In Brief

Three TSRI Faculty Members Elected to American Association for the Advancement of Science
Reza Ghdiri, Mark Ginsberg and George Koob have been elected fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the world's largest general science organization and publisher of the journal Science. AAAS Fellows are recognized by the AAAS charter as association members "whose efforts on behalf of the advancement of science or its applications are scientifically or socially distinguished."

M. Reza Ghadiri, who is Professor in the Department of Chemistry and the Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology was elected for "Creativity and outstanding achievements in the fields of molecular architecture, molecular recognition, molecular self-assembly, self-replicating chemical systems, and nonlinear chemical networks."

Mark H. Ginsberg, Professor in the Department of Vascular Biology, was elected "For distinctive contributions to the understanding of integrin-based signaling."

George F. Koob, who is Professor and Acting Chair of the Department of Neuropharmacology, was elected for "Distinguished contributions to understanding the neurobiology of addiction."

Ghadiri, Ginsberg, and Koob will be recognized on February 16, 2002, at the AAAS Annual Meeting in Boston, MA. For more information see http://www.aaas.org.


Lunch and Learn: "Coping with the Holidays in a Troubled World"
Jan Hill and Jeff Jones will present "Coping with the Holidays in a Troubled World" on Thursday, November 29, noon to 1 PM, in the East Conference Room of the TSRI Immunology Building. The seminar will take a look at how today's world has changed, focus on ways to identify holiday stressors, and provide practical tips for dealing with stress. No registration is necessary. If more information is needed, contact Jan Hill, x4-2950.


Increase your Knowledge of Word and Acrobat
The following desktop application classes will be available for the remainder of the year:

  • Mail Merge (Tuesday, November 27). This class will cover how to create a Word source file and how to design the repetitive text file. Class exercises include creating merged envelopes, labels, and a "catalog" file. Mail Merge is a basic database application that has many uses beyond creating form letters and labels.

  • Acrobat Basics (Tuesday, December 4). Topics for this class include all of the basics of Acrobat, such as using the navigation tools, creating bookmarks, converting a Word document to PDF format, and creating and using fillable form fields. Take this class to become familiar with a product that is becoming more popular all the time.

  • Tools Options (Tuesday, December 11). This class offers a review of some features of Word—the Options (Preferences) under Word's "Tools" menu and AutoFormat features. Learning how these options work can greatly reduce frustration!

The desktop application classes begin at 8:30 AM and last until approximately 11 AM. To enroll, go to the computer training web page.


Reminder: Notify Human Resources of Address, Phone, and Mail Drop Changes
Please remember to let Human Resources know when you change your home address, home phone number, or TSRI mail drop. Human Resources needs this information to send you information about your benefits and status at TSRI. Download the form or ask your department administration to help.


Working with Personnel Paperwork? Here's a Review

Turnaround documents (PAFs and PEFs) are usually run and distributed every Tuesday and include changes made during the previous seven days. In general, the effective date of a change should be a working day at TSRI.

A copy of the employee's social security card should accompany a name change request. Human Resources is required to record names exactly as they appear on an individual's social security card.

Individuals who are not paid do not have to complete the I9 Employment Eligibility Verification Form, which employers are required by law to have on file for everyone receiving pay. If circumstances change and a previously unpaid person is to be paid, this individual needs to complete the I9 form on or before the first day he or she works for pay. Please contact Human Resources before determining when such a change takes effect.

Requests for employment verification should be forwarded to Human Resources for processing according to the policies of TSRI. This ensures that a copy of the request is placed in the employee's personnel file, should a lender or other organization need clarification of the information received. Social Security numbers and salary information are provided only when the employee has signed an authorization form. Employees who want Human Resources to complete such a verification should call in advance to avoid having to wait.


Fall Craft Fair Features Items Handcrafted by TSRI Employees
The Fall Craft Fair, featuring items made by TSRI employees and their families, will be held on Thursday, December 6 from 11 AM to 2 PM in the galleria of the Immunology Building. From fishing flies to stocking stuffers, the craft fair offers something for everyone: jewelry, home-made soap, handmade quilts, baby items, cards with photos of San Diego beaches, chocolate and English toffees, holiday pins and ornaments, and tree skirts. For more information call Bonnie Towle x4-2167 or email btowle@scripps.edu.


News&Views Not Publishing Next Week
Due to Thanksgiving News&Views will not be published next week due to Thanksgiving. Weekly publication will resume Monday, December 3.