In Brief

ACS Names John Yates to Lead Journal of Proteome Research

The American Chemical Society (ACS) has announced John Yates, a professor at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), will be the new editor-in-chief of the Journal of Proteome Research, a leading peer-reviewed journal of novel research in protein analysis and function.

“We are delighted that a scientist with Dr. Yates’ vision will lead the Journal of Proteome Research,” said Penelope Lewis, director of editorial development for ACS Publications. “His extensive relationships within the proteomics community, broad knowledge of the field and editorial expertise will ensure that the journal can continue to progress from strength to strength in serving the current and future needs of the proteomics community.”

“I’m excited to be taking on the leadership role of this flagship journal for the proteomics field,” said Yates. “There is a wealth of high-quality research and technical innovation coming out of proteomics, which is of fundamental importance to biology and medicine. I look forward to working with our expert editors, Editorial Advisory Board members and authors to highlight advancements in the field of proteomics and all aspects of the global study of proteins.”

Yates, who is Ernest W. Hahn Professor of Chemical Physiology and Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience at TSRI, has contributed to significant advances in the proteomics field, most recently focusing his research on applied proteomics, protein biochemistry, mass spectrometry and informatics. He has served as an associate editor for Analytical Chemistry since 2001 and contributes his expertise to numerous journal editorial advisory boards. Yates has published more than 800 research articles and holds several patents for his innovations in proteomics and mass spectrometry.

The Journal of Proteome Research has recently expanded in scope to include the dynamic aspects of genomics, spatio-temporal proteomics, metabonomics and metabolomics, clinical and agricultural proteomics, as well as advances in methodology including bioinformatics. Delivered to researchers’ desktops and mobile devices, the online-only monthly publication received a Thomson-Reuters ISI 2014 Impact Factor of 4.245 and publishes more than 500 articles annually. See http://pubs.acs.org/journal/jprobs

Victor Quereda Receives Brain Cancer Research Fellowship

Victor Quereda, research associate in the Duckett lab, has received a fellowship from the Florida Center for Brain Tumor Research (FCBTR) in partnership with the nonprofit agency Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure (ABC²), recognizing research in areas on the cutting edge of scientific inquiry.

Quereda’s research project, titled “Targeting CK1d/e as a strategy to enhance the efficacy of irradiation of DNA damaging agents in the treatment of glioblastoma,” aims to identify the DNA-damaging agent that acts most synergistically with CK1δ inhibition to develop therapeutics that will provide improved efficacy versus current standard of care in treating glioblastoma, a lethal brain cancer.

The FCBTR/ABC² Grants Program supports studies with a clear development path and potential to provide meaningful improvements in treatment outcomes for patients in the near future.

ResearcHERS Public Lecture Features Donna Blackmond

TSRI Professor Donna Blackmond will explore the asymmetrical property of certain molecules—the same “mirror-image” characteristic of right and left hands superimposed on each other—and their implications in the search for new drug therapies at the next ResearcHERS Lecture, sponsored by the Women Scientists of TSRI on Wednesday, March 9, from 4 to 6 PM.

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

Blackmond conducts research on the mechanistic aspects of the synthesis of complex organic molecules by catalytic routes. Her lab also investigates nonlinear effects of catalyst enantiopurity and studies the origin of biological homochirality.

Reservations for the lecture and reception—to be held at The Auditorium at TSRI—can be made with Chelsea Luedeke at cluedeke@scripps.edu or x4-7083.

Ulrich Müller to Speak at March 9 CA Faculty Lecture Series

Ulrich Müller, chairman of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, will speak on “The sound of silence: Mechanotransduction, sound perception and the molecular pathogenesis of deafness” at the next Scripps California Faculty Lecture Series presentation on Wednesday, March 9. The lecture will begin at 5 PM in the Timken Amphitheater, Green Hospital. A reception will follow in the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Building, first floor.

For further information, see Müller’s Faculty Lecture Series webpage

The series is supported by an endowment from the Cochrane-Cartan families, established by TSRI Professor Emeritus Charles G. Cochrane.

SF-SRF Announces New Executive Committee

The Scripps Florida Society of Research Fellows (SF-SRF) has announced its 2016 executive committee. Andrii Monastyrskyi, research associate in the Roush lab, serves as the group’s president, supported by Sherri Briggs, research associate in the Miller lab, as vice president.

Other officers are:

Career Development Chair: Rodrigo Pacifico of the Davis lab
Social Chairs: Isabel Adrados of the Duckett lab and Muriel Desbois of the Grill lab
Vendor Show Chair: Oliver Crawley of the Grill lab
Scientific Symposium Chair: Tarsis Brust of the Bohn lab
Communications Officer and Distinguished Lecture Series Chair: Olga Ostrovskaya of the Martemyanov lab

“The 2016 SF-SRF Executive Committee is committed to continually enhancing and enriching the professional, academic and social experiences of the TSRI postdoctoral research community,” said Monastyrskyi. The group plans to emphasize career development resources and guidance for postdoctoral fellows, collaborating with TSRI’s Graduate and Postdoctoral Services Offices to provide skills training and educational activities.

Florida Symposium to Explore Biomedical Career Options

The Florida Biomedical Career Symposium, a day-long introduction to a broad array of career opportunities sponsored by Scripps Florida and the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, will be held Friday, March 18, from 8 AM to 5:30 PM on the Scripps Florida campus.

