Latine Leadership in the Sciences
Latine Leadership in the Sciences
Gonzalo Torres, PhD, professor and chair, Molecular Pharmacology and Neuroscience
Interview by Marena Keci
Q: Can you describe your journey from Chile to becoming a prominent researcher in the United States?
A: I’m originally from Chile and have always had a passion for science and research. I completed my master’s degree in biochemistry in Chile, and it was clear to me by that point that I wanted to pursue a career in research and academia. In the early 1990s, I moved to the U.S. to earn my PhD in pharmacology at Saint Louis University. The department chair there became a role model for me and inspired me to pursue a similar path.
My goal has always been to influence and help others in their academic and scientific careers. After earning my PhD, I completed my postdoctoral work at Duke University. From there, I secured my first faculty position at the University of Pittsburgh, where I launched my independent research program. Afterward, I held positions in both Florida and New York.
Two years ago, I accepted a position at Loyola University Chicago to lead their Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Neuroscience, which was looking for a new chair to help rebuild the department. The role was very appealing. I’ve been dedicated to supporting and revitalizing the department ever since.
Q: How has your Latine heritage influenced your approach to teaching?
A: When I first arrived in the U.S., I quickly noticed the lack of diversity in the sciences. I was often the only Latino in the various departments I worked in, and that realization motivated me to actively promote diversity. I wanted to use my position as a Latino in science to inspire others from similar backgrounds.
Throughout my career, I developed two programs — the Mentoring Institute for Neuroscience Diversity Scholars (MINDS) and the Center for Underrepresented Research in Addiction (CURA). These initiatives, now funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), aim to foster diversity. MINDS and CURA support minority assistant professors across the country, including at Loyola, by providing mentoring opportunities, helping with grant writing, and facilitating conference attendance.
In addition, I’ve used my lab as a platform to offer training and opportunities for minority students. My hope is that through this experience, they’ll gain the skills to succeed and ultimately remain in academia.
Q: What inspired you to specialize in molecular pharmacology and neuroscience?
A: During college, I had a professor with a deep passion for neuropharmacology, and his class really sparked my interest. It was fascinating to learn how medical and recreational drugs can change how the brain functions. The idea that drugs can have such a powerful effect on the brain intrigued me and I wanted to understand the science behind it.
Q: Your research focuses on how protein interactions control dopamine and serotonin balance. Can you explain this in layman’s terms?
A: Monoamine transporters are proteins that clear brain dopamine or serotonin after release. The dopamine transporter, for example, is the main target for psychostimulants such as cocaine and amphetamine, drugs that increase extracellular brain dopamine by altering transporter function. We are investigating the role of additional proteins interacting with transporters in controlling brain dopamine and the effects of psychostimulants.
For example, we have discovered that a protein called "G protein" associates with the transporter and, when activated, can increase dopamine similar to amphetamine. This is a fascinating discovery with potentially important implications not only for drug addiction but also for conditions where amphetamine is used as a treatment, such as ADHD.
Q: What multidisciplinary approaches do you use in your research – and why?
A: We integrate various methods from computational modeling, biochemistry, imaging, and behavioral studies in rodents to investigate the impact of these transporters on dopamine and serotonin regulation and the actions of psychostimulants and antidepressants.
Q: You’ve been awarded significant NIH grants to support diversity in neuroscience and drug addiction research. What is the importance of these grants and what impact have they had?
A: Diversity and inclusion in academia have always been core to my work. With funding from the NIH, we have developed programs to support minority junior faculty from across the country conducting drug addiction or neuroscience research through mentoring and professional development. I am pleased to share that many of these junior faculty members are now funded investigators who have received tenure at their institutions.
Q: As the chair of Molecular Pharmacology and Neuroscience, what is your vision for the department, and what are some of your accomplishments since taking on this role?
A: My vision is to cultivate a community where we support one another, recognizing that one person’s success is the success of the entire department. It’s important to ensure our students receive sufficient training opportunities and that they’re happy and thriving. Overall, I want to build a collaborative environment while simultaneously expanding our research infrastructure and portfolio.
I am proud of the community we have built over the past two years and the opportunities we have created for faculty, trainees, and staff. Some of our new initiatives include a career development series for graduate students, breakfast and informal science talks for faculty, and the development of new facilities for the department. We have also added two phenomenal and talented faculty members to our department, increasing the breadth and diversity of our impressive faculty.
Q: What advice would you give to young scientists, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, who are pursuing a career in biomedical sciences?
A: Enjoy the journey in science, take risks, and believe in yourself. Engage with as many people as possible. Connect with experts in the field and ask them about their research and life experiences. Most importantly, whatever you choose to do, be passionate about it.
Q: When you’re not at work, how do you spend your time?
A: When I'm not at work, I try to spend as much time as possible with my family: my wife and my three beautiful daughters. I'm also becoming a big fan of pickleball.
