OETIS Chronicle
In this issue: ‣ 17th Annual Postdoc Symposium ‣ GSBS Orientation and Faculty Appreciation ‣ National Postdoc Appreciation Week ‣ Profiles of our Recent Ph.D. Graduates & More!
17th Annual Postdoc Research Symposium By Nisha Cavanaugh, Ph.D. | Manager, Postdoctoral & Academic Programs and Diane Klotz, Ph.D. | Director, OETIS
In the Sanford Consortium’s main auditorium, keynote speaker Dr. Keith Yamamoto engages an audience of faculty, postdocs, students, and staff at the 17th Annual Postdoctoral Research Symposium.
On Thursday, September 20, more than 150 SBP faculty, trainees, other scientists, and staff gathered for the 17th Annual Postdoctoral Research Symposium. This event, co-organized by the SBP Science Network (SBP-SN) and OETIS, showcased research at SBP from a record number of SBP postdocs and graduate students. Based on feedback from last year’s event, to accommodate more presenters this year’s agenda was expanded to include 9 podium presentations, a 2hour poster session, and 5 flash talks – a unique opportunity for postdocs and graduate students to get the audience excited about their research posters by presenting one slide in one minute.
Keynote speaker Dr. Keith Yamamoto, UCSF Professor of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Vice Chancellor for Science Policy & Strategy, and Director of Precision Medicine, blended his mentoring, science policy, and research experience in his talk, “Science on steroids: radical optimism and essential disruption with a little help from your friends.” Dr. Yamamoto stressed the importance of being actively and deliberately involved in the scientific enterprise through having the courage to tackle challenging research questions, keeping an open mind about who can mentor you on your path to success, participating in science advocacy efforts, and communicating your science to the public. The podium talks and poster presentations at this year’s Symposium highlighted both the breadth and depth of biomedical research being pursued by SBP postdocs and graduate students. With only 15 minutes each, the podium speakers effectively described the research questions they are asking, the model systems they are using, and the data that support their conclusions and future research plans. Dr. Michael Stec, Postdoctoral Fellow in the Sacco lab, won Best Podium Presentation for his talk entitled, “The Fbxw7-PGC-1α-Irisin axis in myofibers regulates postnatal muscle development.” Dr. Joana Borlido, Postdoctoral Fellow in the D’Angelo lab, won Best Poster Presentation for her poster entitled, “Nuclear pore complex-mediated modulation of TCR signaling is required for naive CD4+ T cell homeostasis.” (cont. on p. 2)
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Drs. Stec and Borlido each received a travel award to use towards their career and professional development. The day wrapped up with the Fishman Fund Award Ceremony. For more on the Symposium, check out this Beaker Blog article: https://sbpdiscovery.org/node/2435.
SBP graduate student, Nicole Bata (Cosford lab), presents her research poster to Mitale Tambe, PhD (a postdoc in the Freeze lab). The 2-hour poster session gave postdocs and students a professional development opportunity to present and receive feedback on their work as well as explore potential new collaborations.
Following his keynote presentation, Dr. Yamamoto engaged in conversation with SBP postdocs and graduate students.
