In Brief

Matthew Disney Named Finalist for Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists

Matthew Disney, a professor in the Department of Chemistry on the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), has been named one of 30 national finalists for the Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists in the Chemistry category.

The annual Blavatnik Awards, established in 2007 by the Blavatnik Family Foundation and administered by the New York Academy of Sciences, recognize exceptional young researchers who will “drive the next generation of innovation by answering today’s most complex and intriguing scientific questions.”

“I am very grateful for our group's recognition from the Blavatnik Foundation and what it represents—that the group has been doing important science and changing what the world views as druggable targets,” Disney said. “It is also important recognition for my great co-workers and team members who have tackled important problems that many thought could not be solved.”

“We look forward to learning of the directions that the pioneering work of the 2017 National Finalists will take in the coming years,” said Len Blavatnik, founder and chairman of Access Industries, head of the Blavatnik Family Foundation and an Academy Board Governor, in a statement.

The finalists are considered 30 of America’s most important young scientific researchers aged 42 years and younger. They were selected from 308 nominations of faculty-rank researchers working at 149 of the nation’s top academic and research institutions, representing 41 states and the District of Columbia. From these finalists, three Laureates, from the disciplines of Life Sciences, Chemistry and Physical Sciences & Engineering, will be announced in late June 2017. Each Laureate will receive an unrestricted cash prize of $250,000—the largest prize of its kind for early career scientists.

In 2016, TSRI Professor Phil Baran, Darlene Shiley Chair in Chemistry and a TSRI alumnus, was named a Blavatnik Laureate in Chemistry.

TSRI Welcomes New Faculty Member Scott Henderson

Researcher Scott Henderson has joined The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) as the newest faculty member on the Institute’s California campus. He is the new Microscopy Core Director and also is a professor in the TSRI Department of Molecular Medicine. Scott’s previous position was at Virginia Commonwealth University, where he was a faculty member and Microscopy core director.

"Scott has the rare combination of expertise in both light and electron microscopy, and he will be working hard to update and improve the microscopy core services," said TSRI VP of Academic Affairs Jamie Williamson. "We are looking forward to his key contributions!"

CA NWiS Elects New Executive Board

TSRI’s CA Network for Women in Science (NWiS) kicked off a new year of events and outreach with a meeting on June 7, where the group introduced members to NWiS’s incoming executive board.

photo of the NWiS 2017 Board

The new officers are (left to right): Maggie Olson (PR officer, post-doc), Erica Forsberg (PR officer, post-doc), Lauren Smith (vice chair, grad student), Emily Bentley (treasurer, grad student), Alison Kreisler (chair, post-doc), Vivian Dien (outreach coordinator, grad student), Salome Murinello (PR officer, post-doc), Mariana Gadaleta (advocacy representative, post-doc) and Liz Jacobs (AWiS liason, post-doc). Not pictured: Jae Engle (outreach coordinator, grad student) and Sophie Shevick (advocacy representative, grad student). (Photo by Madeline McCurry-Schmidt.)

In the upcoming year, the new board plans to host regular meetings and events to uphold their mission to “provide and encourage visibility, leadership, and community for female scientists; and to raise awareness for and promote change related to female representation in STEM-related education and careers.”

“There are lots of ways to get involved!” said NWiS Chair Alison Kreisler. “You can take part in one of our regular events (e.g., Coffee Hours, Female Faculty Lecture Series, general monthly planning meetings, happy hours, movie screenings, etc.) and regularly visit our social media pages for hot, relevant topics and event postings.”

For more information, visit NWiS on Facebook or Twitter or email nwisca@scripps.edu.

CA Lunch & Learn: Singing the Blues

Everyone feels down or blue from time to time, but how can you tell if what you’re experiencing is regular sadness or clinical depression? Learn how to tell the difference—and how to find help—at the next CA Lunch & Learn, hosted by the TSRI Office of Counseling and Psychological Services. The presentation, titled "Singing the Blues: Distinguishing Between Normal Sadness and Clinical Depression," will be held Tuesday, June 27, from 12 PM to 1 PM in the Keck Amphitheater, Beckman Building.

Guest speaker Dr. Steve Sprinkle, a psychologist and director of the University of San Diego Counseling Center, will cover

How to distinguish depression from sadness
Signs and symptoms of clinical depression
Ways to help yourself feel better when you are sad
Effective treatment strategies for clinical depression

Bring your lunch and get ready to learn! For more information, see https://intranet.scripps.edu/california/counseling/LL_Sprinkle_SingingTheBlues.pdf

New Location for On-Site Clinics

The on-site immunization clinics on the California campus will now be held at 3301 N. Torrey Pines Ct. in the P2 conference room. Proceed past the reception area to the elevators on the left. Take the elevator to the P2 level and exit to your right to enter the conference room. The next on-site clinic is scheduled for Wednesday, June 28, from 9:30 to 11 AM.

Send comments to: press[at]scripps.edu

disney
Professor Matthew Disney (Photo by James McEntee.)

photo of Professor Scott Henderson
Professor Scott Henderson (Photo by Madeline McCurry-Schmidt.)

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