BMS February 2023 Newsletter
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You cannot say Tulane without people thinking about New Orleans. While some cities are defined by their university, Tulane has been shaped by our city and the unique culture. Nothing exemplifies this more than the month of February and Mardi Gras season. As most of the country trudges forward through mundane grey and winter doldrums, we start our year with the excitement of parades and festivities. While we encourage you to have fun, we ask that you keep in mind the following:
1) Safety- This is our first and foremost concern. The city swells with tourists and at the same time people looking to prey on them. Always attend in groups, stay in well-lit areas, be aware of your surroundings and keep the valuables at home.
2) Responsibility- It is easy to get caught up in the moment. I will refrain from sounding like a beer commercial or your parents, but I would like to remind you that there are a lot of long days and nights during Carnival Season and it can be really easy to overdo it. Be smart, DO NOT drink and drive and make sure everyone in your group is safe. I would also like to remind you that the official holidays for Tulane are Lundi Gras (Feb 20) and Fat Tuesday (Feb 21). If you plan on not being around for any other time, you NEED to let your mentor know. Remember that for the rest of the world, it is just another work week. Tulane is expected to still function during this time. To the NIH, it is just another Tuesday.
Again, have fun and be safe!
Dr. Derek Pociask
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Congratulations on your Dissertation Defense
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Amin Izadpanah-defended January 31, 2023
“NAD pathway components in tissue regeneration and disease: emphasis on diabetic wound regeneration and SARS-CoV-2 infection”
Tianfang Ma-defended January 10, 2023
“Loss of Feedback Regulation between FAM3B and Androgen Receptor Drives Prostate Cancer Progression”
Michelle Rojo-defended January 11th, 2023
“C/EBPβ deletion in macrophages alters signaling to mammary epithelial cells during development and tumor progression.”
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Ariane Imulinde Sugi: Passed Preliminary Exam
Alex Mrozek: Passed Preliminary Exam
Giovanni Biagini: Passed Preliminary Exam
Grace Wager: Passed Prospectus
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Angelle Bradford. "Loss of IGF1R Promotes Cardiovascular Complications of Type 2 Diabetes” Departmental Talk for the Department of Physiology at Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, January 23, 2023
Duran Bao, Qingbo Shu, Bo Ning, Christopher J. Lyon, Michael Tang, Tony Hu, and Jia Fan. "A Nested Active Learning Method in LC-MS/MS Data Analysis". Presentation at the "AI in Health Conference" held by Ken Kennedy Institute, Houston, Texas, November. 9th 2022
Duran Bao, Qingbo Shu, Bo Ning, Christopher J. Lyon, Michaal Tang, Tony Hu, and Jia Fan. "A Dynamic Machine Learning Strategy on Mass Spectrometry Data Analysis". Presentation at the "CANCER BIOMARKERS IN VESICLES & BEYOND" symposium held by MD Anderson, Houston, Texas, December. 2nd 2022
Ferris Munyonho."Precise-Cut Lung Slices Ex vivo model to study Pneumocystis murina Growth/Survival". Presentation at the Immunology of Fungal Infections Gordon Research Seminar (GRS), Grand Galvez, Galveston, TX, Jan 21st, 2023
Ferris Munyonho and Jay Kolls. "Precise-Cut Lung Slices Ex vivo model to study Pneumocystis murina Growth/Survival". Poster Presentation at the Immunology of Fungal Infections Gordon Research Conference (GRC), Grand Galvez, Galveston, TX, Jan 22st-Jan 27th, 2023
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Biose, Ifechukwude Joachim, Saifudeen Ismael, Blake Ouvrier, Amanda Louise White, and Gregory Jaye Bix. 2023. "The Potential Role of Integrin Signaling in Memory and Cognitive Impairment" Biomolecules 13, no. 1: 108. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom13010108
Fears AC, Walker EM, Chirichella N, Slisarenko N, Merino KM, Golden N, Picou B, Spencer S, Russell-Lodrigue KE, Doyle-Meyers LA, Blair RV, Beddingfield BJ, Maness NJ, Roy CJ, Rout N. The dynamics of γδ T cell responses in nonhuman primates during SARS-CoV-2 infection. Commun Biol. 2022 Dec 16;5(1):1380. doi: 10.1038/s42003-022-04310-y. PMID: 36526890; PMCID: PMC9756695.
