QCB Faculty Candidate Special Seminar | Michael Edge, Ph.D.

Michael Edge, Ph.D. 
Post-Doc, University of California, Davis, Dept. of Evolution and Ecology
Research Website

From polygenic adaptation to forensics: The power of aggregating population-genomic information

Thursday, January 31, 2019
2 PM
RRI 101

Abstract: Large genomic datasets provide raw material for answering questions across fields. In many cases, information is scattered across the genome in the form of subtle population-genetic signals, and the key to the problem is finding a way to reassemble these signals. I will present examples that address questions in the study of complex traits and in forensics. First, I will present a novel framework for studying the evolutionary history of complex traits that uses genome-wide association study (GWAS) information to weight evolutionary signals. Next, I will show a record-linkage framework that uses linkage disequilibrium to identify SNP genotypes that come from the same person as non-overlapping forensic genetic genotypes, which speaks to issues of genetic privacy and backward compatibility that are central in forensic genetics. Together, these applications suggest ways in which population-genetic thinking can be used to decode modern genetic datasets.

Host: Carly Kenkel

Neurobiology Seminar Series | Yulong Li, Ph.D.

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Professional Grant Development Workshop

Master the techniques of writing superior winning proposals

February 11-12, 2019
8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
To be held at the
University of California
Santa Barbara, CA

Sponsored by the Grant Training Center 

This intensive two-day grant proposal workshop is geared towards those who wish to strengthen their grant writing skills, as well as beginners who wish to acquire and master the techniques of preparing and writing winning proposals to various funding agencies. The focus will be on how to effectively write proposals in times of keen competition and limited resources.

Participants will learn how to:
1. Navigate the world of grant procurement
2. Research and identify potential funding sources
3. Address the guidelines of federal and foundation applications
4. Find foundation and corporate giving for the state of California
5. Understand the new federal guidelines for writing winning grants
6. Know the review process and how to address key points for reviewers
7. Write winning grants that stand out against scores of competing submissions
8. Develop focused and realistic budgets
9. Demonstrate the merits, excellence and innovation of your proposal
10. Package professional grant submissions

Our ultimate goal is for you to walk away with a product specific to your interests, which includes the grant design, abstract and budget.

Register

Questions? For more information visit our website www.granttrainingcenter.com or call: 1-866-704-7268
Workshop Fee: $595.00 (includes a comprehensive directory, electronic workbook, certificate of completion, and continental breakfast)
Rebate of $45.00 per person is given for two or more registrants from the same organization.
*Space is limited, and since this class fills up quickly, it is on a first-come, first-serve basis.*

Can't make it?
Join us January 23, 2019 for an
Online Version of This Workshop

Apply today for this unique prize for research in neuromodulation

The Science & PINS Prize for Neuromodulation is awarded for innovative research that modulates neural activity through physical (electrical, magnetic, optical) stimulation of targeted sites in the nervous system with implications for translational medicine. 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 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.

Watch this video to hear 2018 Grand Prize Winner Nir Grossman and 2018 Finalist Aryn Gittis describe their research and what it means to win this prize.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: MARCH 15, 2019

Submit Your Research →

Learn About the Prize

Rules of Eligibility

Requirements for Submission

Post-Doctoral Training Opportunities in Tobacco Regulatory Science (Tobacco Policy Research)

Anticipated Start Date: Fall 2019

The Department of Preventive Medicine at the USC Keck School of Medicine is accepting applications for the position of post-doctoral scholars in the USC Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science (TCORS).  Tobacco Regulatory Science is an emerging field of applied research that has the overall goal of developing research evidence that will support the Food and Drug Administration in implementing the policies and regulations called for by the 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.  Through our theme, the Intersection of Products with Populations, USC TCORS will conduct research on the use and health effects of specific e-cigarette products across populations. For additional background, see fda.gov/TobaccoProducts and prevention.nih.gov/tobacco-regulatory-science-program.

