Jacob earned a degree in Probability and Statistics through the UCSD Math Department and a minor in Data Science. He completed multiple data science projects concerned with climate change and its impacts on the environment and the inhabitants of California while pursuing his minor. Jacob also served as a Research Assistant at Scripps Institution of Oceanography under Professor Katherine Ricke, working on a project to evaluate the efficacy of current climate change impacts models. Jacob’s positive undergraduate experience was aided in large part by the recently established UCSD Data Science Department and all of its advisors and professors. Though Jacob did not have an affiliation with the UCSD Medical School, Dr. Grant provided Jacob with mentoring throughout his time at UCSD, and was very pleased to serve as a family faculty representative in this virtual graduation.

On December 3rd, 2019 a Portrait Unveiling Ceremony was held in recognition of The Dr. Igor and JoAnn Grant Chair in Psychiatry. The ceremony included remarks from Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla, Interim Psychiatry Chair Robert Anthenelli, MD, and Vice Chancellor - Health Sciences, School of Medicine Dean, David Brenner, MD.

Dr. Grant celebrates with Stella (Xiang) Chen, graduating medical student from UC San Diego’s School of Medicine, on occasion of her receipt of the Award for Academic Excellence and Biomedical Research on June 1, 2019. In addition to excelling in her academic and clinical work Dr. Chen completed a basic science Howard Hughes Medical Institute fellowship with Dr. Richard Gallo, Chair of Dermatology, studying the innate immune function of dermal adipocytes. Her work with her mentors showed that differentiating dermal adipocytes produce antimicrobial peptides necessary for cutaneous defense against S. aureus, and declines during aging. Dr. Chen will be headed to the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix for a preliminary medicine year and then to Harvard/MGH for dermatology residency. The Igor Grant MD Endowed Award for Academic Excellence and Biomedical Research was established by JoAnn Grant, RN, in honor of Dr. Igor Grant to recognize graduating medical students who rank at the top of their class academically, and who also sought opportunities to conduct biomedical research. Congratulations Dr. Chen!

In honor of the department’s milestone anniversary, the Grants have established the Dr. Igor and JoAnn Grant Chair in Psychiatry, with additional funds to be raised and a match from the UC San Diego Chancellor’s Chair and Faculty Fellowship Challenge. The endowed administrative chair will be held by future chairs of the Department of Psychiatry, who will succeed Dr. Grant. Endowed chairs play an important role in recruiting and retaining top physician-scientists. The administrative endowed chair will allow for the chair holder to utilize the annual funding for the greatest needs of the department. The Grants’ gift contributes to the $2 billion goal of the university’s comprehensive fundraising effort, the Campaign for UC San Diego. Read the full article here.