Unveiling the heart of issue resolution
In his role as director of the MIT BioMicro Center (BMC), Stuart Levine diligently faces a myriad of challenges each day. One of over 50 core facilities offering shared resources across the Institute, the BMC provides integrated high-throughput genomics, single-cell and spatial transcriptomic analysis, bioinformatics support, and data management to researchers at MIT. The BioMicro Center forms part of the Integrated Genomics and Bioinformatics core facility at the Robert A. Swanson (1969) Biotechnology Center.
Levine expresses enthusiasm for the ever-changing nature of his work, stating, "Every day is a different day." After more than 15 years in the position, Levine is grateful for the broad scope of his responsibilities, enabling him to address numerous scientific challenges.
By blending bioinformatics expertise with strong biotech connections and a commitment to maximizing the center's impact, Levine equips himself to address the diverse inquiries posed by investigators in MIT's Department of Biology and Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, as well as researchers across MIT's campus.
Extensive training in the field of biology initially piqued Levine's interest as a student at MIT, and a charismatic duo of instructors, Professors Eric Lander and Nancy Hopkins, fueled his passion for the subject. Levine subsequently earned his Ph.D. in biochemistry from Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital, returning to MIT for postdoctoral work under the tutelage of Professor Richard Young at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, further solidifying his career in the field.
Annually serving over 100 labs, the BMC supports a wide range of departments, including the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Biology. "It's a fun way to think about science," Levine remarks, attributing his success to a deep understanding of the instrumentation complexities.
Levine's work at the BMC has established a state-of-the-art core facility, as described by longtime colleague Professor Laurie Boyer. The center processes cutting-edge, finely tuned scientific instruments, generating vast amounts of bioinformatics data. Levine's team then utilizes powerful computational tools to store, organize, and visualize the data, contributing to research on a variety of topics, including host-parasite interactions and proposed tools for NASA's planetary protection policy.
"Our aim is to allow researchers to fully utilize systems biology methods," Levine explains. These methods employ advanced research technologies to prepare large sets of DNA and RNA for sequencing, read DNA and RNA sequences from single cells, and localize gene expression to specific tissues.
Levine showcases a flow cell capable of completing 20 human genomes to clinical significance in two days with 8 billion reads. While the vast majority of research labs do not require such power, the Institute and its researchers certainly do. Levine underlines the high return on investment (ROI) for supporting shared resources, as support for the BMC impacts not just one lab but all the labs it supports. Keeping MIT's shared resources at the forefront of science plays a crucial role in the Institute's ability to make a difference in the world.
To remain at the cutting edge of research technology, Levine cultivates business relationships, while his scientific understanding enables him to inform researchers about the possibilities in the realm of modern systems biology. His persistence in addressing any troubleshooting needed for projects has earned him recognition from the Institute with the Infinite Mile Award in 2015 and the MIT Excellence Award in 2017.
Each core facility functions like a small business, offering specialized services to a diverse client base across academic and industry research. According to Amy Keating, Jay A. Stein (1968) Professor of Biology and head of the Department of Biology at MIT, the PhD-level education and scientific and technological expertise of core directors are critical to the success of life science research at MIT and beyond. While Levine undeniably possesses the necessary education and expertise, his success can also be attributed to his tenacity and dedication to delivering results for the BMC's users.
Residing in a humble office tucked away in the far back corner of the BMC lab space, Levine's presence might easily be overlooked. However, his guidance and knowledge form the foundation that elevates the BMC beyond technical support, as he resolutely supports others in their advancement of science.
"Stuart has always been the person who pushes great science, ideas, and people forward," Boyer says. "His knowledge and advice have truly allowed us to be at the leading edge in our work."
- Stuart Levine, as director of the MIT BioMicro Center (BMC), faces numerous challenges each day in his role overseeing one of over 50 core facilities offering resources across the Institute.
- The BMC provides integrated high-throughput genomics, single-cell and spatial transcriptomic analysis, bioinformatics support, and data management to researchers at MIT, forming part of the Integrated Genomics and Bioinformatics core facility at the Robert A. Swanson (1969) Biotechnology Center.
- Levine expresses enthusiasm for the ever-changing nature of his work, stating, "Every day is a different day," after more than 15 years in the position.
- By blending bioinformatics expertise with strong biotech connections and a commitment to maximizing the center's impact, Levine addresses the diverse inquiries posed by investigators in MIT's Department of Biology and Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, as well as researchers across MIT's campus.
- Levine's work at the BMC has established a state-of-the-art core facility, as described by longtime colleague Professor Laurie Boyer, processing cutting-edge, finely tuned scientific instruments and generating vast amounts of bioinformatics data.
- Levine's team utilizes powerful computational tools to store, organize, and visualize the data, contributing to research on a variety of topics, including host-parasite interactions and proposed tools for NASA's planetary protection policy.
- Levine showcases a flow cell capable of completing 20 human genomes to clinical significance in two days with 8 billion reads, highlighting the high return on investment (ROI) for supporting shared resources at MIT.
- While Levine's success can be attributed to his deep understanding of instrumentation complexities, his persistence in addressing troubleshooting needs for projects has earned him recognition from the Institute with the Infinite Mile Award in 2015 and the MIT Excellence Award in 2017.
- Each core facility, like the BMC, functions like a small business, offering specialized services to a diverse client base across academic and industry research.
- Amy Keating, Jay A. Stein (1968) Professor of Biology and head of the Department of Biology at MIT, underlines the importance of the PhD-level education and scientific and technological expertise of core directors like Levine, critical to the success of life science research at MIT and beyond.
