Biography:
Lynne Quarmby is a Canadian scientist, activist, and politician. She is currently serving as a professor and Chair of the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia. Quarmby has made significant contributions to the field of molecular biology and her research has focused on understanding the signals and mechanisms of deflagellation, the process by which cells shed their cilia into the environment.
Quarmby’s academic journey began with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology and a Master of Science in Biological Oceanography at the University of British Columbia. She then pursued her PhD in Biochemistry at the University of Connecticut. Following the completion of her doctorate, Quarmby worked as a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Nobel laureate Alfred Gilman at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Austin, TX. She later continued her research in the lab of Criss Hartzell at Emory University in Atlanta, GA, where she also held her first faculty position.
In 2000, Quarmby moved her lab to Simon Fraser University, where she has since been at the forefront of cilia research. By using the single-celled ciliated green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii as a model organism, she identified members of the NIMA-related family of serine/threonine kinases that play a role in deflagellation and the assembly and maintenance of cilia. Her groundbreaking work led to a better understanding of ciliopathies, a group of diseases caused by defects in cilia formation or maintenance. These diseases can manifest as cystic kidney disease, blindness, and obesity.
Throughout her career, Quarmby’s research has been supported by prestigious funding agencies such as the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR), and the Kidney Foundation of Canada (KFoC). In recognition of her research program’s potential to become an international leader in the field, NSERC awarded her a Discovery Accelerator Supplement in 2011.
Beyond her scientific accomplishments, Quarmby has also been recognized for her excellence in teaching. In 2011, she received a SFU Teaching Excellence Award, further showcasing her dedication to mentorship and education. Additionally, Quarmby’s passion for the arts is evident in her work as a painter. Her science-inspired art has been featured in the magazine The Scientist.
Quarmby’s advocacy extends beyond the lab and classroom. She has been an active voice for gender equality and has contributed to the conversation on women’s rights. Her op-ed in the Ottawa Citizen in May 2010 highlighted the importance of achieving gender equality in various aspects of society. Quarmby’s commitment to advocacy led her to political involvement, and she ran as a candidate for the Green Party of Canada in Burnaby North—Seymour in the 2015 federal election. She also holds the position of the Green Party of Canada’s Science Policy Critic.
Lynne Quarmby is a respected figure in the scientific community, known for her groundbreaking research, teaching excellence, and dedication to advancing women’s rights. Her contributions to the study of cilia and ciliopathies have had a profound impact on our understanding of these diseases and have paved the way for future advancements in the field of molecular biology.
Awards:
– Discovery Accelerator Supplement from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (2011)
– SFU Teaching Excellence Award (2011)
– Co-recipient of the 2015 Nora and Ted Sterling Prize in Support of Controversy.