The National Institutes of Health (NIH) have invited bioengineering Professor Eva De Alba Bastarrechea to serve as a member of the Macromolecular Structure and Function C Study Section within the Macromolecular Biophysics and Biological Chemistry Review Branch.
The four-year appointment represents a major commitment of professional time and energy to review grant applications before each study section meeting following three cycles per year and provide a detailed written critique of each. But this is a unique opportunity to contribute to the national biomedical research effort, the NIH said.
“You have been nominated because of your demonstrated competence and achievement in your scientific discipline as evidenced by the quality of your research accomplishments, publications in scientific journals, and other significant scientific activities, achievements, and honors,” the NIH wrote to her. “Service on an IRG also requires mature judgment and objectivity as well as the ability to work effectively in a group, additional qualities we believe you will bring to this important task.”
De Alba Bastarrechea said she is thrilled and honored to accept this membership.
“Serving the NIH is an honor,” she said. “I am very grateful for the trust that is put on my scientific judgement to make recommendations on grant proposals, as well as for the opportunity to give back to our society.”
She joined the School of Engineering in 2017. Her research focuses on studies of the structure and function of macromolecular assemblies with roles in inflammation, and the application of this knowledge on protein engineering and the design of protein-based materials. She is serving as chair of the Department of Bioengineering and is the lead of Research Thrust 1: Protein Metamorphosis and Responsive Nanodevices in the National Science Foundation-supported CREST Center for Cellular and Biomolecular Machines . She has also been serving as an executive committee member for the UC Merced Health Sciences Research Institute .
