| December | Dr. Adrianus van der Velden joins the department as an Assistant Professor. Dr. van der Velden conducted his postdoctoral research in the laboratory of Dr. Michael Starnbach at Harvard University. The main focus of his research will be the mammalian T cell response to Salmonella typhimurium. |
| December | Professor Nicholas Delihas retires after 36 years at Stony Brook University. Dr. Delihas' research focused on the structure and function of RNA and his research group performed pioneering and seminal work on non-coding RNAs. In addition to his extraordinary contributions to his field, Dr. Delihas served twice as acting Chair of the Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology and as a working member of virtually all standing committees within the School of Medicine and the University. Dr. Delihas was also a devoted teacher in the classroom. |
| July | Dr. Carol Carter has been appointed to by Michael O. Leavitt, Secretary of Health & Human Services (HHS), to the Council of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The Councils of the institutes of the NIH are both executive and advisory to the Directors. Appointment to Council by the Secretary of HHS is the culmination of a long selection process to provide the institutes with individuals of the highest scientific standing who will, in turn, assist in developing the health agenda of the nation. This appointent is a great honor for Dr. Carter, for the Department, and for Stony Brook University. |
| May | Professor and Chair Dr. Jorge L. Benach has been elected to Fellowship in the American Academy of Microbiology. |
| April | Dr. Jorge L. Benach has been appointed as Chair of the Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology. |
