About the Basic Sciences Division

When the Basic Sciences Division was first organized in 1981, a conscious decision was made to model it in an egalitarian style based on the following: (1) each investigator determines his/her own model system for investigation and questions to pursue; (2) space is determined solely on the basis of rank; (3) major decisions, including hiring, promotion and development of programs/initiatives are made by vote of the Faculty (one person one vote regardless of rank, with the exception of promotions for which only those in an above rank vote); (4) and scientific accomplishment is the primary criterion for promotion. Now that this approach has been in place for 23 years, we believe it can be credited with many beneficial outcomes.

Investigators in the Division pursue numerous approaches to understand basic molecular and cellular biology and exploit a broad range of experimental systems ranging from viruses, bacteria, yeast, nematodes, Drosophila, mice and man. This broad spectrum of study enables a thorough analysis of most of the major structural and functional components of the cell. Many members of the Division study the molecular basis of gene regulation, differentiation, development and cellular transformation. Other research interests are focused on aspects of chromatin structure, chromosome replication and segregation, recombination, control of cell division, structural biology and molecular aspects of evolution. The Division is an exciting, collegial and interactive place, a reputation that has helped recruiting and retention of staff. Modest, fixed laboratory sizes eliminates empire-building, and fosters interactions among laboratories. It also means that a variety of model systems and scientific questions are being pursued at any one time, which increases the intellectual ferment. But, most important of all, this collegial approach to science has led to many important scientific advances, as documented in the individual faculty research descriptions.

The Basic Sciences Division, and the FHCRC overall, is an interactive setting in which to do research. At the bench level, there is extensive sharing of ideas, reagents, and techniques. This level of interaction is evident in the spread of new ideas/reagents throughout the Division within a matter of days of introduction. Exchange at this level is fostered by a network of informal weekly laboratory meetings, often including multiple groups, as well as weekly or monthly meetings of clubs composed of scientists with common research interests, such as the cell cycle club, developmental biology club, the mouse club, the yeast club, the fly club, the worm club, etc. Moreover, the numerous publications jointly authored by members of different laboratories in the Division are the natural outcome of a collaborative approach to science, which is fostered by placing an interactive group of people in proximity to each other. At a more formal level, the Division co-sponsors the Friday Evening Seminar, a forum in which students and postdoctoral fellows present their research before the entire research community. In addition, every Friday at noon, each faculty member of the Division reviews his/her laboratory's work for the preceding year at the weekly Basic Sciences Faculty Lunch. These meetings are supplemented by a seminar program in which Faculty invite scientists from other Institutions to present their work. On average there are usually two or more such seminars each week.

Junior faculty searches conducted in the last several years resulted in over 1,000 applicants, and the six junior faculty members recruited (Cecilia Moens, Toshi Tsukiyama, Sue Biggins, Adrian Ferre D'Amare, Suzanne Rutherford, and Harmit Malik) have added significantly to the diversity of science within the Division and at the Center. In addition, we are pleased that Linda Buck, a leader in the field of sensory perception, joined the Division in 2002. Our next junior faculty search will be conducted in the fall of 2004.

The Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, a joint effort between the FHCRC and the University of Washington, is now in its eleventh year and is doing very well. Our graduate program is in direct competition for students with the strongest research universities across the nation, and we are extremely pleased with the quality of the students who are in the program. In addition, we have established the Harold M. Weintraub Graduate Student Award and Symposium, which will be held at the Center annually and will recognize outstanding achievement in graduate student studies throughout the world.

In summary, the Basic Sciences Division, built upon a model of collegiality and egalitarianism, continues to be one of the nation's top scientific venues. We believe that the success of many of the Division's individual scientific programs is attributable to a scientific milieu that fosters interactions and the nurturing environment provided by the senior members of the Division.

— Jim Roberts, MD, PhD
Member/Director