CBC Scholars “Loop Connections” Seminar
“From ECM to cell motility”
DATE: May 8, 2012
TIME: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
LOCATION: The University of Chicago, KCBD 1103, 900 East 57th Street, Chicago, IL 60637
Seminar Program:
Jonathan Jones, PhD
Professor, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology
Northwestern University
"Skin cell motility: Integrins lead the way"
Sally Horne-Badovinac, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology
The University of Chicago
"The Misshapen kinase negatively regulates integrin levels to promote collective cell migration in Drosophila"
The seminar opens a new Loop Connections Seminar Series organized by the CBC Scholars. The series aims to build strong connections across the CBC universities by providing a platform for fostering novel collaborative efforts.
Seminar Recap
CBC Scholars ‘Loop Connections’ in motion!
May 16, 2012
The first seminar of the new CBC Scholars organized ‘Loop Connections’ Seminar Series took place on May 8, 2012 at the UChicago campus. The seminar, From ECM to cell motility, featured two local experts on epithelial biology. Jonathan Jones, from the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology at Northwestern University led off the seminar series with a stimulating discussion of "Skin cell motility: Integrins lead the way." Jonathan’s seminar was followed by exciting data presented by Sally Horne-Badovinac, a faculty member in the Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology at UChicago. The title of Sally’s talk was "The Misshapen kinase negatively regulates integrin levels to promote collective cell migration in Drosophila."
Approximately 85 students, faculty and staff from all three CBC universities attended this inaugural event. UChicago CBC Scholar, Greg Tietjen, gave opening remarks, which included a brief summary of the CBC and the Scholars Program. Greg also described the goals of the ‘Loop Connections’ Seminar Series – to build strong connections across the CBC universities by providing a platform for fostering novel collaborative efforts. Joanna Rowell (UChicago CBC Scholar) introduced both speakers and moderated the lively discussion at the conclusion of the seminar.
The CBC scholars and the speakers continued their scientific exchange at a post-seminar mentoring dinner. The Scholars presented the speakers with CBC Scholars Program T-shirts featuring original artwork by Joanna (right). Shohei Koide, the UChicago CBC Scientific Director and Tobin Sosnick, Chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at UChicago also attended the dinner and took part in the lively dinner conversation. Many topics were discussed including strategies for finding a post doc, transitioning to a faculty position and how to manage a lab, plus scientific, experimental and technology related questions. The Scholars also asked the attending faculty members for suggestions on how to improve the seminar series.
Lila Glotfelty (CBC Scholar at UIC) gave a great summary of the event. "Fantastic seminar this evening. If you missed it, y’all missed out. It was really interesting and the speakers made great dinner company as well. I look forward to more ‘Loop Connections’ Seminars!" Indeed, the next ‘Loop Connections’ Seminar is in the planning phase and is scheduled to take place at the UIC campus…..so stay tuned!
PHOTOS: Left: Greg introducing the ‘Loop Connections’ Seminar Series. Center: Sally (standing) and Jonathan (sitting, far right) take questions after the seminar. Right: Joanna introducing the speakers. Top-right: ‘Loop Connections’ logo designed by CBC Scholar Joanna Rowell. (Photos: CBC)