Etcetera

Phil Baran Wins ACS Award in Pure Chemistry
Scripps Research Institute Professor Phil Baran has won the American Chemical Society (ACS) Award in Pure Chemistry. Sponsored by the Alpha Chi Sigma Fraternity and the Alpha Chi Sigma Educational Foundation, the award is given to a chemist of "unusual merit for an individual on the threshold of her or his career" with special consideration given to independence of thought and originality in the research. In his research program, Baran explores new avenues for the efficient and practical construction of organic molecules, both naturally occurring and man-made, by pursuing longstanding synthetic challenges and by designing methods of broad utility. The ACS Award in Pure Chemistry was awarded to Scripps Research Professor Reza Ghadiri in 1995 and Professor Peter Schultz in 1990.

James Paulson Wins 2009 Karl Meyer Award
Professor James Paulson has won the Society for Glycobiology's 2009 Karl Meyer Award, which honors a well-established, currently active scientist who has made widely recognized major contributions to the field of glycobiology. In announcing the award, the society cited Paulson's reputation as "world leader in the chemical biology of carbohydrates and in the biologic function of glycoproteins and lectins, who has made seminal discoveries and contributions to glycobiology in over 30 years of work in the field."

The award will be presented at the society's annual meeting in San Diego, California, in November.

Sandra Schmid Elected ASCB President
Professor Sandra Schmid, chair of the Scripps Research Department of Cell Biology, has been elected by the membership to serve as the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) president in 2011. Schmid will serve on the Executive Committee as president-elect in 2010.

The 11,000-member ASCB, founded in 1960, promotes and develops the field of cell biology through the scholarly dissemination of research at its Annual Meeting and Summer Meetings and through its publications. The society also provides training and development opportunities for students and young investigators and keeps Congress and the American public informed about the importance of biomedical research.

Jin-Quan Yu Awarded National Science Foundation Funds
Scripps Research Associate Professor Jin-Quan Yu is co-principal investigator of a new three-year $210,000 grant from the National Science Foundation. The project, called "Center in Stereoselective C-H Functionalization," represents a joint effort with Emory University, Stanford University, and the University of Illinois to address one of the most significant problems in chemical synthesis and catalysis, namely, developing new chiral technologies based on C-H activation.

"Efforts are directed to deliver unprecedented disconnections that will skip multiple steps in making drug molecules," says Yu. "Training is another important component of the grant."

The center, which will be eligible to apply for increased Phase 2 funding, will work closely with leading pharmaceutical industry players to ensure the technologies developed have an immediate impact on drug discovery.

Stephanie Cherqui Wins Grant from Cystinosis Research Foundation
Assistant Professor Stephanie Cherqui has won a grant from The Cystinosis Research Foundation (CRF) of Irvine, CA, which funds research on cystinosis, a rare but fatal metabolic disease that slowly destroys every organ in the body, including the liver, kidneys, eyes, muscles, thyroid, and brain. Cherqui's project is titled "Stem and Gene Therapy for Cystinosis."

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Posters and Talks Showcase Kellogg School Students' Work

The annual student-faculty retreat at the Bahia Resort on San Diego's Mission Bay on September 11, 2009, gave returning students in the Scripps Research Kellogg School of Science and Technology an opportunity to present their work and compete for prizes for the best posters and talks. Entering students received a crash course on the research being conducted by their peers.

Happy Hour Brings Together Faculty and Students

A happy hour on September 3 provided an informal setting for faculty (especially new faculty), students, and other interested individuals to connect socially and scientifically. "I was delighted by the number of faculty members who showed up for the event," said graduate student Anke Mulder (bottom right), president of the Scripps Research Network for Women in Science (NWiS), which hosted the event. "We've had requests to make this a regular event."