As director of MIT Biomicro Center (BMC), Stuart Levine '97 wholeheartedly embraces the variety of challenges he takes up every day. One of the more than 50 basic installations providing shared resources across the Institute, BMC supplies have integrated broadband genomics, transcriptomic spatial and spatial analysis, bioinformatics and data management to MIT researchers. The Biomicro Center is part of the basic installation of genomics and bioinformatics integrated into Robert A. Swanson (1969) Biotechnology Center.
“Each day is a different day,” says Levine, “there are always new problems, new challenges, and technology continues to move at an incredible pace.” After more than 15 years in this role, Levine is grateful that the extent of her work allows her to seek solutions for so many scientific problems.
By combining expertise in bioinformatics with biotechnological relations and emphasizing the maximization of the impact of the work of the center, Levine brings the wide range of skills necessary to correspond to the diversity of questions posed by investigators from the Biology Department of MIT and the Koch Institute for Research on Integrative Cancer, as well as researchers from the MIT campus.
Expansing expertise
Biology first called on Levine as the first cycle of the class in terms of class 7,012 (Introduction to biology)thanks to the charisma of instructors Eric Lander and Professor Amgen Emerita Nancy Hopkins. After obtaining his doctorate in biochemistry from Harvard University and the General Hospital of Massachusetts, Levine returned to MIT for postdoctoral work with the professor Richard YoungBasic member of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research.
In the young laboratory, Levine found her vocation as an informatian and finally decided to stay at the MIT. Here, his work has a large -scale impact: the BMC serves more than 100 laboratories per year, from the laboratory of computer science and artificial intelligence and the departments of the brain and the cognitive sciences; Earth, atmosphere and planetary sciences; Chemical genius; Mechanical Engineering; And, of course, biology.
“It is a fun way to think of science,” says Levine, noting that he applies his knowledge and rationalizes workflows in these many disciplines by “really and deeply understanding the complexities of instrumentation”.
This depth of understanding and experience allows Levine to direct this longtime colleague Professor Laurie Boyer Described as “a peak nucleus that has served so many teachers and offers key training possibilities to all”. He and his team work with advanced and finely adjusted scientific instruments that generate large quantities of bioinformatics, then use powerful calculation tools to store, organize and view the data collected, contributing to research on subjects ranging from Hoste-Parasite Interactions to the tools offered for NASA planetary protection policy.
Stay ahead of the curve
With a scientist directing the nucleus, the BMC aims to allow researchers to “take advantage of the best methods of biology of the systems”, explains Levine. These methods use advanced research technologies to do things like preparing large DNA and RNA sets for sequencing, reading DNA and RNA sequences from unique cells and locate the expression of genes to specific tissues.
Levine presents a clear and clear rectangle on the width of a mobile phone and the length of a VHS cassette.
“This is a flow cell that can make 20 human genomes to clinical significance in two days – 8 billion readings,” he said. “There are also new instruments with this capacity available several times.”
The vast majority of research laboratories do not need this kind of power, but the Institute and its researchers as a whole certainly do. Levine stresses that “the return on investment (return on investment) to support shared resources is extremely high, because all the support that we receive impact not only a single laboratory, but all the laboratories that we support. Keeping the shared resources from the cutting edge to the cutting edge of science is essential to our ability to make a difference in the world. ”
To stay at the cutting edge of research technology, Levine maintains the company's relationships, while her scientific understanding allows him to educate researchers on what is possible in the space of modern systems biology. In total, these attributes allow Levine to help its customers researchers “push the limits of what is achievable”.
The man behind the machines
Each basic establishment works as a small business, offering specialized services to diversified customers through university and industrial research, according to Amy Keating, Jay A. Stein (1968) Biology professor and head of the Biology Department. She explains that “education at the doctorate level and scientific and technological expertise of the main MIT directors are essential to the success of research in life sciences and beyond.”
Although Levine clearly has education and expertise, the success of BMC's “trade” is also partly due to its tenacity and concentration on results for users of the heart.
It was recognized by the Institute with the infinite MIT Mile Award in 2015 and the MIT Excellence Award In 2017, for which a candidate wrote: “What makes Stuart's management of the BMC really invaluable for the MIT community is its unshakable dedication to the production of high quality data and its firm persistence by attacking any type of troubleshooting necessary for a project.
“He puts researchers and their research first, whether to provide education, technical services, general technological support or networking to employees outside the MIT,” explains Noelani Kamelamela, BMC laboratory director. “Everything is in service to users and their projects.”
Nestled in the distant corner of the BMC laboratory space, the Levine office is an appropriate symbol of its humility. While his advice and knowledge are at the center of what raises the BMC beyond technical support, he himself sits on the spotlight, resolutely supporting others to advance science.
“Stuart has always been the person, often behind the scenes, who pushes great science, ideas and people forward,” explains Boyer. “His knowledge and advice really allowed us to be at the forefront of our work.”
