Cathy Drennan

Drennan grew up in New York with her parents (a medical doctor and anthropologist). She received a Bachelors in Chemistry from Vassar College, working in the laboratory of Professor Miriam Ross.[1] After college, Drennan spent time as high school science and drama teacher, in a quaker run school in Iowa.[2][3] She received her PhD in biological chemistry from the University of Michigan in 1995, working in the laboratory of the late Professor Martha L Ludwig. Drennan's thesis is titled "Crystallographic studies of FMN and Vitamin B12 Dependent Enzymes: Flavodoxin and Methionine Synthase".[4][5] After her PhD, she joined Douglas Rees as a postdoctoral fellow in the California Institute of Technology.[6]

Drennan is dyslexic, but believes this has advantages in science, "don't listen to what anyone tells you what you can or cannot do...there is no dyslexia ceiling".[7][8] At high school, Drennan was told "she was probably not even going to graduate high school because of her dyslexia".[9]

Drennan joined the faculty at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1999. At Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Drennan focuses on innovation in education and fundamental research.[10] She is interested in the future of college classrooms and creating a positive learning environment for diverse groups of students.[11] She is recognized for her contributions to science pedagogy.[12] In 2006 Drennan was named an HHMI Professor and awarded a $1 million grant to support educational initiatives for “Getting Biologists Excited about Chemistry”.[13]

Drennan has studied enzymes that employ vitamin B12 since she was a graduate student.[14] Her research focus is metalloproteins and metalloenzymes, and developing structural approaches to visualize enzymes.[15][16][17] Her group uses X-ray crystallography and electron microscopy to characterize metalloproteins in action.[18][19] She is interested in conformational change during catalysis.[20] Her work also contributes to protecting the environment, as metals act as molecular helpers in chemical reactions.[21] Drennan is the author of over 100 Protein Data Bank submissions.[22]

2020 - American Academy of Arts and Sciences[23]

2017 - Winter Commencement Bicentennial Alumni Award[24]

2008 - Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator[25]

2006 - Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor[25]

2005 - Everett Moore Baker Memorial Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching[26]

2004 - Harold E. Edgerton Faculty Achievement Award[27]

2004 - Dean's Educational and Student Advising Award

2003 - ASBMB–Schering–Plough Research Institute Scientific Achievement Award[28]

2002 - Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers[29]

2001 - Searle Scholar[30]

2000 - Cecil and Ida Green Career Development Chair[31]

2000 - Surdna Foundation Research Award[31]