Symposium Awards: Best Podium Presentation 2nd place Honorable Mention
Michael Stec, PhD (Sacco lab) Jaime Zlamal, PhD (Osterman lab) Katja Birker (Bodmer lab)
Best Poster Presentation 2nd place
Joana Borlido, PhD (D’Angelo lab) Karina Barbosa Guerra (Deshpande lab) Daniel Ojeda-Juarez (Kaul lab) Marina Gehring, PhD (Pasquale lab) Mafalda Loreti, PhD (Sacco lab) Chiara Nicoletti, PhD (Puri lab) Anupama Singh, PhD (Hansen lab)
Honorable Mentions
Event Stats: 156 attendees 72 postdocs 21 graduate students 19 faculty 44 scientific and/or administrative staff 20 research labs and 8 programs represented 9 podium talks, 5 flash talks, and 40 posters
GSBS Welcomes Nine New Students to Campus By Andrew Bankston, Ph.D. | Program Manager, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences In September, SBP’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) welcomed nine new students! Four students are international coming from the UK, Singapore, Japan and China and five are from across the U.S. including Philadelphia, Los Angeles and several local to San Diego. Scotty Cadet (Dong lab) has a B.S. from Loyola University in Chicago. He began his graduate studies in the lab of Tim Kamp, M.D., Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Scotty joins the Dong lab to develop cell reprogramming strategies to generate insulin-secreting cells both in vitro and in vivo as potential therapies for diabetes. James Kent (Marassi lab) has a B.S. from the University of Edinburgh. In the Marassi lab, James will focus on determining the structure-function relationship of membrane proteins. (cont. on p. 3) OETIS Chronicle
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Shaun Lim (Hansen lab) has a B.S. from Yale-NUS College in Singapore. Shaun will continue his research on aging by exploring the molecular and cellular mechanisms regulating autophagy during aging in the Hansen lab. Tianhui Liu (Adams lab) has a B.S. from Waseda University and a M.S. from Kyoto University. Tianhui will continue his studies into cellular stress response, focusing on cellular senescence in the Adams lab. Ryan Loughran (Emerling lab) has a B.S. from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. In the Emerling lab, Ryan will continue his research on the role of PI5P4K in autophagy and cancer metabolism. Rachael McVicar (Snyder lab) has a B.S. from San Diego State University. Rachael returns to the Snyder lab to study the development of proximal lung tissues with the hope of discovering personalized therapies for preterm infants with underdeveloped tissues. Stephanie Myers (Xu/Ronai labs) has a B.S. from UCSD. Stephanie will continue her research into the function of E3 ligases and other factors in Alzheimer’s Disease in the Xu lab with Dr. Ronai serving as her co-mentor. Ruslan Nuryyev (Snyder lab) has a B.S. from Pierce College and a M.S. from CSU Northridge. In the Snyder lab, Ruslan will work to develop new neuroprotective strategies against hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Zhouting Zhu (Rana lab at UCSD) has a B.S. from Southeast University in Nanjing and a M.S. from Nanjing University. Zhouting will explore the role of RNA methylation in cancer pathogenesis in the Rana lab. The students have started their coursework as well as their thesis research.
National Postdoctoral Appreciation Week at SBP By Nisha Cavanaugh, Ph.D. | Manager, Postdoctoral & Academic Programs For the seventh year in a row, the Office of Education, Training, & International Services and SBP’s Science Network organized several events in celebration of National Postdoctoral Appreciation Week (NPAW; Sept. 17-21, 2018). NPAW was originally established in 2009 by the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) in recognition of the contributions postdocs make to the research enterprise. Below are photos from NPAW activities that took place over the course of two weeks! (cont. on p. 4)
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Monday, Sept. 17: Professional Photographer & PerkyBeans Coffee & Smoothie Cart onsite A photographer was onsite to take head shots of postdocs and graduate students to use for professional purposes (e.g. on LinkedIn). They could also stop by the PerkyBeans food truck and enjoy a free handcrafted coffee beverage or smoothie!
Thursday, Sept. 20: 17th Annual Postdoc Research Symposium & Fishman Fund Award Ceremony SBP researchers and staff gathered for a full day event featuring the research accomplishments of postdocs and graduate students as well as keynote speaker, Dr. Keith Yamamoto, Professor, Vice Chancellor for Science Policy and Strategy Director, UCSF Precision Medicine. Following the symposium, four SBP postdocs were recognized at the Fishman Fund Award Ceremony. For more on the Symposium, see page 1. Read about the Fishman Fund Award Ceremony on the Beaker Blog: https://www.sbpdiscovery.org/news/beaker-blog/2018fishman-award-ceremony-honors-postdoctoral-scholars. Friday, Sept. 21: Annual Postdoc Appreciation BBQ Lunch
SBP postdocs and their faculty mentors were treated to a free barbecue lunch! OETIS team members helped serve sides and beverages.
