What is Dr. Seema Mattoo's background?
Dr. Seema Mattoo is a renowned scientist and Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Purdue University. Here's a brief overview of her background

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree: Biochemistry with High Honors from the University of Maryland, College Park, where she worked under the mentorship of Drs. John W. Kozarich and Bruce B. Jarvis.
• Ph.D.: Microbiology & Immunology from UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) in 2001, under the guidance of Dr. Jeff F. Miller.
• Post-Doc: UC-San Diego, mentored by Dr. Jack E. Dixon.
• Professional Experience:
• Associate Professor at Purdue University's Department of Biological Sciences.
• Research focus: Investigating Fic domain-containing proteins in cellular signaling, particularly their role in post-translational modifications and signal transduction.

Awards and Recognition:

• Recipient of the Innovation Award by the Hypothesis Fund, USA.
• Personal Background:
• Born in Jammu, India, Dr. Mattoo did her schooling at St. Mary's Convent Jammu and BSF School, Jammu.
• Daughter of Prof. Roshan Lal Mattoo, former Head of the Department of Biochemistry at Sheri Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences and former Head of the Department of Biotechnology at the University of Jammu.

Why is Dr. Seema Mattoo celebrated?
Dr. Seema Mattoo is celebrated for her outstanding contributions to scientific research and innovation. Specifically, she's recognized for her work on Fic domain-containing proteins in cellular signaling, which has significantly advanced our understanding of signal transduction and post-translational modification of proteins. Her research focuses on how these proteins utilize nucleotides to modify substrates, altering cellular signaling processes.
Research Contributions:

• Discovery of Fic-mediated Adenylylation: Dr. Mattoo's lab identified Fic proteins as adenylyltransferases that inhibit RhoGTPase function, a crucial aspect of cellular signaling.
• Exploring Fic Proteins' Role: Her team studies the role of Fic proteins in regulating prokaryotic and eukaryotic signal transduction events, with implications for understanding bacterial pathogenesis and cellular trafficking.

Awards and Recognition:

• Innovation Award: Dr. Mattoo was recognized as one of six scientists worldwide for the Inaugural Class of an Innovation Award by the Hypothesis Fund, USA.
• Featured Research: Her work has been featured in prominent scientific publications, including Science Magazine and Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology.

Academic and Professional Achievements:

• Associate Professor: Dr. Mattoo serves as an Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at Purdue University.
• Research Collaborations: She collaborates with other researchers and has published papers with numerous co-authors.