MCB Seminar Series: Dr. Anna Tarakanova

November 9, 2022

Tuesday, November 15th, 2022

03:30 PM - 04:30 PMBPB 130

Dr. Anna Terakanova

Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering

University of Connecticut

Host: Eric May

Molecular computation for bioengineering

MCB Seminar Series: Dr. Andy Moeller

November 2, 2022

Tuesday, November 8th, 2022

03:30 PM - 04:30 PM

BPB 130

Dr. Andy Moeller. Assistant Professor, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University

Host: Sarah Hird

"Host-species specificity in the mammalian gut microbiota"

Dr. Moeller is an evolutionary biologist interested in symbiosis, particularly host-microbe relationships. All multicellular eukaryotes serve as habitats for microbial lineages, which in turn have opened up new adaptive trajectories for their hosts. Vertebrates, for example, harbor diverse communities of microorganisms that have become deeply integrated with their hosts’ metabolic, immune, and neuroendocrine systems. Despite the ubiquity and profound effects of these interactions, many fundamental questions remain unanswered. Which microorganisms coevolve with hosts? What are the genetic bases of the intimate partnerships between host and microbial lineages? How have microorganisms shaped host adaption and diversification? Moeller’s research is aimed at answering these and related questions through a combination of observational and experimental studies in the field and in the lab.

To learn more about Dr. Moeller, see his publication at https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/science.aaf3951 and visit his website at https://www.moellerlab.com/

MCB Seminar Series: Dr. Takashi Akera

October 31, 2022

Tuesday, November 1st, 2022

03:30 PM - 04:30 PM

BPB 130

Dr. Takashi Akera

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)/NIH

Host: Barbara Mellone

Join us at 3:15 in the BPB lobby for refreshments, Seminar begins at 3:30

The impact of genetic cheating on reproduction and speciation

Summary: Dr. Akera will talk about two unpublished stories that reveal both the cell biological basis and evolutionary consequences of meiotic drive, where selfish DNA violate Mendel’s Law of Segregation to increase their own rate of transmission.

Bio: Dr. Takashi Akera graduated from the University of Tokyo with a Ph.D. in Biophysics and Biochemistry in 2014 and conducted postdoc research at the University of Pennsylvania in the laboratory of Dr. Michael Lampson from 2015 to 2019. He received both Holtzer Award for outstanding postdoctoral research in Cell and Developmental Biology and Kaushal Award for excellence in postdoctoral research in Genetics from the University of Pennsylvania in 2018. He was also a finalist for the ASCB Porter Prize for Research Excellence Award in 2018. Dr. Akera joined the NHLBI in 2019 as an Earl Stadtman tenure-track Investigator.

To learn more about Dr. Akera, view his publication at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29097549/ and his website at: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/science/chromosome-dynamics-and-evolution

MCB Assistant Professor Milligan-McClellan Receives Science Diversity Leadership Award

October 27, 2022

MCB Assistant Professor Kat Milligan-McClellan has been awarded a Science Diversity Leadership Award from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI). The award is a result of a partnership between CZI and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine’s Science Diversity Leadership Program. The program aims to recognize and further the leadership of excellent biomedical researchers who — through their outreach, mentoring, teaching, and leadership — have a record of promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in their scientific fields.

Milligan-McClellan’s project, entitled “Identifying Life Events that Lead to Inflammation in the Host in a Multi-population, Longitudinal Study”, will engage Alaska Native and historically excluded students in science to investigate why the microbiota, which affects inflammation in the host, is different over time and across populations.

Carolyn Teschke Embraces Multidisciplinary Approach to Biology

October 25, 2022

New head of the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology explains the complexities of the evolving field — and why well-trained scientists are in high demand. Read full article in UConn Today

MCB Seminar Series: Dr. Lei Yin

October 19, 2022

Tuesday, October 25th, 2022

03:30 PM - 04:30 PM

BPB 130

Dr. Lei Yin

Associate Professor, Dept. of Molecular and Integrative Physiology

University of Michigan Medical School

Host: Charles Giardina

Join us at 3:15 in the BPB lobby for refreshments, Seminar begins at 3:30

Hepatocyte ChREBP: unexpected protector against diet-induced NAFLD/NASH

Summary: ChREBP is a nutrient-sensing transcription factor that plays a critical role in liver lipid metabolism. Hepatocyte ChREBP protects against diet-induced NAFLD/NASH by maintaining fatty acid oxidation and suppressing hepatic stellate cells activation.