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Tuesday, Sept. 25: Top 10 Ways to Succeed as a Postdoc Nisha Cavanaugh, PhD (Manager of Postdoctoral & Academic Programs) provided her top 10 ways for postdocs to make the most of their training and utilize the resources available to them at SBP: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Understand yourself Make a (career) plan Have a back-up plan Establish a healthy mentor-mentee relationship Communicate your research
6. Expand and maintain your network 7. Seek out professional development and training 8. Engage in your community 9. Utilize your resources 10. Make time for yourself
Thursday, Sept. 27: CV/resume Review Session OETIS team members were available to meet one-on-one and provide feedback to postdocs and graduate students on their curriculum vitae, resume, or cover letter. Friday, Sept. 28: Sunrise Science Lecture Series Three SBP postdocs presented their research to a broad audience (including scientists and non-scientists at SBP).
Koen Galenkamp, PhD (Commisso Lab): Exploring Therapies for Pancreatic Cancer Ee Phie Tan, PhD (Hansen Lab): Selective Autophagy & Disease Zhijie Xia, PhD (Freeze Lab): Rare Diseases
Preuss 2-Week Summer Research Program By Ellen Smock | Program Coordinator, OETIS and Andrew Bankston, Ph.D. | Program Manager, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Founded by SBP Board of Trustee member Peter Preuss, The Preuss School offers a unique opportunity for promising students from lower income families. Students selected to attend The Preuss School, at no charge, hope to become the first in their families to graduate from college. In fact, all Preuss School graduates who are accepted to UCSD will have their tuition fully paid. As part of their education, students at The Preuss School spend part of their summers gaining professional experience to explore their career options. One opportunity available to them is a two-week long summer research internship program at SBP (originally established in 2008). Each year 8-12 students transitioning from 10th to 11th grade are chosen for the program through a rigorous application process. While on the SBP campus, they are exposed to a variety of research fields and given the opportunity to acquire handson laboratory experience. (cont. on p. 6)
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This year we were happy to host 12 Preuss students. In addition to their work in the labs, they were introduced to positions in industry and—new this year—given the opportunity to discuss their education plans with current SBP graduate students. At the end of the two-week program the students prepared posters documenting the work they did. These posters were presented to a group that included their families, program donors, and administrators from both SBP and The Preuss School. The success of this two-week program can be seen in the fact that many students return the following year for a separate six-week summer internship program. Some have come back as undergraduate interns while completing their degrees at UCSD. The Office of Education, Training, and International Services would like to thank everyone at SBP who made this program a success. Particular thanks go to those who took time out of their busy schedules to mentor these exceptional students. The labs who hosted the Preuss students: Drs. Crystal Zhao and Yang Wang; Drs. Rolf Bodmer, Soda Diop, and the Bodmer lab; Dr. Duc Dong, Dr. Jonatan Matalonga Borrel, Clyde Campbell, and the Dong Lab; Drs. Malene Hansen, Caroline Kumsta, and the Hansen Lab. Graduate students who participated in the Grad School Career panel were: Stephanie Myers, Amir Razai, Clyde Campbell, Katja Birker, and Marisa Sanchez. We are also grateful to the Philanthropy and Communications departments at SBP for their hard work related to the program as well as Anne Artz at The Preuss School for managing many of the logistics at the school. We look forward to hosting more of these engaging students next summer!
