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Biophysics, Structural & Computational Biology (BSCB) PhD Program

Education / Graduate Education / PhD Programs / Biophysics, Structural & Computational Biology (BSCB) / Events

Events

Retreats

Seminar Calendars

Department Seminars

If you would like to speak with any of these people during their visit, or need additional information, please contact Stephanie Scoville.

Upcoming20242023202220212020

DBB Seminar: “How DEAD-box Helicase Specificity and Abundance Underlies Cellular Growth and Response to Stress”

Gloria Brar, PhD - Associate Professor, Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA

 Dec 04, 2024 @ 2:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-307

Host: Dr. Dmitri Ermolenko and Dr. Eric Phizicky (co-sponsored by the Protein Synthesis Cluster)

Special DBB Seminar: "Discovery and Therapeutic Applications of RNA Stitching"

Doug Anderson, PhD - Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Rochester

 Nov 22, 2024 @ 1:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | Ryan Case Method Rm (1-9576)

Host: Dr. Lynne Maquat and Dr. Josh Munger

DBB Seminar: “Evolution of mRNA Translational Control Mechanisms”

Amy Si-Ying Lee, PhD - Assistant Professor, Department of Cancer Immunology & Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; Assistant Professor, Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

 Nov 13, 2024 @ 2:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-307

Host: Dr. Dmitri Ermolenko and Dr. Eric Phizicky (co-sponsored by the Protein Synthesis Cluster and by the RNA Structure & Function Cluster)

DBB Seminar: “Ribosome Stalling and Angiogenin Function in ALS and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases”

Andrei Korostelev, PhD - Professor, RNA Therapeutics Institute, UMASS Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA “Ribosome Stalling

 Nov 06, 2024 @ 2:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-307

Host: Dr. Dmitri Ermolenko (co-sponsored by the Protein Synthesis Cluster and by the RNA Structure & Function Cluster)

DBB Seminar: “Accessing In vivo Excited-State Photochemistry with Time and Space-Resolved Spectroscopy”

Yishu Jiang, PhD - Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY

 Oct 30, 2024 @ 2:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-307

Host: Dr. David Mathews

Investigating the role histone post-translational modifications and variants in animal longevity using comparative biology - Thesis Defense

Nicholas Macoretta - PhD Candidate, PhD Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

 Oct 29, 2024 @ 1:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | Ryan Case Method Rm (1-9576)

Hybrid Event

Host: Advisor - Vera Gorbunova, PhD

DBB Seminar: “The NCI RAS Initiative: Novel Drug Discovery Efforts to Directly Target RAS-related Cancers and RASopathy Diseases”

Dominic Esposito, PhD - Director, Protein Expression Laboratory, NCI RAS Initiative, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research (FNLCR), Frederick, MD

 Oct 23, 2024 @ 2:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-307

Host: Dr. Yi-Tao Yu

DBB Seminar: “How Hydration of Membrane Proteins Enhances Dynamics to Promote Ion Transport and Lipid Scrambling”

Alessio Accardi, PhD - Professor, Department of Physiology & Biophysics in Anesthesiology; Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY

 Oct 16, 2024 @ 2:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-307

Host: Dr. John Lueck and Dr. Mitch O’Connell

Call for Abstracts! UR & UAlbany’s 2024 New York RNA Symposium in the Finger Lakes

2024 NY RNA Symposium Logo​

October 14-15, 2024
Hotel Canandaigua, a Tapestry by Hilton
205 Lakeshore Dr.
Canandaigua, NY 14424

Symposium Flyer

We are pleased to announce our upcoming 2024 New York Symposium in the Finger Lakes, co-organized and hosted by the University of Rochester Center for RNA Biology and The RNA Institute at the University at Albany. This year's meeting will be held at the Hotel Canandaigua on October 14-15th, 2024. The symposium will feature a rich exchange of information leveraging the innovative and interdisciplinary research ongoing within the regional RNA community (including primarily New England and mid-Atlantic states).

