In Brief

TSRI Faculty Featured on UC-TV Videos

Ryan Shenvi, associate professor at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) and Sandra Encalada, Arlene and Arnold Goldstein Assistant Professor at TSRI, are featured on UC-TV, the University of California’s online media outlet, in online videos of their recent presentations to San Diego high school students.

In his presentation “Strong Inference,” Shenvi explores the crucial roles of imagination and critical thinking in the practice of the scientific method. Shenvi, whose lab focuses synthetic chemistry, tells the students, “Science is all about seeing the same thing as everyone else, but thinking about it in a different way.”

Encalada’s lecture, “Transport and Traffic Jams: How Molecular Nanomachines Mobilize Inside Neurons,” explains her research on communication between neurons, the anatomy of the nervous system and the role of the scientific method. In a presentation that drew the highest viewership on UC-TV in January, Encalada details the steps of her lab’s work in using model animal systems, such as C.elegans, to understand neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and ALS.

Saturday Science, a series of three presentations during the current school year, was made possible by an anonymous donor and Gilead Sciences in the San Diego area. TSRI researchers, graduate students, graduate office staff and community supporters worked with the San Diego County Office of Education to publicize the Saturday Science program and recruit science classrooms. UC-TV will also film the third and final Saturday Science presentation of the year, featuring a presentation by TSRI Assistant Professor Gabe Lander, on April 25 at The Auditorium at TSRI.

In other science outreach to the San Diego community, TSRI Associate Professor Marisa Roberto was a recent featured speaker for the Point Loma Nazarene University’s Perspectives on Science program, a monthly seminar series for science teachers—from the community college to elementary school level. In her presentation, “Alcohol and Drugs of Abuse: Neuronal Adaptions in the Brain,” Roberto shared her lab’s research in developing new therapeutic agents to alleviate alcohol dependence and other addictive disorders. The event drew a large and engaged audience.

Ian MacRae to Speak at April 8 Faculty Lecture

TSRI Associate Professor Ian MacRae is the featured speaker at the next Faculty Lecture Series presentation on Wednesday, April 8. His topic is “Structural Basis for RNA Silencing in Humans.” The lecture will begin at 5 PM in the Timkin Amphitheater in the Green Hospital. A reception will follow 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.

Career Workshop: Persuading Others

Building skills of persuasion is the focus of an upcoming workshop for Scripps California research fellows and graduate students featuring communications expert Jean-Luc Doumont on Wednesday, April 8, from 3 to 5 PM in the Beckman building’s Keck Amphitheater.

Sponsored by TSRI Career and Postdoctoral Services, the Graduate Program and the Society of Fellows, the workshop will cover use of personal or organizational power, levels of tactics and basic social influences to gain others’ cooperation and acceptance.

Trained as an engineer and holding a PhD in applied physics from Stanford, Doumont is author of Trees, maps, and theorems, about “effective communications for rational minds.”

RSVP is required.

Programs Offer Course Reimbursement for Postdocs, Students

TSRI postdoctoral fellows and graduate students can have specific types of professional development activities reimbursed through programs funded by the Scripps California Society of Fellows (SOF) and Scripps Florida Society of Research Fellows (SF-SRF) and administered by TSRI Career and Postdoctoral Services. Eligible programs are designed to help young researchers prepare for the wide range of career opportunities now open to them in academia, industry and government.

The SOF program provides up to $350 per postdoc or graduate student per year for pre-approved professional development-related courses or networking events. Check the TSRI education webpage for a list of approved activities.

The SF-SRF program reimburses course/registration expenses up to $150 per postdoc or graduate student per year for pre-approved courses, networking events or symposia pertaining to professional development. Eligible activities are listed on the TSRI education webpage.

Ineligible for reimbursement are SOF or SF-SRF social events, courses that begin or end outside the time frame of the individual’s TSRI postdoctoral appointment, conferences or research training seminars and courses held outside the United States.

Applicants must submit a course reimbursement form to the Career and Postdoctoral Services office no later than four weeks following course completion. The form and other criteria are available on the Career and Postdoctoral Services website.

Both funds are finite; if demand exceeds resources, applicants may receive partial reimbursement. For additional information, contact Career and Postdoctoral Services at cpso@scripps.edu, (858) 784-8469 (California) or (561) 228-2538 (Florida).

CA Biosafety Committee Meeting Materials Due March 25

The TSRI Institutional Biosafety Committee is scheduled to meet on Thursday, April 9, from 3:30 to 4:30 PM, in Building 3301, P2 conference room. To receive committee consideration, registration documents must be submitted to Environmental Health & Safety via email to rachellv@scripps.edu by Wednesday, March 25.

At the Auditorium: Chamber Music, Mainly Mozart

The San Diego Symphony Orchestra (SDSO) offers a special chamber music concert featuring the Zukerman Chamber Players on Tuesday, March 24, 7:30 PM. Award-winning violinist Pinchas Zukerman, with cellist Amanda Forsyth and pianist Angela Cheng and SDSO musicians Anna Skalova and Chi-Yuan Chen will perform works by Beethoven and Brahms. Ticket and additional program information is available on the SDSO website.

The Mainly Mozart Spotlight Series presents violinist Ida Kavafian, violist Steven Tenebom and cellist Peter Wiley on Friday, March 27, 7:30 PM. The group will perform Bach’s Goldberg Variations. A pre-concert reception is scheduled at 6:30 PM. For ticket and program information, visit the Mainly Mozart website.

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

Send comments to: mikaono[at]scripps.edu

UC-TV Video: Chemist Ryan Shenvi speaks on “Strong Inference.”

UC-TV Video: Biologist Sandra Encalada speaks on “Transport and Traffic Jams.”

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