CELEBRATING DIVERSITY

Diversity

Associate Professor Dr. George Aslanidi Celebrating Diversity

Global backgrounds create vibrant culture at The Hormel Institute

By Savannah Howe/Photos provided

Over 6,500 languages, roughly 650 ethnic groups, and infinite combinations of cultures, histories and backgrounds. The world is abounding with diversity: people with different knowledge, stories, recipes, dances, skills, struggles. Austin is no exception, in particular the Hormel Institute, where scientists from all over the world put their heads together to research industry-leading medical innovations—and to create some of the best potlucks out there.

Three scientists came together to talk about the diversity at the Institute, and what benefits it brings academically, medically and culturally.

Leading the Institute’s Cancer Stem Cells and Necroptosis lab is Assistant Professor Dr. Ilana Cefetz. Chefetz was born in Belarus and lived in Israel, where she obtained her undergraduate degree in food engineering and biotechnology, and her PhD in molecular dermatology and genetics. She discovered the Hormel Institute during her postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Michigan, and came to Austin four years ago to study fatal and recurring ovarian cancer and ovarian cancer cures, specifically cancer stem cells.

Dr. Rendong Yang is an Assistant Professor and leader of the Computational Cancer Genomics lab. Originally from the northern Chinese city of Tangshan, Yang obtained his undergraduate degree in computer science and bioinformatics graduate degree at Chinese Agriculture University. He obtained his PhD and then studied cancer genomics at Emory University in Atlanta before joining the Hormel Institute in 2017. Yang chose the Institute for its generous support network, friendly collaborative environment and high-performance computer systems. His research focuses on developing an efficient and precise treatment of prostate cancer, through next-generation sequencing technology and molecular biology.

Hailing from Tbilisi, the capital of the Republic of Georgia, Associate Professor Dr. George Aslanidi also came to Austin in 2017 after graduating from Tbilisi State University and working for the University of Florida from 2001 to 2016. Aslanidi chose the Institute for its outstanding support facilities, equipment and staff, and small campus setting. He heads the Molecular Bioengineering and Cancer Vaccine lab at the Institute, and his work is focused in the development of therapies for treating genetic diseases and cancer.

‘The Hormel Institute hosts scientists from all over the world.

How do you feel this global perspective positively impacts the work that goes on at the Institute?’

“Scientists from all over the world bring us multiple different angles and diverse expertise to view and solve the events and problems happening all around the world,” Yang said. “As global citizens, we need to

Assistant Professor Dr. Rendong Yang

For Rent

work collaboratively across nations and cultures to solve the most important and urgent scientific problems, such as COVID-19, cancers and global climate change.”

Chefetz agreed, adding that “it is great to have different perspectives and ideas.” Academia, Aslanidi said, is an open, borderless system where people, ideas and information are exchanged.

“We are glad that we are bringing that feeling of global perspective to Austin, and grateful for warm hospitality and unconditional support from the local community,” he said.

‘From a cultural perspective, what do you like about working with such a diverse team? Have you learned anything new?’

With so many diverse cultures in one team, the Institute’s scientists exchange more than just research; they are often sharing the games, recipes and history that they know and love with their colleagues.

Associate Professor Dr. Ilana Chefetz

As Chefetz explained, the Institute can even celebrate certain holidays more than once. New Year’s, for example, occurs on different days for so many cultures that the new year could be celebrated many times over. She frequently learns about holidays that her colleagues’ culture celebrates, and the local way to do so.

“I like sharing about how we celebrate [in my culture], and I always take my team out for our New Year’s, which happens in September or October,” she said.

The food, Aslanidi and Yang added, is a worldly experience too. At the Institute’s many potlucks, one is likely to find a mouth-watering array of dishes from all over the world, perhaps starting with a side of Chinese Báizhōu (a rice porridge), a helping of knikhali (Georgian dumplings filled with meat and spices) and a warm Isralean falafel (the nation’s national dish, a chickpea and fresh herb fritter deep-fried).

“I like to work with people from different backgrounds because language and cultures make big impacts on the way we think and approach scientific problems,” Aslanidi said. “This benefits all of us since we tackle complex scientific problems from different angles. At the same time, I enjoy a variety of food and stories from my colleagues about their families and early research careers.”

‘What about from your own culture—what have you enjoyed sharing with your coworkers?’ Institute researchers like Aslanidi, Yang and Chefetz delight in sharing their culture with others—the places they have called home have shaped who they are.

Tbilisi, the Georgian capital city that Aslanidi hails from, translates to “warm” because it was built around sulfuric hot springs 1,500 years ago. Georgia is a beautiful country, Aslanidi said, “with ancient history, unique language, and diverse nature from high, snowy mountain tops to green valleys, from dense beaches and oak woods to the warm Black Sea.” Grape culturing and wine production has been a staple of the country for centuries, and each countryside produces a unique cheese.

“I like to share stories about the ancient history of my country and home city, its nature and animals,” Aslanidi said. “[I like to] cook some authentic food, and show some artifacts and souvenirs.”

Yang has shared the Chinese culture’s love of celebration with his colleagues. The two most important festivals in China are the Mid-Autumn Festival—a fall-time festival meant to welcome the harvest and worship the moon—and Chinese New Year.

“I like to share some traditional foods, such as Mooncake and dumplings, with my coworkers,” Yang said. “This fall, we had a tree sculpture event at the Institute. I made steam egg pudding to share with my colleagues and was able to try other foods, such as chili, tacos and pasta.”

‘Overall, what do you like the most about living and working here?’ Southern Minnesota has brought a sense of openness to Aslanadi. He loves the fields,

“I like to share stories about the ancient history of my country and home city, it’s nature and animals”

Dr. George Aslanidi

beautiful trails and lakes—and has likely passed Chefetz and her three children on those trails too.

“I like walking trails around the Hormel Institute and I also play ping pong every day,” Chefetz said. “My kids like attending Woodson, I.J Holton, and Ellis School and going to different parks, mostly Todd Park.”

Aslanidi enjoys the quiet, spacious facilities at the Institute, “which help me focus on something I enjoy the most: doing science and developing novel therapeutics.” Yang added that commuting to work in Austin is far less-time consuming than in large cities. P

Mooncakes are Chinese delicacies usually made during the Mid-Autumn festival. This dessert’s filling is made with lotus seed, green tea, salted egg yolk and

mixed nuts. Photo by Alexa Soh via Unsplash