In Brief

Kristin Baldwin Wins NIH Pioneer Award

Kristin Baldwin, associate professor at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), has won a 2016 Pioneer Award, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) High-Risk High-Reward (HRHR) Research Program recognizing highly creative and exceptional scientists with bold approaches to major challenges in biomedical research.

“The [HRHR] program continues to support high-caliber investigators whose ideas stretch the boundaries of our scientific knowledge,” said NIH Director Francis S. Collins. HRHR seeks to identify scientists with ideas that have the potential for high impact, but may be at a stage too early to fare well in the traditional peer review process. The award totals more than $6.7 million over five years.

An investigator at TSRI’s Dorris Neuroscience Center, Baldwin was cited for her work in harnessing “technologies such as cloning, reprogramming by transcription factors, genome editing and genomics to explore how the genome builds complex self-assembling systems." Her Pioneer Award research, titled “Defining a Transcriptional Periodic Table of the Human Brain using Reprogramming,” aims to develop improved methods to study human neurobiology and neurologic disease by learning how to turn skin cells into diverse types of human neurons in a petri dish.

For additional information on Baldwin’s work, visit on her biosketch and the lab website.

TSRI and Tsinghua University Advance Collaboration

Representatives of The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) and Tsinghua University met recently to advance potential research and educational collaborations. Areas to be explored include a joint PhD program and a variety of biomedical research projects.

After TSRI President Peter Schultz and Tsinghua University President Yong Qiu signed a formal memo of understanding, the Chinese delegates were invited to tour the seaside California campus, including the institute’s advanced cryo-electron microscopy facilities.

After the TSRI tour, the Chinese delegates went on to visit the nearby California Institute for Biomedical Research (Calibr).

TSRI President Peter Schultz (left) and Tsinghua University President Yong Qiu shake hands after signing a memo of understanding that paves the way to joint research and educational programs. (Photo by John Dole.)

Hollis Cline Featured at ResearcHERs Public Lecture October 26

Hollis Cline, Hahn Professor of Neuroscience and chair of TSRI’s Department of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, will discuss her work in brain research at the next ResearcHERs lecture, “Training our Brains Cells to Grow and Thrive,” scheduled for Wednesday, October 26, from 4 to 6 PM.

The Cline lab studies the mechanisms by which sensory experience affects the development of brain structures and function. Using a multidisciplinary approach, the lab has successfully revealed the complexity of brain development, which could help lead to greater understanding of such health concerns as Alzheimer’s disease, autism and stroke.

The ResearcHERS public lecture series, sponsored by the Women Scientists of TSRI, is designed to give TSRI friends and donors a behind-the-scenes look at biomedical research and the work of women in the field.

A reception will be held following the presentation at The Auditorium at TSRI. Complimentary parking will be available. RSVP is requested by Tuesday, October 18, to Chelsea Luedeke at (858) 784-7083 or cluedeke@scripps.edu.

Bicoastal Workshop: Manuscripts – An Editor’s Perspective

TSRI Professor Ian Wilson will provide an editor’s perspective on manuscript writing, submittal and presentation at a bicoastal career workshop scheduled for Tuesday, October 18, from 1:30 to 2:30 PM on the Scripps California campus and 4:30 to 5:30 PM on the Florida Campus.

Wilson, Hansen Professor of Structural Biology and chair of the Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, will discuss editor preferences and the elements of manuscript preparation, including effective writing and titles, abstracts, background sections, tables and cover letters.

Sponsored by TSRI’s Career and Postdoctoral Services Office, the workshop will be held in the Committee Lecture Hall in California and broadcast live to classroom B158 in Florida. Reservations are requested.

CA Academic Careers Roundtable: Preparing an Academic Job Application

“Putting Together Your Academic Job Application” is the next Academic Careers Roundtable topic for Scripps California postdoctoral fellows and graduate students, scheduled for Monday, October 17, from noon to 1 PM.

