Elaine V. Fuchs (born 1950) is an American
cell biologist, famous for her work on the
biology and
molecular mechanisms of
mammalian skin and
skin diseases, and has led the modernization of
dermatology. Fuchs also pioneered
reverse genetics approaches, which assess
protein function first and then assesses its role in development and disease. In particular, Fuchs researches
skin stem cells, and their production of
hair and
skin. She is currently the
Rebecca C. Lancefield Professor of Mammalian Cell Biology and Development at
Rockefeller University.
Biography
Fuchs grew up outside Chicago, in a family of scientists—her father, aunt, and sister were also scientists, and her family encouraged her to pursue higher education.
Fuchs earned a B.S. in
chemistry in 1972 from the
University of Illinois, graduating with highest distinction in the Chemical Sciences. She began as one of only three women in an undergraduate physics class of 200. Fuchs was politically active during college, protesting the
Vietnam War and applying to the
Peace Corps. However, when she was assigned to
Uganda, then under the dictatorship of
Idi Amin, she elected to go directly to graduate school instead.
Fuchs earned her Ph.D. in
biochemistry from
Princeton University, working with
Charles Gilvarg. For her doctoral work, Fuchs studied changes in bacterial cell walls -- the biosynthesis and assembly of the...
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