July 27, 2016
Wangemann gives invited talks, reunites with former postdoctoral fellows at scientific meetings
Philine Wangemann, a university distinguished professor in the anatomy and physiology department in the College of Veterinary Medicine, has been invited to speak at many conferences during summer 2016.
In May, she was invited to speak at the Molecular Biology of Hearing and Deafness meeting in Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom. In June, she was invited to speak at the Barany Society meeting and at a symposium in the medical school at Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea, and in July, she was invited to speak at the Auditory System Gordon Research Conference at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine.
Wangemann, an internationally recognized expert in the field of inner ear physiology, has been at Kansas State University since 1998. Her research in mouse models targets pathological mechanisms leading to deafness and loss of balance in individuals carrying mutations of the gene SLC26A4.
"There is a growing interest in mouse models in auditory physiology, and it is very important to contribute to the knowledge base of one of the most frequent forms of hereditary hearing loss in children," Wangemann said.
She frequently collaborates with Daniel C. Marcus, a university distinguished professor. Together they have mentored many postdoctoral fellows who have trained in their laboratories and are now successful professional colleagues. During the conferences, Wangemann was able to reunite with a few of those fellows.
"It was so much fun to get together for an alumni dinner," Wangemann said. "To see our former postdocs as successful physician scientists fills me with a lot of pride."
The reunion included Hyoung-Mi Kim, now assistant professor, who was a postdoctoral fellow with Wangemann from 2008 to 2011; Sung Huhn Kim, now associate professor, who was a postdoctoral fellow with Marcus from 2007 to 2009; and Jun Ho Lee, now full professor, who was a postdoctoral fellow with Marcus from 2000 to 2002. The three are affiliated with the leading Korean Universities Yonsei and Seoul National.
Sung Huhn Kim will continue his collaboration with Kansas State University for one year when he returns to work with Wangemann and Marcus.