The OETIS Chronicle
FY23 Q4
Office of Education, Training & International Services
In this Issue DEI E&T Workshop Postdoc Recruitment Open House Grad Student Appreciation Week SCOTUS’ Ruling on Race-Conscious Admissions GSBS Annual Retreat International Travel Reminders Trainee Highlights Graduations Postdoc & Graduate Student Counts
Everyone's career journey is different, and that is a strength By: Tony Ngo, Ph.D., Guest Writer; Postdoc, Chun Lab
In May, Sanford Burnham Prebys’ Education and Training Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee was fortunate to host Dr. Caleb McKinney, Assistant Vice President and Associate Dean at Georgetown University. Dr. McKinney led a special career development workshop, titled “Advancing your Career through Community and Connection” and included themes on how to harness the strengths of your unique background to advance your career, navigating complex power dynamics in the workplace, and maximizing your relationships with your mentors. The workshop attracted not only graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, but also numerous other attendees from the Institute including research technicians, staff scientists and faculty. Though one might presume that the wide audience composition might hinder audience participation due to inherent power dynamics, Dr. McKinney quickly adapted, creating an inclusive and psychologically safe environment. Notably, he shared his personal experiences with microaggressions, setting audience expectations to the same level. This was a great real-time demonstration of navigating complex power dynamics in the workplace. For the workshop itself, there were several key takeaways. The first was the importance of building a community of mentors to enable different perspectives and support for various career and professional areas across someone’s life. For example, in the academic training environment, this could be an advisor, in addition to, peer or near-peer mentors to provide support. Continued on next page
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Building this network of mentors can help build self-confidence and increase self-efficacy. The next major takeaway was the 3R (Reassess-Realign-Reimagine) framework to evaluate mentorship relationships and resources to improve one’s own mentoring experience. The 3R framework allows mentors-mentees to consistently reflect on the
positives/negatives (reassess), discuss maintaining the positives and improving on the negatives (realign), and agree on a plan moving forward (reimagine). One final takeaway from Dr. McKinney’s presentation is to be your authentic self. While it is widely recognized that this action demands vulnerability and confidence, Dr. McKinney’s authenticity and displayed comfort immediately built trust and engaged our diverse audience. Of note, he stressed the importance of being your true self, displaying genuine curiosity, and engaging in difficult conversations builds connections that lead to a positive experience for everyone involved. Overall, the workshop was a tremendous reflective learning experience for all involved. It served as an example of the events that the Education and Training DEI Committee organizes, in line with their mission to improve and promote a DEI education and training culture at Sanford Burnham Prebys.
OETIS hosts Virtual Open House to expand postdoc recruiting efforts By: Nisha Cavanaugh, Ph.D.
On May 15, OETIS hosted prospective postdocs at the first Institute-wide Virtual Open House designed to highlight the unique features of postdoctoral training at Sanford Burnham Prebys and raise awareness of our collaborative research endeavors. A collaborative effort among OETIS, the Cancer Center, faculty, and postdocs, this one-day virtual event included presentations from a variety of faculty and staff on postdoctoral funding opportunities unique to Sanford Burnham Prebys, the research programs and facilities, as well as career and professional development programs for postdocs.
Attendees interacted with current postdocs to hear more about their training experience, and with former postdocs on how they leveraged their training to pursue academic or industry careers. Fifty-five advanced graduate students and early career Ph.D.’s registered of which twenty-eight were able to attend. Nine attendees responded to our post-event survey to learn more about open postdoctoral training opportunities, and at least one attendee will start a postdoc position at Sanford Burnham Prebys this fall. OETIS will incorporate feedback from attendees and faculty participants towards hosting another Virtual Open House in 2024 as we strive to continue expanding the Institute's reach to a diverse and talented pool of prospective postdocs! Page 2
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We our Sanford Burnham Prebys graduate students! By: Paula Checchi, Ph.D. Founded by the National Association of Graduate and Professional Students (NAGPS), 2023 marked the 30th anniversary of Graduate Student Appreciation Week (GSAW). A nationally-recognized celebration of the contributions of graduate students, GSAW activities are held annually on campuses across the country – including ours! In recognition of their contributions, students in our Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) were spotlighted on digital signage throughout our campus and were highlighted on social media outlets all week long. We kicked off the week with a complimentary breakfast complemented by the distribution of goodie bags and free custom fleece hoodies adorned with our GSBS seal. Throughout the week, our students then logged online daily to play a series of virtual trivia events which brought out everyone’s competitive spirit. Our first runners up, a team of four first-year students, won a complimentary Starbucks drink, while the powerhouse team of Zong Ming, Michael Alcaraz, Marcos Teneche, and Patrick Hagan won the overall prize and were rewarded with a free lunch at nearby Farmer & the Seahorse. Congratulations to ALL our GSBS students – you are the heart of our Program, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you again!
