USC Stem Cell Distinguished Speaker Series | Dr. Arthur Lander

  Arthur Lander Flyer by uscbiscgrad on Scribd

BISC 352 (Conservation Biology) is being offered this Summer!

  BISC352syllabus_12-26-16 by uscbiscgrad on Scribd

Insight Summer Fellowships - Summer 2017

Insight Summer Fellowships - Summer 2017

The Insight Data Fellows Programs are tuition-free professional Fellowships for students and postdocs looking to transition to careers in data science, health data science, data engineering, or artificial intelligence. Over the last 5 years, we have helped over 750 graduate students and postdocs who are all now data scientists and engineers at over 200 leading data companies across the United States.



750+ Insight alumni are now data scientists and data engineers at Facebook, LinkedIn, The New York Times, Apple, Airbnb, Netflix, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Uber, Seven Bridges Genomics, Twitter, Bloomberg, NBC, Microsoft, and 200+ other top companies.

Insight Fellowship:
7 week, full-time, post-graduate training Fellowship leading to full-time industry employment
Mentorship from leading industry data scientists, data engineers, and AI experts
Join an active community of Insight alumni
Self-directed, project-based learning with support from Insight throughout the whole process
Tuition-free with need-based scholarships available to help cover living costs

Insight awards four distinct Fellowships:

Data Engineering (New York City & Silicon Valley) starting May 30th
Deadline: March 29th
For post-docs or Bachelors, Masters, or PhD students who will graduate by September 2017
http://insightdataengineering.com

Data Science (Boston, New York City, Silicon Valley & remote) starting May 30th
Deadline: March 20th
For post-docs or PhD students who will graduate by September 2017
http://insightdatascience.com

Health Data Science (Boston & Silicon Valley) starting May 30th
Deadline: March 20th
For post-docs, MDs, MD students, or PhD students who will graduate by September 2017
http://insighthealthdata.com

Artificial Intelligence (New York) starting July 17th
Deadline: May 22nd
For post-docs or Bachelors, Masters, or PhD students who will graduate by December 2017
http://insightdata.ai


Questions? Email info@insightdatascience.com

Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowships

Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowships

Deadline to apply: March 14, 2017
The Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad (DDRA) Fellowship Program provides opportunities to doctoral candidates to engage in full-time dissertation research abroad in modern foreign languages and area studies. The program is designed to deepen research knowledge of languages and cultures not generally included in U.S. curricula. More broadly, Fulbright-Hays programs aim to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries through educational and cultural exchange.

Program Features:
The institutional project period is 18 months. Students may request funding for a period of no less than six months and no more than 12 months. Funds support travel expenses to and from the residence of the fellow and the country or countries of research; maintenance and dependent(s) allowances based on the location of research for the fellow and his or her dependent(s); an allowance for research-related expenses overseas; and health and accident insurance premiums. Projects focusing on Western Europe are not supported.

Eligible Applicants:
Institutions of higher education (IHEs) in the United States are eligible to apply for grants under this program. As part of the application process, students submit individual applications to the IHE. The IHE then submits all eligible individual student applications with its grant application to the U.S. Department of Education.  A student is eligible to receive a DDRA fellowship from his or her IHE if he or she:
Is a citizen, national, or permanent resident of the United States
Is a graduate student in good standing at an IHE
Is admitted to candidacy in a doctoral degree program in modern foreign languages or area studies at that institution when the fellowship period begins
Is planning a teaching career in the United States upon completion of his or her doctoral program
Possesses sufficient foreign language skills to carry out the dissertation research project

Apply Here

USC Monthly Biophysics Seminar Series: Aggregation of Proteins

University of Southern California Monthly Biophysics Seminar Series

“Aggregation of Proteins: Growth of Glucagon Fibrils and Bacterial Growth”

Andrej Kosmrlj, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Princeton University

Date: Friday, January 27, 2017

Time: 2:00 PM

Location: Ahmanson Center for Biology (ACB 238)

Simulcast on HSC: Herklotz Seminar Room (ZNI)

Abstract:

Misfolding and aggregation of peptides and proteins are the hallmarks of many human diseases.