The symposium will cover career paths in such areas as scientific operations, management consulting, tech transfer, science communication, research in academia and government, patent law and science policy.

Keynote lecturer Joel Shulman, former associate director of corporate research at Proctor and Gamble and adjunct professor at the University of Cincinnati will speak on “You’ve Completed Your Training at Scripps: Now What?”

Registration, which closes Friday, March 11, is free and open to postdoctoral fellows, graduate students and research assistants/technicians. The event will be held on the Scripps Florida campus; program details and registration information are available at http://www.asbmb.org/floridabiomedical/.

SoF Travel Award Applications Due March 18

The application deadline for the Society of Fellows (SoF) Postdoctoral Travel Award Program spring cycle for full-time California postdoctoral fellows is Friday, March 18, at midnight, Pacific time. Three grants of up to$1,000 each will be awarded for conference-related costs, such as travel, housing and registration.

Past travel award applicants are encouraged to reapply; however, former award winners are not eligible. Award eligibility, application procedures, proposal guidelines and the application form are available on the secure SOF website.

A selection committee comprising postdoctoral fellows and non-scientist representatives will review award applications. Top candidates will be invited for a short interview with the committee to discuss research interests, conference agenda and the role of the travel award in facilitating attendance. Winners will be announced by April 18.

SoF also seeks judges to evaluate this cycle’s travel award applications. To volunteer, contact SoF Career Development Chair Celine Loriot at cloriot@scripps.edu.

Workshops: Networking, Medical Science Liaison Career, Life and Disability Insurance

Career workshops, sponsored by TRSI Career and Postdoctoral Services, will be held on the Scripps California and Florida campuses in March.

Florida: Introduction to Networking

This interactive session, scheduled for Tuesday, March 8, from 3 to 4:30 PM, in classroom B159, will cover the basics of networking, elevator pitches and conversational skills. During a speed-networking activity, participants will practice networking skills in small groups. Reservations are required for the workshop.

Florida: Medical Science Liaison Career

The next Career Discussion event will explore the job of medical science liaison on Friday, March 11, from 11 AM to noon, in classroom B159. Richard Gustin, a medical science liaison in South Florida who provides scientific and medical education and support to a variety of healthcare entities, will lead the discussion. Gustin trained in pharmacology at Vanderbilt University as a graduate student and University of Washington as a postdoctoral fellow. Reservations are required.

California: Understanding Life and Disability Insurance

Conducted by MetLife financial education representatives, this workshop will tackle the often confusing issues of insurance income. Scheduled for Thursday, March 17, 4 to 5:30 PM, the session will cover the types and benefits of life and disability income insurance and how to determine adequate insurance coverage. Reservations for the workshop, to be held in the Graduate Office Dining Room on the Hazen campus, are requested.

Health Care Spending Account Deadline March 15

TSRI employees who participated in a 2015 Healthcare Spending Account (HCSA) have until March 15, 2016, to incur claims for the 2015 plan year; the deadline to submit claims is June 30.

The deadline to submit Dependent Care Spending Account (DCSA) expenses incurred in 2015 is also June 30.

To submit claims, go to the Tri-Ad website at www.tri-ad.com; click on “Employee/Participant Login.” First-time user can follow the prompts after clicking “register now”. For further information, contact Benefits Administration at x4-8487 or via email at benefits@scripps.edu.

At the Auditorium: Chamber Music, Jazz

The Mainly Mozart Spotlight Series offers a chamber music program featuring violinist Stefan Jackiw, cellist Michael Nicolas and pianist Ji, on Saturday, March 12. The performance will include Mozart’s Piano Trio No. 6 in G Major, Arvo Part’s Mozart Adagio and Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio No. 1 in D Minor. A 6:30 PM wine reception will precede the 7:30 PM concert. For additional program and ticket information, visit the Mainly Mozart website.

The San Diego Symphony’s Chamber Series presents internationally known harpist Yolanda Kondonassis with the symphony orchestra on Tuesday, March 15, 7:30 PM. The program includes the world premiere of Gary Schocker’s Coasting, Francis Poulenc’s Sonata for Clarient and Bassoon in D Major, Vincent Persichetti’s Serenade No. 10 for Flute and Harp and Ravel’s Introduction & Allegro. Ticket and program information are available on the symphony’s website.

The Athenaeum Music and Arts Library’s 2016 spring jazz series continues on Thursday, March 17, 7:30 PM, with Brazilian vocalist Luciana Souza and her program Speaking in Tongues, featuring Souza on vocals and percussion, Lionel Loueke on guitar and voice, Gregoire Maret on harmonica, Massimo Biolcati on bass and Kendrick Scott on drums. See the Athenaeum’s website for additional program and ticket information.

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

Send comments to: mikaono[at]scripps.edu

yates
TSRI Professor John Yates has been named editor-in-chief of the Journal of Proteome Research.

SEARCH NEWS & VIEWS

Scientists Find Clues to Neutralizing Coronaviruses Such as MERS

By Cloning Mouse Neurons, Team Finds Each Brain Cell Carries 100+ Mutations

Researchers Find Way to Predict Activity of Stem Cells

Scientists Awarded $2.25 Million to Study Key Mechanisms Behind Some Cancers