The symposium will feature keynote talks, invited faculty talks, and trainee presentations (including posters, 15-minute talks, and 1-min lightning talks selected from abstract submissions). This year’s event is trainee-focused, with a networking lunch, a trainee gathering the day before the formal meeting starts (to be held on Oct 13th), poster and talk awards, and opportunities for trainees to interact with senior scientists and industry partners.

Keynote Speakers:

  • Eckhard Jankowsky, PhD, VP of RNA Science, Moderna
  • Karla Neugebauer, PhD, Director, Yale Center for RNA Science & Medicine
  • Sally Temple, PhD, Co-Founder and Scientific Director, Neural Stem Cell Institute
  • Blanton Tolbert, PhD, (UR Alumnus) VP of Science Leadership and Culture, HHMI; Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania

Faculty Speakers:

  • Mitchell O’Connell, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics; Member, Center for RNA Biology; University of Rochester Medical Center
  • Kathleen McDonough, PhD, Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, The RNA Institute, University at Albany

Early-bird registration, abstract submission, and hotel deadline: September 13th

  • Registration costs include meals and attendance for both days.
  • Trainees, plan to arrive Sun, Oct 13th in time for an early afternoon event (TBD).
  • Abstracts should be submitted separately using this template; see Abstracts for more info
    • Abstract submission closes after September 13, 2024
  • Hotel Accommodations must be booked separately from registration.
    • Click here for our event hotel booking links & rates. 
    • UR trainees are encouraged to double-up at the 2-Queen room rate at the Hotel Canandaigua.

Visit our Symposium Page     Register Today

If you have any questions, please reach out to FingerLakesRNA@urmc.rochester.edu.

 

 Oct 14, 2024 @ 8:00 a.m.

“Reducing the Stress of Review: Perspective from the Scientific Advisory Board”

Scott Hiebert, PhD - Professor,, Department of Biochemistry; Associate Professor, Department of Medicine; Hortense B. Ingram Chair in Cancer Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

 Oct 10, 2024 @ 12:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | Ryan Case Method Room 1-9576

DBB Seminar: “How Genes Turn Off”

Scott Hiebert, PhD - Professor,, Department of Biochemistry; Associate Professor, Department of Medicine; Hortense B. Ingram Chair in Cancer Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

 Oct 09, 2024 @ 2:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-307

Host: T32 graduate student, Hannah Clary & Dr. Kielkopf (co-sponsored by the NIH NIGMS T32 Training Grant in Cellular, Biochemical and Molecular Sciences, Dr. Lynne Maquat, PI & Dr. Jeffrey Hayes, Co-PI)

DBB Seminar: “The Mechanism of Translation Termination Informs Approaches to Suppress Nonsense Mutations”

David M. Bedwell, PhD - Professor and Chair, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics; James C. & Elizabeth T. Lee Endowed Chair of Biochemistry; Associate Director, Gregory Fleming James CF Research Center, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham

 Oct 02, 2024 @ 2:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-307

Host: Dr. Yi-Tao Yu (co-sponsored by the RNA Structure & Function Cluster)

DBB Seminar: “Tackling Functional Elements in the Putative Noncoding Genome: Polyadenylation and Noncanonical Translation”

Zhe Ji, PhD - Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Feinberg School of Medicine; Department of Biomedical Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL

 Sep 25, 2024 @ 2:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-307

Host: Dr. Yi-Tao Yu (co-sponsored by the RNA Structure & Function Cluster)

Targeting Programmed Ribosomal Frameshifting in SARS-CoV-2 with a Resin-Bound Dynamic Combinatorial Library - Thesis Defense

Elinore VanGraafeiland - PhD Candidate, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology PhD Program

 Sep 16, 2024 @ 1:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K207 (2-6408)

Hybrid Event

Host: Advisor: Benjamin Miller, PhD

p53 Promotes cell identity and suppresses oncogenic signaling in the pancreas - PhD Thesis Defense

Jennifer Twardowski, MS - PhD Candidate, PhD Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

 Sep 05, 2024 @ 12:30 p.m.

