Hilde van Gijssel

What are your primary research and scholarly interests?

I am a genetic toxicologist by training, so I am interested in anything that can damage or modify DNA. My research focus is on the effects of chlorophenoxy herbicides on human health and how exposure contributes to cancer. I am particularly interested in multigenerational exposure and the role of epigenetics in the process. I use fruit flies as a model as they are easy to work with for students and have a generation time of 2 weeks which makes them well suited for multigenerational studies. And fruit flies are surprisingly genetically similar to humans. I also have a project using synthetic biology to create a biological mercury sensor.

How does this tie into the work you are doing with ND-ACES?

I am involved with the cellular pillar, which for me is going back to my research roots as cancer genetics was the focus of my PhD work. I am using the same techniques as my primary research. It is nice to be able to do cell culture with the students as this is a big part of cancer research.

Where are you from and where did you pursue your education?

I grew up in the Netherlands and I completed my MS and PhD at Leiden University in Leiden, the Netherlands. I moved to Washington DC for a post-doc position at the National Cancer Institute. I am now a full Professor of Science at Valley City State University. While at VCSU I completed a Master of Education in Technology Education.

What excites you about ND-ACES?

First, the opportunity to do research with students and being able to pay them for their efforts and have a larger budget for supplies. Second, working with researchers from NDSU and UND and create a network. This gives VCSU students more opportunities to explore their interest and provides me with valuable research support and an opportunity to collaborate in future research.

What motivates you?

Empowering people to be the best they can be and guide them to where they want to go. That is why I teach and why I am a volunteer to be a board member for organizations in arts, music, and the library.

If you could time travel, where would you go?

Not so much time travel, but instant travel. I wish I could apparate like in the Harry Potter novels so I could hop over to join my family for important events without 24 hr travel.

If you could have coffee / tea with anyone, who would it be?

Gregory Mendel. He was one of the first scientists who used an experimental approach to understanding the world around him. He was able to discern the patterns of inheritance by observations and counting offspring of specifically designed crosses. He did this without knowing about the existence of DNA, chromosomes, mitosis, and cell proliferation which would have explained his patterns easily. His laws of inheritance stand till today with very few adjustments.

What was your first job?

I was a server/bus person/dishwasher/cashier/ice cream lady in the main restaurant of Avonturenpark Hellendoorn (a local amusement park where my parents live).

What does your very best day include?

Reading and playing/making music with others.

What’s your favorite quote?

“A day without laughter is a day wasted” attributed to Charlie Chaplin. Laughing simply makes everything at least a little better.