FACULTY PROFILE
Segatori's
varied background prepared her
to teach innovative new class
 If Laura Segatori's life was condensed into a bumper sticker, it might
read, "I wasn't born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could." Between
the lines would be journeys from her native Italy to the Lone Star
State and through biotechnology and chemical engineering.
Segatori, T.N. Law Assistant Professor in Rice's Chemical & Biomolecular
Engineering department, draws upon her diverse background to lead
an innovative new class at Rice that teaches chemical engineers how
to communicate with biologists.
"It's important for chemical engineers to be able to interface with
biologists, and this class introduces them to biology and gives them the
tools they need to communicate," Segatori said.
Segatori was born in Bologna, Italy, where she studied molecular
biology and protein engineering as an undergraduate. An exchange
program brought her to the University of Texas in Austin, where
she was exposed to research in chemical engineering.
When Segatori returned to Italy, she graduated and defended her
thesis. But she had been bitten by the research bug and was drawn
back to Texas to complete her doctorate in chemical engineering.
"I had labs in school but never really got to do hands-on, independent
research as an undergrad," Segatori said. "Things are different
in Italy. There aren't as many alternatives, and you can't always
choose the lab you want to work in."
Before Segatori interviewed for a position at Rice, she was already
impressed. She knew about its proximity to the Texas Medical Center
- which is crucial to her work -- and when she visited the city,
she liked its open, friendly feel. At Rice, these positive feelings
were confirmed.
"I could tell everybody knew and cared about each other," she
said. "The
professors were happy and seemed to have close relationships with
their students. And, I was impressed with the opportunities for
undergraduate research, which I believe strongly in."
Now in her first semester of teaching, Segatori will focus next
spring on setting up her lab and establishing a research program,
including hiring undergraduates and graduate students. The program
will research protein folding, especially in misfolding disorders
such as Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.
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