Post-Doctoral
The up through two-year training program will have four core elements including required coursework, project immersion, research funding, and professional development and mentoring.  Trainees will be matched to one of the TCORS research projects and brought onto the project team.  Trainees will be encouraged and supported to apply for the TCORS pilot research grants to enhance their ability to carry out independent research.  Trainees will receive individualized mentorship from members of the TCORS advisory groups matched to their interests and needs.  Upon completion of the training, fellows will be well positioned to be leaders and active participants in the future development and implementation of tobacco policies and tobacco control interventions.

Required Qualifications:  This opportunity is for individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds in medical, biological, social, behavioral, and policy sciences.  Applicants must hold a PhD, MD, DDS, ScD, DrPH, PharmD or equivalent doctoral degree from an accredited institution.  Applicants must be citizens or noncitizen nationals of the U.S. or have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence by the time of award. 

Benefits of Training
• Strong mentoring with USC TCORS Faculty
• Opportunity to apply for pilot funding
• Opportunity for immersion experience
• Networking with experts from the FDA and NIH

Application Deadline:   February 18, 2019 for Fall semester   

To Apply:  Apply online at tcors.usc.edu/training.  If you encounter technical problems, please email all required email to tcors@usc.edu.   

Required Application Materials:

1. Letter of interest speaking directly to qualifications, professional activities, research interests and accomplishments.  The letter should specifically address:  1) the relevance of the candidate’s background to tobacco regulatory science; goals for the training program; and potential research projects related to tobacco regulatory science.
2. Current resume or curriculum vitae
3. 2 Letters of Recommendation

For more information about the USC Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science or about this training opportunity, please contact: Kiana Rowshan, tcors@usc.edu, 323-442-7253.

We encourage you to apply early. The number of positions is limited and highly competitive.

QCB Faculty Candidate Special Seminar | Ziyue Gao, Ph.D.

Ziyue Gao
Stanford University

Wisdom from the parents: mechanisms and timing of human germline mutation

Thursday, January 24, 2019
2 PM

RRI 101

Abstract: Despite the fundamental role of mutation as the driver of molecular evolution and the root of heritable diseases, much remains unknown about the germline mutational process, especially in humans. Whole-genome sequencing of pedigrees has enabled direct survey of newly arising mutations (i.e., de novo mutations) and updated our understanding of germline mutagenesis based on indirect approaches. My re-analysis of published human de novo mutations challenges the conventional view that DNA replication errors are the primary source of germline mutations in mammals and uncovers findings that support underappreciated roles of DNA damage and maternal age in generating human germline mutations. By relating the effects of parental ages on de novo mutations to the patterns of polymorphic variants in the population, I further investigate the role of the generation time in temporal variation in the human mutation spectrum and find evidence for increases in reproductive ages towards the present in both Africans and Europeans. Together, this work sheds new light on the germline mutational process and the evolution in mutation rate and spectrum in humans.

Host: Liang Chen

MEB Seminar Series | Andrew Griffith, Ph.D.

Andrew Griffith, Ph.D.
Post-Doctoral Researcher, USC/MEB, Manahan Lab

The Study of Environmental Stress on Marine Organisms

Tuesday, January 15, 2019
12 PM
AHF 153 (Torrey Webb Room)

Research Abstract: The broad goal of my research is to understand the effects of environmental stressors on ecologically and economically important marine species.  I will describe some of my previous contributions towards understanding responses to stress at the level of the whole-organism (e.g., growth, development, survival), and outline future strategies for advancing this area of research at more mechanistic levels of analysis.

Quick Bio: I am a recently graduated (PhD) from the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences at Stony Brook University (Long Island, NY) where I studied the impacts of climate change and other stressors on the early-life history of marine finfish and shellfish.  I have recently (Dec 1st 2018) relocated to Los Angeles to join the Manahan Laboratory group as a Postdoctoral Associate. 

MCB Faculty Candidate Special Seminar | Jacques Bothma, Ph.D.