 Medical Center | Ryan Case Method Rm. (1-9576)

Hybrid Event: Join Zoom

Host: Advisor: Stephano Spano Mello, PhD

Using integrated photonic ring resonators to detect cytokine secretion in a human tendon microphysiological system - Thesis Defense

Joseph Bucukovski - PhD Candidate, Biophysics, Structural & Computational Biology PhD Program

 Jul 25, 2024 @ 9:00 a.m.

 Medical Center | Ryan Case Method Rm (1-9576)

Hybrid Event

Host: Advisor: Benjamin Miller, PhD

"Improving the Align-Then-Fold Approach for RNA Secondary Structure Prediction" - Thesis Defense

Abhinav Mittal - PhD Candidate, Biophysics, Structure and Computational Biology Degree Program

 Jun 04, 2024 @ 9:00 a.m.

 Medical Center | K-207 (2-6408)

Hybrid Event

Host: Advisor: David Mathews, MD, PhD

"Flying under the radar: Optimization of RfxCas13d reduces mammalian cellular toxicity when targeting endogenous RNAs" - Thesis Defense

Brandon Davis - PhD Candidate, PhD Program in Biochemistry Molecular Biology

 May 28, 2024 @ 1:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-207 (2-6408)

Hybrid Event

Host: Advisor: Mitchell O'Connell, PhD

DBB Seminar: “Structure-based Design of GPCR Biased Agonists with Therapeutic Potential”

John McCorvy, PhD - Assistant Professor, Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI

 May 08, 2024 @ 2:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-307

Host: T32 graduate student, Grant Grieble and Dr. Jean Bidlack (co-sponsored by the NIH NIGMS T32 Training Grant, Dr. Lynne Maquat, PI & Dr. Jeffrey Hayes, Co-PI)

*Special Event for Grad Students* Workshop on Giving & Receiving Constructive Criticism

Paul Boutz, PhD - Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics; Diversity Officer, NIH T32 in CBMS & the Center for RNA Biology

Workshop on Giving & Receiving Constructive Criticism

Constructive criticism plays an important role in the daily lives of working scientists. Dr. Paul Boutz will be facilitating a discussion on criticism, sponsored by the T32 Training Grant in Cellular, Biochemical, and Molecular Sciences. All Biochemistry & Biophysics students, as well as T32 Training grant recipients are invited.  We will focus first on feedback for in-person presentations such as student seminar, but time permitting, may discuss other areas, such as manuscript and grant reviews.  Are there any examples in your own experiences where criticism has been particularly helpful, or particularly hurtful?  Bring any ideas you would like to share and discuss.

 May 07, 2024 @ 1:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | Ryan Case Method (1-9576)

Host: Sponsored by the NIH NIGMS T32 in Cellular, Biochemical & Molecular Sciences

Distinct Roles of Paralogous U2AF2 and TatSF1 Proteins in HIV and Host Gene Expression - Thesis Defense

Justin Galardi - PhD Candidate, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Degree Program

 May 02, 2024 @ 2:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-207 (2-6408)

Hybrid Event

Host: Advisor: Clara Kielkopf, PhD

CRB Seminar: “From DNA to Life: Decode the noncoding genome”

Xiaohua Shen, PhD - Professor, School of Medicine
Yantz Professor of the Ministry of Education
Investigator, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China

 Apr 30, 2024 @ 10:00 a.m.

 Medical Center | K-307 (SMD 3-6408)

Host: Dr. Lynne Maquat, PhD

Free Energy Landscapes of Phase Separating Lipid Bilayers from Molecular Dynamics Simulations - Thesis Defense

Ashlin Poruthoor - PhD Candidate, PhD Program in Biophysics

Flyer

 Apr 29, 2024 @ 9:00 a.m.

