Rashid Bashir Named Dean and 2018 Pritzker Distinguished Lecture Award Recipient

This October was a great month for MBM faculty Rashid Bashir. First, he was named the new Dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign October 10, and then received the 2018 Robert A. Pritzker Distinguished Lecture Award from the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) October 18.

The Pritzker Award is the premier award granted by BMES. It recognizes outstanding achievements and leadership in the science and practice of biomedical engineering. The award is granted in conjunction with Bashir’s research in integrating engineering and technology with biology, including his work related to miniature biological robots. He delivered a plenary lecture on his research relating to the current state of biomedical engineering at the BMES meeting, when he received the award.

Bashir formally stepped into his new role as Dean November 1. He is also the executive associate dean and chief diversity officer of the Carle Illinois College of Medicine.

Congratulations, Dean Bashir!

Overview

Discoveries relevant to our brains, which influence and control such a wide range of actions, emotions, and thoughts, have relied on two complimentary approaches: cognitive and behavior studies and brain cell and tissue biology studies. Our research traineeship program utilizing miniature brain machinery, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), combines these two paradigms to train the next generation of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) workforce to advance discovery. Our students are recruited from neuroscience, cell and developmental biology, molecular and integrative physiology, chemistry, chemical and biomolecular engineering, bioengineering, electrical and computer engineering, and psychology to foster a culture of innovation and translational research, and will significantly impact efforts to understand and control brain activities ongoing at other institutions.