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ALUMNI NEWS + UPDATES Virginia Tech biochemistry alumnus William 'Bil' Clemons elected to National Academy of Sciences ATES Virginia Tech bioche istry alumnus William 'Bil' Clemons elected to National Academy of Sciences

William “Bil” Clemons, an alumnus of Virginia Tech’s biochemistry department, has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences, one of the highest professional honors that can be bestowed upon a scientist. Members of the National Academy of Sciences serve pro bono as advisors to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine. New members are selected based on their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. “I was shocked when I was notified that I’d been elected to the national academy. It is truly an honor and one that I was humbled to accept,” Clemons said. “The accomplishment highlights the fortunate support I’ve had throughout my career going back to my days as a biochem undergrad at Virginia Tech.” Clemons uses the tools of biochemistry to explore the molecular building blocks of life. He and his team of structural biologists at the California Institute of Technology work on problems related to how membrane proteins are made and inserted into cell membranes and focus on the chemistry of enzymes that catalyze the transfer of sugars onto lipids. The work completed in the Clemons Lab is critical to the development of novel therapeutics. Clemons obtained his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Virginia Tech in 1995 and was College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient for 2017-18. He started his research career in the lab of Walter Niehaus, professor emeritus of biochemistry. In Niehaus’s lab, Clemons worked with enzymes from Cryptococcus, an invasive fungus transmitted through the inhalation of spores that causes the infection cryptococcosis. He attributes the fundamental training he received in the biochemistry undergraduate program to his readiness for graduate school. In 2000, Clemons received his Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Utah while working jointly with the Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, England. His graduate work contributed to solving the atomic structure of the ribosome with his dissertation advisor, 2009 Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry Venki Ramakrishnan. An organism's vital functions are managed by large, complex protein molecules produced in cells' ribosomes. There, genetic information from messenger RNA is translated into chains of amino acids that then build proteins. Using a method known as X-ray crystallography, Ramakrishnan, Clemons, and other researchers were able to map the structure of ribosomes. Among other applications, this information has been useful for the production of antibiotics. Clemons then went on to the Department of Cell Biology at Harvard Medical School as a postdoctoral associate for four years. He’s the recipient of the National Institute of Health Pioneer Award and the Burroughs Welcome Career Award in Biomedical Sciences. Clemons is currently a professor of biochemistry in the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California. He joined the Caltech faculty in 2005. William “Bil” Clemons, an alumnus of Virginia Tech’s biochemistry department, has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences, one of the highest professional honors that can be bestowed upon a scientist. Members of the National Academy of Sciences serve pro bono as advisors to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine. New members are sel ted ased on their istinguished and conti uing achievements in riginal res arch. “I was shocked when I was notifi d that I’d be n el cted to the nat onal academy. It is truly an honor and one that I was humbl d to accept,” Clemons said. “The accomplishment highlights the fortunate support I’ve had throughout my career going back to my days as a biochem undergrad at Virginia Tech.” Clemons uses the tools of biochemistry to explore the molecular building blocks of life. He and his team of structural biologists at the California Institute of Technology work on problems related to how membrane proteins are made and inserted into cell membranes and focus on the chemistry of enzymes that catalyze the transfer of sugars onto lipids. The work completed in the Clemons Lab is critical to the development of novel therapeutics. Clemons obtained his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Virginia Tech in 1995 and was College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient for 2017-18. He started his research career in the lab of Walter Niehaus, professor emeritus of biochemistry. In Niehaus’s lab, Clemons worked with enzymes from Cryptococcus, an invasive fungus transmitted through the inhalation of spores that causes the infection cryptococcosis. He attributes the fundamental training he received in the biochemistry undergraduate program to his readiness for graduate school. In 2000, Clemons received his Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Utah while working jointly with the Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, England. His graduate work contributed to solving the atomic structure f the ribosome with his dissertation advisor, 2009 Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry Venki Ramakrishnan. An organism's vital functions are managed by large, complex protein molecules produced in cells' ribosomes. There, genetic information from messenger RNA is translated into chains of a ino acids that then build proteins. Using a method known as X-ray crystallog aphy, Ramakrishnan, Clemons, and other re earchers were able o map the tructure of ribosomes. Among o r applications, t i information h s been useful f r the production of antibio ics. Clemo s then went o to the Department of C ll Biolo y at Harvard Medical Sch ol as a p stdoctoral associate for fou years. He’s t r cipien of the National Institute of Health Pion er Award nd the Burr ughs Welcome Career Award i Biomedical Sciences. Clemons is currently a p ofessor of bioc emistry in the Division of Chemistry nd Che ical Engineering at the Calif rnia Institute of T chnology in Pa adena, California. He join d the Caltech faculty in 2005. Message written by Peter Kennelly, biochemistry professor and int rim departme t head. We want to thank biochemistry and

microbiology alumnus, Dr. Ross Zirkle ('94, '96 M.S.), for visiting with our undergraduate and graduate students this semester in September. Zirkle met with our students to discuss career opportunities available at his organization DSM, a purpose-led science-based global company pecializing in soluti ns for human and nimal he lth nd nutrition. It's alway a plea ur to re-connect with our Hokie alumni!

Message written by Peter Kennelly, biochemistry professor and interim department head. "The Department of Biochemistry lost a friend when Patti Taranto Erickson, an alumnus and member of our external advisory committee, succumbed to breast cancer this past Christmas Eve. When I arrived at Virginia Tech in 1989, Patti was an undergraduate biochemistry major working in Tom Keenan's lab. In an era where students tended to maintain a certain distance between themselves and the faculty, Patti was a breath of fresh air: bright, enthusiastic, engaged. Twenty years later, at the annual meeting of the American Society for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, I spotted a familiar smile coming my way. It was Patti, a little older, who was now a faculty member at Salisbury University in Maryland, leading a gaggle of students she had brought to present their work. Because of our shared interest in education, our paths continued to cross year after year at various conferences and workshops. When the department established an external advisory committee, Patti was a natural choice and an energetic contributor, making the long trip to Blacksburg to share her wisdom and serve as a poster judge at EngelPalooza, our annual celebration of undergraduate research. Patti enlivened and enriched the lives of everyone she engaged with. She will be missed." "The Department of Biochemistry lost a friend when Patti Taranto Erickson, an alumnus and member of our external advisory committee, succumbed to breast cance this pa t Chris mas Ev . When I arrive at Virginia Tech in 1989, Patti was an undergraduate biochemistry major working in Tom Keenan's lab. I an era where student tended to mai tain a certain distance between themselves and the faculty, Patti was a breath of fresh air: bright, enthusiastic, engaged. Twenty years later, at the annual meeting of the American Society for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, I spotted a familiar smile coming my way. It was Patti, a little older, who was now a faculty member at Salisbury University in Maryland, leading a gaggle of students she had brought to present their work. Because of our shared interest in education, our paths continued to cross year after year at various conferences and workshops. When the department established an external advisory committee, Patti was a natural choi e and an en getic contributor, making the long trip to Blacksbur to shar her wis om and serve as a poster judge a EngelPalooza, o r annual celebratio of undergraduate research. Patti enlivened and enriched the lives of everyone she engaged with. She will be missed."

We want to thank biochemistry and microbiology alumnus, Dr. Ross Zirkle ('94, '96 M.S.), for visiting with our undergraduate and graduate students this semester in September. Zirkle met with our students to discuss career opportunities available at his organization DSM, a purpose-led science-based global company specializing in solutions for human and animal health and nutrition. It's always a pleasure to re-connect with our Hokie alumni!

IN MEMORIAM

IN MEMORIAM