Welcome to MSL, Dr. Harry Brumer

The Michael Smith Laboratories (MSL) is pleased to welcome Dr. Harry Brumer as our newest Professor. Dr. Brumer will hold an academic appointment in the Department of Chemistry. Dr. Brumer received his Ph.D. at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST). He then completed postdoctoral studies with Steve Withers in the Department of Chemistry at UBC before moving to KTH Biotechnology in Stockholm, Sweden. While in Sweden, he advanced through the professorial ranks to Full Professor at the Royal Institute of Technology before deciding to return to the University of British Columbia.

Dr. Brumer is joining the MSL as part of the University of British Columbia’s BERI (BioEnergy and BioRefining Innovations) initiative. This initiative is building on UBC’s strength in biotechnology by linking enzymologists, chemists and forest scientists interested in deconstruction and biorefining biomass, with engineers and materials scientists in the Clean Energy Research Centre, the Pulp and Paper Centre and AMPEL. Supported by the VP Academic and Provost, BERI provides an excellent research foundation to support UBC’s Sustainability Initiative. Dr. Brumer’s research strengths include synthetic carbohydrate chemistry, carbohydrate analysis, glycosidase enzymology, heterologous protein production, plant cell wall analysis and computational analysis of protein phylogeny. In addition, he has remarkable skills in collaborative and multidisciplinary research, he has proven expertise in translating his research into biotechnology applications and he has demonstrated leadership in championing large, well-funded initiatives.

We are delighted to add Dr. Brumer’s name to list of talented faculty members within the Michael Smith Laboratories. Dr. Brumer’s work may be viewed at his website: http://www.msl.ubc.ca/faculty/brumer .