Post-Secondary Education and Degrees Granted
Doctor of Science Degree (Honoris Causa), Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario
Master of Fine Arts (Studio Art), School of the Museum of Fine Arts and Tufts University, Boston and Medford, MA
Helen Hay Whitney Postdoctoral Fellowship, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Thesis Title: “Enzymatic RNA Sequencing and Fractionation Methods”
Thesis Advisor: Walter Gilbert
Honours Bachelor of Science in Biology (First Class Standing), Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario
Bachelor of Science in Natural Science (First Class Standing), Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario
Major in Graphic Design, University of Cincinnati,
School of Design, Architecture, and Art, Cincinnati, OH
Current Professional Position:
Michael E. Moody Professor
Professor of Biology and Art, Olin College of Engineering, Needham, MA
Teaching: Selected courses taught include The Intersection of Biology, Art and Technology (IBAT:SCI 1260/AHSE 2160), The Digital Eye (AHSE1135), Biology: What an Engineer Needs to Know and Why (SCI1299) , Responsive Drawing and Visual Thinking (AHSE 2131), Advanced Digital Photography (AHSE3130)
Service on College Committees: Committee service includes Faculty Representative to Board of Trustees Finance and Facilities Committee, Member, Retirement Plan Committee, Faculty Search Committees, Reappointment and Promotion Committee, Climate Action Semester Committee member
Other Institutional Activities: Director of the Olin College Art Gallery, Director of Olin.Art.edu website
Previous Professional Positions:
Professor of Surgery and Director, Division of Human Molecular Genetics, Department of Surgery; Joint Appointments – Professor of Genetics, Dept. of Genetics; Professor of Genetics in Psychiatry, Psychiatry Department, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
Mentoring: Advisor to Numerous Undergraduates, Surgical Residents (2-3 yr. Research Training), Ph.D. Graduate Students, and Postdoctoral Students.
Research Interests: Human Telomere Genomic Analysis, Construction of Integrated Human Genome Maps, Molecular Genetics of Prostate, Breast, Thyroid Cancers, Mapping of Unipolar Depression.
Service on University Committees: Dean’s Committee on Advancement, Promotions, Salary; Salary Equity Committee; MD/PhD Admissions Committee; Served on Faculty Tenure Committees
Director Department of Human Genetics, Collaborative Research, Inc. Waltham/Lexington/Bedford, MA
Responsibilities: Directed Research Team of 20-30 Ph.Ds. and Professional Scientist-technicians. Projects Included Mapping of Single and Multi-gene Inherited Disorders, Development of Pre-symptomatic Diagnostic Tests for Cystic Fibrosis, Neurofibromatosis, Adult Polycystic Kidney Disease, Diagnostic Test Development Utilizing RFLP Probes for Applications to Forensics, Paternity Determinations, and Bone Marrow Transplantation. Also participated as lead scientist in fundraising for limited R&D partnerships. 20M in funds were raised for research work described above.
Assistant Research Director of Molecular Biology, Biogen, Inc., Cambridge, MA.
Responsibilities: Directed Research Team of Twelve Ph.Ds and Scientists. Projects Included Proposal Development, Cloning and Expression of Mammalian Genes Interferon and Human Serum Albumin in B. subtilis and E. coli and Oligonucleotide Synthesis. Participated as lead scientist in fund-raising efforts for contract research.
Interviews/Reviews and Publications on Art (selected)
The Intersection of Art, Science and Education: Responding to Climate Change. Introduction to Erica Daborn’s book titled Dialogues with Mother Earth, in preparation.
Photo Finish: The Art of Helen Donis-Keller, Life Sciences Foundation Magazine, The Changing Face of Biotechnology, Fall 2014, pgs. 58- 59.
