Bing Ye, Life Sciences Institute (LSI) research assistant professor and assistant professor of cell and developmental biology at the Medical School, has been named a Pew Scholar.
The Pew Charitable Trusts announced last week that Ye, along with 20 other outstanding scientists from across the country were selected as the 2010 Pew Scholars in the biomedical sciences.
Early to mid-career scientists are chosen by the program each year. Pew Scholars receive a $240,000 award over four years to support and expand their research as well as foster collaboration and connection through thought exchanges with other stellar scientists.
“Bing Ye’s exuberance and dedication show in his work — he is one of the LSI’s brightest young scientists. I’m not surprised that he now can add Pew Scholar to his list of accomplishments — and contributions to the field,” says LSI Director Alan Saltiel.
Ye’s work focuses on how distinct subcellular compartments are established in neurons and how this process contributes to the organization of the nervous system. In particular, Ye is interested in the differential development between dendrites and axons and the strategic distribution of synapses in neurons.
Applying a multidisciplinary approach, including genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, and advanced multi-dimensional imaging, to understand these problems, Ye’s research provides critical insights into to the assembly, function, plasticity and disorders of the nervous system.
Ye’s entrance into the Pew community of scholars marks the second year in a row that an LSI scientist has been named to this group, and the third time in the past four years. Research assistant professor John Kim was named in 2009 and research assistant professor Shawn Xu in 2007.
