From Switzerland to the Wilds of Minnesota: The Aquatic Journey of Amazonas Magazine’s and Swiss Tropicals’ Stephan Tanner
How does a Swiss aquarium fish enthusiast go from molecular cancer research to leadership roles for both Amazonas Magazine, a must-read resource for aquarium hobbyists, AND Swiss Tropicals, a company specializing in aquarium filtration systems?
Join us, as my guest Dr. Stephan Tanner, Senior Co-Editor and Co-Publisher of Amazonas Magazine AND head of Swiss Tropicals, describes his aquarium fish journey from Switzerland to Minnesota.
BIO:
I have kept aquarium fish since 1982. Born in Switzerland, I set up my first fish tank at age 14, followed by a whole bunch more over the years. My fascination for nature and biology led to a B.S. degree in Ecology and Molecular Biology (1995) and a Ph.D. in Human Molecular Genetics (1998); both from the University of Bern, Switzerland. During my undergraduate years, I also worked several years for a local fish and pet shop (Spiezer Zoo, Spiez, Switzerland).
In 1992, I became a member of the International Society for Barbs, Tetras, Loaches, and Catfishes (IG BSSW). From 1994-2006, I was the editor-in-chief for its quarterly publication BSSW Report. I regularly travel to fish-related events all over the United States and Europe and to visit friends that I have made throughout the great world of fish. I am a member of the IG BSSW, American Cichlid Association, American Livebearer Association, North American Native Fishes Association, Minnesota Aquarium Society, and Columbus Area Fish Enthusiasts.
From January 2013 January 2018, I was a senior editor and the translator for Reef to Rainforest Media LLC, the publisher of the famous CORAL and AMAZONAS magazines in Vermont. In the summer of 2018, Reef to Rainforest Media decided to sell AMAZONAS magazine. Together with my colleagues Matthew W. Pedersen and Michael J. Tuccinardi, we are now publishing AMAZONAS magazine via our new company Aquatic Media Press, LLC based in Rochester, MN.
And as for my “other career,” after my doctorate in 1998, I moved to Columbus, Ohio for a postdoctoral fellowship in cancer research at the Ohio State University. In the fall of 2005, I became a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology, and Medical Genetics. My scientific work in human molecular genetics focused on identifying genes and pathways for acute myeloid leukemia (PNAS 2001, Vol 98), juvenile vitamin B12 malabsorption (Nature Genetics, 2003 Vol 33 & PNAS 2005, Vol 102), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CELL 2007, Vol 129), and colorectal cancer (Science 2008, Vol 321). Most recently, I had the pleasure to write a review with Prof. Ralph Gräsbeck, who described Imerslund Gräsbeck Syndrome back in 1960! How cool is that? We also published on one of the oldest human disease mutations to date (OJRD 2011). To see what else I have published, go to my Google Scholar page. Since 1998, I have published 50 peer-reviewed papers, including the results of a 12-year study on genetic vitamin B12 malabsorption.