Kuriyan lab discovers new protein functions
Researchers in the lab of John Kuriyan (Biochemistry), dean of Basic Sciences, have revealed a key element of how a molecular machine responsible for high-speed DNA replication works. The results of their study build on growing theories of molecular evolution.
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3D brain mapping opens a window to the aging brain
John Gore (secondary in Molecular Physiology and Biophysics) and Zhongliang Zu (Radiology and Radiological Sciences), have achieved a more detailed picture of how the brain changes with age. Their findings, described in the Jan. 26 issue of the journal Science Advances, may help advance the understanding, early diagnosis, and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, bipolar disorder, and other disruptions of normal brain function.
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Vanderbilt invests in research space to bolster faculty productivity
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Stabile promoted to Director of Trainee Engagement and Well-being
Effective Feb. 1, RC Stabile became the Director of Trainee Engagement and Well-being in the Biomedical Research Education and Training Office.
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Guengerich canonized in Trivial Pursuit
Fred Guengerich (Biochemistry) became part of a Trivial Pursuit card deck in the mid-2000s for his “blue rose” discovery, as reported in last month’s Biochemistry Postdoctoral Researcher and Student Association newsletter.
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A Guengerich retrospective
Go beyond Trivial Pursuit and look back on Professor of Biochemistry Fred Guengerich's 50-year career of "sowing seeds and harvesting rewards."
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Is the bar rising for high-impact papers?
Vice Dean of Basic Sciences Chuck Sanders tests the hypothesis that the bar to publication in a high-impact journal is rising with time, particularly in terms of how much data are packed into each paper.
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Get ready for the April 8 total eclipse of 2024!
The April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse will cross North America, passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. You can view a map of the path of totality on the NASA website. Note that the image above, courtesy of Matt Tyska (Cell and Developmental Biology), is from the 2017 total solar eclipse that passed over Nashville.
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Peak Performance series
- Feb 22: Managing Conflict & Relationships
- March 7: Performing Under Pressure
- March 21: Finding Work/Life Balance
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Explorations in Research
The Office of Experiential Learning and Immersion Vanderbilt invites you to the sixth annual Explorations in Research networking event on Feb. 22 at 4:00 p.m. in the Student Life Center’s Commodore Ballroom. Questions? Email Charles Acheson or the EL&IV general inbox.
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How To virtual learning series
How To is a virtual collaborative learning series. Sessions are typically Fridays at 10:00 a.m. on Microsoft Teams (Teams meeting join link).
Upcoming sessions:
- Feb. 23: Follow the Money: Tracking Committed Costs
- March 8: Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace
- March 22: Introducing Loop
- April 5: Optimize Your Annual Assessment: Personal Achievements and Goal Setting
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CSB Symposium 2024
The Center for Structural Biology Symposium 2024 is March 28. It will feature scientific talks from preeminent structural biologists Nozomi Ando, James Fraser, Jeanne Hardy, and Andrey Sali. There will also be a poster session and Science Jeopardy hosted by Ray Blind (secondary in Biochemistry and Pharmacology). Register on REDCap.
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VI4 annual symposium
The Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology and Inflammation will host its seventh annual research symposium on April 19 in the Student Life Center. If you would like to submit an abstract to present a poster, register first and then fill out this form by March 18. All other registrations due April 18.
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Explore funding opportunities for trainees at every career stage
The Department of Pharmacology DEI Committee and the Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research will host Marguerite Matthews for a special event titled “Diverse funding opportunities to support trainees at every career stage” on April 22 at 10:00 a.m. in Light Hall 512. Learn about a variety of funding mechanisms that support biomedical research at the predoctoral and postdoctoral level. A light lunch will be provided.
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The Vanderbilt Prize in Biomedical Science is open for nominations through Feb. 29. The prize recognizes scientists who have made significant contributions to the science of medicine, have stellar records of research accomplishments, and are known for their mentorship. Vanderbilt Prize winners nurture the career of that year’s Vanderbilt Prize Student Scholar.
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If you are part of VUMC and would like free access to BioRender Premium, you can join their waitlist.
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Is there a Basic Sciences staff member whose dedication, passion, and positive impact deserve recognition? Email Alexandra Scammell with ideas of who to feature in a new series!
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Send us a link to job openings you'd like to promote!
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About this issue's bannerThis cell, which shows DNA in the nucleus (greens/blues) and mitochondria (purples/reds/yellows), was photographed by the lab of Dylan Burnette (Cell and Developmental Biology) using a super-resolution microscopy technique called structured illumination microscopy. The Burnette lab has a specialized SIM for live-cell imaging, but everyone at Vanderbilt has access to a turn-key SIM microscopy in the Cell Imaging Shared Resource. SIM produces sharper images than conventional microscopes, which allows researchers to make measurements that were previously not possible. The more numbers an image produces, the more insight it can give us. They may say that a picture is worth a thousand words, but, for cell biologists like Burnette, “a picture is worth a thousand numbers.”
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About Basically SpeakingThis newsletter recognizes the achievements and latest discoveries of students, postdocs, faculty, and staff associated with Basic Sciences departments, centers, and cores or who carry out basic biomedical research at Vanderbilt.
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Help friends and family keep up with Basic Sciences!
Basic Sciences has a number of communication avenues that you or your loved ones can use to keep up with what's going on here. If they're not already getting the Reading List, Vital, and Lab-to-Table Conversations announcements, send them to our subscription center!
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Keep up with biomedical science seminars
To receive weekly email notices about upcoming seminars focused on the biomedical sciences, please email Katherine Carter. To submit your event for the weekly email, send it to the "bioseminar" email address.
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Got a paper?
We're excited to promote your primary research papers! Help us by letting us know if your paper has been accepted (preferably before the embargo is up) or recently published.
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Send us your news Got an announcement or an upcoming event? Want us to celebrate your lab's successes? Let us know!
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