ADMINISTRATION
Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
www.billtong.us
Bill Tong, Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, received his Ph.D. in Chemistry in 1984 from Iowa State University. He went to Oak Ridge National Laboratory for his postdoctoral work and joined SDSU as an associate professor in 1985. In 1989, he was promoted to full professor. He has supervised 16 Ph.D. (University of California San Diego - San Diego State University) students and many more M.S. and post-doctoral students, and hosted many visiting scientists and professors. He has been awarded major research grants by the National Science Foundation, National Institute of General Medical Sciences (R01), NIH, DoD (CCAT), Lockheed Martin, Varian, Beckman, Johnson and Johnson, CSU Program for Education and Research in Biotechnology and other funding agencies. He holds U.S. patents for his nonlinear laser-based detection methods and these ultrasensitive laser methods have been licensed to others. He regularly serves on NIH and NSF review panels and study sections. He also serves as a reviewer for many international research journals.
Bill was named the 2003 Distinguished Scientist (San Diego Region) by the American Chemical Society. He was named Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry in 2005. He received the Albert Johnson University Research Award, SDSU's top research award, in 2005, and the 2005 Distinguished Achievement Award from the Sigma Xi Research Society. He also received the 2008 SDSU President's Leadership Award. He was awarded Outstanding SDSU Faculty Awards in 1990, 1991 and 2000, and the SDSU Technology Innovation Award in 2002. His research projects have been reported by Analytical Chemistry, Applied Spectroscopy (cover story), San Diego Union-Tribune (front page) and San Diego TV and radio stations (ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, KUSI, KPBS, UCSD-TV, University of California TV).
Bill has developed novel laser methods for chemical analysis with zeptomole-level (1e-21 mole) or sub-parts-per-quadrillion-level detection sensitivity levels. These laser wave-mixing methods can distinguish not only atomic and molecular species, but also isotopes. His nonlinear laser-based detectors are more compact and less expensive than currently available isotope-capable mass spectrometers or fluorescence-based detectors. Wave-mixing laser methods yield hyperfine profiles, i.e., atomic fingerprints, and hence, unambiguous isotope and chemical information. These nonlinear absorption-based methods offer excellent detection sensitivity levels even when using thin (micrometer) analytes. Picoliter-level probe volumes allow detection of small samples such as single bio cells and convenient interfacing to chip-based electrophoresis systems, compact sensors, microarrays and microfluidic devices that are suitable for studying mechanisms and dynamics of important chemical and biological processes. Potential applications include earlier detection of diseases, better design of cleaner drugs, more sensitive detection of pollutants and chemicals both inside the human body and in the environment, and remote standoff detection of chem/bio agents.
Sanford Bernstein, Ph.D.
Department of Biology
Professor Bernstein came to San Diego State in 1983 to help build the cell and molecular biology program. Today, it has more than 60 master's students and approximately 40 doctoral students in a joint Ph.D. program with UCSD. Professor Bernstein has served as coordinator of the Ph.D. program since 2000. In 2003, Professor Bernstein and College of Business Dean Gail Naughton collaborated to create a unique SDSU program for students seeking a research-based biology doctoral degree combined with a sound knowledge of business. This five-year MBA/Ph.D. degree teaches young scientists how to navigate the world of product development, sales and marketing. In the Bernstein lab, a group of research associates, postdoctoral fellows, Ph.D. candidates, master's students and undergraduates collaborate to study models of human cardiac and skeletal muscle diseases. The lab has operated for nearly 25 years with funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Professor Bernstein just learned that he should receive a new NIH award - with professor Tom Huxford in SDSU's chemistry and biochemistry department - to study the structure of a protein important in combating muscle stress.
At the center of Professor Bernstein's award-winning research is the tiny fruit fly - Drosophila melanogaster. The lab produces transgenic strains of Drosophila to study how protein structure affects protein function during an organism's development. Professor Bernstein has also collaborated with academics from U.S. universities; from the Instituto Cajal and the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid in Spain; and from the University of Kent at Canterbury and the University of York in England on a variety of research studies involving gene expression and protein function in muscle cells. He has received an American Heart Association Established Investigatorship and the coveted California State University Program for Education and Research in Biotechnology (CSUPERB) award. A campus leader, Professor Bernstein has served as biology department chair, director of SDSU's Molecular Biology Institute, board member of the SDSU Research Foundation, chair of the university's copyrights and patents committee, and chair of the promotion committee within the College of Sciences.
Michelle Lopez, M.A.
College of Sciences
Michelle Lopez is a proud alumna of San Diego State University (SDSU) where she earned both a BS in Biology, Single Subject (CLAD) teaching credential from the SDSU Teacher Education program, and a Masters in Postsecondary Educational Leadership.
Michelle brings over ten years' experience in program administration and experience creating various research and professional development activities to mentor and advise students on track for graduate study. Michelle has advised students for the University Honors Program in the Division of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) and continues to work with students in the College of Sciences (COS) on academic, career, and other information regarding undergraduate research or graduate school preparation. She helps direct and manage the SDSU MBRS - IMSD Program and assists in outreach opportunities for both the SDSU MARC and MBRS programs. She finds her background in biology and education along with her passion for mentoring and teaching are relevant for assisting all students in graduating from SDSU and entering graduate programs in various disciplines.
Michelle has a long-standing commitment to the development and retention of all students. Her contributions to diverse and under-represented student talents have been recognized in the College of Sciences through her mentoring and advising of students who come from underrepresented and educationally disadvantaged backgrounds. Additionally, Michelle has established a network of connections through various institutions, is a strong advocate for opportunities and resources for students, and she has consulted for other student support research programs in numerous capacities. She has been recognized for her development of the Undergraduate Research Symposium (URS) in the College of Sciences (2000-2007), which promotes scholarly research of all science and engineering students. The URS now serves as the SDSU campus-wide model for the Student Research Symposium (SRS), the first annual symposium held spring 2008.
Michelle plays a critical role in the success of the SDSU MBRS IMSD Program. She develops the MBRS program curriculum, facilitates various academic and professional development workshops for the COS, and has represented MBRS on various committees, including the SDSU Diversity, Equity and Outreach committee and Diversity Council and the SDSU MARC Advisory Committee. Michelle has also consulted for the SD Mesa College/University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Bridges to the Baccaleureate program, and continues to consult for the SDSU MARC program when needed. She has received various awards for outstanding service, mentoring, and advising from the MBRS IMSD program, and staff recognitions from the Quest for the Best and Mortar Board.
Students who have attained personal, academic and/or career success from her mentoring return to SDSU each year and serve as role models and mentors for current SDSU or MBRS students.
mlopez@mail.sdsu.edu
619-594-3744
