PostDocs Score Big at Research Day
Postdoctoral Research Day, hosted by the UAB Postdoctoral Association (PDA) and the Office of Postdoctoral Education (OPE), allows trainees an opportunity to practice their presentation skills, compete for monetary awards, and network with faculty and other postdocs. Trainees present their work in a situation similar to a conference, and receive constructive feedback to help them improve their presentation technique.
The 2014 microbiology winners are:
Davide Botta (Lund lab), 2nd Place, Session One | |
Valeria Lulla (Frolov lab), 3rd Place, Session Five | |
Colin Reily (Novak lab), 1st Place, Session Five | |
Alexander Speer (Niederweis lab), 2nd Place, Session Two | |
Jim Sun (Niederweis lab), 1st Place, Session Two | |
Venkata Yeramilli (Kearney lab), 2nd Place, Session Five |
These outstanding trainees were among 53 entrants from UAB and SRI (Southern Research Institute). Each submitted a 300-word abstract and presented a 12-minute talk about their research project. Research Day was divided into six sessions with 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards for each session. Presentations were judged by UAB faculty and SRI scientists.
Yother Receives Diversity Award
David Briles, Ph.D.; Janet Yother, Ph.D.; Jocelyn Hauser; Kanupriya Gupta, Ph.D.Janet Yother, Ph.D., has a special knack for encouraging minorities who have chosen to pursue a career in science and mentoring them to become successful scientists. Her work to promote diversity in science education and training was recognized on February 13, 2014, when she received the UAB President’s Diversity Award for Mentoring.
"The mentoring award is a new category of diversity award,” explains UAB Microbiology Department professor David Briles, Ph.D. “It is for faculty who through their mentoring have had a significant impact on the diversity of UAB students and graduates. Janet mentored the first under-represented minority student to receive a Ph.D. while training in the UAB Microbiology Department. This success made it clear that our department could provide a nurturing environment for students of all stripes and has led to the training of many minority graduate students in the labs of microbiology faculty members.”
UAB President’s Diversity Awards are presented annually to recognize the significant achievements of faculty, staff and students who have worked to develop a more culturally diverse, competent and inclusive university community. Awards are given in five categories for projects or activities that best reflect the implementation of unit and/or campus diversity goals.
Potential New Drug Pathway Target for Battling Mycobacterium Tuberculosis
5th Southeastern Mycobacteria Meeting
The 5th Southeastern Mycobacteria Meeting was supported by UAB Center for AIDS Research, UAB Microbiology Department, and Infectious Disease, Global Health and Vaccines Strategic Planning Initiative.
To read more about this meeting, go to “Mycobacteria meeting focuses on TB.”
For more about Mycobacterium tuberculosis, go to “UAB Reaches to Africa to Study TB;” “Drug-resistant TB underestimated, Cassell says;” and “Disrupting iron transport leads to cell death in tuberculosis bacterium.”
Bliss Chang Invited to Present His Work at Posters on the Hill
![Bliss Chang.jpg.opt196x257o00s196x257](/medicine/microbiology/images/Bliss_Chang.jpg.opt196x257o00s196x257.jpg)
Chang’s poster is one of only 60 chosen from 600 entries. He will be the first from Alabama to present.
Posters on the Hill, sponsored by the Council on Undergraduate Research, Washington, D.C., is a part of the National Conference on Undergraduate Research. It provides an opportunity for members of Congress to understand the importance of undergraduate research by talking directly with the students and their mentors.
Chang and Saad hope to meet with many Congressional Representatives to tell them how important federal funding is to basic research and the development of future scientists.
Kabarowski Among UAB Researchers to Establish New Imaging Method
Read more about the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization imaging mass spectrometry—MALDI-IMS in the Tuesday, January 28, 2014, edition of the UAB Reporter.
Congratulations to Our Recent Graduates
December 14, 2013
Pulin Che
Robert Marsden Cox, Jr.
Christina Michelle Croney
Kristopher Ruben Genschmer
Kanupriya Gupta
David Samuel Jordan, Jr.
Kate Kosmac
Lauren M. Lilly
Michael R. Ludwig
Eva Szymanska Mroczek
Melissa Oliver
Amber Lynne Rowse
Kimberly A. Thomas
Melissa Marie Walker
Briles Elected to National Academy of Inventors
![photo](/medicine/microbiology/images/photo.jpg)
Briles’ work on proteins that are candidate antigens for pneumococcal vaccines has led to several patents on pneumonia vaccines.
The National Academy of Inventors, founded in 2010, recognizes and encourages inventors with patents issued from the US Patent and Trademark Office. The organization is comprised of more than 3,000 members and fellows from more than 200 US and international universities, and governmental and non-profit research institutions.
