TEACHER BIOGRAPHIES
Dr. Johanna C. vanderSpek received her BS in Microbiology from U. Mass. Amherst and
her PhD from Boston University School of Medicine. She was faculty in the department
of Medicine, Section of Biomolecular Medicine at Boston University Medical Center for
several years. Her main research involved structure/function studies of diphtheria toxinrelated fusion proteins and their use as therapeutics. Dr. vanderSpek also worked in
industry on developing therapeutics with reduced side effects. Her current interest is
assisting students who are interested in pursuing careers in science successfully prepare
for higher education and jobs in biotechnology-related fields.
Dr. Andrea Pereira received her PhD in Biology from Brandeis University. Prior to
becoming a science teacher, she worked as a Drosophila geneticist and cell biologist. Her
research on the genetic analysis of microtubule-associated proteins was done at Harvard
University and UMass Medical School. More recently Dr Pereira received a Noyce
Fellowship from the National Science Foundation, which enabled her to pursue and
receive a Masters in the Art of Teaching from Clark University in Worcester MA. Her
main interest is in science teaching and literacy development in the urban classroom.
Dr. Richard W. Lambrecht received his BS in Physical Science from Michigan State
University and his PhD in Environmental Toxicology from the University of Wisconsin.
After graduate school, he became a Chemist at the Veterans Administration Medical
Center in White River Junction, Vermont studying the effects of Dioxin on liver cells.
After moving to UMass Medical School, his main research interest was how heme-the
iron containing substance in blood-is made and degraded. He was an Assistant Professor
at the University of Connecticut Health Center where his research interests were
molecular biology and microarray analysis. His current interest is providing the
background and context for students to succeed in a career in biotechnology.