An appointment Ceremony of Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences（CASHIPS）Distinguished Research Fellow for Dr. Tom K Hei from Columbia University was hold on August 27th. Dr. KUANG Guangli awarded Dr. Hei the Distinguished Research Fellow Certificate on behalf of CASHIPS.
Dr. Tom K Hei is internationally recognized for his ground breaking work in radiation biology field. Dr. Hei and his group discovered first in the world that targeted cytoplasmic irradiation can result in mutation in the nucleus of the hit cells. He also has made major contributions in our understanding of the basic molecular mechanism of how asbestos induces cancer through the induction of large gene and chromosomal mutations via the production of reactive radical species. Dr. Hei has served on various advisory panels commissioned by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Dr. Tom K Hei received his B.Sc. (Summa Cum Laude) from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and his Ph.D. in experimental pathology from Case Western Reserve University. He has been on the faculty of Columbia University since 1983 and is currently Professor of Environmental Health Sciences in the Mailman School of Public Health and Deputy Director of the NIEHS Center for Environmental Health in Northern Manhattan. Dr. Hei’s primary appointment is Professor and Vice-Chairman of Research in Radiation Oncology and the Associate Director of the Center for Radiological Research in the College of Physicians and Surgeons. He has several adjunct professorships in both China and Japan.
Dr. Tom K Hei was invited to present as a key note speaker at “CAS symposium on environmental nano-materials and technologies”. Dr. Hei pay special attention to the establishment of the new research unit at CASHIPS – Institute of Technical Biology and Agriculture Engineering. He had extensive discussions with preparatory group members on many subjects, such as program development strategies and faculty recruitments.
