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  • Summer 2021
  • Michaels becomes chair of department

Taking up the baton: Michaels is new department chair

Tuesday, July 27, 2021

Scott Michaels.
Scott Michaels. Photo by Sandee Milhouse

Professor Scott Michaels assumed the role of IU Department of Biology chair on July 1, 2021, as Professor Greg Demas stepped down from his four-year term as head of the department.

Both Demas and Michaels share a commitment to maintaining a scientifically and culturally diverse department. Demas considers it one of his biggest accomplishments during his term. Michaels lists it as one of his priorities.

"I’m grateful to Greg for leaving Biology in such great shape and will continue his efforts to build a diverse and welcoming department," said Michaels. "I plan to take advantage of opportunities to maintain, and hopefully improve, our already stellar research, teaching, and outreach activities. Recruiting talented and diverse faculty, postdocs, scientists, graduate students, and staff—along with improvements to infrastructure—are critical to Biology's success.

Michaels is quick to praise his predecessor.

"Greg has been a wonderful chair," said Michaels. "I’ve admired his calm demeanor and ability to keep his sense of humor under pressure—both of which were put to the test during the myriad of challenges that accompanied the pandemic."

The last nearly year and a half of his term found Demas navigating the challenging, stressful, and sometimes chaotic issues brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Demas was also quick to praise Michaels' leadership during the unprecedented time.

"We all spent countless hours dealing with pandemic-related issues and figuring out ways to manage them—or at least hold it together," Demas noted. "As the associate chair for research and facilities at the time, Scott did a truly outstanding job, including the handling of complicated space issues, with the utmost competence and professionalism. I have no doubt that he will bring a steady hand to the chair's seat."

Demas looks forward to his return to "civilian life." He plans to spend more time in his lab interacting with the students, sending (and receiving!) fewer emails, and refurbishing his endocrinology class which he will once again teach this year. As he hopes for a more normal and less stressful academic year in 2021-22, he's confident things will be fine.

"Scott brings to the position a wealth of new ideas and thoughtful intellect," Demas said. "The department is in good hands under Scott’s guidance."

About Michaels

Scott Michaels earned his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he also completed a postdoc.

He joined the Department of Biology at IU Bloomington as an assistant professor in 2003.

Now a professor of biology, Michaels has served as the department's associate chair for research and facilities (2017-2021) and as the director of the IU Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics (2013-2017).

He maintains a research laboratory, studying gene regulation. In particular, Michaels and his lab focus on two interrelated mechanisms: 1) the role that histone modifications play in controlling gene expression and 2) the role that negative transcription elongation factors play in repressing gene expression and preventing transcriptional inference between neighboring genes.

Being a member of the IU Biology faculty may have been destined by fate for Michaels. Michaels is a first-generation college student from a tiny coal-mining town (population of about 200) in western Pennsylvania. He completed his undergraduate degree in chemistry at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. IUP is not connected with the Indiana University campuses in the state of Indiana, but instead derives its name from the town in which it is located: Indiana, PA. If not fate, maybe becoming an IU Bloomington faculty member was at least a subliminal suggestion.

In his spare time (when he can find some), Michaels has become serious about woodworking, particularly arts-and-crafts-style furniture.

Sofa table.
Michaels created this lovely sofa table from two massive Utile boards. Utile, also known as Sipo, is an African tree. Its wood is sold as an alternative to Mahogany. Photo courtesy of  Scott Michaels

Professor Leonie Moyle replaces Michaels as associate chair for research and facilities. Associate Professor Troy Smith continues as the associate chair for teaching.

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