Bio: Dr. Yin received her M.D. from Sun-Yet Sen Medical University in China and Ph.D. of Molecular and Cell Biology from University of Connecticut. Yin did her postdoc training at University of Pennsylvania and then joined the dept. of Molecular and Integrative Physiology as a tenure-track assistant professor in 2009. She was promoted to associate professor with tenure in 2016.

To learn more about Dr. Yin's work, view her publications:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5606320/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28628040/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8183176/

And her website at: https://medicine.umich.edu/dept/molecular-integrative-physiology/lei-yin-phd

MCB Seminar Series: Dr. Hunmin (Mike) Jung

October 12, 2022

Tuesday, October 18th, 2022
03:30 PM - 04:30 PM
BPB 130

Dr. Hunmin (Mike) Jung
Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Science, UConn

Host: Victoria Robinson

Join us at 3:15 in the BPB lobby for refreshments, Seminar begins at 3:30

Title of talk: "Targeting Nucleotide Biosynthesis and DNA repair/bypass to Develop Anti-Cancer Drugs with High Sensitivity"

Summary: Drug resistance for many anticancer agents including 5-flourouracil (5-FU) is one of the main huddles for efficient cancer chemotherapy. A novel combination strategy to sensitize 5-FU targeting nucleotide biosynthesis and DNA repair/bypass will be presented.

Bio: Short bio (a few sentences highlighting your career, not a CV) B.S. & M.S. Korea University (Seoul, Korea)
Ph.D. Texas A&M University (College Station, TX)
Postdoc UT Southwestern Medical Center & University of Texas at Austin

To learn more about Dr. Jung, view publication https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8138886/

and visit his website: http://Jung.lab.uconn.edu

MCB DEI Special Lecture: Inclusive Mentoring

October 5, 2022

Tuesday, October 11th, 2022
09:30 AM - 10:30 AM
GN 20

INCLUSIVE MENTORING

About Dr. Arrizabalaga:
Dr. Arrizabalaga is an Assistant Dean for Faculty Affairs Professional Development Diversity and holds an academic appointment in Pharmacology and Toxicology as a Professor at Indiana University School of Medicine. He also holds an appointment in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. He is also the Director of Trainee Recruitment, Development and Diversity in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology.
Dr. Arrizabalaga earned a Bachelor in Science in Biochemistry from Haverford College and a Ph.D. in Biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He performed a Post-doctoral fellowship in Molecular Parasitology at Stanford University School of Medicine.

Dr. Arrizabalaga focuses his efforts in the Office of Diversity Affairs on the development of learners and trainees from populations underrepresented in the biomedical fields. He enjoys working with graduate and medical students, post-doctoral fellow and medical residents to help them achieve their professional and career goals. Gustavo is committed to promoting an open, just and inclusive culture that allows for the success and wellness of our students and trainees.

Please join us for coffee and refreshments prior to his lecture at 9:00 AM

Spencer Nyholm Explains Symbiotic Organs in The Scientist

Symbiotic Organs: Extreme Intimacy with the Microbial World

All multicellular creatures interact with bacteria, but some have taken the relationship to another level with highly specialized structures that house, feed, and exploit the tiny organisms.
See article in The Scientist, Oct. 3, 2022

MCB’s Milligan-McClellan Works to Strengthen Native American and Indigenous Community at UConn

September 29, 2022

Momentum is building around Native American and Indigenous studies and programming at UConn, and new faculty and students are poised to make UConn a New England hub for Native Studies and the broader Indigenous community. See full article in UConn Today

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