May MSU doctoral graduate wins Ruska Award for research

Contact: Phil Hearn

Janet R. Donaldson
Janet R. Donaldson

STARKVILLE, Miss.--Recent Mississippi State doctoral graduate Janet R. Donaldson of Brandon is the winner of a prestigious award that recognizes significant research utilizing microscopy and its associated methodologies.

Donaldson, who received a doctor of philosophy degree in biological sciences at the university's May commencement, received the Southeastern Microscopy Association's Ruska Award in competition with graduate students from across the Southeast.

Presented during the society's recent 41st annual meeting in Pensacola, Fla., the award is named in honor of electron microscope inventor Ernst Ruska and his brother, biologist Helmut Ruska.

"She won the student competition for her novel use of transmission electron microscopy to visualize DNA structure," said William A. Monroe, an electron microscopist in MSU's Electron Microscope Center.

He said Donaldson is the 39th Ruska Award recipient--and the third from MSU--in the 41-year history of the society, a scientific organization comprised of professional microscopists working in the life, medical and physical sciences. Previous MSU student winners include Rhonda C. Vann in 1996 and K.J. Aryana in 1997.

"I was very excited, but shocked to have received the award," said Donaldson. "The other graduate students who also were competing were outstanding. It is a great achievement, not just for me, but for the university."

Donaldson said her research focuses on understanding how cells are able to cope with DNA damage produced by ultraviolet irradiation.

"UV-induced DNA damage can cause cells to inaccurately replicate the genome, which in turn can potentially lead to cancer," she explained.

DNA is the acronym for deoxyribonucleic, the main component of chromosomes and the material that transfers genetic characteristics in all life forms.

Donaldson said her doctoral dissertation involved characterizing several proteins that have potential roles in repair of DNA damage and ensuring that replication continue normally following UV irradiation.

"As part of my research, I used a highly specialized microscope, the transmission electron microscope, to analyze the actual structure of the DNA molecules that form following UV-induced DNA damage," she said.

Donaldson, a 2001 microbiology graduate of MSU, begins her post-doctoral research work June 27 with the National Institutes of Health. She is the daughter of Donald and Linda Parker.

Giselle Thibaudeau, an associate professor of biological sciences and recently appointed director of the Electron Microscope Center, said she has seen "firsthand the respect and reputation that the center and its staff have earned throughout the last decade.

"The instrumentation and expertise that the microscopy center brings to the university and community are great resources, and contribute significantly to research, education and service," said Thibaudeau, who also is an associate faculty member in MSU's Center for Science, Mathematics and Technology.

In addition to Donaldson, MSU research associates William D. "Doug" Stone of the department of entomology and plant pathology and Lorena Lopez of the department of biochemistry and molecular biology tied for first place in the microscopy society's poster presentation competition. They also utilize EMC instrumentation and staff expertise in their research.

For more information, contact Monroe at (662) 325-3019 or monroe@emcenter.msstate.edu, or Thibaudeau at 325-7572 or giselle@biology.msstate.edu.