The highest honour an academic staff member can receive from the University of Alberta was recently awarded to researcher and professor Marek Michalak.

Vice-Dean of Research at the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry and a professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Michalak was honoured with the University Cup for his successes in teaching, research and community service at the Celebrate! Teaching. Learning. Research ceremony Sept. 27.

Originally from Poland and a faculty member with the U of A since 1987, Michalak has mentored nearly 100 students and post-doctoral fellows in his time at the university. However, he believes working with a vibrant team is far more important that his individual contributions.

If (the team) will bring passion and motivation to their work, what difference does it make if we are the bosses? As long as (we) provide the environment, the mentorship and the supervision, then everything falls into place, he said.

If you really think about it thats what I said to the crowd (at the ceremony) Im just doing my job, so whats the big deal?

The research conducted by Michalak and his team includes the analysis and reduction of protein-folding diseases, such as Alzheimers, multiple sclerosis and cystic fibrosis.

As a leader in the field of molecular cell biochemistry, Michalaks accolades include the awarding of $24 million in research funding for his lab and the publication of more than 200 academic papers.

Michalak explained most of his research discoveries started from asking curiosity-driven questions.

In the past 20 years, weve been asking ourselves very simple, almost trivial questions that led us to huge findings, such as (issues like) complete heart blocking in children. That received quite a lot of attention, he said.

Anything is possible; you just never know what the next discovery brings. Thats the fascinating part of science.

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U of A honours biochemistry professor with University Cup