In Brief

Paper from Griffin Lab Collaboration Tops Nature’s ‘Most-Read’ List

A paper from an international group of scientists, including Chair of the Department of Molecular Therapeutics Patrick Griffin and his colleagues Bruce Pascal and Graham West at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) Florida campus, rose to the top of the “most-read” list of the journal Nature.

The study, “Crystal Structure of Rhodopsin Bound to Arrestin by Femtosecond X-Ray Laser,” was published on July 22 and sheds new light on G protein-coupled receptors, which play a critical role in signaling in the cells of many organisms.

The new study is one of several collaborations from the Griffin lab, which is recognized for its expertise in structural proteomics, especially the application of hydrogen-deuterium exchange (HDX) mass spectrometry. HDX technology provides highly accurate analysis of protein dynamics, which is directly related to protein function, and it is a highly sensitive mapping technique that enables scientists to measure the impact of the interaction of various receptor proteins and their binding partners.

The Nature paper is available on the journal website, along with a commentary piece, “Structural biology: Arresting developments in receptor signalling.” For other recent findings from a Griffin lab collaboration, see Nature Communications paper “Conformational states of the full-length glucagon receptor.”

Linda Sherman Named Finalist for ‘Woman of the Year’ Award

TSRI Professor Linda Sherman has been named a finalist for the 2015 Woman of the Year award presented by San Diego Magazine. The annual award honors San Diego women in far-ranging fields who are committed to creating positive change.

The Sherman lab examines the immune system's basic strategy of discriminating between "self" and "non-self" through T lymphocytes, seeking to augment their ability to respond to certain self-antigens on tumor cells and to diminish their aberrant destruction of self-tissue in autoimmune diseases.

The award selection is based on a candidate’s outstanding contributions to her company/organization and commitment to community service. Finalists must manage three or more part- or full-time employees and be active in their professions for more than five years.

In addition to Woman of the Year, two awards will be presented for public service and leadership. Winners will be announced at a ceremony and networking event on Tuesday, September 29, from 6 to 8:30 PM, at the Museum of Contemporary Art, 700 Prospect Place, La Jolla.

Joey Davis Wins Pathway to Independence Award

Joey Davis, research associate in the Williamson lab, has won a National Institutes of Health K99/R00 Pathway to Independence award. The prestigious award supports outstanding postdoctoral researchers as they transition to independent scientists.

A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, with dual degrees in computer science and biological engineering, Davis’s research focuses on a process of protein and organelle degradation (autophagy) in aging cells. The work has the potential to uncover biochemical reactions that could lead to therapies for age-related diseases, including neurodegeneration, cardiomyopathy and cancer.

Academic Career Workshops: Setting Up a Lab, Job Searches

Workshops sponsored by TSRI Career and Postdoctoral Services will be held on both the California and Florida campuses in August.

California
“How to Set Up a Lab,” a review of current statistics, case stories and step-by step strategies, will be held Monday, August 17, 10 to 11:30 AM, in the Graduate Office seminar room, first floor, Hazen Theory Building.

Designed for senior postdoctoral fellows who intend to seek an academic position, the session is also open to junior faculty. Damien Wilpitz, a former lab research manager at Harvard University and the Salk Institute and founder of Experimental Designs Consulting, will conduct the seminar.

The workshop will cover key steps to create a budget and determine a lab’s resource requirements, as well as negotiations to secure an academic position. Reservations are required.

Florida
An “Academic Job Search 101” workshop is scheduled for Wednesday, August 19, 3 to 5 PM, in room B159.

In the session’s first half, Briana Konnick, Career and Postdoctoral Services program coordinator, will present information on academic job search timelines and resources, job application packages—including CV preparation, cover letters, research plans and teaching statements—and guidance on navigating phone screens and campus interviews.

A faculty Q&A panel will follow featuring TSRI Professor Laura Bohn, Professor Matt Disney and Associate Professor Brock Grill.

Reservations are required.

Bicoastal Seminar to Explore ‘Imposter Syndrome’

A seminar exploring “imposter syndrome”—the suspicion even accomplished individuals can have that they are not as bright or talented as others believe—will be held Monday, August 17, simultaneously on the Scripps California and Florida campuses.

The presentation by internationally known speaker and author Valerie Young will be held from 4 to 6 PM Eastern time on the Florida campus in room A116 and streamed live to California from 1 to 3 PM Pacific time in the Beckman building’s Keck Amphitheater.

Presenting seven reasons why smart people feel like frauds, Young will describe the imposter syndrome and how it works, and offer practical steps to interrupt needless self-doubt.

Light refreshments will be served. Reservations are required. The workshop is sponsored by the TSRI Graduate Studies office.

Lunch & Learn: Mindfulness Practices and Healthy Eating

"Eating in the Here and Now: How Mindful Eating Can Change Your Life” is the focus of the next Lunch & Learn presentation, scheduled for Wednesday, August 26, noon to 1 PM, in the Beckman building’s Keck Amphitheater on the California campus.

Sponsored by the TSRI Counseling and Psychological Services department, the session will feature a presentation by Julie Kraft, a San Diego-based licensed marriage and family therapist and co-author of The Mindfulness Workbook for Addiction: A Guide to Coping with the Grief, Stress and Anger that Trigger Addictive Behaviors.

Kraft will provide a brief overview of the practice of mindfulness, including techniques for stress relief and a detailed tutorial on how to eat mindfully. Encouraged to bring their own lunch, participants will practice mindful eating, while learning self-soothing strategies and how to recognize and nourish the seven types of hunger.

For more information on resources offered by Counseling and Psychological Services, visit the group’s website.