September 2024
Gonzalo Torres, PhD, professor and chair, Molecular Pharmacology and Neuroscience
Interview by Marena Keci
Q: Can you describe your journey from Chile to becoming a prominent researcher in the United States?
A: I’m originally from Chile and have always had a passion for science and research. I completed my master’s degree in biochemistry in Chile, and it was clear to me by that point that I wanted to pursue a career in research and academia. In the early 1990s, I moved to the U.S. to earn my PhD in pharmacology at Saint Louis University. The department chair there became a role model for me and inspired me to pursue a similar path.
My goal has always been to influence and help others in their academic and scientific careers. After earning my PhD, I completed my postdoctoral work at Duke University. From there, I secured my first faculty position at the University of Pittsburgh, where I launched my independent research program. Afterward, I held positions in both Florida and New York.
Two years ago, I accepted a position at Loyola University Chicago to lead their Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Neuroscience, which was looking for a new chair to help rebuild the department. The role was very appealing. I’ve been dedicated to supporting and revitalizing the department ever since.
Q: How has your Latine heritage influenced your approach to teaching?
A: When I first arrived in the U.S., I quickly noticed the lack of diversity in the sciences. I was often the only Latino in the various departments I worked in, and that realization motivated me to actively promote diversity. I wanted to use my position as a Latino in science to inspire others from similar backgrounds.
Throughout my career, I developed two programs — the Mentoring Institute for Neuroscience Diversity Scholars (MINDS) and the Center for Underrepresented Research in Addiction (CURA). These initiatives, now funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), aim to foster diversity. MINDS and CURA support minority assistant professors across the country, including at Loyola, by providing mentoring opportunities, helping with grant writing, and facilitating conference attendance.
In addition, I’ve used my lab as a platform to offer training and opportunities for minority students. My hope is that through this experience, they’ll gain the skills to succeed and ultimately remain in academia.
Q: What inspired you to specialize in molecular pharmacology and neuroscience?
A: During college, I had a professor with a deep passion for neuropharmacology, and his class really sparked my interest. It was fascinating to learn how medical and recreational drugs can change how the brain functions. The idea that drugs can have such a powerful effect on the brain intrigued me and I wanted to understand the science behind it.
Q: Your research focuses on how protein interactions control dopamine and serotonin balance. Can you explain this in layman’s terms?
A: Monoamine transporters are proteins that clear brain dopamine or serotonin after release. The dopamine transporter, for example, is the main target for psychostimulants such as cocaine and amphetamine, drugs that increase extracellular brain dopamine by altering transporter function. We are investigating the role of additional proteins interacting with transporters in controlling brain dopamine and the effects of psychostimulants.
For example, we have discovered that a protein called "G protein" associates with the transporter and, when activated, can increase dopamine similar to amphetamine. This is a fascinating discovery with potentially important implications not only for drug addiction but also for conditions where amphetamine is used as a treatment, such as ADHD.
Q: What multidisciplinary approaches do you use in your research – and why?
A: We integrate various methods from computational modeling, biochemistry, imaging, and behavioral studies in rodents to investigate the impact of these transporters on dopamine and serotonin regulation and the actions of psychostimulants and antidepressants.
Q: You’ve been awarded significant NIH grants to support diversity in neuroscience and drug addiction research. What is the importance of these grants and what impact have they had?
A: Diversity and inclusion in academia have always been core to my work. With funding from the NIH, we have developed programs to support minority junior faculty from across the country conducting drug addiction or neuroscience research through mentoring and professional development. I am pleased to share that many of these junior faculty members are now funded investigators who have received tenure at their institutions.
Q: As the chair of Molecular Pharmacology and Neuroscience, what is your vision for the department, and what are some of your accomplishments since taking on this role?
A: My vision is to cultivate a community where we support one another, recognizing that one person’s success is the success of the entire department. It’s important to ensure our students receive sufficient training opportunities and that they’re happy and thriving. Overall, I want to build a collaborative environment while simultaneously expanding our research infrastructure and portfolio.
I am proud of the community we have built over the past two years and the opportunities we have created for faculty, trainees, and staff. Some of our new initiatives include a career development series for graduate students, breakfast and informal science talks for faculty, and the development of new facilities for the department. We have also added two phenomenal and talented faculty members to our department, increasing the breadth and diversity of our impressive faculty.
Q: What advice would you give to young scientists, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, who are pursuing a career in biomedical sciences?
A: Enjoy the journey in science, take risks, and believe in yourself. Engage with as many people as possible. Connect with experts in the field and ask them about their research and life experiences. Most importantly, whatever you choose to do, be passionate about it.
Q: When you’re not at work, how do you spend your time?
A: When I'm not at work, I try to spend as much time as possible with my family: my wife and my three beautiful daughters. I'm also becoming a big fan of pickleball.
September 2024