Sacramento Professor Suggests Educators Be Passionate About Teaching

The production of proteins is one of the most powerful tools used in biotechnology and greater life sciences. Being able to manufacture and synthesize a large supply of "recombinant protein" opens up a world of limitless possibilities suitable for uses in industry, as well as disease treatment. There are numerous protein production systems used in life sciences with pros and cons for using different types of expression systems. But the protein expression system Joan Lin-Cereghino's lab is currently investigating involves the yeast Pichia pastoris. As with many systems, there are limitations which make this particular system not as viable as other systems. Joan's lab seeks to address these issues.

Not only has Joan Lin-Cereghino been a professor of Biology and Microbiology at the University of the Pacific for more than fifteen years, she shares her passion for gene expression and protein production with her husband whom she jointly shares a lab with. Both Joan and her husband Geoff have been teaching as well as conducting research for the past fifteen years, and as a result, are piquing and cultivating the interest of graduate and undergraduate students in and around the Sacramento area.

What does your job entail?

"As a professor, I teach and do research on recombinant protein expression. In addition to my teaching, I serve as co-chair of my department."

What parts of your job do you enjoy?

"I enjoy working with undergraduate and master's students and seeing them develop in both knowledge and confidence. I also enjoy working with my husband, Geoff. We have worked together for 15 years at Pacific. We even share an office and laboratory!"

What was your education history?

"I earned an A.B. in molecular biology at Princeton and then graduated from UC, San Diego with a Ph.D. in biology. I also did two postdoctoral fellowships-- one at UCSD and one at OHSU."

Has your education helped in your line of work?

"Yes, my education has helped me as a professor."

Any advice for someone seeking a similar career?

"Please make sure that this career is something that you love to do. In the end, you'll be spending a lot of time working in that area."

Paulo Acoba is a California native raised in the Bay Area and living in the Central Valley. He enjoys distance running, cycling and grassroots motorsports. He holds a degree in management from the University of California Merced. Paulo has been writing for Examiner.com since 2012 and covering the Fresno area.