In Brief

Faculty Promotions: Mark Mayford, Katrin Karbstein, Courtney Miller, Laurent Mosnier, Hendrik Szurmant, Changchun Xiao

Six faculty promotions at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) were announced at a recent meeting of the institute’s Board of Trustees. Promoted faculty members and their titles are:

Mark Mayford, professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience. Mayford’s lab is investigating the molecular events involved in learning and memory
Katrin Karbstein, associate professor with tenure in the Department of Cancer Biology. Research in her lab focuses on mechanisms to regulate and quality-check ribosome assembly
Courtney Miller, associate professor in the Department of Metabolism and Aging. Her team is working to understand the biological underpinnings of memory disorders
Laurent Mosnier, associate professor in the Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine. His lab focuses on basic and translational research for vascular, thrombotic and inflammatory diseases, specifically investigating molecular mechanisms of cytoprotective actions mediated by coagulation proteases
Hendrik Szurmant, associate professor in the Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine. His research focuses on the mechanisms of signal detection and transmission in Gram-positive bacteria
Changchun Xiao, associate professor in the Department of Immunology and Microbial Science. His team studies the functions of microRNA control and their underlying molecular mechanisms in the immune system, under health and disease conditions

Lerner Paper Reaches Top 10 in F1000 Prime Ranking

A study led by Richard Lerner, TSRI Institute Professor and Lita Annenberg Hazen Professor of Immunochemistry, was posted recently in a Current Top 10 ranking in the F1000 Prime directory of articles in biology and medicine. Current Top 10 rankings are generated every day using the articles recommended in F1000 Prime during the preceding 14 days. The study was also featured in the F1000 Prime Current Most Viewed list.

The paper, “A structurally distinct human mycoplasma protein that generically blocks antigen-antibody union,” by Grover et al., was published in the February 7, 2014 issue of Science.

The F1000 Prime directory, a service of the Faculty of 1000 group, ranks articles recommended by more than 5,000 expert scientists and clinical researchers and covers more than 40 disciplines and 3,5000 journals. The rated articles include expert commentaries that explain their importance.

The paper was also highlighted in Nature Reviews Microbiology, Chemical & Engineering News and News@JAMA. For more information, see also News&Views article “The Ultimate Decoy: Scientists Find Unique Protein that Misdirects Immune System.”

Marty Fedor to Speak at March 13 Faculty Lecture Series

Marty Fedor, professor in the TSRI Department of Chemical Physiology, is the featured speaker at the next Faculty Lecture Series presentation, scheduled for Thursday, March 13, at 5 PM in the Green Hospital’s Timkin Amphitheater in La Jolla, California. Fedor’s topic is “Mechanisms of RNA-Mediated Gene Regulation: From Proton Transfer Through Nucleotide Signaling.” A reception will follow in the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Building, first floor. For further information, see Fedor’s Faculty Lecture Series webpage. The lecture series is supported by an endowment from the Cochrane-Cartan families, established by TSRI Professor Emeritus Charles G. Cochrane.

Career Transitions Workshop Offered in March

A three-session Career Transitions Workshop exploring academic and industry job options will be held from 3 to 5 PM on Wednesdays, March 12, 19 and 26, in the Graduate Office Conference Room, 3377 Building, suite 300.

Open to California campus postdoctoral fellows and graduate students, the workshop will offer a confidential small-group environment in which participants will examine personal skills, interests, values and goals. The sessions will be facilitated by Daphne Lurie, director of TSRI Counseling and Psychological Services, and Ryan Wheeler, director of the Career and Postdoctoral Services Office.

Participants must register for and commit to all three sessions. For information on other upcoming career-related events and resources, visit the Career and Postdoctoral Services website.

CA NWiS Coffee Hour to Explore ‘Lean In’ Feminism

A critique of issues presented in Facebook CEO Sheryl Sandberg’s best-selling book Lean In is the topic at the next California campus Network for Women in Science (NWiS) Coffee Hour, to be held Monday, March 3, at 3 PM in the Faculty Club Tennis Room. The discussion will review author and feminist bell hooks’ commentary on Sandberg’s book. The event is open to the TSRI community. Coffee and snacks will be served. For more information about this event and other NWiS activities and resources, visit the group’s website or Facebook page.

CA ScrippsAssists to Help Fundraisers for Child Abuse Prevention and Hunger

The California campus ScrippsAssists seeks volunteers to help stage two fundraising events this spring with community partners Home Start and the Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank.

HOME START
The 42^nd Annual Home Start Blue Ribbon Gala, scheduled for Saturday, April 12, at the Hyatt Regency at La Jolla Aventine will benefit the organization’s programs preventing child abuse and strengthening families. Volunteers are needed for specific tasks during two shifts, 2 to 8 PM and 4 to 11 PM. Tasks include set-up and tear down, greeters, guest check-in, auction table staffing, live auction runners and assistants and cleanup.

Interested volunteers can sign up with ScrippsAssists project coordinator Mishelle McClanahan-Shinn at mshinn@scripps.edu. Additional ticket and sponsorship information can be found on the Home Start website. Founded in 1972, the nonprofit Home Start agency provides services to children living in poverty who require immediate, comprehensive solutions to ensure their safety and healthy development.

JACOBS AND CUSHMAN SAN DIEGO FOOD BANK
Volunteer opportunities are also available for the Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank (SDFB) gala "Foodtasia: Burlap and Silver," to be held Saturday, May 3, 6 PM, in the SDFB warehouse at 9850 Distribution Avenue, San Diego. The event supports SDFB hunger relief programs. Help for this event is needed in two work shifts, noon to 8 PM and 4 PM to midnight, for set-up, guest check-in and check-out, Bid-Pal instructors for auction purchases and tear down and cleanup.

Contact McClanahan-Shinn for further details about volunteering. Gala ticket and sponsorship information is available on the SDFB website. For additional event information contact Sandy Rabourne, SDFB special events planner, at 858-863-5142 or srabourne@sandiegofoodbank.org.

At the Auditorium: Brahms and Florals

Coming to the Auditorium at TSRI: the San Diego Symphony Chamber Music Series will present pianist Martina Filjak on Monday, March 3, 7:30 PM. Filjack and members of the Symphony Orchestra will perform a program of Johannes Brahms, including the rarely heard Clarinet Trio as well as Trio for Cello and Piano, Opus 114. For ticket information, visit the San Diego Symphony website.

The Village Garden Club of La Jolla’s Meet the Masters program will host an afternoon fundraiser featuring master floral designer, event planner and author Eddie Zaratsian on Thursday, March 6, 1:30 PM. The program includes a floral demonstration and lecture reception. Ticket and additional program information is available at the Garden Club’s website or by phone at 858-459-4846.

The Auditorium at TSRI is located at 10640 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, 92121. Directions and parking information are located on the auditorium’s website.

Send comments to: mikaono[at]scripps.edu

Mark Mayford (left) is now professor; Katrin Karbstein, associate professor with tenure.

Courtney Miller (top left), Laurent Mosnier (top right), Hendrik Szurmant (bottom left) and Changchun Xiao have been promoted to the rank of associate professor.

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