10/28/2022
Alumni Success Story: Aaron Petry, PhD
University where PhD was obtained: University of Georgia
Duration of training and lab: 2013-2019, lab of Carol de la Motte. Postdoc and Research Associate
Work at Lerner: My research focuses on platelets as effector cells capable of mediating inflammation through interactions with immune and non-immune cells. These studies focus on the glycosaminoglycan hyaluronan, a ubiquitous component of the extracellular matrix, as a key molecule that mediates innate mechanisms which when dysregulated can lead to disease.
Successes while at Lerner: K99/R00 grant, 3 original manuscripts, 3 review articles, several conference presentations, chair of Proteoglycans Gordon Research Seminar, Special Topic Editor at Frontiers in Inflammation, Pathobiology Chairman’s award
New position title: Assistant Professor, Division of Microbiology & Immunology, Molecular Medicine, University of Utah
New role description: Day to day management of a laboratory, writing grants, training students
Preparations provided at Lerner: Working closely with my mentor, Carol de la Motte, and several friends and colleagues to refine my scientific thinking into a strategic focus rather than just a series of experiments.
Advice for current Lerner postdocs: My advice to new and current LRI trainees is: Your success is ultimately in your own hands: decide what your own goals are early on, develop a long term strategic plan to reach them, protect and manage your time for writing grants/papers, and independently seek out the resources, skills, and guidance you will need to be successful.