Associate Dean for the Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine | St. Louis, Missouri We are pleased to announce that Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine (WUSTL) has named Dr. Steve Mennerick as permanent Director and Associate Dean for the Roy and Diana Vagelos Division of Biology & Biomedical Sciences (DBBS). After serving in the interim role over the past two and a half years, Dr. Mennerick’s permanent appointment was effective August 1.Dr. Mennerick is a Professor of Psychiatry and was recently named the John P. Feighner Professor of Neuropsychopharmacology. He is Division Director for basic neuroscience in the Department of Psychiatry and Scientific Director of the Taylor Family Institute for Innovative Psychiatric Research. His scientific career has focused on control of neuronal excitation and inhibition by neurotransmitters in the central nervous system to advance knowledge of the delicate balance between normal synaptic function and neurotoxicity that can be mediated by neurotransmitters. His work has led to unique molecular understanding of how neurosteroids act through GABA receptor sub-populations. His research program has been well funded by the NIH, and he is currently the PI on one P50 center grant and an R01 grant. He has extensive experience on NIH study sections. He is also a dedicated mentor who has served on many advisory committees for graduate student education. In partnership with many individuals across WUSTL, Dr. Mennerick has spearheaded an innovative, interdisciplinary onboarding experience for incoming PhD students that introduces them to the challenges of creating new biosciences knowledge. Dr. Mennerick and his team have successfully grown DBBS’s student numbers to keep pace with faculty hiring at the institution. Along with expanding the program, his team and partners across schools have been making tangible improvements to the culture of research training, including increasing career development opportunities for students, bolstering student organizations, and offering mentorship training for DBBS-affiliated faculty. Dr. Mennerick holds a PhD in Neuroscience from Washington University in St. Louis.