Scientific Report 2008
Society of Fellows
The
Society of Fellows is the oldest existing postdoctoral association in the nation.
For its 46th year, the Society held to its mission of fostering scientific and social
interaction among the Scripps Research community with an emphasis on improving the
postdoctoral experience at Scripps.
The Distinguished Lecturer Series has
continued to invite the world's most successful senior researchers to share
their career path and scientific experience with junior scientists. This year we
were honored to host Randy Schekman (2002 Lasker awardee) from the University of
California, Berkeley, and Joe Goldstein (1985 Nobel Prize winner for Physiology
or Medicine) from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
The Fall Research Symposium is the only
scientific meeting held at Scripps Research that gathers researchers from all scientific
areas (chemistry, structural biology, immunology, experimental medicine, neurobiology,
cell and molecular biology). Reserved for the presentation of unpublished work from
postdoctoral researchers, the 2007 edition was one of the most successful ever.
More than 80 abstracts were submitted, and 12 of them were selected for oral presentation.
This day brought together postdoctoral scholars, faculty, and graduate students
in an informal setting that offered a unique opportunity to learn about the latest
and most exciting work at Scripps Research.
In collaboration with the Office of Postdoctoral
Services at Scripps Research and offices from the Salk Institute and the University
of California, San Diego, the Society of Fellows contributed to the organization
of the Lab Management Course held at the Salk Institute. More than 100 postdoctoral
scientists and young faculty received training to help them lead innovative and
productive research programs. The society also hosted a series of seminars on funding
and grant application, with speakers from major institutions, such as the National
Institutes of Health and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases,
and experienced researchers who gave tips about the application and review process.
The Society of Fellows and the Office of Postdoctoral Services also teamed up to
offer several other professional development events in the past year, including
an academic job search seminar in the fall, a Career Adventures Beyond the Bench
panel in the winter, and a panel on high school and community college teaching careers
for Ph.D.s in the spring.
This year also marked the establishment
of links with the postdoctoral community at Scripps Florida. With the help of the
Office of Postdoctoral Services, we are advising postdoctoral researchers at Scripps
Florida on how to start their own association, have offered travel awards for the
2008 symposium, and will be sponsoring the first speaker for their Distinguished
Lecturer Series.
The Society also organized numerous popular
social events to bring together scientists and staff outside of their laboratories:
monthly happy hours held on campus; the traditional Halloween party, which took
place on a boat cruising San Diego Bay; the annual summer bash at Canes Bar and
Grill in Mission Beach; and the ski trip to Big Bear mountain resort. All these
events are renewed annually by popular demand and undoubtedly strengthen the links
between members of the Scripps Research community. To diversify the attendance at
our events, we also sponsored and organized a wine tasting outing, a fishing trip
to the Coronado Islands, and a night at the Del Mar race track. Once again, we renewed
our financial support of the Mobility Pond, the Scripps Research drama group. Their
brilliant performance brought crowds to the Committee Lecture Hall and was followed
by a well-attended reception.
Finally, the vendor show was organized
in May as our annual fundraiser. It was again a resounding success, bringing more
than 100 vendors on the campus to showcase their latest technologies and services.
The executive committee of the Society
of Fellows expresses its sincere gratitude to the Office of the President and the
Office of Postdoctoral Services at Scripps Research for their enthusiastic and continued
support of the society's activities.
Executive Committee 2006-2007
| Officers |
|
| Olivier Harismendy |
President |
| Julie Pilotte |
Vice President |
| Lars Pache |
Vice President (November—June) |
| Peter Haberz |
Treasurer |
| Scott J. Westenberger |
Career
Development Committee Chair |
| Kaustuv Datta |
Distinguished
Lecturer Series Chair |
| Stephan Meister |
Social Committee
Cochair |
| Althea Capul |
Social Committee
Cochair |
Neekesh Dharia |
Web Site Manager |
| Florence Brunel |
Vendor Show Chair |
| Larissa Krasnova |
Newsletter Editor |
| Ryan Wheeler |
Postdoctoral Services Office Liaison |
| Leah Shriver |
Network for Women in Science Liaison |
| Others |
|
| Geza Ambrus-Aikelin |
Dianna Maar |
| Namandje Bumpus |
Charles Melancon |
| Joao Dias |
Tina Marie Mullen |
| Michael Huber |
Ralph Pantophlet |
| Steve Johnson |
Jilla Sabeti |
|