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SCOTUS’ Ruling on Race-Conscious Admissions By: Angelica Rocha, Ph.D.
On June 29th of 2023, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) delivered a landmark decision to end raceconscious admissions at institutes of higher education nationwide. This ruling extends the 1996 Prop 209 decision against affirmative action in public schools in California to private schools, like ours. Following Prop 209’s implementation in 1998, “many underrepresented minority applicants became 50% less likely to earn admission to UC’s most selective campuses, relative to academically-comparable nonunderrepresented students” (Bleemer, 2020). At the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, we have long embraced a holistic approach to admissions that does not rely on race as a determining factor. Applicants are free to discuss race in their application essay, but are not asked to do so. The Admissions Committee may acknowledge achievements based on race, heritage, and culture, but the applicant’s race may not influence admissions, nor will racial data be provided to the Admissions Committee.
In their ruling, SCOTUS found that Harvard University and the University of North Carolina (UNC) violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, citing challenges in quantifying the educational benefits of affirmative action. Given our location in a region characterized by racial and ethnic diversity, we wholeheartedly align with Harvard and UNC on the value of preparing students to thrive “in a diverse society,” “better educating students through diversity,” “promoting a robust exchange of ideas,” “fostering innovation and problem-solving,” and “enhancing appreciation, respect and cross-racial understanding, and breaking down stereotypes.” We are committed to maintaining a dedicated and disciplined approach to admissions, that includes creating an enriching environment where students from diverse backgrounds wish to enroll and can envision themselves thriving. With our collective efforts, we can shape a diverse student body that, according to our mission, will become the innovative biomedical scientists of the future.
It is important to note that the SCOTUS decision pertains to student admissions and does not affect hiring practices for employees and postdocs at our Institute. Page 2 4 Page
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GSBS takes over Wine Country: Memories from our 2023 Retreat! By: Paula Checchi, Ph.D.
From May 10th-12th, a record number of GSBS students and faculty came together for our annual retreat held in Temecula, California. To kick off the retreat, we were fortunate to have a morning of interactive professional development facilitated by Caleb McKinney, Ph.D., M.P.S. Highlights of Dr. McKinney’s workshop included Individual Development Plans, career planning, and the importance of engaging career and research mentors. Throughout the remainder of the retreat, our graduate students’ work was showcased in the form of talks and poster presentations from our first-year students. The outstanding work of our students was in turn recognized with a flood of positive commentary from peers and faculty alike, and on Friday, Tatiana Moreno, Sophie Hao and Jordan Freidlein, received special recognition for most engaged participant, best poster, and best oral presentation (aka the “Howling Coyote”), respectively. Thank you to Yu-Ling Linda Chang, Utkarsha Paithane and Aashna Lamba, the student organizers of our annual Sanford Burnham Prebys graduate retreat, for putting together such a fantastic program up in beautiful wine country. We can’t wait to do it again in 2024!
