Science Starts Here: Kristina Håkansson
Kristina Håkansson.
Name
Kristina Håkansson.
Age
34.
Current position
Dow Corning Assistant Professor of Chemistry, University of Michigan.
Time at the Mag Lab
June 2000 to June 2003.
Role
Postdoc in the lab of ICR Director Alan Marshall.
Current work
Using reactions between free electrons and gaseous biological molecules, e.g. proteins, nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), and carbohydrates (sugars), to probe their structure. Hakansson’s group is exploring the use of metal ions (e.g., calcium, manganese, cobalt, etc.) as charge carriers and has found that the dissociation of gaseous metal-biomolecule complexes can provide additional information, not available from other methods. The group utilizes these strategies to characterize binding between DNA/RNA and drug molecules and is embarking on an exciting project in which team members will use these methods to determine differences in the sugar molecules on the surface of cancer cells as compared to healthy controls. These experiments, performed in collaboration with a pancreatic cancer surgeon at the U-M Medical School, will allow researchers to gain further understanding of the molecular level changes that occur in cancer and to seek molecular targets of diagnostic and therapeutic importance.
In her own words
"My three years at the Magnet Lab have totally shaped my scientific career. Without the guidance of Prof. Alan Marshall, I would not have pursued an academic position in the United States. In fact, I had not even considered it until he encouraged me to apply.
My three years at the Magnet Lab have totally shaped my scientific career.
"The (lab’s) active users’ program … meant that I had an opportunity to meet and work with outstanding scientists from all over the world. This opportunity was personally rewarding but it also resulted in me developing a set of skills that would have been difficult to gain at any other place.
"I truly enjoyed being part of a large research enterprise comprising several research directions where I would learn something new from every group meeting."
How mentors make a difference
"A key word in Alan’s group was freedom. He did not tell me what to do and I was free to explore new scientific directions with all the tremendous resources that were available … Since starting my position here, Alan has continuously supported my career and provided invaluable guidance any time I asked for it."
Published in Summer 2007 issue of Mag Lab Reports (Download this issue in
PDF format, 14.5 MB).
