We have known for a long time that the human body is at least 50% water, but little was understood about the processes by which individual cells manage the flow of water and solutes. Professor Joel Swanson, a professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, has dedicated much of his career to answering the simple question: “How do cells drink?” 

Swanson’s scientific interests have been about how water and extracellular solutes move into and through cells. His research focused on macrophages and their very versatile roles in sustaining life. In particular, he used quantitative fluorometric and microscopic methods to study the mechanisms and regulation of phagocytosis (ingestion of particles) and macropinocytosis (ingestion of fluid) in macrophages. 

Macrophages responding to the addition of the growth factor Colony-stimulating Factor-1. 
The photo shows time in minutes:seconds following addition of the CSF1. The scale bar is 10 microns.

Connecting and rethinking biology

In all his work, Swanson has taken a distinctive approach looking at ways the whole system is functioning as a package. For example, he studied how macrophages ingest particles, first extending out around a particle, then constricting and enclosing it. This biological process involves different membrane alterations that need to be coordinated into an action, with underlying control and regulation mechanisms. 

“Watching a cell through a microscope, you get the sense that it’s like a little creature, and yet, it’s just a collection of molecules. It’s the interface between being alive and being a collection of chemical reactions, and that’s my main fascination.” —Joel Swanson, Ph.D.

The notion that cells might control how much they “drink” –implying intention, control, regulation– was in itself innovative and somewhat provocative in the field of microbiology. And thinking novel ideas is what Swanson never ceases doing, challenging his own reflections and stimulating his students’ and everyone’s imagination. For him, it is essential to cultivate a distinct vantage point of the overall organization of a cell. He attributes his discoveries to his back-and-forths between taking a panoramic view of the cell system and focusing extensive microscopic observations of molecules moving inside cells. “This way of thinking keeps science fun and lets new ideas float up to the surface,” he said.

“Adopting a distinct vantage point leads to unconventional questions and answers.” —Joel Swanson, Ph.D.

Phil King, Ph.D., a professor of microbiology and immunology who has collaborated with Swanson, said: “Joel’s talent was his ability to interpret scientific discoveries in the broadest context. This approach typified our interactions on a joint project demonstrating a requirement for macropinocytosis in T cell cycle progression. The studies were the first to show its role in the growth and division of rapidly dividing primary cell types.” 

Another collaborator, Akira Ono, also a professor of microbiology and immunology in M&I, said: “Scientifically, whether it's about our collaboration or others’ work, Joel's questions/comments quite often make us realize that there is more to figure out, especially in the context of time and space. He opens our eyes for possible new directions to pursue. Non-scientifically, interacting with Joel is pure fun!”

Swanson also acknowledges the extraordinary people who have influenced his career and he is very grateful for their mentorship and advice. Among them, he recognizes Drs. Gary Floyd, John Bonner, Lansing Taylor, and Samuel Silverstein, as well as his many outstanding colleagues. 

Swanson published 130 papers and has over 14,000 citations. He served as a principal investigator on 15 NIH grants and currently holds a prestigious R35 award from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS). He has given 64 invited lectures, co-chaired the Kavli Royal Society Conference on Macropinocytosis and chaired a Gordon Conference on Phagocytes. At the University of Michigan (U-M), he has been recognized with the Rackham Graduate School Faculty Recognition Award, the Basic Sciences Teaching Award, the Distinguished Faculty Lectureship Award in Biomedical Sciences, and an Endowment for Basic Sciences (EBS) Recognition award. In 2021, he was named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

“The most exciting moments of my career were when I realized that we found something new. It’s a thrill that kept me addicted to research and science. Coming up with a way to connect things that had resisted connection, through a lot of effort and time, is so very satisfying! Another great moment is also when collaborators discovered something that got them excited; their feelings were infectious.” —Joel Swanson, Ph.D.

To maintain a fluidity of thoughts, Swanson highly recommends engaging with many activities outside the lab. And following his own advice, he was a long-time member of the Burns Park Players, a local theater troupe. He is also an accomplished painter, sketch artist and more recently, he has expanded his repertoire into videography and film-making about cellular life. “Watching movies of cells is a very good way to make discoveries about how cells work,” he said. And about innovative thinking, he said: “The process of working and re-working the fabric of understanding, pulling at the threads of evidence that make up conventional wisdom, requires a lot of support from colleagues. One needs to be comfortable with their surroundings to be able to play with ideas and to tackle serious questions in a creative unconventional way.” 

 Video showing macrophages responding to the addition of the growth factor Colony-stimulating Factor-1. 

