In Brief

TSRI Intern Eric Chen Wins Third National Science Competition

Eric Chen, high school intern in the Wilson lab at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), captured first place in the 2014 Intel Science Talent Search, the nation’s oldest pre-college science competition, completing a triad of top science awards he has won in the last year. In addition to the Intel award, Chen is winner of the International Google Science Fair and the Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology.

“What a fantastic achievement for Eric to win this highly prestigious Intel Award, selected as the brightest young innovator in developing a plan to tackle one of the world’s global challenges from an initial pool of over 1,800 high school seniors in the Intel competition,” said Ian Wilson, Hansen Professor of Structural Biology and chair of the Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology at TSRI. “We are all very proud of his accomplishments with now three national prizes this year.”

One of 40 finalists in the Intel competition, a program of the Society for Science & the Public, Chen was selected as winner for his research project, “The Taming of the Flu,” which uses computer models to identify potential anti-flu drugs effective against all influenza viruses. He began his research at the University of California, San Diego, and is currently performing crystal structure analysis in the Wilson lab to further develop the project.

The Intel award includes a $100,000 prize. Past winners in the 72-year old competition—originally known as the Westinghouse Science Talent Search—include seven Nobel laureates, 11 MacArthur Foundation Fellows and six National Medal of Science awardees.

The son of TSRI Associate Professor Xiaohua Wu and Longchuan Chen, a researcher in diagnostics at the VA Hospital in San Diego, Chen is a senior at San Diego’s Canyon Crest Academy. He has not selected a university to attend after graduation, although he reportedly has been accepted at Stanford and Harvard.

Applications Open for SoF Visit to Janssen R&D

Applications are now being accepted for the Society of Fellows’ (SoF) first Industry Bridge Program (IBP) event of 2014—a visit to Janssen Research and Development, scheduled for Tuesday, April 1, 8 AM. Open to TSRI postdoctoral fellows and graduate students, the IBP provides opportunities to learn about industry careers, obtain industry exposure, interact with industry scientists and learn how to effectively transition to industry.

Eligibility, specific application procedures and guidelines can be found at the IBP webpage. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis with preference given to first-time participants. Only fully completed applications will be considered.

A Johnson and Johnson company located in La Jolla, Janssen Research and Development specializes in neuroscience, infectious diseases and vaccines, oncology, immunology and cardiovascular/metabolism.

A typical IBP visit consists of a facilities tour, presentations by the company employees (research, company mission, etc.) and a networking lunch. For information on other SoF activities and resources, visit the group’s website.

Lunch & Learn: Finances and Stress

Money issues can be a cause of stress, anxiety, depression and divorce. The next Lunch & Learn presentation, Money and Soul, will offer practical tools on how to have a healthy relationship with personal finances. Arranged by the Office of Counseling and Psychological Services, the workshop will be held Thursday, March 20, from noon to 1 PM, in the Beckman building’s Keck Amphitheater on the California campus.

Tom Manheim, a licensed psychologist and financial planner, will conduct the session. Participants will learn how to:

Reduce money-related cognitive anxiety.
Detach emotionally from money to make better decisions.
Strengthen feelings of financial security.
Use practical applications to develop a healthy relationship with money.

Additional details on the workshop and other resources offered by the Office of Counseling and Psychological Services are available on the office’s website.

Onsite Clinic Scheduled for March 31 on CA Campus

The next onsite immunization clinic on the California campus will be held one day only—Monday, March 31—from 9:30 to 11:30 AM, in Building 3366, room 150.

Conducted by Sharp Rees-Stealy staff, the clinics provide hepatitis B vaccination free of charge to all TSRI employees. Appointments are not needed. Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) 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.

TB testing is provided for employees who, in the scope of their TSRI positions, provide human health care, such as registered nurses, or who work with human subjects or nonhuman primates. Employees authorized for the one-visit Quantiferon tuberculosis test may find further information on the Centers of Disease Control TB Fact Sheet.

After EH&S pre-authorization, individuals who cannot attend the onsite clinic may visit the Sharp Rees-Stealy occupational medicine clinic by calling (858) 526-6150. The clinic is located at 10243 Genetic Center Drive, off Mira Mesa Boulevard. For further details, contact Rachel Longville, rachellv@scripps.edu, or x4-8457.

CA Biosafety Committee Meeting Materials Due March 28

The TSRI Institutional Biosafety Committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, April 9, from 3:30 to 4:30 PM, in the DAR Conference Room. To receive committee consideration, registration documents must be submitted to Environmental Health and Safety via email to rachellv@scripps.edu by Friday, March 28.

At The Auditorium: Chamber Music with the Scharoun Ensemble

Coming to the Auditorium at TSRI on Tuesday, March 25, 7:30 PM, is the Scharoun Ensemble in its San Diego debut presented by the San Diego Symphony. One of Germany’s leading chamber music organizations, the ensemble will join the symphony in performing musical works spanning traditional to modern. Ticket and other program information is available at the symphony’s website.

Send comments to: mikaono[at]scripps.edu

Eric Chen, an intern in the Wilson lab, has won the prestigious Intel Science Talent Search, the nation’s oldest pre-college science competition. (Photo by Cindy Brauer.)

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