Joan W. Bennett
Encyclopedia
Joan W. Bennett is a prominent mycologist
, fungal geneticist and Associate Vice-President for Promotion of Women in Science, Engineering and Mathematics at Rutgers University
. She is a member of the National Academy of Sciences
.
in 1971 where she was the first woman hired in the Biology Department. Dr. Bennett studies the genetics of mycotoxin
production in the genus Aspergillus
. Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by filamentous fungi
, which are capable of causing disease and death in humans and other vertebrate animals. Because of their pharmacological activity, some mycotoxins or mycotoxin derivatives are used as antibiotic
s, growth promotants, and other kinds of pharmaceuticals. Dr. Bennett and her laboratory have pioneered research on the genetics and biosynthesis of aflatoxin
in collaboration with scientists at the Southern Regional Research Laboratory, a branch of the United States Department of Agriculture
in New Orleans, Louisiana. This research has provided a useful model for other polyketide secondary metabolites and expanded the possibilities for reducing these poisons in foods and the environment.
works closely with Dr. Bennett as the Associate Director. Joan Bennett's work for promotion of female scientists at Rutgers includes the 'role modeling site', called 'my story' where female scientists from Rutgers tell the stories of how they came to be scientists. This site is significant as there are few sites with as many women's stories from as wide a variety of fields and backgrounds.
Mycology
Mycology is the branch of biology concerned with the study of fungi, including their genetic and biochemical properties, their taxonomy and their use to humans as a source for tinder, medicinals , food and entheogens, as well as their dangers, such as poisoning or...
, fungal geneticist and Associate Vice-President for Promotion of Women in Science, Engineering and Mathematics at Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
. She is a member of the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
.
Career in mycology
Dr. Bennett began her academic career at Tulane UniversityTulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
in 1971 where she was the first woman hired in the Biology Department. Dr. Bennett studies the genetics of mycotoxin
Mycotoxin
A mycotoxin is a toxic secondary metabolite produced by organisms of the fungus kingdom, commonly known as molds. The term ‘mycotoxin’ is usually reserved for the toxic chemical products produced by fungi that readily colonize crops...
production in the genus Aspergillus
Aspergillus
Aspergillus is a genus consisting of several hundred mold species found in various climates worldwide. Aspergillus was first catalogued in 1729 by the Italian priest and biologist Pier Antonio Micheli...
. Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by filamentous fungi
Mold
Molds are fungi that grow in the form of multicellular filaments called hyphae. Molds are not considered to be microbes but microscopic fungi that grow as single cells called yeasts...
, which are capable of causing disease and death in humans and other vertebrate animals. Because of their pharmacological activity, some mycotoxins or mycotoxin derivatives are used as antibiotic
Antibiotic
An antibacterial is a compound or substance that kills or slows down the growth of bacteria.The term is often used synonymously with the term antibiotic; today, however, with increased knowledge of the causative agents of various infectious diseases, antibiotic has come to denote a broader range of...
s, growth promotants, and other kinds of pharmaceuticals. Dr. Bennett and her laboratory have pioneered research on the genetics and biosynthesis of aflatoxin
Aflatoxin
Aflatoxins are naturally occurring mycotoxins that are produced by many species of Aspergillus, a fungus, the most notable ones being Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. Aflatoxins are toxic and among the most carcinogenic substances known...
in collaboration with scientists at the Southern Regional Research Laboratory, a branch of the United States Department of Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
in New Orleans, Louisiana. This research has provided a useful model for other polyketide secondary metabolites and expanded the possibilities for reducing these poisons in foods and the environment.
Awards
- 2003 - Charles Porter Award from the Society for Industrial Microbiology.
- 2005 - Induction into the National Academy of Sciences.
- 2006 - Alice Evans Award from the American Society for MicrobiologyAmerican Society for MicrobiologyThe American Society for Microbiology is a professional organization for scientists who study viruses, bacteria, fungi, algae, and protozoa as well as other aspects of microbiology. Microbiology is the study of organisms too small to be seen with the naked eye and which must be viewed with a...
.
Women studies
Joan Bennett was also prominent in women studies while at Tulane University, teaching a popular course Biology of Women beginning in 1976. Dr. Bennett joined the Rutgers faculty as the head of the newly formed office of Promotion of Women in Science, Engineering and Mathematics in 2006. Catherine N. DuckettCatherine N. Duckett
Catherine N. Duckett is the Associate Dean of the School of Science at Monmouth University. Formerly she worked as Associate Director of the Office for the Promotion of Women in Science, Engineering and Mathematics, and the Program Manager of the Ocean Biogeographic Information System at Rutgers...
works closely with Dr. Bennett as the Associate Director. Joan Bennett's work for promotion of female scientists at Rutgers includes the 'role modeling site', called 'my story' where female scientists from Rutgers tell the stories of how they came to be scientists. This site is significant as there are few sites with as many women's stories from as wide a variety of fields and backgrounds.