In Brief
TSRI Postdoc Wins Damon Runyon Fellowship
Research Associate Jason W. Chin of the Schultz lab has been
awarded a Damon Runyon Postdoctoral Fellowship, a three-year
award made to outstanding young scientists conducting theoretical
and experimental research that is relevant to the study of cancer
and the search for cancer causes, mechanisms, therapies, and
prevention. The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation awards
only about 60 such fellowships each year from a pool of over
450 proposals. Chin's project is entitled, "In vivo,
site specific, photoreactive amino acid incorporation: a new
proteomics tool."
Traveling Safety Show to Come to TSRI
The TSRI Operational Safety Committee is once again hosting
its annual Traveling Safety Show. This year's show will be
held on Wednesday January 23 from 9:30 am until noon in the
Immunology galleria. A variety of vendors will be present
to display the latest in ergonomically sound laboratory and
office equipment and furniture, safety glasses, gloves, and
much more. Representatives from Environmental Health & Safety,
Environmental Services, and Human Resources will also be available
to provide information on general safety, work accident information,
and new safety programs. 24 Hour Fitness and Relief Unlimited
will be providing membership information and massage sign-ups.
Lastly, Zenith Insurance and Sharp Rees Stealey will be available
for counseling on injury prevention and treatment. Refreshments
and other free goodies will be there for all attendees! For
further information, contact Tom Barmeyer, x4-2245.
Toastmasters Elect New Officers
Nominations for officers for the Scripps Outstanding Speakers
(SOS) Toastmasters for the six-month term beginning January,
2002 were held in November and voted on in December. The results
are as follows: president, Astrid Visser; vice president,
education, Andrea Starrett; vice president, membership, Arul
Joseph; vice president, public relations, Michelle Roberts;
secretary, Kathy Sterling; treasurer, Iris Ben-Efraim; co-sergeant-at-arms,
Kathy Spencer and Ali Alavizadeh; and immediate past president,
Valerie Moreau. The SOS Toastmaster club meets the first three
Mondays of the month at 1 PM in the Ellen Browning Scripps
Conference Room on the fourth floor of the Beckman Building,
across from the Kresge Library entrance. All employees are
welcome to attend and see how this organization can help improve
one's speaking and leadership skills in a supportive and fun
atmosphere. Feel free to contact any of the officers for more
details.
Changes in Retirement Plan Delayed by State
Previously, it was announced that the federal government had
passed the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act
of 2001 (EGTRRA), which included changes in the law designed
to allow employees to save more for retirement. The law went
into effect at the beginning of the year on the federal level.
Several states, California included, have not yet adopted
this legislation, conforming state tax law to these changes.
The concern in California is that these changes will adversely
impact their revenues.
Assuming California does not comply with federal law before
the end of the year, increasing the benefits or making other
changes to conform to the new law could have catastrophic
effects on TSRI's retirement plan—up to and including
plan disqualification for state purposes.
Therefore, TSRI has decided to delay implementation of the
new EGTRRA changes until such time that they have been adopted
by the California State Legislature.
What this means to you is:
1. The Tax Sheltered Annuity Plan 403(b) maximum remains
at 20 percent of your income or $10,500.00 whichever is
less.
2. No catch-up contributions will be allowed for participants
age 50 and older.
3. No rollovers will be facilitated between plans of different
internal revenue codes i.e. 403(b), 401a) 457(b).
In the meantime, Human Resources will continue to keep you
informed of any progress towards the implementation of these
new tax laws by the state.
Sewer Construction to Close Gilman Drive for 6 Months
Beginning on January 22, 2002, Southbound Gilman Drive between
Villa La Jolla and Interstate 5 will be closed by the City
of San Diego in order to facilitate the installation of a
new 24-inch diameter sewer pipeline to replace the existing
15-inch diameter pipeline, which was installed in 1958.
Northbound traffic will not be affected, nor will bicycle
access in either direction. The closure will remain in effect
for approximately 6 months.
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