With the advancement of microscopes, it is now possible to observe the kinetics of individual aggregates and fibrils in vitro. Interestingly, in some cases the growth of fibrils is intermittent, where the periods of growth are interrupted by periods of stasis. In this talk I will focus on the intermittent fibrillation of glucagon and I will describe how E. coli bacteria deal with harmful aggregates of misfolded proteins. Glucagon is a peptide hormone that upregulates blood sugar levels and is used to treat diabetic patients in situations of acute hypoglycemia. When dissolved in a fluid state, glucagon can form fibrils and become useless, as the fibrils cannot be absorbed and used by the body. The observed intermittent growth of glucagon fibrils can be explained with a simple model, where fibrils come in two forms, one built entirely from glucagon monomers and one entirely from glucagon trimers. The opposite building blocks act as fibril growth blockers, and this generic model reproduces experimental behavior well. Finally, I will discuss how E. coli bacteria deal with harmful aggregates of misfolded proteins that develop, when bacteria are under heat or antibiotic stress. In order to maximize the fitness of the whole population, bacteria distribute aggregates asymmetrically between their daughters, such that one daughter inherits the whole aggregate, while the other daughter receives none of it. Over time such asymmetric distribution of aggregates produces many “rejuvenated” bacteria with small aggregates that are quickly dividing at the expense of a few bacteria with large aggregates that are dividing very slowly.= 

Science & PINS Prize for Neuromodulation

The Science & PINS Prize for Neuromodulation is a highly competitive prize which honors scientists for their excellent contributions to neuromodulation research.  Neuromodulation is any form of alteration of nerve activity through the delivery of physical (electrical, magnetic, optical) stimulation or chemical agents to targeted sites of the body. Established in 2016, the prize is awarded annually for outstanding research as described in a 1,500 word essay based on research performed in the past three years. The winner of the is awarded US $25,000 and publication of his or her essay in the journal Science. The Grand Prize essay and that of the Runner-up are also published on Science Online.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: MARCH 15, 2017 Learn more here: http://www.sciencemag.org/prizes/pins?utm_source=general_public&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=PINS+Prize-10390&et_rid=79360952&et_cid=1122660

Mindful USC

Wellness and the promotion of mental and physical health are longstanding priorities of the faculty, staff, and student communities at USC.  As a way of proactively addressing wellness on campus, we launched Mindful USC in 2014 as a secular, university-wide initiative focused on positive health outcomes and learning experiences for our campus community, especially in terms of stress reduction, workplace happiness, emotional intelligence, and creative expression.

Mindful USC offers free courses on mindfulness for students, faculty, and staff at USC, and since its inception, approximately 2,000 members of our university community have taken a Mindful USC course. The overwhelming majority of participants report significant improvements in terms of addressing stress and anxiety, and in developing more meaningful interpersonal relationships.

This semester, we are pleased to offer two sessions of Mindful USC courses, including courses on Mindfulness, Mindful Writing, Mindfulness Skills for Daily Living, and Mindful Self-Compassion. The first session starts on January 23^rd and the second session will begin after spring break. We now also offer online mindfulness courses for our distance learning community.

If you are interested in taking a free mindfulness course on campus, please visit the Mindful USC website as enrollment is open now:

http://mindful.usc.edu/classes/

If the courses are full, please sign up for the Mindful USC newsletter and you will be notified when the second session of the semester begins.

Our university community is an inspiring place to teach and learn, but amidst the constant whirlwind of activity and information, it can be challenging to feel fully present in our lives and in our work. Mindfulness practices help us to be aware of ourselves in ways that increase attentiveness in the classroom, deepen the quality of teaching and learning, encourage creativity and innovation, and improve our ability to collaborate effectively. Over the last several years, Mindful USC has become a national model for mindfulness in higher education, and we are so grateful that so many members of our university community have availed themselves of this important campus resource.

For more information about Mindful USC, please contact us at mindful@usc.edu.

USC Health Sciences Campus Vendor Show

USC Health Sciences Campus Vendor Show February 6, 2017 • 11:00A - 1:30P The Eli & Edythe Broad CIRM Center • 1425 San Pablo Street Discover the latest in new equipment, supplies, reagents & techniques all in one location from 30+ Vendors in the Life Science Industry.  Free catered lunch for attendees! Save time and avoid registration lines by Pre-Registering! (Pre-Registration not required) Who is Invited: PI's, Post-Docs, Researchers, Graduate Students, Purchasing

USC Asian Pacific Alumni Association (APAA) Scholarships

The application and complete eligibility information can be found here:
http://alumnigroups.usc.edu/apaa/scholarships.html

Some General Information:
Application Deadline: February 17, 2017
Number of Awards: 60 - 70
Amount: up to $3,000

Basic Eligibility:
All full-time undergraduate and graduate students with a 3.0 GPA who have shown a commitment to serve the Asian Pacific community.  Scholars are selected on both need and merit based criteria.

Countdown to Publication Event

  Countdown to Publication Spring 2017 by uscbiscgrad on Scribd

Faculty Fast Five: Karla Heidelberg

Faculty Fast Five: Karla Heidelberg

We interviewed Karla Heidelberg, who was just recognized with this year's Associates Award for Excellence in Teaching. Learn a little more about Karla below with some fun questions. 

What is your favorite book? 

