Michael Bethune
I was shocked and saddened to find this out today. Mathew was wonderful and a role model to me in graduate school. I started as a novice graduate student in Chaitan Khosla’s lab in 2004, at which point Mathew was already a seasoned pro. He was a marvelous teacher: patient, funny, and generously thorough in his instruction. Most everything I know about molecular biology I learned from Mathew. He also provided helpful advice about any number of non-technical matters related to surviving graduate school. His intelligence made him a joy to speak with about politics (hooked me on a number of NPR programs), books (introduced me to Armistead Maupin), television and music (he loaned me the Tales of the City series and introduced me to the musical Rent, burning me the soundtrack). Thank you to Mathew for the myriad, thoroughly good ways you influenced my life. Comfort and love to your family and close friends enduring your loss.