Angela Baker

Ms. Angela Baker, a student in the Toxicology Ph.D. program at Rutgers University, is the 2007-08 Celgene Catherine Pegram Fellow. This fellowship honors Catherine Pegram, one of the founding scientists at Celgene. Angela Baker received her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Fisk University in 1996 and her Master of Science from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in 2005. Before beginning her master’s program, Angela worked as an Environmental Health Specialist for the State of Missouri, where she worked with underserved populations on issues involving the linkage of toxicants with neurodegenerative diseases. This experience generated an interest in how the environment contributes to the development of these diseases at the molecular level, and what strategies (pharmacological and preventive) can be developed to reduce their impact on human populations. Angela’s background, training and experience give her an unusual perspective for her doctoral studies. Already familiar with how families and populations afflicted with diseases such as Parkinson’s, ALS and Alzheimers are forced to deal with their diseases, she has developed a keen interest in pharmacotherapy and stem cell approaches to treatment. The environment at Rutgers University is superb for developing these interests. Her maturity and high level of commitment should give her an excellent foundation for a career in neurotoxicology and neuroscience.