SOM Nominates Yother for 2014 Diversity Award
![Yother2013](/medicine/microbiology/images/News__Events/Yother2013.jpg)
2013 UAB Microbiology Research Retreat
![Straightened 1](/medicine/microbiology/images/Straightened_1.jpg)
The 85 attendees, including graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty, shared diverse experiences and knowledge. “On Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, there were 20 talks by students and postdoctoral fellows, including a record number of New Investigators, students in their first through third year of graduate school. A poster session with light refreshments was held on Friday evening with 21 presenters,” says Burrows. Kimberly Benton, Ph.D. was key note speaker for this year’s retreat. A former graduate student in Dr. David Briles lab, Benton currently is the Deputy Director for the Division of Cellular and Gene Therapies at the US Food and Drug Administration Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, in Rockville, Maryland. Dr. Benton gave an informative talk, explaining this career option. “Sunday morning featured three very interesting faculty talks,” says Burrows. “Dmitry Shayakhmetov, University of Washington, who is a potential Microbiology recruit, Mengxi Jiang, University of Michigan, who will be joining the Microbiology Department in January, and Chuck Elson, who is here at UAB in the Department of Medicine.” Free time activities were geared for the enjoyment of all attendees. “On both Friday and Saturday nights there was a campfire by Lay Lake, which forms one boundary of the 4H property,” says Burrows. Several trainees commented that the s’mores and roasted marshmallows were a fun treat at these social gatherings. The extended Saturday afternoon break allowed time for trainees and their mentors to team up for games of basketball and putt-putt, with only the bravest confronting the climbing wall and giant swing. The retreat was a success because of the hard work of many individuals in the Micro office, in particular Kristina Sinclair and Justin Daigneault who attended the entire event and kept things running smoothly," says Burrows. |
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The three-day retreat concluded with the presentation of awards. Students receiving awards at the retreat include:
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Bedwell Elected to SOM Faculty Council
![David Bedwell 2013](/medicine/microbiology/images/research/David_Bedwell_2013.jpg)
Congratulations to Dr. David Bedwell who has been elected to a three-year term on the School of Medicine Faculty Council, effective January 1, 2014. This school-wide committee reviews all promotions and tenure appointments within the School of Medicine at UAB. The Council reviews both clinical appointments and appointments in the basic science departments. In addition to having served on this committee a number of years ago, Bedwell has served as a member and Chair of the microbiology department Promotion and Tenure Committee.
Bedwell Elected to SOM Faculty Council
![David Bedwell 2013](/medicine/microbiology/images/research/David_Bedwell_2013.jpg)
Congratulations to Dr. David Bedwell who has been elected to a three-year term on the School of Medicine Faculty Council, effective January 1, 2014. This school-wide committee reviews all promotions and tenure appointments within the School of Medicine at UAB. The Council reviews both clinical appointments and appointments in the basic science departments. In addition to having served on this committee a number of years ago, Bedwell has served as a member and Chair of the microbiology department Promotion and Tenure Committee.
Kearney Is UAB 2013 Distinguished Faculty Lecturer
After earning his Ph.D. in immunology from the University of Melbourne, Australia, Kearney came to UAB as a postdoc with Drs. Cooper and Lawton. His postdoctoral work focused on in vitro models of immunoglobulin isotope switching. He joined the microbiology staff in 1977 and has continued his studies on B cell differentiation. His work has brought worldwide recognition to UAB.
Kearney will be the keynote speaker at the 2013 Distinguished Faculty Lecturer reception in the fall.
Read more about Dr. Kearney's accomplishments.
Listen to an interview with Dr. Kearney.
Kym Proctor Is Employee of the Month
![Kym Proctor s](/medicine/microbiology/images/Kym_Proctor_s.jpg)
Read more about Kym at Proctor named Employee of the Month for August.
Opportunity of a Lifetime UAB President Ray Watts Has Big Vision for the Future of UAB
UAB Beckman Scholars Attend 2013 Symposium
UAB’s five (3 finishing, 2 starting) Beckman Scholars attended the Beckman Foundation's Scholars Symposium, July 25-27, at the Beckman Center of the National Academy of Sciences and Engineering in Irvine, California.
Read moreSpring Immunology Symposium Brings People Together
![Zinkernagel](/medicine/microbiology/images/Zinkernagel.jpg)
The Microbiology department played an important role in hosting this event. Hubert Tse, Ph.D., was one of the organizers of the meeting, which was sponsored by the Immunology Autoimmunity and Transplantation Steering Committee. Frances Lund, Ph.D., microbiology department chair, and Casey Weaver, M.D., microbiology department secondary faculty member, were co-directors of the steering committee.
Nobel Prize Laureate Dr. Rolf Zinkernagel of the University Hospital in Zurich, Switzerland; Dr. Emil Unanue of Washington University School of Medicine; and Dr.John Cambier of the Denver School of Medicine, were distinguished keynote speakers. Faculty members at Emory, HudsonAlpha, Vanderbilt, University of Tennessee at Memphis, Georgia Regents University, University of Florida and UAB presented their work.
Chaplin Named Associate Dean for Faculty Development
![Chaplin 2013](/medicine/microbiology/images/Fac_Images/Chaplin_2013.jpg)
Mestecky Awarded Honorary Doctorate of Medicine
![Mestecky hon.doc](/medicine/microbiology/images/Mestecky_hon.doc.jpeg)
Jiri Mestcky, M.D., Ph.D., was awarded an honorary doctorate of medicine by Palacky’s University, School of Medicine, Olomouc, Czech Republic during a ceremony at the Archbishop’s Palace on May 14, 2013. (In photo left: Mestecky, Dean of the Medical School, Rector [President] of the University, Promotor [vice-president]. Front: Carriers of university insignia and symbols.)
Hiramoto Travel Award Deadline July 1, 2013
Submit all application materials:
- a completed application form
- curriculum vitae
- recommendation/approval from the student’s mentor
- a meeting abstract or a brief justification for attending the meeting/course (if attending a course, include a description of the course and how attending would benefit you)
Applications are evaluated by the Microbiology graduate committee, and awards are based on the student’s research accomplishments or potential for research. Preference is given to students who will be presenting their research findings at the meeting. Award recipients will be announced within three weeks of the deadline dates. Students not funded may reapply for the next award cycle. Awardees are eligible to reapply after two years of receipt of an award.
The endowment fund was established in 2002 in honor of Dr. Ray Hiramoto, a noted immunologist who served more than 35 years on the faculty of the UAB Department of Microbiology.