Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today named Dr. Mitchell Guttman the winner of its 2015 Early Career Professor Award. The award, now in its seventh year, recognizes one early career professor for his or her exceptional, original research contributions and outstanding potential for future research. Dr. Guttman was selected from a global pool of professors contributing to the understanding and use of RNA-based technologies for genome editing and control.
Dr. Guttman is assistant professor of biology and biological engineering at the California Institute of Technology, in Pasadena. His research has described a new class of RNA called large intergenic noncoding RNA. Commonly referred to as lincRNAs, these entities control gene expression and, as shown by Dr. Guttman, regulate important cellular processes. Examples of such processes include differentiation of embryonic stem cells and prevention of overproduction of gene products by inactivation of one of the two X chromosomes found in the cells of females.
Through Dr. Guttman's research, scientists now have a better understanding of how lincRNA interacts with proteins and target genomic regions. Given the unparalleled properties of these molecules, he is further investigating their use in cellular engineering.
"The originality and significance of Dr. Guttman's research is clear from the exceptional, early recognition of his work by the scientific community in a field that is receiving extensive academic attention," said Jack Wenstrand, Agilent's director of university relations and external research. "Agilent is pleased to recognize Dr. Guttman with this award and to support his important research at Caltech."
"I am incredibly grateful to Agilent for this early career support," said Dr. Guttman. "In addition to the strong financial support provided by the award, the close interactions with Agilent through its technology platforms, research labs and scientists will accelerate our research as we work toward the development of novel RNA-based engineering tools."
Through the Early Career Professor Award, Agilent seeks to establish strong collaborative relationships with leading professors early in their professional lives. The award underscores Agilent's commitment to further university research though the company's products and services, financial support, and collaborative engagement by Agilent scientists and engineers.
More details on this award and the call for nominations for the 2016 award are available at www.agilent.com/univ_relation/profaward/index.shtml.