Picture BRUCE BEUTLER , REVELLE ’ 76 , esteemed immunologist and geneticist , awake at 2:30 in the morning Googling his name . It may seem strange for a researcher at the top of his field , but if you ’ d just received an email congratulating you on winning the Nobel Prize , you might find yourself double-checking as well .
For Beutler , the award was no hoax but a duly deserved honor of a lifetime pursuing breakthroughs that could advance the human condition . Along with colleague Jules Hoffman , Beutler received the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discoveries concerning the activation of innate immunity .
Now a leading immunologist , geneticist , professor and director of the Center for Genetics of Host Defense at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center , Beutler fondly remembers his early days of UC San Diego . “ There was a lot of pride in the potential of the place . There was a sort of spirit of taking risks and doing things that were cool and new .”
That sense of incredible potential drove him to work harder and finish school quickly so he could dive into his career . Not only did Beutler enroll at UC San Diego at the age of 16 , he earned his degree at an accelerated pace . “ I could see that the world was going to change a lot because of genetics and molecular biology , and I wanted to be a part of that .” Beutler even recalls telling a friend at the time , “ the train of science is leaving without me .”
That early worry becomes especially ironic considering how far Beutler has come . In addition to the Nobel Prize , he is also a winner of the Shaw Prize and a member of the National Academy of Sciences and Institute of Medicine .
When asked about his renowned work ethic and acute focus on his chosen topic , Beutler says , “ If we hadn ’ t been focused and committed to one problem , we probably wouldn ’ t have gotten there . We ’ re all out to make really important discoveries , not incremental ones in the end .”
And it ’ s those big discoveries that keep Beutler going every day . “ The real joy is the intellectual reward of finding something new and then really understanding it .”
— Jenna Sauber
“ We ’ re all out to make really important discoveries , not incremental ones in the end .”
“ It was serving in the community that led me to believe that there were better ways that the City could deliver to its citizens , and to actually bring the neighborhoods to City Hall ,” says Lightner . As Council President , a position she has held since 2014 , her priorities include economic development , expansion of the tech , cybertech and blue tech industries in San Diego , water policy , promotion of STEM education , as well as closing the job skills gap and updating the City ’ s charter .
Despite everything that is on her plate , Lightner remains tirelessly dedicated to improving her community , a job that she notes cannot be completed without the technical and analytical background skills gained at UC San Diego . She additionally credits her alma mater for contributing to the lasting values that guide her every day , especially the importance of confidence and accountability . “ UC San Diego taught you to be fearless ,” adds Lightner . “ You learned to stand up and account for yourself , and stand up for other folks as well .”
Now in her final year serving on the San Diego City Council , Lightner is focusing on finishing what she started eight years ago . “ I want to be known as a council member who truly represented my community ,” she says . ” If you don ’ t ask for something , the answer is always no . That ’ s why I ’ m continually asking for what I think our residents and communities deserve .”
— Sherilyn Reus , Sixth ’ 16
“ UC San Diego taught you to be fearless ; you learned to stand up and account for yourself , and stand up for other folks as well .”
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