Future Science Group named Michelle Itano, PhD, as the new Editor-in-Chief for BioTechniques, the International Journal of Life Science Methods.
Michelle Itano, PhD, assistant professor in the UNC Department of Cell Biology and Physiology and Director of the Neuroscience Microscopy Core at the UNC School of Medicine, was selected as the new editor-in-chief of BioTechniques, the International Journal of Life Science Methods.
Itano develops and customizes state-of-the-art optical imaging and analysis applications for a wide range of scientific research. She uses innovative fluorescence microscopy methods, including super-resolution and simultaneous multi-plane imaging, to investigate how viruses, such as HIV-1, infect cells.
In 2019, she was selected to be a CZI Imaging Scientist. She is also very invested in facilitating collaborations between researchers, software and infrastructure engineers and computing specialists to design and disseminate efficient bioimaging pipelines.
Itano joined the BioTechniques editorial board in 2020 and has made invaluable contributions to the journal since. Her new position as editor-in-chief begins immediately.
“I’m very excited to be joining BioTechniques in this role, particularly at a time when the life sciences are rapidly evolving,” Itano said. “I look forward to seeking ways that BioTechniques can further advance and support the effort to diversify and directly address inequalities in the publishing of biomedical techniques.”
In parallel, BioTechniques will also be launching BioTechniques LEARN July 19 to provide resources covering all the areas an early-career researcher needs to support them in their career. With guidance from a panel of mentors, BioTechniques LEARN will provide resources including career and mentorship guidance and tips for getting work published (and noticed) – all in addition to how-to guides for the essential methods needed in the lab, and the latest new protocols from the peer-reviewed pages of BioTechniques.
To find out more about Dr. Itano, watch this video to discover the life science challenges Michelle hopes to tackle; check out this interview to gain a more in-depth glimpse into Michelle’s life, inspirations and aspirations; and listen to this podcast on how Michelle adapted the Neuroscience Microscopy Core she directs to continue crucial research during the COVID-19 pandemic.