On Camera Interview and Music Credit (Excerpts from Erehwon Variations 1999) Paradise Now – Picturing the Genetic Revolution, 2000, a Video by Kathy Brew and Roberto Guerra from Mosquito Productions. Exhibited at Exit Art, New York, NY, 9/9/00-10/19/00
Interview on Art, Science, and Life. Appears in St. Louis Post Dispatch, “Portraits of St. Louis, Helen Donis-Keller”, by Monte Reel, Photos by J.B. Forbes, Section D Cover, Pages D8-9, 6/28/1998
Interview, National Public Radio Program, Talk of the Nation: Science Friday, with I. Flatow, C. Wagner, and H. Longino, Art and Science: Investigating Matter, 10/25/1996
Recent Exhibitions
Solo Exhibition, Fire and Ice: 2023 Iceland, February 2-May 3, 2024, Renaissance Lofts Art Gallery, Marlborough, MA.
SMFA fundraiser Exhibition and Sale, School of the Museum of Fine Arts, December 8-10, 2023. https://smfa.tufts.edu/events-exhibitions/art-sale.
The Annual AIDS Benefit Exhibition, December 2, 2023, Krakow/Witkin Gallery, Boston, MA. https://www.krakowwitkingallery.com/exhibitions/annual-aids-benefit-online-only/.
Solo Exhibition, New Zealand Views, December 1, 2023 – January 30, 2024, Renaissance Lofts Art Gallery, Marlborough, MA.
Fitchburg Art Museum 87th Regional Exhibition of Art and Craft, June 23 – September 17, 2023, Fitchburg, MA. https://fitchburgartmuseum.org/87th-regional-exhibition-of-art-craft/.
BOW Artists Group Exhibition, March 9 – May 19, 2023. Olin Art Gallery, Olin College of Engineering, Needham, MA. https://art.olin.edu/
SMFA fundraiser Exhibition and Sale, School of the Museum of Fine Arts, November 4-6, 2022. https://smfa.tufts.edu/events-exhibitions/art-sale
The Annual AIDS Benefit Exhibition, November 26-December 4, 2022, Krakow/Witkin Gallery, Boston, MA. https://www.krakowwitkingallery.com/exhibitions/annual-aids-benefit-2022-online-only
Evo:Devo Self-Portraits Solo Exhibition, April 15-June 15, 2022, Renaissance Lofts Art Gallery, Marlborough, MA
The Annual AIDS Benefit Exhibition, November 30-December 4, 2021, Krakow/Witkin Gallery, Boston, MA, https://www.krakowwitkingallery.com/exhibitions/annual-aids-benefit-2021-online-only/
SMFA fundraiser Exhibition and Sale, School of the Museum of Fine Arts, October 22-November 4, 2021. https://smfa.tufts.edu/events-exhibits/calendar/smfa-art-sale.
Needham Council of Art and Culture Exhibition, Group Exhibition, May 7-September 20, 2021, Needham, MA.
The Annual AIDS Benefit Exhibition, Nov. 28 – Dec. 5, 2020, Krakow/Witkin Gallery, Boston,
MA, https://www.krakowwitkingallery.com/exhibitions/annual-aids-benefit-2020/
SMFA Fundraiser Exhibition and Sale, School of the Museum of Fine Arts, November 9 – 23, 2020. https://smfa.tufts.edu/events-exhibits/calendar/smfa-art-sale
Recent Paintings: Solo Exhibition, Sept. 5 – Nov. 7, 2020, Renaissance Lofts Art Gallery, Marlborough, MA
Cuba, Then and Now: Solo Exhibition, Mar. 1 – May 3, 2020 Renaissance Lofts Art Gallery, Marlborough, MA
BOW House: Group Exhibition from Babson, Wellesley and Olin College Artists, Feb. 20 – May 30, 2020. Olin College Art Gallery, Olin College of Engineering, Needham, MA. https://art.olin.edu/
Journal Articles (selected)
Hatfull, G.F., D. Jacobs-Sera, J.G. Lawrence, W.H. Pope, D.A. Russell, C-C. Ko, R.J. Weber, M.C. Patel, K.L. Germane, R.H Edgar, N.N. Hoyte, C.A. Bowman, A.T.Tantoco, E.C. Paladin, M.S. Myers, A.L. Smith, M.S. Grace, T.T. Pham, M.B. O’Brien, A.M. Vogelsberger, A.J. Hryckowian, J.L. Wynalek, H. Donis-Keller, M.W. Bogel, C.L. Peebles, S.G. Cresawn, R.W. Hendrix (2010). Comparative Genomic Analysis of 60 Mycobacteriophage Genomes: Genome clustering, Gene Acquisition and Gene Size. Journal of Molecular Biology, 397(1): 119 – 143.