FC Jacques Bothma Seminar 1... by on Scribd

MCB Faculty Candidate Special Seminar | Elizabeth Brunk, Ph.D.

FC Liz Brunk Seminar 1-14-2019 by on Scribd

NBIO Seminar Series | Peter Penzes, Ph.D.

Peter Penzes_Seminar Flyer by on Scribd

MCB Seminar Series | Yishi Jin, Ph.D. | January 11, 2019

Yishi Jin, Ph.D.
UC San Diego
Section of Neurobiology

Novel axon regeneration pathways in C. elegans

Friday, January 11
12 PM
RRI 101

Abstract: Using single axon injury assay in C. elegans, we systematically screened the function of >1200 selected C. elegans genes, based on their orthology to human genes and potential neuronal function or known biochemical role (Chen et al., Neuron 2011; Kim et al., 2018).  We identified numerous axon regeneration pathways. Among them, we have elucidated signaling pathways for DLK-1 MAP kinases, and characterized rapid cellular dynamics in response to axon injury.  In this talk, I will describe new findings from the continued genetic screening, including several RNA binding factors.

MCB Faculty Candidate Special Seminar | Reza Kalhor, Ph.D. | January 7, 2019

Reza Kalhor, Ph.D.
Harvard Medical School
Dept. of Genetics

Developmental lineage mapping by genomic barcoding in the mouse

Monday, January 7
2 PM
RRI 101

Abstract: Cellular barcoding using nuclease-induced DNA mutations is an effective approach that is emerging for recording biological information, including developmental lineages. We introduce the homing CRISPR system as a promising methodology for generating such barcodes with scalable diversity and without crosstalk. We also describe a mouse line with multiple genomically-integrated and heritable homing guide RNAs (hgRNAs).

Each hgRNA can generate hundreds of mutant alleles which combine exponentially to create a large number of barcodes. Activating these hgRNAs at conception results in developmentally barcoded embryos wherein information about each cell's lineage is recorded in its genome.

As a proof-of-principle, we use these barcodes to reconstruct mouse developmental lineages from the earliest stages. We further evaluate the properties of hgRNA-based lineage recordings and show that partial recordings from different hgRNAs can be integrated to reconstruct the information.

QCB Colloquium Series | Ulrich Zachariae, Ph.D. | January 10, 2019

Ulrich Zachariae, Ph.D.
University of Dundee
School of Life Sciences
Computational Biology

Ion permeation across the membrane during electric and non-electric signaling

Thursday, January 10
2 PM
RRI 101

Abstract: Cells in higher organisms must be able to communicate both with each other and with the external world. A multitude of signaling pathways exist within eukaryotic cells, but the exchange of information across the cell membrane requires the function of specialized membrane proteins. The main routes for transmembrane signal transduction are via electric impulses, triggered by the function of ion channels, and by G-protein coupled receptor signaling.  Due to their instrumental role, these membrane proteins represent the most important and abundant pharmaceutical targets in humans.

Our recent atomistic molecular simulations under transmembrane voltage and electrochemical gradients -- spanning several hundreds of microseconds and encompassing ~7,000 individual ion permeation events -- revealed key aspects of the fundamental mechanisms of both ion channel action and G-protein coupled receptor signal transduction. For instance, the exquisite selectivity and high conductance of potassium channels are indispensable features for the generation of sharp electric action potentials in electrically excitable cells such as neurons. I will first present a unified model of potassium channel permeation, in which these two -- seemingly contradictory -- characteristics emerge as the natural consequence of a single conduction mechanism. Small genomic differences in the regions coding for the channel selectivity filters lead to subtle deviations from this key mechanism, which underlie the observed spectrum from high to low-selectivity channels found in many organisms. Intriguingly, at the heart of both electric and GPCR-based signal transduction processes, new similarities begin to emerge that entail finely controlled ion transfer processes across the cell membrane.

Host:  Seva Katritch

BNRO Seminar Series | Mark Anderson, Ph.D. | January 7, 2019

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