Matherne MG, Phillips ES, Embrey SJ, Burke CM, Machado HL. Emerging Functions of C/EBPβ in Breast Cancer. Frontiers in Oncology (2023) 13. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1111522.
Mrozek A, Antoshchenko T, Chen Y, Zepeda-Velázquez C, Smil D, Kumar N, Lu H, Park HW. A non-traditional crystal-based compound screening method targeting the ATP binding site of Plasmodium falciparum GRP78 for identification of novel nucleoside analogues. Front Mol Biosci. 2022 Oct 7;9:956095. doi: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.956095. PMID: 36275624; PMCID: PMC9585173.
Sukhanov S, Higashi Y, Yoshida T, Danchuk S, Alfortish M, Goodchild T, Scarborough A, Sharp Iii TE, Jenkins JS, Garcia D, Ivey J, Tharp DL, Schumacher JD, Rozenbaum Z, Kolls JK, Bowles DK, Lefer D, Delafontaine P. Insulin-like growth factor I reduces coronary atherosclerosis in pigs with familial hypercholesterolemia. JCI Insight. 2023 Jan 5:e165713. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.165713. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36602878.
Taveras J, Garcia-Maurino C, Moore-Clingenpeel M, Xu Z, Mertz S, Ye F, Chen P, Cohen SH, Cohen D, Peeples ME, Ramilo O, Mejias A. Type III Interferons, Viral Loads, Age, and Disease Severity in Young Children With Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection. J Infect Dis. 2022 Dec 28;227(1):61-70. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiac404. PMID: 36200173.
Umar M, Bartoletti G, Dong C, Gahankari A, Browne D, Deng A, Jaramillo J, Sammarco M, Simkin J, He F. Characterizing the role of Pdgfra in calvarial development. Dev Dyn. 2023 Jan 6. doi: 10.1002/dvdy.564. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36606407.
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Robert Clark & Juliet Strauss were awarded an NIH TL1 grant.
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| Dane Flinchum
Tim Nass
Md. Anas Naeem
Natalya Motyka
Ally Beck
Fang-Yen Chiu
Natasha Jn-Simone
Joshua Currey
Josue Jaramillo
Ishitri Bandyopadhyay
Naveen Suresh Babu
Laura Lee
Madlin Alzoubi
Mehrnoosh Arabi
Sydney Nemphos
Anindita Barua
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Postdoctoral/Lab Technician Positons
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Two Postdoc Positions is available in Dr. Yan Dong lab at Tulane University School of Medicine. Seeking highly motivated candidates devoted to research. Research in the laboratory focuses on novel mechanisms driving prostate cancer progression and therapeutic resistance. We use a variety of molecular biology, biochemistry, and bioinformatics approaches as well as cell line, xenograft, and GEM models. Candidates should be skilled in molecular biology and cell biology. Please email a letter of interest, a curriculum vitae, and names/contact information of three references to: ydong@tulane.edu
One Postdoc Position is available in Dr. Burow/Collins-Burow lab. This position is funded by a USDA grant studying the effects of organic plant-derived compounds on breast cancer kinases. The candidate will use a variety of research methods, including patient-derived xenografts, molecular biology assays, and genetic approaches, and can grow this project through the lab's academic and industry collaborations. For more information, please contact mburow@tulane.edu
One Postdoc Position available in Dr. Hongbing Liu’s lab. Department of Pediatrics. The lab focuses on the epigenetic regulation of kidney development and diseases (chronic kidney disease and kidney cancer). Genetic, biochemical, cell biological, and molecular biological approaches will be employed to address the roles of histone deacetylases (HDACs) in cell and mouse models. Current projects also include the analysis of RNA-Seq, ChIP-Seq/CUT&Tag, and ATAC-Seq data with single-cell resolution in the spatial and temporal dimensions. Please contact the PI directly (hliu8@tulane.edu) for more information.
