In Brief

Sharpless to Speak in Faculty Lecture Series
Nobel laureate K. Barry Sharpless, professor in the Department of Chemistry, will speak on "Chemistry in Search of Biological Function," as part of the Faculty Lecture Series on Wednesday, April 9, at 5 PM. The event will be held in the Valerie Timken Amphitheater, Scripps Clinic, 10666 North Torrey Pines Road.


Seminar on AAAS Fellowship in Science and Technology Policy
Are you interested in the interaction of science, technology, and government in the United States and around the world? Would you like to participate in the public policy-making process of the federal government? The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science and Technology Policy Fellowship Programs provide opportunities for postdoctoral to mid-career scientists and engineers to contribute to federal decision-making in Washington, D.C., while learning how government works. On Tuesday, April 15, a seminar will feature two former fellows: Ashwin Vasvada, Ph.D. in Planetary Science, Congressional Fellow, 2000-2001; and Elizabeth Wadolkowski-Gordon, Ph.D. in Microbiology, Diplomacy Fellow, 1990-91. The event will be held in the Valerie Timken Amphitheater, Scripps Green Hospital, from 2 to 3:30 PM. For more information about the fellowship program, see www.fellowships.aaas.org.


Reminder: Contact HR about Leaves of Absence
Human Resources would like to remind eligible employees and research associates to notify them at least 30 days before a leave of absence begins. If your leave is unexpected, Human Resources should be notified as soon as possible. A leave of absence may be requested for the birth or adoption of a child, a serious medical condition, or to care for an immediate family member with a serious medical condition. Personal leaves of absence can also be requested and may be granted at TSRI's discretion. Contacting Human Resources in a timely manner helps insure that pay, disability, and other benefits are properly coordinated. Human Resources is also available to help you through the leave process and to explain the complicated laws involved. For more information or to give notice of an upcoming leave, please contact Karen Haggenmiller, x4-8501 or karen@scripps.edu.


Flexible Spending Account Deadline Approaches
If you participated in the Healthcare Spending Account and/or the Dependent Care Spending Account last year, Benefits Administration would like to remind you that March 31, 2003 is the deadline for submitting reimbursement claims to Barney and Barney for all services rendered in 2002. Claim forms can be downloaded from the Benefits Administration forms web page or picked up from the front lobby of Human Resources between 8 AM and 5 PM. You can also request forms by contacting Benefits Administration, x4-2832 or benefits@scripps.edu.