Profile of Lora V. Hooper

Abstract

Lora Hooper, a professor of immunology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, describes her career as “a random walk in science.” Her pursuit of science was aided by inspirational mentors who pointed her in directions she might not otherwise have taken. These unexpected turns ultimately led her to study the microbiome: the community of microorganisms that reside in and on multicellular organisms, including humans. When she began her studies, the microbiome was poorly understood and received little attention, but it has increasingly become apparent that the microbiome is essential for human health. In recognition of her work, particularly on how the microbiome manages to safely coexist with its host, Hooper was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2015. Image courtesy of David Arellano (photographer). Hooper describes her upbringing in Nashville, Tennessee, as artistic: Her father was a graphic artist, and her mother was a church organist. Given this background, an early interest in science might not be expected. However, when Hooper was about eight or nine years old, she happened upon a National Geographic book on astronomy. “It was beautifully illustrated,” she recalls. “The photographs were just stunning pictures of the stars, and I became fascinated with the idea of these other worlds out there.” It was through astronomy that her interest in science developed. Hooper pursued her love of astronomy through junior high school and high school by subscribing to astronomy magazines and building a telescope with her father’s help. She used the telescope to observe the surface of the moon and the rings of Saturn. Hooper also credits her high school chemistry teacher, Jackie Turner, for furthering her interest in science. Given her interest in astronomy from an early age, Hooper naturally considered a career in astronomy. At Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, her …