In Brief

In Memoriam: Gene Jensen (1956—2009)
Long-time Scripps Research employee Gene Jensen, 52, passed away on March 21, 2009, after a long battle with cancer. Jensen worked for Scripps Research for more than 26 years, most recently as associate director in Information Technology (IT) Services, California.

"When people would call Gene with their computer problems, he would always listen with a sympathetic ear and would always care," said Matt Barnas of IT Services. "No matter what the problem was, his infectious laugh seemed to make things a little better. He will be greatly missed."

Jensen was born in Iowa, and grew up on a farm. A graduate of Northwestern University, he first started providing computer support at Scripps Research as a member of the General Clinical Research Center (GCRC) in 1983.

Jensen is survived by his wife, Fran; his sister, Susan; his brother, Jerry; and his grandson, Luke (whom Jensen raised). A memorial service will be held Thursday, April 2, at 7 PM, at the Poway-Bernardo Mortuary, 13243 Poway Road, Poway, CA 92064, (858) 748-4101. The family requests that donations be sent to the American Cancer Society.

Seminar: "Careers In Industry"
The Career and Postdoctoral Services Office and Burnham Institute Office of Postdoctoral and Graduate Training is hosting a panel on "Careers in Industry" on Thursday, April 2, from 4 to 5:30 PM. The event features former postdoctoral fellows from Scripps Research and other local institutes. Panelists, who will share practical advice related to their own career transitions, include: Adam Mullick, senior scientist at Isis Pharmaceuticals; Donmienne Leung, senior research scientist at Eli Lilly; Kurt Krummel, manager of Biological Applications at Celula; Brian Helmich, senior tech transfer agent at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, and Karin Zeh, senior director of program management at Auspex Pharmaceuticals. The event will be held in the Keck Amphitheater of the Beckman Building. No RSVP is required. Refreshments will be provided. For more information, contact Ryan Wheeler, rwheeler@scripps.edu.

Needed: Normal Blood Donors
Because of the continuing success of Scripps Research Normal Blood Donor Service (NBDS), the NBDS now needs to expand the pool of donors who can provide blood to meet the anticipated demand in the coming year.

Donors are immediately compensated with a minimum of $25 and a maximum of $100 for a single draw, depending on the quantity of blood needed.

To qualify as a normal blood donor, individuals must meet the following criteria:

• Be between 18 and 65 years of age
• Weigh at least 110 pounds (50 kg)
• Have blood pressure between 90-180 mm Hg systolic and 50-100 mm Hg diastolic
• Not have undergone major surgery within the past six months
• Score adequately on recent hemoglobin testing
• Screen negative for HIV and hepatitis B and C, upon entry into the program and every year after that
• Not take aspirin or anti-inflammatory medication on a daily basis

General information about the Scripps Research NBDS is available at http://www.scripps.edu/researchservices/nbd/. More detailed information, including forms for becoming a paid donor, is available at http://nbd.scripps.edu/. Priscilla Crisler, Scripps Research NBDS coordinator can be reached by email at corelab@scripps.edu, by telephone at (858) 652-5418, or by fax at (858) 652-5556.

Benefits Reminder: Passport Unlimited Cards
During these tough economic times, we all tend to cut back on costs and try to save a little money. Benefits Administration would like to remind all benefit eligible participants about the discount benefits that are offered through the Passport Unlimited program that you received either last year or during your Benefits enrollment if you have been hired within the last year.

The Passport Card offers several local vendor employee discounts and restaurant savings in the San Diego area, as well as throughout the United States. You'll find everything from complimentary restaurant savings to discounted pet medications at your fingertips. All you need to do is register your Passport Card at www.passportlifestyle.com and you can view a complete list of participating companies and restaurants. If you need a Passport Card or have any questions regarding this benefit, please contact Benefits Administration at extension 48487 or via email at benefits@scripps.edu.

Send comments to: mikaono[at]scripps.edu

Gene Jensen worked at Scripps Research for 26 years. Photo courtesy of BioMedical Graphics.