Dr Tamara Hendrickson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry.

Main Discipline(s):

Main Professional Society:

Affiliations:

  • Biochemistry
  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)
  • American Chemical Society
  • Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, Wayne State University
  • Member, Karmanos Cancer Institute
What are your undergraduate and graduate degrees in and from where?
I have a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Chemistry from Wellesley College, a small, all-women, liberal arts college in suburban Boston. My Ph.D. is in (Bioorganic) Chemistry from CalTech in Pasadena, CA.
Give a brief summary (250 words or less) of your current area of research.
I have two areas of research ongoing right now. The first looks at a process called Indirect tRNA Aminoacylation. There are 20 common sets of aminoacyl-tRNAs, each of which is an essential intermediate in protein translation in all known organisms. Most of these aa-tRNAs are made directly in one step. We are interested in those that are made in two steps, or indirectly. This pathway is common for two sets of aa-tRNAs in most organisms. We look at how this process works. Recently we discovered a new protein called QueH in two pathogens: H. pylori (the bacterium that causes stomach ulcers) and S. aureus (the bacterium that causes Staph infections). QueH promotes indirect tRNA aminoacylation by promote the formation of a multimeric enzyme complex and increasing the catalytic efficiency of a key enzyme in this complex.

I’m also interested in developing evidence-based best practices for promoting retention and success of underrepresented groups in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). I work on two different projects in this area. One consortium program, called ReBUILDetroit, supports undergraduate students interested in careers in biomedical research by introducing them to research early in their studies and giving them professional development training, among other activities.  I’m also on the GEARS leadership team, which aims to improve the success, retention, and career satisfaction of female faculty in STEM fields.

How did you arrive at your current area of research?
I started working on direct tRNA aminoacylation as a post-doc. I was interested in how one enzyme could recognize one amino acid, isoleucine, over another closely related amino acid, valine. This post-doc also allowed me to gain more biochemistry experience while learning molecular biology. It was an exciting time because complete genome sequences were just starting to be published. With these sequences, it became clear that indirect tRNA aminoacylation was much more common than previously anticipated. I loved the sense of community amongst tRNA researchers. Thus, studying indirect tRNA aminoacylation made a lot of sense.

I’ve had a long-standing interest in equity and inclusion in Science. In graduate school, I volunteered for a program to introduce K-6 teachers to novel, age-appropriate experiments for their classrooms and I’ve continued to participate in service activities with K-12 students when I could. In the past few years, opportunities have presented themselves that have allowed me to devote more time to these kinds of interests.

What do you see as a current emerging area of research that you would like to participate in and why?
I would love to student the human microbiome. It is becoming clear that the bacteria that colonize our gastrointestinal tract contribute in diverse ways to human biology. We are only just beginning to understand the complexity of these symbiotic relationships.
Tell us your (one) favorite STEM research paper or book.   Why it is your favorite?
It’s not quite STEM, but I love The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. It’s such a window into the history of medical research and ethics. We take the concept of informed consent for granted now. But, less than 100 years ago, it wasn’t an expectation at all.
Do you have a favorite scientist, engineer or other role model? Who is it and why?
There are so many that it’s too hard to pick one.
What do you do for fun outside of your role as a woman in STEM?
I’m an avid reader and cook. I also volunteer for a local animal rescue. My favorite thing is to foster pregnant cats and then her kittens all the way through to when the kittens and their mama are adopted and go to their forever homes.