Dr. Jiang, assistant professor of physiology, is one of 15 individuals so honored this year and the seventh Searle Scholar from UT Southwestern since the program's inception in 1980.
"Youxing is a talented, dedicated and intellectually gifted investigator who shows promise for a remarkable and outstanding independent scientific career," said Dr. James Stull, chairman of physiology at UT Southwestern.
Dr. Jiang's research focuses on determining the structure and function of ion channels, which are proteins found in cell membranes. Ion channels control the flow of ions, such as sodium, potassium and calcium, across the cell membrane. Their function underlies many biological processes, including the excitation of nerve and muscle cells, the secretion of hormones, and sensory transduction.
An Endowed Scholar in Medical Science at UT Southwestern, Dr. Jiang joined the faculty in 2003. He earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Peking University and a doctorate in chemistry from Yale University. He completed his postdoctoral work at Rockefeller University.
Searle Scholars are either first- or second-year assistant professors in tenure-track positions. Invited academic institutions may submit only one or two names for consideration.
The Searle Scholars Program was founded through trusts established by the wills of John and Frances Searle. He was president of G.D. Searle & Co., a Skokie, Ill.-based pharmaceutical company. Including this year's recipients, the program has made grants totaling more than $62 million to 378 researchers.
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