In Brief

Donna Blackmond Wins Chemical Pioneer Award

Donna Blackmond, professor at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), has been selected for the American Institute of Chemists (AIC) 2016 Chemical Pioneer Award, an annual distinction recognizing outstanding contributions that have had major impact on advances in chemical science and industry and/or the chemical process.

Blackmond was cited for her “ingenious application of chemical engineering principles to the development of targeted pharmaceutical drugs.”

She will receive the award and present a lecture at the AIC Chemical Pioneer Symposium next May in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

A member of the National Academy of Engineering, Blackmond conducts research on the mechanistic aspects of the synthesis of complex organic molecules by catalytic routes. Her lab also investigates nonlinear effects of catalyst enantiopurity and studies the origin of biological homochirality. For additional information on Blackmond’s research, see her faculty page and lab website.

TSRI Celebrates National Postdoc Appreciation Week

Five days of events honoring the contributions TSRI postdoctoral fellows to research at the institute will be held on both California and Florida campuses during National Postdoc Appreciation Week, September 21 to 25.

The activities are sponsored by TSRI, the Society of Fellows (SoF), Scripps Florida Society of Research Fellows (SRF), Career and Postdoctoral Services, Graduate Studies Office and Outreach Education.

CALIFORNIA
Monday, September 21, 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM: Seated Chair Massage
Free 10-minute massages are available. Contact Whitney Wagner to reserve a spot. Appointments are first-come, first-served at the Hazen Theory building, first floor.

Tuesday, September 22, 9 to 11 AM: Social Media Photo Lab
Complimentary professional photos for LinkedIn profiles are offered to the first 30 postdocs who register online, Hazen Theory building, first floor.

Wednesday, September 23, 1:30 to 5 PM: Second Annual SoF Lightning Talk Competition
Experience a whirlwind of science in three-minute bursts by faculty and postdocs. The 2015 Outstanding Mentor Award will be announced at the meet-and-greet social mixer, from 5 to 6 PM, at the Keck Amphitheater, Beckman building.

Thursday, September 24, 1 to 3 PM: Open House, Ice Cream Social and Raffle
The Career & Postdoctoral Services Office will hold an open house/ice cream social in the Resource Center, Hazen Theory building, first floor. Raffle prizes will be offered.

Thursday, September 24, 6 to 7:30 PM: “PhD Movie 2” Screening
SoF will host a screening of “The PhD Movie 2,” with light refreshments at the Keck Amphitheater, Beckman building.

Friday, September 25, noon: SoF General Meeting
Join SoF for lunch and news of the group’s resources and programs at the Keck Amphitheater, Beckman building.

Friday, September 25, 5 PM: SoF-SSI Joint Happy Hour
SoF will host a happy hour with the Student Sustainability Initiative (SSI) at the Faculty Club; refreshments will be provided.

Saturday, September 26, 5-8 PM: SoF End of Summer Bash
Join SoF for beers by Intergalactic Brewing Company and music by the Dark Matter Turtles at Bella Vista Social Club and Caffé. The $5 registration includes food and drink tickets.

FLORIDA
Monday, September 21, 11 AM to 3 PM: Social Media Photo Lab
Compliments of SRF, professional photos for LinkedIn profiles will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis in classroom B158. Register online. Professional attire is recommended.

Tuesday, September 22, 11 AM to 3 PM: Seated Chair Massage
Free 10-minute massages will be available in conference room B387. Contact Briana Konnick for an appointment.

Wednesday, September 23, 1 to 5 PM: “Art of Negotiation” Workshop
A complimentary, half-day workshop on the “Art of Negotiation” with Pushpalatha Murthy, professor at Michigan Tech University, and co-facilitator Yvette Huet, professor at University of North Carolina, Charlotte. Register online for the event, to be held in classroom B159.

Thursday, September 24, 6 to 7:30 PM: “PhD Movie 2” Screening
SRF and the graduate program will host a screening of “The PhD Movie 2” from PhD Comics in classroom A116. Refreshments will be provided.

Friday, September 25, 1 to 3 PM: Ice Cream Social and Raffle
Join the Career & Postdoctoral Services Office and Education Outreach in the Scripps Café, Building B, for an ice cream social and the chance to win raffle prizes.

Registration Open for Research Ethics Course

A seven-day ethics course, Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR), will be offered in October for research fellows on both the Scripps California and Scripps Florida campuses. RCR training is required for researchers receiving government funding from such agencies as the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.