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Congratulations to our recent Ph.D. graduates! Amir Razai, Ph.D. Thesis title: Biochemical Toolbox: New Strategies for the Characterization and Inhibition of Proteases Mentor: Dr. Guy Salvesen Graduated September 28, 2018
Amir was born in Los Angeles, California and spent most of his childhood playing outside, with an unrelenting curiosity towards the world and everything within it. He graduated from UC San Diego with a B.S. in Biochemistry and Cell Biology major in 2008. Upon graduation, Amir worked at two biotechnology companies before attending Georgetown University in Washington, DC, graduating with an M.S. in Physiology and Biophysics in 2011. Following graduation, Amir was offered a position at Inhibrx, a startup biotechnology company in La Jolla, CA, focused primarily on targeting cancer with therapeutic antibodies. During his time at Inhibrx, Amir realized the ability of science to translate into unmet clinical needs for patients. He saw a career that could potentially lead to medicines that extended the lives of countless people. Amir entered the SBP Medical Discovery Institute’s Ph.D. program in September 2015, under mentor Guy Salvesen. He utilized his extensive protein-engineering and assay-development background to develop novel methods for characterizing and inhibiting proteases. During his time at SBP, Amir developed a new strategy for imaging active proteases through the synergistic combination of activity-based probes and antibodies. In a separate project, Amir developed an antibody that selectively inhibits a potential cancer target, MMP-10, introducing a new tool to selectively target the elusive Matrix Metalloproteinase (MMP) family. Finally, Amir engineered a catalytically inactive version of caspase-7, an executioner protease involved in apoptotic cell-death. This version of caspase-7, called a product trap, is capable of identifying apoptotic cells by labeling whether caspase-7 mediated proteolysis has taken place. In his free time, Amir still enjoys doing the things he enjoyed doing as a kid. His original desire to be outside has developed into an insatiable thirst for travel, both domestic and abroad. He still enjoys spending time with his friends and family, and his love for basketball has never been stronger.
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Róisín Puentes, Ph.D. Thesis title: Targeting the CNK1 PH domain to inhibit mutant KRAS cancer growth Mentor: Dr. Garth Powis Graduated July 12, 2018
Róisín Puentes was born and raised in Munich, Germany. She studied pharmacy at The School of Pharmacy, University College London, during which she was drawn toward the field of oncology and became committed to dedicating her future career to the field. She undertook her pharmacy thesis project with Dr. Garth Powis at The Department of Experimental Therapeutics, MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX, in 2011. She followed her studies with a clinical residency at UCL Hospitals rotating through 8 clinical specialties, choosing a double elective in oncology and obtaining her pharmacist license. In 2013, Róisín followed the Powis lab to San Diego and entered the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. During this time, she studied the role of the PH domain protein Cnk1 in mutant-KRas cancer with a focus on non-small cell lung cancer. She elucidated the effects of a novel molecular probe compound which targets the Cnk1 PH domain, PHT-7.3, on cell signaling, proliferation and migration, in vitro and in vivo. In her free time, Róisín likes yoga and playing music, cooking up a storm and enjoying time together with her husband and their dog Ralph.
Jury Duty in California By Doug Broadhurst, M.A. | Manager, International Services So, you go to the mailbox to get your mail and there is an envelope marked “Official Jury Summons Enclosed”. Why am I getting this, I did not commit a crime, am I going to be arrested? What do I need to do? Relax, if you are not a citizen of the U.S., the civic requirement to serve on a jury to decide a court case does not apply to you. But then why did I get this summons? If you recently applied for and received a California driver’s license, California identification card or changed your address at the Department of Motor Vehicles/DMV, or mistakenly indicated you were eligible to vote in the U.S., you may have automatically been registered to vote under California state law and the California Motor Voter program. This could also just be an error by the DMV. At SBP Int’l Services we usually have one or two foreign scholars mistakenly receive a Jury Summons each year. (cont. on p. 9)
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So who is eligible to vote in California? To be eligible to vote, a person must meet the following criteria: • • •
Be a United States citizen Be at least 18 years old Have a residence address in California
• •