Vocero-Akbani, A., C. Helms, J-C. Wang, F. J. Sanjurjo, J. Korte-Sarfaty, R. A. Veile, L. Liu, A. Jauch, A. K. Burgess, A. Hing, M. S. Holt, S. Ramachandra, A. J. Whelan, R. Anker, L. Ahrent, M. Chen, M. R. Gavin, K. Iannantuoni, S. M. Morton, S. D. Pandit, C. M. Read, T. Steinbrueck, C. Warlick, D. A. Smoller, and H. Donis-Keller (1996). Mapping human telomere regions with YAC and P1 clones: Chromosome specific markers for 27 telomeres including 149 STSs and 24 polymorphisms for 14 proterminal regions. Genomics, 36: 492-506.
Carlson, K. M., S. Dou, D. Chi, N. Scavarda, K. Toshima, C. E. Jackson, S. A. Wells, Jr., P. J. Goodfellow, and H. Donis-Keller (1994). A single missense mutation in the tyrosine kinase catalytic domain of the RET protooncogene is asociated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, USA, 91: 1579-1583.
Donis-Keller, H. S. Dou, D. Chi, Katrin M. Carlson, K. Toshima, T. C. Lairmore, J. R. Howe, J. F. Moley, P. F. Goodfellow, and S. A. Wells, Jr. (1993). Mutations in the RET proto-oncogene are associated with MEN 2A and FMTC. Human Molecular Genetics, 2: 851-856.
NIH/CEPH Collaborators Mapping Group (1992). A comprehensive genetic linkage map of the human genome. Coordinating editor and senior authorship for maps of chromosomes 2, 6, 7, 8, 12, 14. Science, 258: 67-86 and 148-162.
Donis-Keller, H., P. Green, C. Helms, S. Cartinhour, B. Weiffenbach, K. Stephens, T. P. Keith, D. W. Bowden, D. R. Smith, E. S. Lander, D. Botstein, G. Akots, K. S. Rediker, T. Gravius, V. A. Brown, M. B. Rising, C. Parker, J. A. Powers, D. E. Watt, E. R. Kauffman, A. Bricker, P. Phipps, H. Muller-Kahle, T. R. Fulton, S. Ng, J. W. Schumm, J. C. Braman, R. G. Knowlton, D. F. Barker, S. M. Crooks, S. E. Lincoln, M. J. Daly and J. Abrahamson. (1987). A genetic linkage map of the human genome. Cell, 51(October 23): 319-337.
Tsui, L.C., M. Buchwald, D. Barker, J. C. Braman, R. G. Knowlton, J. W. Schumm, H. Eiberg, J. Mohr, D. Kennedy, N. Plavsic, M. Zsiga, D. Markiewicz, G. Akots, V. Brown, C. Helms, T. Gravius, C. Parker, K. Rediker and H. Donis-Keller (1985). Cystic fibrosis locus defined by a genetically linked polymorphic DNA marker. Science, 230: 1054-1057.
Knowlton, R. G., O. Cohen-Haguenauer, N. Van Cong, J. Frezal, V. A. Brown, D. Barker, J. C. Braman, J. W. Schumm, L.-C. Tsui, M. Buchwald and H. Donis-Keller (1985). A polymorphic DNA marker linked to cystic fibrosis is located on chromosome 7. Nature, 318: 380-382.