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Travel
FY23 Q4
Reminders for SBP International
Students and Scholars By: Susie Bolor
With holiday season approaching, we want to help make your travels are stress-free. To help you be prepared for your departure and arrival we have included information to help make your travel as smooth as possible. Traveling out of the United States: Contact International Services, internationalsvcs@sbpdiscovery.org, in advance of arranging your travel to review necessary travel procedures & documents. Check that your immigration documents are valid and that they will be valid upon your re-entry to the United States. A passport that is valid at least six months into the future at all times. Valid nonimmigrant visa (stamp) for the appropriate category for reentry to the United States. Valid document required for your nonimmigrant status: F-1 Students: Form I-20 with valid travel signature from within the past 12 months of reentry (6 months if on OPT or STEM OPT). J-1 scholars: Form DS-2019 with valid travel signature from within the past 12 months. H-1B: valid/unexpired Form I-797A (or B) approval notice. O-1: valid/unexpired Form I-797B approval notice
Gather all your travel documents you need in one place and carry them with you (not in your checked luggage). Before you go, find the latest travel requirements for your country of destination, contact the nearest embassy or consulate of the country you plan to visit and check for updated travel information and restrictions (i.e., other countries may require a visa to enter their country). Also check your airline’s website for additional travel requirements and restrictions. Learn about your destination. Prepare for your trip: What to expect when you get to the airport, on the plane and during the flight, and upon arrival at your destination. Visit the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for updated information on requirements for flying, check-in screening process, including identification to bring at the airport checkpoint, and allowed items in carry-on. Page 2 6 Page
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Reentry to the United States Upon return to the United States, you will go through customs inspection by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at a U.S. Port of Entry (airport or border crossing). Individuals must prove their legal eligibility to enter the United States for their intended purpose.
Links to helpful resources: Applying for Admission into the United States
Department of Homeland Security
and Prohibited Items restricted Bringin g Food s into the U n ited St a tes
Trainee Highlights Congratulations to Katya Marchetti, graduate student in the laboratory of Dr. Karen Ocorr, for being named a recipient of the Association for Women in Science (AWIS) Scholarship! The AWIS-San Diego Scholarship Program encourages and rewards outstanding women pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields at San Diego colleges and universities. For Katya, this means understanding the genetics behind congenital heart diseases with a particular emphasis on translational medicine to improve personalized patient care. Tanja Eisemann, Ph.D, postdoc in Dr. Anindya Bagchi’s lab, gave a lecture at the San Diego Fleet Science Center this June for their Sharp Minds Series. Dr. Eisemann's talk focused on her work in exploring tumor immunology and was titled, "Tumor Immunology - Understanding the role of the immune system in the progression and development of cancer". Page 2 7 Page
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Congrats to our April, May, & June 2023 PhD Graduates!! Congratulations to Dr. Paloma Sánchez Pavón Dr. Paloma Sánchez Pavón defended her Ph.D. thesis on May 1, 2023 Dr. Sánchez Pavón, a student in Dr. Jerold Chun’s laboratory, successfully defended her thesis titled "LPA-dependent propagation of neuroinflammatory mechanisms in an optimized model of post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus".
Congratulations to Dr. Meher Beigi Masihi Dr. Meher Beigi Masihi defended his Ph.D. thesis on June 5, 2023 Dr. Beigi Masihi, a student in Dr. Robert Wechsler-Reya laboratory successfully defended his thesis titled "RREB1 is required for Growth of Group 3 Medulloblastoma".
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Postdoc & Graduate Student Counts POSTDOCS AS OF JULY 20, 2023 TOTAL POSTDOCS
60
Postdoc Associate Postdoc Associate, Sr. Postdoc Fellow
51 1 8
GRADUATE STUDENTS JULY 20, 2023 TOTAL GRADUATE STUDENTS
47
GSBS Graduate Students External Graduate Students
41 6
LAST QUARTER HEW HIRES APRIL - JUNE 2023 TOTAL
4
Postdoc GSBS Graduate Student External Graduate Student
3 0 1
END AFFILIATION WITH SANFORD BURNHAM PREBYS APRIL - JUNE 2023 TOTAL Postdoc GSBS Graduate Student External Graduate Student
12 4 2 6
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Office of Education, Training & International Services
Diane Klotz, Ph.D. Director Associate Dean, Administration & Professional Development
Megan Elyamani
Nicole Villa, M.A.
Program Coordinator, GSBS
Program Coordinator, OETIS
Education & Training Nisha Cavanaugh, Ph.D.
Angelica Rocha, Ph.D.
Paula Checchi, Ph.D.
Associate Director, Career Development & Postdoctoral Programs
Assistant Director, Institutional Research & Academic Planning
Program Manager, Recruitment, Outreach & Achievement
International Services Mitchell Furumoto
Susie Bolor
Manager, International Services
Senior International Advisor
Leadership Support Alessandra Sacco, Ph.D.
Linda Bradley, Ph.D.
Dean, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Faculty Advisor, Postdoctoral Training
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