Not currently be in a state or federal prison or on parole for the conviction of a felony And not currently found mentally incompetent to vote by a court
What do I do with the Jury Summons? Do not throw it away. If you do not understand it, bring it into International Services and we can explain what it is. At the very least you need to make sure your personal information on the Summons is correct, mark the reason you are not eligible for Jury Service on the form, sign and date the form and return it in the envelope provided. You will want to do this as soon as you receive it. For those U.S. citizens who are eligible and qualified for Jury Duty and who have not been excused, failure to respond or appear can result in a $1,500 fine. What is Jury Duty? In California jury duty is a one-day or one-trial obligation. Under this system a person is only required to come to court for one day of jury duty unless they are assigned to a courtroom for jury selection or serve on a trial. If you are not chosen for jury selection after one day at the courthouse then your service is done for at least one year. If you are selected to serve on a jury, after the trial is over your service is also completed for at least a year and often longer. In most cases, the majority of people who report for jury service serve for just one day. Although a person may receive a postponement or exemption from serving for a variety of reasons, by law, no one who meets the basic criteria is automatically exempt from service. The law does provide for hardship excuses. Hardship is defined by law and includes no reasonable transportation, excessive travel, extreme financial burden, undue risk to physical property, physical or mental impairment for those over age 70, public health and safety, or no alternate care for another. Postponement may be available if you have health problems, a paid vacation, or other personal commitments that cannot be rescheduled at the time you are initially called. I received a summons in August this year and postponed it until October 1. On that day I was among around 200 people who reported at 8 am for Jury duty at the Superior Court in El Cajon. The first hour was spent being instructed by the Court Officer as to how the day would proceed. At 9:45 am they called the first 24 people by lottery, 12 to sit on the jury and 12 alternate jurors. At 10 am we were informed there would be no more trials that day and all of us remaining were dismissed for another year. While I was not selected this time, I have been selected to serve on a jury in the past and that trial lasted only 4 days. If you want to learn more about the process, more information can be found here: http://www.sdcourt.ca.gov/portal/page?_pageid=55,1406471&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL&a=22#22
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GSBS Orientation & Faculty Appreciation By Mary Bradley, M.L.A. | Manager, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences This fall, SBP’s Graduate School welcomed nine new students! Over the course of a two-day orientation, new students learned about SBP, core course requirements, the expectations of the Graduate School, and other responsibilities. New students also reviewed the history of SBP and the Graduate School and heard from SBP’s faculty deans, Drs. Malene Hansen, Alessandra Sacco and Duc Dong. A highlight of orientation is the all student lunch, where new students met and interacted with all current students over a Mexican buffet. GSBS also hosted a happy hour for students & faculty to welcome the new students, as well appreciate the faculty who teach in GSBS courses. Certificates of Appreciation were passed out to all faculty who taught in SBP courses over the past year. Additionally, Dr. Michael Walker received the Educator of the Year Award and was bestowed with the Crystal Apple (photo on right). Dr. Walker teaches Introductory Statistics and consistently receives high marks from the students. The new students joined their thesis labs immediately and started their coursework in mid-September. Please join us in welcoming them to SBP and the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences!
OETIS recognizes SBP trainee accomplishments … SBP Graduate Students at 17th Annual Postdoc Research Symposium: Honorable Mention for Podium Presentation: Katja Birker (Bodmer lab) 2nd Place for Poster Presentations: Daniel Ojeda-Juarez (Kaul lab) & Karina Barbosa Guerra (Deshpande lab) SBP Postdocs at 17th Annual Postdoc Research Symposium: Best Podium Talk: Michael Stec, PhD (Sacco lab) 2nd Place Podium Talk: Jaime Zlamal, PhD (Osterman lab) Best Poster Presentation: Joana Borlido, PhD (D’Angelo lab) Fishman Fund Career Development Awardees: Koen Galenkamp, PhD (Commisso lab) Laura Martin-Sancho, PhD (Chanda lab) Ee Phie Tan, PhD (Hansen lab) Karl Miller, PhD (Adams lab) received an American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) Postdoctoral Fellowship
Share your research accomplishments with us! Email OETIS@SBP.edu and tell us your exciting news!