One Postdoc Position is available in Dr. Chris Mattison’s lab (Southern Regional Research Center – USDA, New Orleans) In collaboration with a USDA-supported cooperative agreement with Tulane University. The candidate will use molecular and cell biology methods to characterize how intestinal cell structure and tight junction stability contribute to food allergen sensitization and biochemical methods to identify the defining characteristics of tree nut and peanut allergens. For more information, please contact chris.mattison@usda.gov
One Postdoc Position is available in Dr. Stephen Boue’s lab (Southern Regional Research Center – USDA, New Orleans) In collaboration with a USDA-supported cooperative agreement with Tulane University. The candidate will use analytical chemistry methods to characterize the production of phytoalexins in rice, soybean, and sugarcane. The candidate would also assist with biological activity assays, including cell culture, using plant extracts and isolated compounds in collaboration with Tulane and Xavier Universities. For more information, please contact steve.boue@usda.gov
One technician position is available in Dr. Stephen Boue’s lab (Southern Regional Research Center – USDA, New Orleans) In collaboration with a USDA-supported cooperative agreement with Tulane University. The candidate will use lab methods to induce polyphenolic compounds in rice, rice sprouts, soybean, other legumes, and sugarcane. Lab assays would include analysis of polyphenol content and antioxidant assays. The candidate would also assist with biological activity assays, including cell culture with plant extracts and isolated compounds in collaboration with Tulane and Xavier Universities. For more information, please contact steve.boue@usda.gov.
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Valentine's Day
February 14th
BMS Donut Day
Wednesday, February 15th, 9-11 AM
BMS Office Hutchinson Bldg. Room 1524 or
TNPRC Outside on Breeseway between Bldgs. 1 & 2
Lundi Gras (Holiday)
February 20th
Mardi Gras (Holiday)
February 21st
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Mardi Gras Do's and Don'ts-Courtesy of BMSSA
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| Mardi Gras Do's
Plan your day around easy access to a bathroom. A house near the route is priceless,
but a port-o-potty beats nothing.
Always check and plan for the weather.
Bring a bag for throws, a cooler for drinks, and an external phone battery.
Wear comfortable shoes. Trust me.
Entice float-riders for signature throws eg Muses shoes, Zulu coconuts, or Krewe de Carrollton… shrimp boots. A sign offering a bottle of champagne tends to work nicely.
Recycle unwanted beads.
Pace yourself. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Make your own costume. There are no rules, get creative!
Check out the St. Anne Parade in the Quarter on Mardi Gras day. Best costumes, hands down.
Mardi Gras Don'ts
Park within 15 ft of a fire hydrant, 20 feet of an intersection or 3 ft of a driveway. This is the only month of the year that NOPD actually enforces anything.
Pick up any throws off the ground. Ask the microbiology department why not.
Casino rules: don’t bring anything you aren’t okay with losing.
Publicly urinate. Sounds like common sense but not common enough.
Motion or yell obnoxiously at the float riders. Treat them like a busy bartender, just do enough to get their attention and make eye contact.
Run in front of a float. Seriously, don’t do it.
Arrive early. Good spots go fast; early bird gets the shoe.
Wear store-bought Mardi Gras costumes or attire. What are you, a tourist?
Skip the downtown parades. They’re smaller but more than make up for it in fun.
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Student Affairs Professional on Call: The Division of Student Affairs provides a 24/7 professional staff on call for urgent situations and can be reached by calling (504) 920-9900 or by filing a report online here https://srss.tulane.edu/report-concern
Dr. Weiwei Xu's Office Hours: Academic and Career Advising Sessions - Tuesday thru Thursday, 10:30-11:30am and 1:30-2:30 pm
Walk-In Appointments: 1:30-3:30 pm (Mon), 3-4 pm (Tue), and 3-4:30 pm (Wed & Thu)
Book advising sessions with Dr. Xu here: calendly.com/wxu011
OGPS Academic Development Resources: Lauren Lukkarila, llukkarila@tulane.edu, develops and implements programs to help graduate students improve their academic speaking, reading, listening, and writing skills. Current students and postdoctoral fellows can schedule an appointment online though Canvas: https://tulane.instructure.com/courses/2224682
The Counseling Center is open to all BMS students. They offer same-day appointments via telephone (504) 314-2277. Students should call before 9:00 am for a same-day session. Most sessions are via zoom. Visit campushealth.tulane.edu/counseling or email counseling@tulane.edu
The Office of International Students and Scholars has Downtown Office hours every Wednesday from 1-4 pm, Tidewater Building, Room 1225 (Career Services Office).
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Congratulations to Isabella M. Kilanowski-Doroh in Sarah Lindsey's Lab. On September 16, 2022, beautiful & healthy baby Luciana was born weighing 7lbs 15oz.
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