Outstanding Mentor Nominations Due August 14

The nomination deadline for the 2015 Scripps California Outstanding Mentor Award, sponsored by the Society of Fellows (SoF), is Friday, August 14. The award honors dedicated TSRI faculty who consistently and enthusiastically serve as effective mentors to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.

The award will be presented at the SoF Research Symposium Lightning Talks competition on Wednesday, September 23, during this year’s National Postdoctoral Appreciation Week. The recipient will receive a plaque and $500 to support team building or training in his or her lab. Previous winners include Professors M.G. Finn, Ian Wilson and Hollis Cline and Professor Emeritus Jack Johnson.

Postdoctoral fellows and graduate students may nominate any faculty member who has guided and contributed to their personal and professional development through a mutually trusting and respectful relationship. Nomination criteria and instructions can be found on the SoF website. Updated re-submissions of prior applications are allowed and encouraged. For further information, contact Mayeux at jmayeux@scripps.edu.

SoF ‘Open Mic Night’ Begins New Season August 12

The Society of Fellows (SoF) will hold the first of the fall season’s Open Mic Nights on Wednesday, August 12, 6 to 8 PM, at the Bella Vista Social Club and Caffé, 2880 Torrey Pines Scenic Drive, La Jolla 92037.

Each Open Mic event features brief talks by two guest judges, followed by five-minute talks aimed at a general audience by five postdoctoral fellows. Winners will be invited to speak at a finals night at the end of the season.

Judges for the event will include TSRI alumni Stephen Demarest (class of 2002, Wright lab), now senior research advisor at Eli Lilly, and Géza Ambrus Aikelin (class of 2010, Gerace lab), senior scientist at Janssen Research and Development. The evening is sponsored by GE Life Sciences.

Open Mic Nights are presented by SoF, the University of California San Diego Postdoc Association, Sanford Burnham Prebys Science Network, Salk Society of Research Fellows, La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology postdoc association and the Bella Vista Social Club and Caffé. The events are co-sponsored by local vendors, who provide free appetizers.

Future Open Mic Nights are scheduled on September 9, October 14 and November 11.

Manuscript Peer-Review Service Available

Peer-review and copyediting services for manuscripts and proposals are available to TSRI postdoctoral fellows and graduate students through the Council of Scientific Editors. The editing service spans all TSRI scientific departments on both California and Florida campuses.

Designed to supplement, not supplant, mentoring provided by graduate student and research fellow advisors, the Council of Scientific Editors aims to assist applicants in producing high-quality, high-impact papers and fellowship applications.

Editing requests are matched to the relevant scientific area and reviewer availability. Submissions are kept confidential and require advisor approval. Editing request forms and instructions are available on the Career and Postdoctoral Services website.

Postdoctoral fellows and senior graduate students are encouraged to serve as volunteer reviewers on the council, activity that can help build resumes and experience in scientific writing and editing. Reviewers are expected to provide general to specific feedback, depending on time available and each document’s requirements. To volunteer for the Council of Editors, contact Career and Postdoctoral Services at cpso@scripps.edu.

ScrippsAssists Sponsors Blood Drive and Backpack Collection

ScrippsAssists, the TSRI employee volunteer organization, will hold two of the group’s ongoing projects in August on the California campus.

Quarterly Blood Drive

The next blood drive in partnership with the San Diego Blood Bank (SDBB) will be held on Thursday, August 20, from 9 AM to 2:30 PM. The SDBB bloodmobile will be located in the parking lot adjacent to the Skaggs/MBB building, 10596 N. Torrey Pines Road.

Eligible donors are asked to make an appointment on the SDBB website, although walk-in donors will be welcomed. Guidelines and eligibility requirements are also listed on the blood bank website. Donors should bring photo identification, a record of medications they currently take and a list of locations visited outside the United States in the past three years.

All donors will automatically be entered in a prize raffle. For further information on the blood drive, contact project coordinator Leslie Madden at lmadden@scripps.edu.

Annual School Backpack Collection

Working once again with community partner Home Start, ScrippsAssists seeks help in reaching its goal of collecting at least 30 back-to-school backpack kits for underserved children in San Diego. TSRI faculty, students, staff—and family and friends—are encouraged to donate new, unused backpacks and school supplies for children and teenagers in grades K to 12.

According to project lead Mishelle McClanahan-Shinn, one backpack kit costs $30-35. Needed supplies include backpacks, notebook paper and binders, pencils pens, crayons and more; a complete supplies list is available on the ScrippsAssists website under the heading “Active Annual Campaigns.”

Gift cards or cash donations are also accepted. Donations can be dropped off by August 14 at the Human Resources front desk (Science Park 3050), collection box beside the North End elevator (Science Park 3030), the Department of Chemistry office, Beckman building, room 405, or the Counseling and Psychological Services office, 3300 building, second floor.

For more information on the Backpack Drive, contact McClanahan-Shinn at mshinn@scripps.edu or x4-2738.

CA Biosafety Committee Meeting Materials Due August 26

To receive consideration at the next TSRI Institutional Biosafety Committee, registration documents must be submitted to Environmental Health and Safety by Wednesday, August 26, via email to rachellv@scripps.edu. The meeting will be held Wednesday, September 9, 2:30 to 3:30 PM, in the P2 conference room, Building 3301.

Send comments to: mikaono[at]scripps.edu

A paper that made it to the top of Nature’s “Most Read” list capitalized on HDX technology from the laboratory of Patrick Griffin, chair of the Department of Molecular Therapeutics at Scripps Florida.

sherman2
Professor Linda Sherman is a finalist for San Diego Magazine’s 2015 Woman of the Year award.

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Snapshot: Briana Konnick