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UPCOMING EVENTS:
Nov. 8: Tenure Track Faculty Positions: Finding the Right Fit
In this workshop, you will hear from a panel of Assistant Professors on their experiences applying to, interviewing for, and working towards tenure at their respective institutions. Trainees who are interested in obtaining tenure-track faculty positions should attend this session to help them determine which types of institutions (R1, non-profit, PUI, medical school, and so on) align with their research and teaching goals. In this workshop, we will: · · · ·
Compare and contrast different types of institutions Understand the application and interview processes at each Be aware of tenure expectations at each institution Learn strategies for balancing research/teaching/service towards obtaining tenure
Time: Location: Speakers:
2:00 – 3:30 pm Fishman Auditorium Anthony Bell, PhD (USD Assistant Professor) Erica Forsberg, PhD (SDSU Assistant Professor) Jane Kim, PhD (CSU-San Marcos Assistant Professor)
REGISTER AT: https://asstprofpanel_110818.eventbrite.com Nov. 13: Preparing for an Academic Interview: Job Talk & Chalk Talk This workshop will cover how to prepare for an academic interview. Attention will be given to effectively delivering a job talk and preparing for a chalk talk. Time: Location: Speaker:
2:00 – 3:00 pm Fishman Auditorium Malene Hansen, PhD (SBP Professor)
REGISTER AT: https://academicinterview_111318.eventbrite.com Jan. – Mar. 2019: Manuscript Writing Workshop Series In this four-part workshop series, SBP faculty and guest speakers will share how to effectively develop your research story for publication and how to navigate the review process. Module 1: Your Research Story & the Impact of Figures Date/Time: Friday, January 25, 10:00-11:30 am Module 2: Writing an Effective Manuscript Worth Reading Date/Time: Tuesday, February 12, 9:30-11:00 am Module 3: Inside the Editorial & Review Processes Date/Time: Tuesday, February 26, 10:00-11:30 am Module 4: Best Practices in Manuscript Writing (panel session) Date/Time: Wednesday, March 6, 10:00-11:00 am OETIS Chronicle
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POSTDOCS & STUDENTS AS OF OCTOBER 10, 2018 POSTDOCS = 140 Total per location Postdoc Associates Postdoc Associates, Sr. Postdoc Fellows
La Jolla 139 115 5 19
Lake Nona 1 1 0 0
La Jolla 48 31 17
Lake Nona 0 0 0
GRADUATE STUDENTS = 48 Total per location Graduate Students, SBP Graduate Students, External
HIRES BY QUARTER: JULY – SEPTEMBER 2018 POSTDOCS = 7 Total per location Postdoc Associates Postdoc Associates, Sr. Postdoc Fellows
La Jolla
Lake Nona
7 6 0 1
0 0 0 0
La Jolla
Lake Nona
9 8 1
0 0 0
GRADUATE STUDENTS = 9 Total per location Graduate Students, SBP Graduate Students, External
TERMS BY QUARTER: JULY – SEPTEMBER 2018 POSTDOCS = 12 Total per location Postdoc Associates Postdoc Associates, Sr. Postdoc Fellows
La Jolla 9 7 2 0
Lake Nona 3 3 0 0
La Jolla 7 1 6
Lake Nona 0 0 0
GRADUATE STUDENTS = 7 Total per location Grad Students, SBP Grad Students, External
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POSTDOC IDP : JULY – SEPTEMBER 2018 ANNUAL IDP SENT = 33
(Note: This data is subject to change)
Total per location PD/PI Participated in the process PD Terms PD/PI who have not yet participated
La Jolla 32 16 4 12
Lake Nona 1 0 0 1
La Jolla 7 2 1 4
Lake Nona 0 0 0 0
1st YEAR IDP SENT = 7 Total per location PD/PI Participated in the process PD Terms PD/PI who have not yet participated
Coming in next issue … • • •
GSBS Faculty Profile GSBS Responsible Conduct of Scientific Research Ethics Course Feature on T32s
If you would like to contribute content to the next issue, please contact OETIS@SBP.edu
Office of Education, Training, & International Services Staff Diane M. Klotz, Ph.D. Director Ellen Smock Program Coordinator, OETIS
Education & Training
Nisha A. Cavanaugh, Ph.D. Manager, Postdoctoral & Academic Programs
International Services
Doug Broadhurst, M.A. Manager, International Services
Leadership Support Guy Salvesen, Ph.D. Faculty Advisor, Graduate Education
Mary B. Bradley, M.L.A. Manager, Graduate School
Andrew N. Bankston, Ph.D. Program Manager, Graduate
Susie Bolor Senior International Advisor
Malene Hansen, Ph.D. Faculty Advisor, Postdoctoral Training
Angelica Gamble-Wong Vice President, Human Resources
Please contact OETIS@SBP.edu with any questions or concerns.
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