When asked to report on your favorite book, I feel that the expectation is that people will answer with some critically acclaimed book that alludes to a deep topic of societal relevance. While I have enjoyed many of these types of books, my favorite book is a little less weighty. Down Under: Travels in a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson combines humor, historical research, and a true sense of adventure – all things that I value. I might add that after reading one of his other books, A Short History or Nearly Everything, I couldn’t help but think that my BISC120 Intro to Biology lectures could have been much better if I incorporated his style of teaching and relating scientific information to students that are eager to get this prerequisite completed!

Was there a first science project/experiment that you remember and loved? 

As an undergraduate, I had an opportunity to work with one of my Professors on an EPA-funded study evaluating the toxicity effects of ALCOA aluminum plant discharge into the environment. We undertook field sampling and laboratory studies to test plant effluent toxicity on Daphnia (a freshwater zooplankton species) survival and reproduction. This was my first authentic research experience and the first time that I really considered human impacts on environmental systems. It changed how I thought about the field of science.

What's your favorite scientific discovery in history? 

The 1953 discovery of the structure of DNA from work based on the efforts of James Watson, Francis Crick and Rosalind Franklin became one of the greatest scientific discoveries in modern history. The discovery that DNA occurred in a double-stranded/double helix molecule allowed for understanding of how the molecule copied itself and transferred genetic material across generations. This breakthrough has led to great discoveries in evolution, diversity, disease and behavior in biology. As a biological oceanographer, I am very interested in how organisms’ genetic makeup and gene expression affects their fitness in a given environment and how that, in turn, affects ocean function.

What excites you about science today? Specifically working in environmental studies. 

The scientific process is based on the critical analysis of information at hand. I like that we are taught, and in turn teach to others, that science is driven by the preponderance of evidence. What we know is a moving trajectory based on new discoveries and understanding. This way of thinking is exciting and provides structure for me -- countering the uncertainties of accepting what others tell us to accept.

I think that my favorite part of being the Director of the Dornsife Environmental Studies Program is interacting with truly passionate and diverse students in this program. A dynamic environmental studies class at USC will have students from multiple majors that argue points from very different perspectives. These perspectives remind me of the importance of promoting understanding of complex factors that drive our behavior toward science and toward environmental protection. Most of our students are eager to participate in off campus or non-traditional learning, and the lessons they bring back from the experiential learning motivates newer students and keeps our students motivated to try new things and take “learning risks” that prepare them for dynamic careers after graduation.  

If you had five words to describe a day in your life as a director at USC, what would it be? 

Tombstone won’t say I’m lazy.

Learn to Write Scientific Papers of the Future - 2/1/17

USC Office of Research session for students: Learn to Write Scientific Papers of the Future on Feb. 1st. 

Learn modern ways to practice open & reproducible science, get credit for research products, increase paper citations, augment vitae with data & software, write compelling Data Management Plans for proposals & comply with new funder & journal requirements. 

Time: 2/1/17 10:30-2pm

Location: UPC DML 240

RSVP at usccer@usc.edu.

USC Stem Cell Distinguished Speaker Series | Jae Jung

  Jae Jung Flyer by uscbiscgrad on Scribd

Astrobiology Science Conference 2017

The AbSciCon 2017 will be held on April 24-28, 2017 in Mesa, Arizona. The theme this time around is "Diverse Life and its Detection on Different Worlds" with several sessions focusing on geobiology and geochemistry for life detection on Mars, Europa, exoplanets, others.

The session topics can be found here: http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/abscicon2017/program-abstracts/topics/

The main page is here: http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/abscicon2017/

The abstract is due JANUARY 18.

There are student travel awards (due the same day as the abstract: Jan 18th) that any undergrad or grad can fill out.

STEM Crisis Discussion Event

The "STEM Crisis" and Science Policy

Open discussion with USC Public Policy Professor 

Jennifer Miller

Wednesday, January 18th

2pm 

ZHS 200

Does the US have a shortage of workers with STEM skills, or is it the opposite? How does science policy affect research centers, funding and distribution of positions, and higher STEM education? Join us next Wednesday for a discussion. If you want to, read the following articles about the debate before attending.

IEEE Spectrum "The STEM Crisis Is a Myth."
http://spectrum.ieee.org/at-work/education/the-stem-crisis-is-a-myth

Change the Equation "STEM HELP WANTED Demand for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Weathers the Storm"

http://changetheequation.org/sites/default/files/CTEq_VitalSigns_Supply%20%282%29.pdf

Course Evaluations Workshop for Faculty

Benefits and Approaches to using Mid-Semester Course Evaluations

Hear from colleagues who are experienced in conducting mid-semester course evaluations to discover how it can help to improve teaching effectiveness.

