Brandeis Magazine

The Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST) in Japan awarded an honorary doctorate to professor Li Jiayang, Ph.D.’91, of the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He was recognized for his scientific achievements and enthusiastic support of the Global Centre of Excellence (COE) program. Li, a prominent plant geneticist whose research focuses on improving rice yield and quality, has promoted NAIST’s Global COE program through international student exchanges. Affimed Therapeutics appointed Eugene Zhukovsky, Ph.D.’92, as chief scientific officer. He has 20 years of professional experience in the field of biotherapeutics research and development. Previously, he was a senior research fellow in the Biotherapeutics Department at Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals. Tilo “Alex” Shimada-Brand, M.A.’96, is a financial specialist at Harvard University. He lives in Weston, Mass., with his wife, Stephanie Shimada, and son, William. Olaf Unteroberdoerster, Ph.D.’98, serves as deputy division chief in the Asia and Pacific Department for the International Monetary Fund. His role has allowed him to advise on key economic issues, see the world, and meet with senior government officials, including Central Bank governors and ministers of finance. Barbara Cassidy, M.A.’98, serves as administrative director of the School of Jewish Music at Hebrew College in Newton, Mass. A classically trained singer, she had a professional theater career in Chicago in the 1980s and has worked in documentary film production. She performs with her husband, Eric Chasalow, a composer and the Irving G. Fine Professor of Music at Brandeis, who plays the guitar, saxophone, flute and piano. Their Barbara Cassidy Band appears at coffeehouses and fundraisers, playing original songs, traditional music and covers of popular artists.