Antonis Rokas
Vanderbilt develops computational method to explore evolution’s influence on preterm birth
Jul. 24, 2020—The first comprehensive study of how diverse evolutionary forces influence the leading cause of infant mortality is led by Vanderbilt researchers.
New discovery shows infection of the lungs can be caused by hybrid fungi
Jun. 4, 2020—A team of scientists at Vanderbilt has discovered the first known instance of a hybrid fungal species causing aspergillosis, an ensemble of different types of lung infections that often impacts immune-compromised people.
Three VU doctoral students receive 2019 Gilliam Fellowships to support diversity and inclusion in science
Sep. 3, 2019—The Howard Hughes Medical Institute has awarded Gilliam Fellowships for Advanced Study to three Vanderbilt University doctoral students and their advisers. The grants are designed to support new scientific leaders and foster diversity and inclusion in the sciences.
Rokas to lead budding cross-disciplinary collaboration on evolutionary studies
Aug. 14, 2019—The Vanderbilt Evolutionary Studies Initiative seeks to position the university as a global leader in evolutionary studies by engaging a large group of scholars who share this research interest.
Life in evolution’s fast lane
May. 21, 2019—A group of budding yeasts in the genus Hanseniaspora, which is closely related to the baker’s yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, has lost large numbers of genes related to cell cycle and DNA repair processes.
Rokas elected to American Academy of Microbiology
Feb. 6, 2019—Antonis Rokas, who holds the Cornelius Vanderbilt Chair in Biological Sciences, has been elected a fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology. He was among the 109 new fellows welcomed by the academy in 2019.
Today’s budding yeasts shed traits from their 400-million-year-old ancestor
Nov. 8, 2018—Evolutionary biologists decoded the genomes of nearly a third of known budding yeast species, allowing them to reconstruct an ancient parent’s metabolic characteristics.
New committee advances research through limited submission opportunities
Aug. 16, 2018—Twenty faculty members have been appointed to the new Limited Submission Opportunities Plus review committee to help bring innovative research to the attention of external sponsors.
Three Vanderbilt A&S professors awarded 2018 Guggenheim Fellowships
Apr. 5, 2018—College of Arts and Science professors Joel Harrington, Antonis Rokas and Edward Wright-Rios have been awarded highly prestigious 2018 Guggenheim Fellowships for their research.
Vanderbilt evolutionary biologist makes finals of a national award for young scientists
Jun. 6, 2017—Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor in Biological Sciences Antonis Rokas has been selected as a finalist for the $250,000 Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists
Faculty committee proposes plan for investment in graduate education and research
Jun. 1, 2017—Following a collaborative rapid cycle process, an ad hoc faculty committee has released a report identifying four proposed thematic areas for future investment in graduate education and research at Vanderbilt.
New method for tapping vast plant pharmacopeia to make more effective drugs
Apr. 14, 2017—Geneticists have developed an effective new method for identifying the genes that produce the chemicals plants use to protect themselves from predators, which are an important natural drug source.