In Brief

Srini Subramaniam Wins Alzheimer’s Association Grant

Srini Subramaniam, assistant professor on The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) Florida campus has been awarded a $100,000 Alzheimer’s Association international grant to study the mechanisms of a pair of molecules involved in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. The new two-year study will focus on the role of the regulating protein known as Rheb, which many believe may be active in neural plasticity, and its relationship with another molecule known as BACE1, an important enzyme in Alzheimer’s disease pathology.

The Alzheimer’s Association was formed in 1980 to advance research to end Alzheimer’s and dementia while enhancing care for those living with the disease. For more information, see http://www.alz.org/. For more information on Subramaniam and his research, see his faculty page at http://www.scripps.edu/research/faculty/subramaniam

Mark Mayford to Speak at March 11 Faculty Lecture Series

TSRI Professor Mark Mayford is the featured speaker for the next Faculty Lecture Series presentation, scheduled for Wednesday, March 11, 5 PM, in the Timkin Amphitheater in the Green Hospital in La Jolla, California. Mayford’s lecture is titled “Genetic Manipulation of Memory Circuits.” Following the lecture, a reception will be held in the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Building, first floor. For further information, see the Faculty Lecture Series webpage. The series is supported by an endowment from the Cochrane-Cartan families, established by TSRI Professor Emeritus Charles G. Cochrane.

SRF Faculty Seminar to Feature Laura Bohn

Laura Bohn, professor in the TSRI Departments of Molecular Therapeutics and Neuroscience, is the featured speaker at the next Scripps Florida Society of Research Fellows (SF-SRF) Faculty Seminar on Friday, March 13, at 4 PM. The lecture will be held in the Fink Auditorium on the Jupiter campus. Additional information on SF-SRF activities and resources can be found on the SF-SRF website.

SoF Plans Industry Visit, Open Mic Night

The Scripps California Society of Fellows is hosting two events during March for postdoctoral fellows and graduate students.

Industry Bridge Program

Registration is open for the next Industry Bridge Program (IBP) event, a visit to Vertex on Thursday, March 19, from 9:30 AM to 1 PM. Founded in 1989, Vertex is a pharmaceutical company specializing in drug therapies for cystic fibrosis, oncology and influenza.

Twenty participants will be accepted for the Vertex visit on a first-come, first-served basis. Eligibility, specific application procedures and guidelines can be found on the IBP webpage. Preference will be given to first-time applicants; only fully completed applications will be considered. Registration will close Wednesday, March 11, 5 PM. Cancellation within 72 hours of the event will count as attending and will affect future IBP participation.

Open Mic Night

The second Postdoc Open Mic Night, providing a platform to speak in a public setting, will be held Thursday, March 12, 6 PM at the Bella Vista Social Club and Caffé, at the Sanford Consortium, 2880 Torrey Pines Scenic Drive, La Jolla, 92037.

Participants will give a five-minute research talk to communicate their work to colleagues from academia, industry and the general public. Guest judges will include Stephane Richard, founder and CEO of the scientific exchange and networking company French BioBeach, and Jason Kreisberg, assistant director of the San Diego Center for Systems Biology.

Prizes will be awarded for the best talks, and monthly winners will be invited to provide a brief talk at a Bella Vista Networking night. For more information and to apply as a participant, visit the SoF website.

Scripps Florida NWiS to Host Chemist/Executive

The Scripps Florida Network for Women in Science (NWiS) will present a career seminar featuring chemist and business executive Linda Boasmond on Wednesday, March 18, 10 AM, in B159. A Q&A session with Boasmond will be held at 1 PM in B158.

Boasmond is owner and president of Cedar Concepts Corporation (CCC), the country’s first African-American, woman-owned chemical manufacturing plant. CCC produces surfactants, lubricants and chemical intermediates for such customers as Proctor & Gamble, Citgo Petroleum, Boeing and Colgate Palmolive. A DePaul University graduate, Boasmond will share insights about running a business and alternative career tracks.

The seminar is open to the entire Scripps Florida community. For more information, contact Briana Weiser at bweiser@scripps.edu. Additional information on NWiS is available on the chapter’s website. To receive event announcements, subscribe to the NWiS-fl email list on http://lists.scripps.edu

Career Workshops: Financial Planning, Business Networking

The TSRI Career and Postdoctoral Services office will present two Scripps California workshops during March in the graduate office dining room, Hazen Theory building, first floor.

Tax Strategies

A workshop presenting the basics in tax planning will be held Thursday, March 19, 3 to 4:30 PM. Ciano Ordinola and John Lingelbach, financial planners with Met Life, will conduct the session, covering recordkeeping, tax law changes, state and local taxes, tax credits and tax-deferred programs.

The workshop is open to all TSRI employees. Reservations are required.

Introduction to Networking

This interactive workshop—scheduled for Wednesday, March 25, 2 to 3:30 PM—will cover the basics of networking, developing an elevator pitch and learning how to turn "small talk" into meaningful conversations. Jean Branan, Career and Postdoctoral Services program coordinator, will lead the session, which will include a speed networking activity during which attendees can practice their new networking skills in a small group environment. RSVP.

Onsite Clinic Scheduled for March 18 on CA Campus

The next onsite immunization clinic on the California campus will be held Wednesday, March 18, from 9:30 to 11:30 AM, in the Hazen Theory building, rooms 203/205. Appointments are not needed.

Conducted by Sharp Rees-Stealy staff, the clinic will provide hepatitis B vaccination free of charge to all TSRI employees. Environmental Health & Safety Occupational Medicine must pre-authorize all other procedures based on the employee's working conditions. These procedures include tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) vaccines and other titers, immunizations and procedures.

At the Auditorium: Piano Classics, Jazz

The La Jolla Music Society’s Discovery Series presents pianist and Gilmore Young Artist Award winner Charley Albright on Sunday, March 22, 3 PM. The award-winning pianist will perform works by Chopin, Mussorgsky and Beethoven. Young artists from the San Diego Youth Symphony will provide a musical prelude at 2:30 PM. Ticket information is available on the society’s website.

The Athenaeum Music and Arts Library begins its Spring Jazz Series Monday, March 23, 7:30 PM, with a performance by the Anat Cohen Quarter. An Athenaeum favorite, clarinetist/saxophonist Anat Cohen joins Aaron Goldberg on piano, Vicente Archer on drums and Daniel Freedman on bass. Visit the library’s website for additional ticket and program information.

The Auditorium at TSRI is located at 10640 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego 92121.

Send comments to: mikaono[at]scripps.edu

Thanks to a new grant, Scripps Florida’s Srini Subramaniam will study the mechanisms of a pair of molecules involved in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. (Photo by James McEntee.)

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