Science and Sensibility: A Profile of Professor David Miyamoto

By D.P. Rigg
Drew Magazine
Summer 2003

"David Miyamoto is creative, determined, willing, long-suffering, and tireless -- all for the cause of students, the department, and the college." -- Professor Louise Temple-Rosebrook, chair, department of biology

The corridor leading to 107B in the Hall of Sciences is lined with postings of student projects and research information. Surrounding the modest room are several laboratories, workrooms, and greenhouses. Upon entering 107B, a visitor is greeted by a wall of scholarly papers and journals, as well as scientific equipment, a few bottles of inert gases, and a lab sink. In short, there's a great deal about room 107B that would convince a guest that this is the work space of a scientist. There would be little doubt, of course, until you notice the objects hanging from the ceiling.

Soaring above the tools and texts is an arrangement of bird mobiles, a collection of colorful geometric forms, and a life-sized skeleton apparently enjoying its jaunty flight -- all made of paper by someone with impressive proficiency. The seemingly contradictory nature of the room can be attributed to nothing but the artistic skill of its creative resident, Professor of Biology David Miyamoto.

"I'm a visual person by nature," says Miyamoto. "Although my professional interests are broad, my first love is the study of visual structures."

It would not be unusual for a professor to display a propensity for both art and science, especially at an institution like Drew where so many people seem to be multifariously talented. But Miyamoto takes this concept somewhat further by effectively applying a blend of his artistic and scientific skills to whatever challenge happens to fall in his path. The result is a study in the beauty of science along with its formulas and laws: biology in dimension.

Comfort Factor

Miyamoto is a developmental and cell biologist with particular interests in optical imaging and microscopy. A native southern Californian, he did his undergraduate work at the University of California, San Diego, where he minored in fine arts. He came east to Duke University to earn his Ph.D. in zoology and did postdoctoral work at the University of Texas at Austin before taking on his first teaching job in New Jersey at Seton Hall.

His Drew career began in 1986; he had actually been on the brink of accepting a position in Florida when an opportunity arose to interview at Drew.

"I really felt comfortable here," he recalls. "I liked the place -- the biology program, the people, and the dynamics of the campus. On the basis of that interview alone, I declined the Florida offer."

At Drew he has taught courses in biochemistry, genetics, vertebrate morphology, and evolution. His recent research efforts have mutated him into a microbiologist; in collaboration with Associate Professor of Biology Louise Temple-Rosebrook, department chair, he has been studying Bordetella avium, a bacterium that causes respiratory disease in birds.

"Louise and I work well together -- she kind of brings out the best in me," he explains. "She handles the DNA portion of the research while I concentrate on cellular biology."

This research is supported by the National Institutes for Health and the U.S. Department of Agriculture and places the University in the forefront of research on this bacterium. It also provides opportunities for Drew undergraduates to get involved in original research, working alongside their mentors.

Utility Player

Photo: David Miyamoto working with students. Miyamoto's natural curiosity and willingness to "get involved" fuels his wide array of interests and has caused him to become somewhat broadly and universally experienced -- a quality that can have some good and not-so-good consequences.

"I guess I'm a generalist at heart," he says, "and that can be a problem for a research scientist because of the nature of research. But at Drew, you need to be a generalist -- you must remain flexible to be able to offer all you can and enjoy all that is available."

Professor of Biology Leland Pollock headed the search committee that found Miyamoto. In addition to a competent academic, their decision brought a talented "utility player" to Drew.

"David's all over the place -- in the department and out -- solving problems," says Pollock. "If it's a technical difficulty, or has to do with computers, audio, or visual issues -- he's the one who can make it happen.

"Biology is a broad field; if our department has a sudden need for someone to step in and teach a course, David's breadth of knowledge can usually save the day. He's an extremely versatile and gifted educator."

In the Trenches

Miyamoto's first teaching assignment in The Forest was not in front of Drew students, but with the N.J. Governor's School in the Sciences, a summer program for exceptional high school science and math students. He has remained involved with the Governor's School throughout his Drew career and has served as the program's assistant director, and, since 1998, its director.

Holly Kuzmiak is a senior whose positive experience with the Governor's School and David Miyamoto convinced her to study biology at Drew.

"Professor Miyamoto leads by getting involved," she says. "He's in the trenches with you, always professional and not afraid to confront problems. I might storm into his office ranting about something or other that's not going right. He'll look up and say ÔHolly, calm down,' and suddenly, everything is okay."

For students, his support is not limited to classroom exercises. While Kuzmiak was attending the Governor's School, she and her classmates were sitting around after a tough day's work when Professor Miyamoto passed by. He stopped and began giving impromptu lessons in Asian art.

"Here's a college professor who probably had a thousand important things to do, but yet he had time to show us how to make origami stars," recalls Kuzmiak. "I'll never forget that."

It's Miyamoto's one-on-one style that seems to endear him to his students.

"I've had Professor Miyamoto as a teacher and an adviser," says senior Luke Hubbard.

"With him, you're speaking to a real person -- a scientist and teacher -- someone who's been where you are and knows what questions are going through your mind. In the classroom, he's always finding creative ways to present the material -- it's always practical and different, so you don't forget it."

Aside from his duties as director of the Governor's School, Miyamoto has been actively involved in facilities planning for Hall of Science renovation efforts, as well as University projects. He has worked tirelessly toward improving science facilities and in support of an addition to the Hall of Science, a much-needed project that many feel may determine the future of the sciences at Drew.

He currently serves on the College's task force for long-range facilities planning and is the primary CLA representative on the University space committee. His work has not gone unnoticed by his peers.

"David is able to deal with the strong needs and opinions of a diverse faculty," says Pollock. "Frustration never seems to dull his efforts -- he's always in there trying to salvage something, even out of the greatest disappointments."

"He is always even-handed and never gets ruffled," adds Edward Domber, professor of psychology and member of the CLA space committee. "And he knows so much about the CLA's space situation -- you can mention some obscure closet in Embury Hall and he can tell you the square footage and color of the paint. He does a great job."

There has been a downward spiral in science enrollments across the nation and Drew's science programs are suffering as much if not more than those at most institutions. As far as David Miyamoto is concerned, the time to act is now.

"I've been working on the future of science at Drew since 1995," he says. "We have a responsibility to our students to provide the proper environment for learning. But costs are high -- where do we get the money? I share the concerns of my colleagues in science: we must take a serious look at the issues and reexamine our strategies.

"The study of biology today is much different from when I was an undergrad. The paragraphs I studied are now volumes and students can't master so many details. Confronted by all this data, it's easier for students to understand stories, so a challenge for teachers is to properly tell the stories and get involved.

"Given our limitations, I think we do a wonderful job for our students here at Drew."

First Impressions

When Louise Temple-Rosebrook came to interview at Drew, Miyamoto picked her up at Newark Airport.

"It was during one of those times when the airport was suffering with construction -- the place was a mess. David picked me up and we chatted about the work I was doing with turkey bacteria, and the things he was doing at Drew. He knew that the lab I was working in lacked an egg incubator - -- an essential piece of equipment - -- so the first thing he showed me was Drew's. I knew right away that this was the place for me. We've been collaborating ever since.

"What's so unusual about David as a scientist is his willingness to switch gears and jump in with both feet, a testament to his creative character and dedication -- he just won't say no to people."

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