Charalampos "Babis" Kalodimos, PhD, has joined St. Jude Children's Research Hospital as the new chair of the Department of Structural Biology.

Kalodimos assumes the role from Stephen White, D.Phil., who assumed the position of dean of the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

The hospital reported that in his role as chair of Structural Biology, Kalodimos "will continue building a department that will provide researchers with the technologies to tackle important biological systems with the overarching goal to understand health and disease at a molecular level."

Kalodimos also will oversee a major expansion of the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance resource at St. Jude, including one of the most powerful magnets in the world, which will be used to enhance the study of biological samples.

Previously a distinguished professor in the University of Minnesota's Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, Kalodimos' research into the cellular machinery relevant to cancer has led to important insights into how mutated proteins can drive the development and spread of the disease. Already well-acquainted with modern spectroscopy methodologies, he will be responsible for growing the Department of Structural Biology at St. Jude into a worldwide resource for researchers working on different ways to treat pediatric cancer and other catastrophic diseases.

"Dr. Kalodimos is among the best in his field, and we are fortunate to have him join St. Jude as the institution takes steps to further strengthen basic science operations," said James R. Downing, MD, St. Jude president and chief executive officer. "Under his leadership, the Structural Biology department will increase faculty and staff positions, as well as significantly enhance the technological infrastructure within the department."

Kalodimos earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of Ioannina in Greece, completed his doctorate at the Institut Curie in Paris and was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands. After completing his fellowship, he served as a faculty member in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Rutgers University from 2004 to 2015.

Tricia Spence

Tricia Spence has been promoted to Manager of Volunteers and Special Events.

She will provide oversight of the hospital's volunteer programs and supervise the volunteer coordinator and student interns Volunteer Services Department.

A nine-year veteran of St. Jude, Spence was previously responsible for recruiting, screening, placing, supervising and providing training for a staff of 70 volunteers.

Spence earned a journalism degree at the University of Memphis joined St. Jude in 2008 as Volunteer and Special Events Coordinator.