 Medical Center | K-207 (2-6408)

Hybrid Event

Host: Advisor: Alan Grossfield, PhD

GWIS Seminar: “Journey through Academia: Taking the Road Less Travelled”

Deepika Polineni, MD, MPH - Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Allergy and Pulmonary Medicine; Director, Cystic Fibrosis Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO

 Apr 18, 2024 @ 3:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | Lower Adolph Aud (1-7619)

Host: Dr. John Lueck

DBB Seminar: “The Changing Face of Cystic Fibrosis”

Deepika Polineni, MD, MPH - Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Allergy and Pulmonary Medicine; Director, Cystic Fibrosis Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO

 Apr 17, 2024 @ 2:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-307

Host: Dr. John Lueck (co-sponsored by Graduate Women in Science)

GWIS Seminar: "My Journey in Chemical Biology"

Sarah Slavoff, PhD - Associate Professor of Chemistry and of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry Member, Institute for Biomolecular Design and Discovery, Yale University, New Haven, CT

GWIS Flyer

 Mar 21, 2024 @ 3:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | Lower Adolph Aud (1-7619)

Host: Dr. Lynne Maquat, co-sponsored by the NIH NIGMS T32 Training Grant in Cellular, Biochemical and Molecular Sciences (CBMS) (Maquat PI, Hayes Co-PI)

Annual Retreat of the NIH NIGMS Predoctoral T32 in Cellular, Biochemical and Molecular Sciences (CBMS)

Sarah Slavoff, PhD - Associate Professor of Chemistry and of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry, and Member of the Institute for Biomolecular Design and Discovery, Yale University, New Haven, CT

Our Keynote Retreat Speaker this year is Dr. Sarah Slavoff, PhD, Associate Professor of Chemistry and of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry, and Member of the Institute for Biomolecular Design and Discovery, Yale University, New Haven, CT. Her talk title is “Dark Matter of the Human Genome”. Her host is Dr. Lynne Maquat, and the retreat is co-sponsored by Graduate Women in Science (GWIS).

Back by popular demand, there will be a Wellness & Resilience Panel following the Keynote, from 3:15 – 4:15 pm for students, postdocs, and lab techs only (no faculty). The featured panelists are:

  • Kathryn Dorsheimer, PhD, Director of Training, University Counseling Center; Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, UR
  • Kermin Martínez-Hernández, PhD, Principal Facilitator, Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER); Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, St. John Fisher University
  • Adrienne Morgan, PhD, Richard Feldman Vice President for Equity and Inclusion, UR; Vice Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, UR Medical Center; Associate Professor for the Department of Health Humanities & Bioethics, the Warner School of Education, and the School of Nursing, UR
  • Amber Rivera, MSW, Director of Learner Life and Wellness, Graduate Education & Postdoctoral Affairs, UR School of Medicine and Dentistry

Dr. Slavoff (the T32 Retreat Keynote) will also be presenting at the GWIS Meeting on Thursday, March 21st, from 3:00 – 4:00 pm in Adolph Lower Aud (1-7619). Her talk title is “My Journey in Chemical Biology”.

Event flyer

 Mar 20, 2024 @ 1:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | Class of '62 Aud (G-9425)

DBB Seminar: “Modern Riboswitches Reveal Ancient RNA Capabilities and Limitations”

Ronald Breaker, PhD - Sterling Professor, Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology; Professor, Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry; Howard Hughes Investigator, Yale University, New Haven, CT

 Mar 13, 2024 @ 2:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | Ryan Case Method Rm. (1-9576)

Host: Dr. Joseph Wedekind (co-sponsored by the RNA Structure & Function Cluster)

Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics Retreat at Genesee Country Village

Faculty Organizers: Dr. Paul Brookes, Dr. Alan Grossfield, and Dr. Joseph Wedekind
Student Organizers: Maddie Jensen and Emily Robinson

 Mar 11, 2024 @ 8:30 a.m.

Genesee Country Village

BCBP Faculty Candidate: “Bacterial Gasdermins and the Origins of Programmed Cell Death”

Alex Johnson, PhD - Postdoctoral Fellow, Dr. Philip Kranzsuch's lab
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

 Mar 06, 2024 @ 2:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | Ryan Case Method Rm. (1-9576)

Host: Dr. Eric Phizicky

BCBP Faculty Candidate: “Molecular Mechanisms of Translational Regulation”

Smriti Sangwan, PhD - Post-doctoral Fellow, Lab of Dr. David Agard, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco

 Feb 26, 2024 @ 2:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-207 (2-6408)

Host: Dr. Eric Phizicky

BCBP Faculty Candidate: "Structural Insights into Angiotensin Receptor Modulation by Diverse Ligands”

