GGC biology professor wins lifetime achievement award

“Dr. Barnes has been invaluable in the development of our cell biology program,” said Dr. Thomas Mundie, dean of GGC’s School of Science and Technology. “We were thrilled to hear of his selection.”

The SIVB focuses on biological research, development and applications of significance to science and society. The Lifetime Achievement Award honors scientists who have achieved academic excellence in their field of study, made significant contributions to the field of in vitro biology, and/or in the development of novel technologies that have advanced in vitro biology.

“I am greatly honored by this recognition which represents not only my work, but the contributions of my students and co-workers as well,” Barnes said. “GGC has afforded the opportunity to play a part in the development of an institution committed to fresh ideas and an atmosphere of educational experimentation, and my interactions with the students and faculty has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my career.”

Barnes obtained his Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., and a National Institutes of Health postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of California – San Diego. He received the American Cancer Society Junior and Senior Faculty Awards and a National Cancer Institute Research Career Development Award.

Before joining the Georgia Gwinnett faculty in 2011, he was a professor of biochemistry and biophysics at Oregon State University, and the director of Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology and the National Stem Cell Resource at the American Type Culture Collection, the world’s premier biological culture repository, located in Manassas, Va.

He also was a staff scientist at Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, a nonprofit institution in Bar Harbor, Maine, known for its use of marine organisms in biomedical research. Barnes has authored and co-authored more than 150 scientific articles and co-edited nine books on cell and molecular biology. He continues pursuing his work in aquatic organisms as models for cancer research.

Georgia Gwinnett College is a four-year, accredited liberal arts college that provides access to targeted baccalaureate level degrees that meet the economic development needs of the growing and diverse population of Gwinnett County and the northeast Atlanta metropolitan region. GGC opened its doors in August 2006 as the nation’s first four-year public college founded in the 21st century, and the first four-year public college founded in Georgia in more than 100 years. Georgia Gwinnett produces contributing citizens and future leaders for Georgia and the nation. Its graduates are inspired to contribute to their local, state, national and international communities and are prepared to anticipate and respond effectively to an uncertain and changing world. Visit Georgia Gwinnett College’s Web site at www.ggc.edu.