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A group of more than 35 Wistar trainees, researchers, staff, and family members donned their sneakers, stretched their hamstrings, and took to the sidewalks of University City on November 13 to participate in the annual Wistar Run for Research. Wistar’s Education and Training team was on hand with donuts, coffee, and water to keep everyone adequately fueled for the trek. 

A Q&A with Wistar’s Dr. Amelia Escolano

What got you interested in immunology?

Wistar’s Dr. Avi Srivastava seamlessly integrates elements of computer science and traditional biology into his new computational biology research lab. By combining wet and dry lab approaches — experimental biology and computational data — he can be innovative in research derived from both worlds. Here’s how he does it.

What is computational biology?

Three Wistar alumni returned to their research roots to participate in Wistar’s first Fireside Chat forum as part of the Institute’s Diversity in Science initiative. In front of a video projection of a crackling fire, the trio spoke with humor, thoughtfulness, and disarming honesty to Wistar trainees about their career paths and what they’ve learned since leaving their respective Wistar labs.

Dr. Ian Tietjen is a Research Assistant Professor in Wistar’s Montaner Lab, where he investigates traditional African medicinal compounds’ potential for drug origination against viruses like HIV. Dr. Tietjen travels to Africa to work with traditional healers to better understand the function of these compounds.

If you haven’t started this series with part one, click here.