DML 240 | January 31, 12:30 - 1:30pm

Presented by: Devon Brooks, Associate Professor of Social Work; CET Fellow Ruth Chung, Associate Professor of Clinical Education; Kimberly Hirabayashi, Associate Professor of Clinical Education; CET Fellow Marion Philadelphia, Associate Professor of Clinical Management Communication

RSVP here

Peer Observation Workshop for Faculty

Course Design for Student Success: Improving Your Course Through Peer Observation

Discover protocols to guide supportive observations by and of fellow instructors. In this active-learning workshop, participants will begin planning an informative peer observation process that provides focused feedback for improving instruction. Feel free to bring your course syllabus. Instructional designers will be available for consultation after the workshop.

ACB 238 | January 20, Noon - 1:00pm

Presented by: CET Instructional Designers: Katherine Guevara and Robert Sweeney

RSVP here

Securing An Internship Event - January 11th, 2017

Attend this workshop to learn the tricks of the trade, including: how to obtain hands-on, practical career experience; how to successfully submit your application and interview with employers; and the different ways to learn about positions or organizations. Reservations are requested for this event. 

Date:  Wednesday, January 11

Time:   Noon to 1 p.m.

Location:   Student Union (STU), B3

USC Stem Cell Distinguished Speaker Series: Pierre Drapeau, Ph.D

Date: TUESDAY, JANUARY 10 11 A.M.–12 P.M.
Location: BROAD CIRM CENTER, FIRST FLOOR SEMINAR ROOM

Webcast: KECKMEDIA.USC.EDU/STEM-CELL-SEMINAR

“Fishing for mechanisms of neuronal generation and survival in health and disease”

Information: Pierre Drapeau has pioneered the use of zebrafish as a model to characterize human mutations related to nervous system disorders and screen for therapeutics. Glycine signaling in zebrafish embryos, like GABA for adult mouse brain neuronal stem cells, promotes neuronal differentiation. Furthermore, mutations of key genes in this process have been implicated in autism and early onset epilepsy, indicating a conserved, novel pathway in neurogenesis. He has also created genetic models of ALS and screened small chemical libraries, with a repurposed neuroleptic showing promise in clinical trial. Host: Justin Ichida, PhD.

Hooding Ceremony Registration

COMMENCEMENT 2017 NOTICE

Information for USC Dornsife Ph.D. Candidates

The Ph.D. hooding ceremony on May 11th is fast approaching!
The Ph.D. Hooding Ceremony is the only USC Dornsife event exclusively for Ph.D. recipients. Ph.D. candidates who defended in December 2016 or who will defend in May or August 2017 are eligible to participate. In order to participate in the ceremony, candidates must register online.

Registration
Register at dornsife.usc.edu/phd-reservation-form in order to participate. Registration opens Monday, January 9, 2017 at noon (12:00 p.m.) and will close Wednesday, February 8, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. No late requests will be accommodated.

News and Deadlines
For Commencement news and for important deadline reminders follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Questions and Concerns
Make dornsife.usc.edu/phd-hooding-ceremony your first stop when you have a question regarding the hooding ceremony. Additional information regarding commencement can be found at dornsife.usc.edu/commencement.

Important Reservation Information
The event will be held on Thursday, May 11, 2017 on Cromwell Field from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Line-up begins at 9:00 a.m.
Congratulations on your momentous accomplishment! 

National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity Spring 2017 Programming

Click here to view our full schedule and to register online.

In addition, any faculty, graduate students, or post-docs interested in registering to become NCFDD members under your Institutional Membership, please direct them to register online here.

Applications Now Open for Health Policy Research Scholars

Calls for Application are open for Health Policy Research Scholars, a national leadership development program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Applicants must be:
• Entering the first or second year of their doctoral program in September of 2017
• From any research-focused discipline
• From underrepresented populations and/or disadvantaged backgrounds
• Interested in interdisciplinary approaches and translating their research into health policy
• Eager to use their unique perspective to build a Culture of Health to enable everyone in America to live longer, healthier lives

This program is an opportunity to create real change. The scholars selected for this program will be a part of the next generation of researchers and policymakers, creating a more diverse community who will create policies and solutions that are inclusive and relevant to the communities they serve.

Over the course of the four- to five-year program, scholars will:
• Receive an annual stipend of $30,000 for up to four years
• Establish and strengthen professional ties to leaders in public health, policy, equity, and many other fields and professions
• Continue working from their home institution and applying new learnings in real time
• Receive dissertation support and mentoring
• Be eligible for an additional dissertation grant of up to $10,000

Visit the program website for more details and to apply

Please share this announcement with any doctoral students you may know who are committed to building healthy communities. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at rwjf_hprs@jhu.edu.

Sincerely,

Thomas A. LaVeist, PhD, Director
Harolyn M.E. Belcher, MD, MHS, Co-Director

BCC Distinguished Speaker Series | Pierre Drapeau, Tuesday, January 10, 2017

  Pierre Drapeau Flyer by Adolfo P Dela Rosa on Scribd