Rudi Fasan first experienced working in a laboratory as an undergraduate at the University of Padua in Italy. Then, he supervised students in labs as a graduate student at the University of Zurich and as a postdoctoral fellow at the California Institute of Technology.
An interest became a passion.
鈥淏eing able to transfer my knowledge and train younger scientists was amazing,鈥� says Fasan, a recipient of a Goergen Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching. 鈥淚t was life changing.鈥�
Fasan is a professor in the and the Andrew S. Kende Endowed Chair in Synthetic Organic Chemistry. The Fasan Lab develops new synthetic methods for the discovery of pharmacologically active molecules, with an emphasis on anticancer and antiviral agents. His laboratory is also engaged in developing new biocatalytic methods for green and sustainable chemistry.
Fasan focuses on first-hand experience. 鈥淲hat makes Rudi unique is his commitment to and success in training undergraduates to perform biological and organic chemistry research in laboratory,鈥� says Todd Krauss, chair of the chemistry department. 鈥淧roviding such rich experiential learning experiences is what sets the University apart from almost all other institutions. And Rudi is off the scale.鈥�
What students are saying
鈥淒r. Fasan fostered a professional and lively atmosphere in the lab, and safety was always a priority. Working in his lab was the most important and influential aspect of my undergraduate education and made me realize that I wanted to continue research in graduate school. He was always willing to offer his advice and helped me through the entire process of applying to graduate school. He cares tremendously about his research and always pushes his students to accomplish greatness in the lab. At the same time, he clearly cares about the professional development of his individual students and keeps their best interests in mind.鈥�
鈥擭icholas Hill 鈥�15
“Dr. Fasan was one of the most impactful and supportive professors I had at Rochester. His marriage of critical thinking and high-yield research methods allowed me to thrive in undergraduate and graduate research endeavors. I honestly believe that I would not be as well equipped a medical student if it were not for him. I am forever grateful for the tools he bestowed on me when I met him six years ago.”
鈥擩oshua McGough 鈥�17
鈥淒r. Fasan expressed compassion and understanding for his students in every class and consistently expressed that the most important thing was that we understood the material. He speaks to students like peers and puts no artificial barrier between professor and student.鈥�
鈥擲amuel Perakis 鈥�16
Since arriving at Rochester in 2008, Fasan has averaged more than four undergraduate students in his lab at any given time. 鈥淭hat number is remarkable,鈥� Krauss says. 鈥淔or context, faculty at Rochester average less than one student per year in their labs, so Rudi by sheer numbers is doing an order of magnitude better.鈥�
Fasan says mentoring students in his labs is one of most rewarding aspects of his career at Rochester. 鈥淭hey join our group with lots of energy and enthusiasm,鈥� he says. 鈥淔or many of them, it鈥檚 their first experience doing research in a lab, and it鈥檚 a real pleasure to challenge them and watch them grow and become better scientists and better thinkers. After graduation, they move on to take on wonderful jobs in industry, academia or as physicians, and have a real impact on society.鈥�
Rachel Bonn-Breach 鈥�17, a third-year doctoral student in biochemistry at the Medical Center, volunteered to work in Fasan鈥檚 lab as a first-year undergraduate. 鈥淚 had little experience but tons of ambition,鈥� she says. 鈥淩udi latched onto that ambition instantly. I never left his lab empty-handed. Every day was full of learning and experience.鈥�
Fasan was born in a small town near Venice and earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree in pharmaceutical chemistry at Padua鈥攖he fifth-oldest university in the world. He moved on to Switzerland for his graduate studies, then landed at Cal Tech, where he worked with Frances Arnold鈥攚inner of the 2018 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
鈥淲hat drove me to Rochester in the first place was starting a research group,鈥� Fasan says. 鈥淏ut then I discovered a passion for teaching and working with really talented undergraduate students. I first discovered my passion for research as an undergrad, and I鈥檓 essentially trying to reproduce that experience with my students here.鈥�
Fasan has also taken an active role working with the David T. Kearns Center to mentor minority students who are underrepresented in the physical sciences. 鈥淲e鈥檝e done that almost from the beginning, and it鈥檚 an extremely gratifying experience,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he opportunity to be involved in relevant research is a hallmark of our University, and for minority students especially that can be a life-changing experience.鈥�
Fasan sees his role as transferring knowledge, but also instilling a passion for chemistry. 鈥淚 try to keep them engaged and interested,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 extremely rewarding to help them discover an interest for a particular area that may lead to a future career.鈥�
The COVID-19 pandemic forced closure of the University鈥檚 campuses and labs last March. It was a challenging time for professors, including Fasan.
鈥淚t really was an unprecedented time,鈥� he says. 鈥淲e were shut down for a few months and slowly got going again. Our research lab is active now, and we鈥檝e been able to ramp up to a point where we can be productive again.鈥�
Fasan hopes his students leave the University with the 鈥渁bility to think critically鈥� in society. 鈥淲e鈥檙e overwhelmed with information,鈥� he says. 鈥淎ny piece of information we want is at our fingertips. So the problem becomes not how to acquire information, but how to process it in a critical way鈥攖o discern between quality information and lower quality information and even misinformation.鈥�
He says the Goergen Award is 鈥渁n incredible honor,鈥� but also a recognition of the dozens of students who have worked in his lab over the years. 鈥淭heir contributions, enthusiasm, and experience have all benefited the lab.鈥�
Read about the other recipients of this year’s Goergen Award.