The course will be held in two-hour sessions on October 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28 and 30. In California, the sessions will be held from 12:30 to 2:30 PM Pacific time in the Graduate Office seminar room in the Hazen Theory building. In Florida, the course will be live-streamed from 1 to 3 PM in conference room B158.

Conducted by Dena Plemmons, assistant professor at the University of California, San Diego, the sessions will cover:

Data management
Bias and conflict of interest
Research involving animal and human subjects
Stem cell research
Research misconduct
Publication practices, responsible authorship and peer review
Social responsibility
Whistleblowing

A full description of the course is available at http://sdrec.ucsd.edu/courses/tsri

Space is limited; advance registration is required. Priority is given on a first-come, first-served basis to trainees who have received fellowships, are on training grants or are in the TSRI Postdoctoral Training Program. Upon successful completion of the course, participants will receive a certificate for their records. Register for the Scripps Florida course or the Scripps California course.

FL Career Workshop: Jobs in Industry

How to prepare a targeted job application for industry positions is the topic of a workshop “Getting from Job Ad to Interview,” scheduled for Tuesday, October 6, from 3:30 to 5 PM, in Building B159 on the Scripps Florida campus.

Designed for postdoctoral fellows and graduate students, the session will be conducted by Briana Konnick, program coordinator for the Career and Postdoctoral Services office. The workshop will cover:

Identifying transferable skills
Preparing a targeted resume for non-academic positions
Writing compelling cover letters
Developing and maintaining a professional online identity

Reservations are required.

Lunch & Learn: What Makes a Healthy Relationship?

Practical steps to more enjoyable romantic relationships is the focus of the next Lunch & Learn presentation, “Building Healthy Intimate Relationships,” scheduled for Wednesday, September 23, noon to 1 PM, in the Beckman Building’s Keck Amphitheater on the California campus.

Presented by Diana Bull, staff counselor at San Diego State University’s counseling center, the session will draw upon research by John Gottman, author of The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work. Specific topics include:

Relationship awareness
Effective styles of communicating
Conflict resolution
Healthy boundaries

For information on additional resources offered by Counseling and Psychological Services on both the Scripps California and Scripps Florida campuses, visit the department’s website.

Volunteers Wanted for Food Bank Benefit Blues Festival

ScrippsAssists seeks volunteers to help staff the fifth annual AimLoan.com San Diego Blues Festival, benefitting its community partner, the San Diego Food Bank (SDFB), on Saturday, September 26, and Sunday, September 27, at the Embarcadero Marina Park North. Volunteers will help with such tasks as staffing the VIP tent and check-in and selling drink tickets. Four- to five-hour shifts are available.

Each volunteer will receive a food voucher per shift worked and a complimentary Blues Fest t-shirt. SDFB black aprons will be provided for the event; cool clothing and comfortable shoes are recommended.

The family-friendly event will feature 18 national and local blues acts on two stages both days as well as specialist food vendors, local craft beer and wine, and arts and craft booths. Volunteers may enjoy the concert before or after their shift. Parking is not included. Trolley transportation will be available, as well as paid parking and shuttle service. For more information on the festival, visit the SDFB website.

Volunteers can sign up with Mishelle McClanahan-Shinn at mshinn@scripps.edu or 4-2738 with day and shift preference (Saturday, 9 AM to 1:30 PM or 1 to 5:30 PM; Sunday, 9 to 1:30 PM, 1 to 5:30 PM or 5 to 10 PM).

CA Biosafety Committee Meeting Materials Due September 30

To receive consideration at the next TSRI Institutional Biosafety Committee, registration documents must be submitted to Environmental Health and Safety by Wednesday, September 30, via email to rachellv@scripps.edu. The meeting will be held Wednesday, October 14, 2:30 to 3:30 PM, in the P2 conference room, Building 3301.

Send comments to: mikaono[at]scripps.edu

Professor Donna Blackmond has been selected for the 2016 Chemical Pioneer Award from the American Institute of Chemists. (Photo by BioMedical Graphics.)

Felding Lab Hosts Cancer Survivor Group
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Members of the Felding lab recently shared the progress of their work in cancer research with a group of 25 breast cancer survivors. The visit included discussions and presentations by lab members, including research associate Wenyong Tong (center).

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