Meredith Skiba, PhD - Postdoctoral Fellow, Dr. Andrew Kruse’s Lab, Department of Biological Chemistry & Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

 Feb 21, 2024 @ 1:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | Lower Adolph (1-7619)

Host: Dr. Eric Phizicky

URMC Mentoring Workshop Series

Jeffrey Ring, PhD - Health Psychologist, Leadership Coach, and Health Justice Champion, Los Angeles, CA

The following presentations aim to provide reflective space for participants to explore the power and importance of faculty roles in mentoring. More specifically, these sessions will explore the variations of mentoring, coaching, and sponsoring learners, and the requisite skills and behaviors for success. In addition, we will explore the research basis behind best practices for delivering feedback with assertiveness and compassion. These sessions will be crafted and facilitated to be playful, experiential, and engaging, with elements drawing from narrative educational approaches and skill practice. The sessions will also explore the impact of enlightened leadership, psychological safety and inclusion, and empathic communication on the mentor-learner relationship.

Prior registration required; register by Feb 7th here: https://forms.gle/wnFN8UqZuszsUCxM7

Wednesday, February 14th, 2024

For All Faculty
Session 1
10:00 – 11:00am
Neuman Rm 1-6823

Peer Mentoring and the Power of a Learning Community

Holding two workshops on this topic; this one is for faculty only. T32 faculty expected to attend, open all faculty who train graduate students, as space allows.

For All Faculty
Session 2
2:00 – 3:00pm
K-307 Aud (3-6408)

Best Practices for Impactful Teaching and Mentoring, Coaching and Sponsoring

Held in place of the Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics (DBB) seminar for all faculty who train graduate students. T32 faculty expected to attend.

For All Graduate Students
Session 3
3:30 – 4:30pm
Neuman Rm 1-6823

Peer Mentoring and the Power of a Learning Community

Holding two workshops on this topic; this one is for students only. T32 trainees expected to attend.

Thursday, February 15th, 2024 (all workshops to be held in Evarts Lounge 1W-133, Helen Wood Hall)

For All Faculty
Session 4
10:00 – 11:00am

The Power of Mentoring for Dismantling Racism, Sexism, and Heterosexism

Open to all faculty who train graduate students; T32 Leadership required to attend; other T32 Faculty encouraged to attend.

For All Faculty
Session 5 
1:30 – 2:30pm

Mentoring Enhancement Laboratory

Open to all faculty who train graduate students; T32 Faculty expected to attend.

For All
Session 6
3:00 – 4:00pm

GWIS Workshop: Advanced Skills for Successful Mentoring

Held in the Graduate Women in Science (GWIS) seminar slot, inclusive of all genders and career stages (students, postdocs/RAPs, techs, and faculty). T32 trainees expected to attend.

Suggested material for those who want a deeper dive:

URMC Mentoring Workshop Flyer

 Feb 14, 2024 @ 10:00 a.m.

Host: Supplement to the NIH NIGMS T32 in Cellular, Biochemical and Molecular Sciences

Joint Department Faculty Candidate: “Time-resolved cryo-EM of G protein activation by a GPCR”

Makaia Papasergi-Scott, PhD - Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Molecular & Cellular Physiology, Stanford University

 Feb 07, 2024 @ 12:30 p.m.

 Medical Center | Lower Adolph Aud. (1-7619)

Host: Dept. Pharmacology & Physiology and Dept. Biochemistry & Biophysics

BCBP Faculty Candidate: "Molecular Mechanisms of Translation Regulation by Viral RNA Structures"

Madeline Sherlock, PhD - Scientist, Dr. Jeffrey Kieft’s Lab
New York Structural Biology Center, New York, NY

 Jan 31, 2024 @ 2:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-307 (3-6408)

Host: Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics and Dr. Eric Phizicky

DBB Seminar: "Role of Membrane-Curvature Generating Proteins in Organelle Biogenesis"

Ning Wang, PhD - Assistant Professor, Department of Biology University of Rochester

 Jan 29, 2024 @ 2:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-207 (2-6408)

Host: Mark Dumont, PhD