Meet Assistant Teaching Professor of Biology Manuel Alejandro Semán Senderos, PhD
October 14, 2021
Manuel Alejandro Semán Senderos, PhD, is an assistant teaching professor in the Department of Biology. He previously earned his PhD at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine under the mentorship of Dr. Hal Dietz studying fibrotic diseases. His research focus was cell biology processes gone awry in disease and the use of genetic tools in order to find and validate new therapeutic targets. As a professor, his main interest is to make abstract concepts tangible by highlighting the experimental methods as well as the historical context behind specific breakthroughs.
Degree: PhD, Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Research Interests: Genetics, Cell Biology, Drug Discovery and Synthetic Biology
Hometown: Mexico City, Mexico
What did you do before coming to Drexel?
I earned my PhD at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
What is your favorite food or restaurant?
Mexican food, but only back home. In the US, French or Italian.
What book, movie, show or podcast would you recommend?
Book: The Billion Dollar Molecule by Barry Werth
Movie: The Blues Brothers (1980, Dir. John Landis)
Podcast: Doughboys, a podcast about chain restaurants
What is your favorite thing about Philadelphia?
The roast pork sandwich at Tommy DiNic’s in Reading Street Terminal.
When was the last time you did something “for the first time”? What was it?
In 2019, I ran my first marathon in Chicago.
Which current event/issue do you think students should know more about, and why?
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs). I think for anyone interested in understanding the current distrust of scientific evidence, and the intersection of research with the rest of the world, should learn about the development of GMOs and what drives the skepticism around them.