Oana Luca, research associate in the Blackmond lab who begins an assistant professor position at the University of Colorado, Boulder in January, is the roundtable’s guest speaker. Luca earned a PhD from Yale University; her research focuses on catalysis science, electrochemical synthesis, energy conversion and storage and green chemistry.

Sponsored by TSRI Career and Postdoctoral Services, the roundtable series offers bimonthly professional development sessions for postdoctoral fellows and graduate students in an informal conversational setting. Lunch will be provided.

Reservations are required for the event, to be held in the Graduate Office dining room, first floor, Hazen building.

Benefits Open Enrollment Begins October 24

Employee Benefits Open Enrollment begins on Monday, October 24 and runs through Friday, November 4, 5 PM Pacific time. During this annual opportunity, participants can make changes to their TSRI selections and, if eligible, enroll or re-enroll in the Health Care and/or Dependent Care Spending Accounts or the Health Savings Account (if applicable) for the 2017 plan year.

As environmental and reduced mailing cost measures, all Open Enrollment communications are sent via email and are available on the Open Enrollment website. It is important to review the information provided in the online Open Enrollment booklet regarding plan information for the 2017 plan year.

According to the TSRI Human Resources Department no changes will be made to the health plan designs or premium deductions this year.

Participants are asked to note that the maximum dollar amount for the Health Care Spending Account is $2,550. Eligible employees who participated in the Health Care and/or Dependent Care Spending Accounts or the Health Savings Account in 2016 still must log on and elect a new deferral amount to participate in 2017. Employees’ 2016 election WILL NOT roll over to 2017.

CA ScrippsAssists Seeks Volunteers for Home Start Fall Festival

ScrippsAssists invites faculty, students, staff and families on the California campus to volunteer for the Ninth Annual Hallo-Wine Fall Festival, supporting community partner Home Start, on Saturday, October 22. All proceeds will benefit Home Start's programs to strengthen families and protect children in San Diego county.

Several shifts of varying lengths are available from noon to 7:30 PM for tasks such as set-up, registration, silent auction, vendor and facilities support and clean-up. Volunteers may sign up for multiple shifts.

The event, to be held at a private estate near Balboa Park in San Diego, will feature boutique wines, handcrafted beers, specialty spirits and gourmet hors d'oeuvres.

For additional volunteer information, contact ScrippsAssists Project Lead Jess Sheu-Gruttadauria at jgruttad@scripps.edu or x4-7569. For further event and ticket information, visit the Home Start website.

FL Biosafety Meeting Scheduled for October 20

The next meeting of the Scripps Florida Institutional Biosafety Committee will be held on Thursday, October 20, from 9:30 to 11:30 AM, in room B393. RSVP required to Galina Judge, gjudge@scripps.edu.

At the Auditorium: SFJAZZ Collective

The second concert in the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library Jazz Series will feature the eight-piece group SFJAZZ Collective (formerly the San Francisco Jazz Festival) on Saturday, October 8, 7:30 PM. Group members include alto saxophonist Miguel Zenón, tenor saxophonist David Sánchez, vibraphonist Warren Wolf, trumpeter Sean Jones, trombonist Robin Eubanks, pianist Edward Simon, bassist Matt Penman and drummer Obed Calvaire. For additional program and ticket information, visit the Athenaeum website .

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

Send comments to: mikaono[at]scripps.edu

baldwin
TSRI’s Kristin Baldwin has received an NIH Pioneer Award, recognizing “high-caliber investigators whose ideas stretch the boundaries of our scientific knowledge.” (Photo by BioMedical Graphics.)

SEARCH NEWS & VIEWS

Grant to TSRI-Led Consortium Expands to $207 Million

Slideshow: TSRI Celebrates 20th Anniversary of Skaggs Institute

Scripps Florida Scientists Identify Potent New Anti-Obesity, Anti-Diabetes Target

Two New Grants Fund Exploration of 'Click Chemistry' Applications