Young Scientist Receives Award for Protein Phosphorylation Research.
Dr Judit Villen of the University of Washington, Seattle, has been presented with the renowned American Society for Mass Spectrometry (ASMS) 2011 Research Award of $35,000 to further her studies in mass spectrometry (MS). Sponsored by Thermo
Fisher Scientific for more than 20 years and administered by ASMS, the annual award recognises and supports breakthrough academic research by young scientists and has propelled many past recipients to leadership positions in MS research. Dr. Villen received the award during a ceremony at the Wells Fargo Theatre in Denver during the 2011 ASMS conference.

An independent and anonymous ASMS committee chose Dr. Villen based on her research on the MS-based analysis of protein phosphorylation in single cells. Her goal is to understand the complex cellular signaling networks that impact the expression of cancers such as human breast cancer. The early-stage research, which the award will support, focuses on the development of a novel interface for single-cell MS using a Thermo Scientific Orbitrap hybrid mass spectrometer system.
Dr Villen will use her award to purchase laboratory supplies and equipment and, if necessary, to pay graduate student or supplement post-doctoral salaries.