Dr. Anne Rosenwald (Photo: Roland Dimaya)
Insight: Dr. Anne Rosenwald
Who or what was the greatest influence in your life that led to your career?
My parents were both scientists, so we (my two brothers and I) were encouraged to try to figure things out by experimentation. Science in school, on the other hand, was boring, because we mostly memorized facts—math and music were more fun because you could puzzle your way through things. In fact, I started college as a music (piano) major, but gradually drifted to biology, then biochemistry, with the thought of maybe going to medical school. A course in biochemistry as a junior in college solidified my interest in how life “works.” I was intrigued by the elegance of the chemistry of living systems. I also started in a cancer research lab about that same time—I’ve been hooked ever since.
If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently?
Travel more when I was younger and take time off between undergraduate and graduate school.
What do you enjoy about teaching?
Conveying the elegance that I observed in biochemistry and cell biology as an undergraduate to our current students and encouraging them to pursue their goals with enthusiasm.
Who are your favorite heroes/heroines in real life (and why)?
Public school teachers—they work incredibly hard and aren’t rewarded nearly well enough for their efforts.
Who is your favorite musician?
I have so many—J.S. Bach for his intricacy, Mozart and Schubert for the profundity that hides behind seemingly transparent musical phrases, Stravinsky for his reaches into new spheres, Ray Charles for his melding of blues and gospel, Miles Davis for his atmospherics…
What historical figure would you most like to meet and why?
Jane Austen—she’s my favorite writer, but I’d love to know more about her life. If only her sister hadn’t destroyed most of her letters!
If you could come back to life as a plant/animal/thing, what would it be?
A bird of some sort—I’d love to be able to fly.
How do you have fun?
We have a big vegetable garden every summer, and I enjoy cooking with (and eating!) produce fresh from the garden. I also enjoy quilting, playing the piano, visiting with friends, and watching movies. I sing in our church choir, too.
What is the best piece of advice you could give to your students?
Practice good time management skills!
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
From my father: Don’t go to graduate school to study immunology.
Feature Story
Dr. Anne Rosenwald Tracks Membrane Traffic
In describing a particularly perplexing area of her current research, Dr. Anne Rosenwald, a professor of Biology at Georgetown, recalls the famous anecdote in which six blind men attempt to determine the identity of an animal by each touching one of its distinct parts. Ultimately, the men are unable to discern that the animal is an elephant because they lack a holistic view of its shape. "Often, research yields exciting clues for how to solve part of the puzzle, but it can take some time to piece it all together," explains Dr. Rosenwald. "Finding ways to bring together different strands of research motivates me in the lab."
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