Duran
appreciates old, new
By Cindy
Foster
Walter
Duran has a great appreciation for the old, for roots and for
history. He is fascinated, too, by the new, and learning and
exploring. Hes discovered that working at UNM allows him
to combine the two.
The University
is the only employer hes ever had as an adult but
he says the field that he works in here molecular biology
- provides him with the constant prospect of learning and doing
something new.
Duran,
research scientist II in the department of molecular genetics
and microbiology, grew up in Roswell when his father transferred
there with the military. His parents, Mary and Tony Duran, and
sister Diane, still live there. But he can trace his family
roots in northern New Mexico back to the 1700s.
I
take a lot of pride in the fact that Im a native New Mexican,
he said. I think it is important that there are still
many people here who have maintained traditions that have been
unchanged for hundreds of years.
Biology
always fascinated Duran and he worked in the lab at Roswell
High School. As a university student, he got a job washing
lab beakers and then, after graduating in 1987 he went
to work fulltime.
Molecular
biology has been the main focus of his career. Ive
done everything from A to Z, he says, counting off the
positions with his fingers: research Tech I, II, III and IV,
Senior Research Tech then Senior Scientist I & II. The jobs
have taken him to labs studying a variety of subjects. His most
recent assignment involves reverse genetic systems analysis
of the hantavirus a topic with the potential to help
defend against biological terror attacks in the future.
Duran says
he has been lucky to have strong mentors. Dr. Taolin Yi, while
still a graduate student, offered to help Duran learn about
the field of molecular biology. He was my super mentor,
said Duran. After 15 years, Duran says he still gets excited
about his field.
What
I think I like best is the constant newness of it. You never
solve the problem. There is always a new challenge, always a
bigger/better/faster way of doing things, he said. And,
you never get bored with the people. Ive met and learned
from people from all around the world.
Durans
homelife reflects the combination of old and new. He recently
moved to the Northeast heights with his wife Rochelle (Shelly)
and Lucki, a mixed-breed mutt who likes to take walks with the
couple in their neighborhood. Weekends are spent doing woodworking
a craft learned from his father - and cooking for family
and friends. An important part of their life also revolves around
San Felipe Catholic Church in Old Town. There they find friends
who also honor several hundred year old family traditions. Working
so that history coexists peacefully with the new ideas and developments
takes some effort, but the results are worth it, he said.
Shelly
and I have been active in our neighborhood association,
he said. Sometimes they need a volunteer and Im
tired and dont really want to raise my hand. But then
when we are out walking the dog and see the results of what
we did, I know it was worth it.
In
many ways your best ally in living here is the landscape of
New Mexico itself, he said. Its so beautiful
to live here, its such a romantic state, it makes it easy
to put in the extra effort. I wouldnt want to live anywhere
else.
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