Cell Biology.
-------------------------------
Connect online with UTSA on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.
Events
The UTSA Office of Undergraduate is proud to celebrate National Undergraduate Research with an annual event sponsored by the (OUR) featuring students will showcase undergraduate student research and creative endeavors from all disciplines across campus.
Various LocationsDía en la Sombrilla, formerly Fiesta UTSA, is a festival hosted each spring as a part of Fiesta® San Antonio events. Sponsored by Roadrunner Productions, the event features music, food, confetti, games, event t-shirts, and more.
Sombrilla Plaza and Central Plaza, Main CampusFiesta Arts Fair features contemporary art from more than 100 artists from across the U.S., Fiesta favorite foods, drinks, live music by local and regional performers, and a Young Artists Garden providing opportunities for budding artists to learn, explore and express their creativity.
UTSA Southwest CampusJoin the PEACE Center and Wellbeing Services for Denim Day, a day of learning about the importance of consent and why we wear denim on the last Wednesday of the month each April during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Stop by our Denim Day display to take a photo in front of our Denim Wall, spin the "Is It Consent?" Wheel, and get a Concha or goodie.
Student Union Window Lounge, Main CampusLearn to use Zotero®, a citation manager that can help you store and organize citations you find during your research. Zotero can generate bibliographies in various styles, insert in-text citations and allow you to share sources with collaborators.
Virtual EventThis event is to achnowlege the graduating seniors and induct the new cohart of scholars to our program.
North Paseo Building (NPB 5.140,) Main CampusCelebrate the accomplishments of College of Education and Human Development, College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Sciences and University College.
Alamodome