回家

Don’t be caught wearing apparel that supports sports teams other than the Golden Grizzlies in classes taught by Assistant Professor Adam 艾弗里, Ph.D., 中科院 ’01.

“I tell my students that if I see that, they may not pass the class,” teases Dr. 艾弗里.

尽管开着轻松的玩笑, 艾弗里 is serious about conveying to students how far-reaching their 韦德体育app官网 education is. Away for nearly 20 years acquiring research training since receiving his OU biochemistry degree, 艾弗里回到了他最喜欢的学校.

一名公开大学的教员 化学系 since 2019, 艾弗里 pours a world of research expertise back into the OU community. “回来真是太好了，”他说. “It seems like a lifetime ago, but I still see myself in the students. I’ve had some of the same professors they have, and I also grew up in this area.”

持久力

来欧大学化学, 艾弗里 wanted the benefits of a distinguished but smaller university, including more one-on-one time with faculty. That time greatly benefited 艾弗里 when OU instructor and mentor Kathleen Moore, 现在退休了, convinced 艾弗里 to pursue a biochemistry degree. “She felt it would give me flexibility in multiple fields, which it’s done,他说.

艾弗里’s first research exposure came junior year, working in an immunology lab alongside biological sciences faculty.

“Although my work on developing a vaccine for a parasitic infection didn’t lead to a breakthrough, that experience made me realize I wanted to pursue research,艾弗里说. “My ability to talk in-depth about immunology made me a more attractive graduate candidate.”

艾弗里 appreciates the staying power his alma mater has had in each leg of his career journey — right from the start.

“In the very first graduate class I had — within the 大学 of Michigan’s biomedical sciences program — I received the top grade,艾弗里回忆道. “I share this with students so they know how thoroughly OU prepares them to be competitive.”

A fellow on a National Institute of Health training grant and as part of the grad program, 艾弗里 interned at a small biotech company that specialized in cell-based assays (panels) to support drug screening, which led to a job offer as a research scientist. Although a worthwhile experience, 艾弗里 later felt a pull back to academic research. In 2012, he took a postdoctoral position at the 大学 of Minnesota.

一次是在他的新岗位上, 艾弗里 was delighted to connect with another OU alumnus conducting research there — 哈里·奥尔，中科院71届, a world-renowned researcher who became another invaluable OU-related mentor.

艾弗里’s post-doctoral work involved the molecular genetics of spinocerebellar ataxia, 神经退行性疾病. Near the end of 艾弗里’s postdoctoral position, 他开发了一种基于细胞的实验, which advances the goal of an eventual treatment for the disease. Recently, a patent was issued for the assay technology.

In collaboration with the 大学 of Minnesota faculty, 艾弗里’s research work at OU is a synthesis of his training in protein biochemistry, 细胞与遗传生物学, 药物筛选.

热烈欢迎

Returning to OU has been uplifting for 艾弗里.

“Faculty warmly received me, and I’m honored to be back here,艾弗里说. “It also meant a lot to me when former OU mentors welcomed me back over lunch. 它们极大地影响了我的成功. It’s important to me that I live up to their excellent standards.”

亚当·艾弗里和实验室学生

在他的教学角色中, 艾弗里 is diligent about reviewing and expanding student textbook materials, but he finds sharing his research most fulfilling. “教科书很快就会过时, 但研究从来都不是, and lab work is the best way for students to apply concepts,他说.

Coming full circle to be the one to guide students has been rewarding. “我鼓励他们努力学习, soak up lab and internship opportunities, and stretch themselves with campus activities and clubs,他说.

艾弗里 also advises that small risks are sometimes necessary.

“毕业后, students may need to get outside their comfort zones to foster independence and new perspectives — perhaps take a job in another state or across the country,艾弗里说.

Sometimes, though, there’s ample reason to stick around.

“A grad student I recommended continuing her post-doc work at OU has found her niche here, 快乐地从事研究, 展示和出版,艾弗里解释道.

Whatever the trajectory of growth for each student, 艾弗里 is scientific proof that you can come home again — and it can be even better the second time around.