A native of Russia, Dr. Pilipenko received an M.A (1988) in Biophysics from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and his D.Sc. (1995) in Molecular Biology from Moscow State University. He obtained subsequent post-doctoral training at the University of Chicago under the mentorship of Dr. Raymond Roos in the Department of Neurology. In 1999, he was appointed as a Research Associate (Instructor) in the Department of Neurology and promoted to Research Associate (Assistant Professor) in 2000 before becoming an Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology in 2002.

Dr. Pilipenko’s research program examines the role of RNA/protein interactions in cell-specific regulation of viral gene expression with a goal of clarifying how these processes affect viral disease. His research is specifically focused on the molecular mechanisms of host cell-specific control of viral RNA translation in picornaviruses, with the goal of identifying new strategies that are important in preventing or treating viral diseases.

Dr. Pilipenko has received many honors and awards during his career. In 1991, he received the Royal Society Fellowship from the United Kingdom and in 1993 he received a medal and award in Medicine from the European Academy for Young Scientists of the Former USSR. In 1994, he received the Russian Presidents State Fellowship for Young Talented Scientists and was an active member of the New York Academy of Sciences. He was also an Expert Project Reviewer for the Russian Foundation for Basic Researches and awarded the State Priority Program “Biosciences and Biotechnology” by the Russian Government Committee in 1995. In addition, Dr. Pilipenko won an award at the Annual Competition for Best Scientific Work of Young Scientists at Moscow State University and the Russian President’s State Fellowship for Outstanding Scientists in 1997.

Dr. Pilipenko contributes to the Microbiology program by assisting in the teaching of Medical Microbiology, Viruses of Eukaryotes, the Microbiology Seminar Series and serving as a mentor and on various thesis committees for Microbiology graduate students.