The lab culture

In his lab, he has built a collegial community of thinkers and has been greatly appreciated by his trainees. “Professor Swanson is a positive thinker, motivator, very hard working, and the best leader. He taught me many different research skills, guided me in my research project and was very friendly in the day-to-day work experience. He had a great ability to lead his team even by involving himself into every laboratory activity,” said Biniam Tebeje, Ph.D., currently a postdoctoral research fellow in the Swanson lab. “I have never seen such a kind, positive, dedicated and friendly mentor in my whole life.” 

Swanson lab, left to right: Gustavo Rosania, William Feliciano, Lee Shaughnessy, Michael Davis, Amanda Wong, Lynn Kamen, Timothy Welliver, Rebecca Henry, Ken Christensen, Joel Swanson, Biniam Tebeje, Albert Tsang, Esther Racoosin, Adam Hoppe, Stephanie Seveau, Youxin Zhang, Matangi Marthi, Natalie Thiex, Nobukazu Araki, Isabella Gaeta and Olivia Alge, 
Last Departmental Lecture reception, April 25, 2024

Zachary Mendel, Ph.D., ’22, now a scientist at Enumera Molecular, shares the sentiment and wrote: “...One thing I will miss about working in the Swanson lab was our lab meetings. As our team was always composed of scientists with diverse ways of interpreting data and thinking about science, I would often be forced to think about my science from many different angles. These scientific discussions and constructive guidance were invaluable to my career. I am very fortunate to have Joel in my life and I wish him all the best in his retirement."

Irina Grigorova, Ph.D., a faculty colleague, said: “It has been wonderful to have Joel as a mentor during my tenure at U-M. I believe all Joel’s mentees have had a lot to learn from him. In addition to an in-depth and ingenious approach to science, he has been a role model of a professor with “spiritual aristocracy:” very intelligent, wise, patient, and sincerely positive with a good and kind sense of humor. It was amazing how Joel’s sense/search of beauty permeated his scientific work and expanded way beyond it into various types of art and theatrical performances. We remember how my cool teenage (at that time) son was amazed with Joel’s acting skills and transformation from a scientist into Alfred Doolittle from Pygmalion for the theatrical show in Ann Arbor. It was truly outstanding!”

Amanda Wong, M.D., Ph.D., now a clinical instructor at Washington University in St. Louis, also wrote: “Joel is an exemplary mentor who combined the best features of scientific rigor, humility, and kindness. Through our direct interactions, I learned how to ask scientific questions, build testable hypotheses, design and use assays to quantify cell biological phenomena, and communicate our findings in direct and clear language. Through observing his model and example, I learned how to approach both scientific and personal endeavors with curiosity, compassion, and genuine joy, which makes the hard work of both science and life much more palatable. Joel also assembled an extraordinary group of colleagues, and I will fondly remember the lab culture he created, which helped to foster immense personal and intellectual growth during my time in the lab.”

During his 28-year career in M&I, Swanson has taught 11 courses and has served on four graduate and two training programs. He was Associate Director for Cell and Molecular Biology, and served as Associate Director and then Director of the Cellular Biotechnology training program. He mentored 12 Ph.D. students and eight postdoctoral fellows. At the U-M, he served on the Biomedical Research Council as a member, vice chair and ultimately chair and as a member and ultimately as chair of the Dean’s advisory committee on Appointments, Promotion, and Tenure. In M&I, he also served in numerous leadership roles in the department.

Swanson is very grateful for the support that he received in M&I under four chairs: Michael Savageau, Michael Imperiale, Harry Mobley and Beth Moore. He applauds and is immensely grateful for the collegiality of the department and the commitment of the faculty to M&I’s education and research mission. 

“Dr. Swanson has been such a terrific faculty member to have in the department because of his fabulous expertise in cell biology, especially membrane rearrangements and microscopy. Activation of many immune cells and infection by many pathogens impact these processes, so Joel’s expertise has been valuable to essentially everyone in the department for decades. Honestly, he is also the most genuinely friendly and collaborative individual you could hope to have as a colleague,” said Beth Moore, Nancy Walls Professor of Microbiology and Immunology and Chair of the Department of M&I. 

Joel Swanson and Beth Moore, April 2024
 

Education

Swanson received his B.A. from Rutgers University and his M.S. from Ohio State University. For his Ph.D. at Princeton University, he studied how the amoeba Dictyostelium coordinates its sensing and responses to chemical gradients that guide cell movement. This study set him on his research path as it prompted a new set of questions and interests, in particular how a cell knows when it has reached satiety. 

Following his postdoctoral studies at Rockefeller University and Columbia University, he joined the faculty at Harvard Medical School where he was promoted to associate professor. He joined the University of Michigan in 1996 as an associate professor with tenure of anatomy and cell biology, but in 1988, he transferred to the Department of Microbiology and Immunology where he was promoted to professor in 2001.  

In his retirement, Swanson will further explore videography and take nonfiction material from the microscope into a realm of fantasy and playful imagination. 

We wish him well as Emeritus Professor!