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Who is Keri Kles?
Learning What Career is Right for Her
Keri was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She became interested
in science at a young age. While still in school, she had the chance to be
in the Knights of Columbus Science and Art Fair. In addition, she was
involved in a program called Project SEED, organized by American Chemical
Society and UpJohn Pharmaceutical Company. This project seeks to encourage
economically disadvantaged high school students to consider careers in the
chemical sciences. During the summer, the students get to work in a
laboratory doing hands-on research guided by a scientist-mentor. Keri got
to work at Western Michigan University in Susan Stapleton’s lab in the
Department of Biochemistry. These experiences only increased her interest
in science.
College Years
When it came time to go to college, Keri knew she wanted to study science
because she never wanted to stop learning and asking the question, “why”?
Science is the perfect career for someone like that. She decided to attend
a school in her home state of Michigan and selected the University of
Michigan in Ann Arbor. Not only is it a terrific state school, but it is a
top-rated institution for research and medicine. She knew that this would
be a great way to begin her career.
During her undergraduate years, Keri again had the opportunity to work in
a lab. This time it was a genetics laboratory, which introduced her to
another area of science. Keri received a Bachelor of Science degree in
Biology and Women Studies in 1997.
Starting a Career in Physiology
After she finished her undergraduate degree, Keri decided she wanted a
career in physiology. Physiology attracted her because it allows her to
investigate questions that affect the whole animal, while testing specific
biochemical pathways or organ systems. She knew that to do the research
she wanted to do; she would need to get her Ph.D. degree. So she began
considering what Ph.D. program she wanted to enter. She selected the
Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Illinois in
Urbana. For her Ph.D. research project, she worked in Dr. Kelly A. Tappenden’s lab and studied nutrient transport in the intestine. She
finished her degree in 2002.
More Research Training
Most new Ph.D. students go on to do more research training in another
laboratory after getting their degree (called postdoctoral training). Dr.
Kles went to her advisor for help in deciding what further type of
training she should get and where to get it. Together they selected the
lab of Eugene Chang in the Institute of Inflammatory Bowel Disease at the
University of Chicago School of Medicine. Drs. Tappenden and Chang have a
mentoring relationship set up through the American Physiological Society
so they knew this would be a great postdoctoral position for Dr. Kles.
In that job, she enjoyed learning new techniques, which included training
both at her current lab and at Washington University in St. Louis. She was
responsible for balancing many different projects and, in some of the
projects, coordinating between many laboratories.
Research Projects
Dr. Kles’ projects include molecular biology and physiology approaches to
intestinal diseases, such as colon cancer and inflammatory bowel diseases
(IBD). She has been able to be involved in a number of studies. She’s
tested therapies for IBD effects on intestinal secretion. Another study is
on the regulation of oxalate transport in the intestine and how that
effects the formation of calcium oxalate kidney stones. Finally, she is
determining the regulation of heat shock protein RNA.
After finishing a project, Dr. Kles has to write up her results into
manuscripts. She submits the results to scientific meetings as well as
abstracts that she will then present during the meeting.
Dr. Kles received the 2004 Young Investigator Award from the Cell and
Molecular Section of the APS this spring. She has also been a recipient of
the APS NIDDK Minority Travel Awards from APS for several years. In
addition, she has received awards from the American Society for
Nutritional Sciences for her research.
Teaching Practice
In addition to her research, Dr. Kles has taken advantage of opportunities
to teach. She was a teaching assistant while in graduate school and taught
at the local community college as well. Recently, she taught nurses at
Lewis University just outside Chicago. In these positions, she has learned
how to set up a course, grade assignments, and construct lectures. In
addition, she’s learned effective teaching methods for different learning
styles.
Scientific Writer
This postdoctoral period helped Dr. Kles decide what she wanted to do next
in her career. While writing up her manuscripts, she found out she really
liked to write. So, after finishing that training in April of 2004, she
decided to try becoming a writer. Dr. Kles is now working at Eli Lilly &
Company as a scientific writer. She has the opportunity to write about
therapies for people with diabetes.
For Fun
Outside of her work, Dr. Kles enjoys a variety of things: working out,
rock-climbing, yoga, watching movies, going to the theater, and enjoying
music.
She has been active in the past as a volunteer at a Soup Kitchen and a
Hands-on Museum. For the past few years, she has helped APS out during its
annual meeting by being a tour guide for local high school teachers and
students, showing them the many exhibits and research poster sessions. She
also has enjoyed the opportunity to be a State of Illinois science fair
judge and is now on a planning committee for the 2006 International
Science Fair. Currently she is a board member for the Crohn’s and Colitis
Foundation of Indiana.
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