Happening @ Michigan https://events.umich.edu/list/rss RSS Feed for Happening @ Michigan Events at the University of Michigan. DCM&B Tools and Technology Seminar (February 25, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/79917 79917-20515550@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, February 25, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: DCMB Tools and Technology Seminar

URL for remote viewing: https://umich-health.zoom.us/j/94886745590?pwd=LzhLU243K2ZhbXNzU1BJRHQ5V25BZz09

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Livestream / Virtual Fri, 22 Jan 2021 12:31:37 -0500 2021-02-25T12:00:00-05:00 2021-02-25T13:00:00-05:00 Off Campus Location DCMB Tools and Technology Seminar Livestream / Virtual
POSTPONED: EEB Virtual Seminar: Harnessing natural history collections to assess species limits in the Melanesian avifauna (February 25, 2021 3:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/79786 79786-20493915@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, February 25, 2021 3:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

We will announce a new date in the near future.

Join us on Zoom

Image: B. Benz 2008

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Livestream / Virtual Thu, 25 Feb 2021 09:06:03 -0500 2021-02-25T15:00:00-05:00 2021-02-25T16:00:00-05:00 Off Campus Location Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Livestream / Virtual Bird on forest floor under nest with acorns and other collected items
BME 500 Seminar: Jorge Marchand (February 25, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/81385 81385-20889816@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, February 25, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biomedical Engineering

Seminar Abstract:

In living organisms, translation of genetic information by the ribosome transforms
the information embedded in DNA into actuating components, namely proteins. Though life itself is incredibly diverse at the macroscopic level, at the molecular level, all of life uses the same set of machinery for translation - 20 standard amino acid building blocks (with minor exceptions), transfer RNAs (tRNA), and ribosomes. The convergence and association of these interdependent biomolecules is neatly captured in a table known as the ‘standard genetic code’. Even after billions of years of genetic drift, the ‘standard genetic code’ has been largely refractory to change. In this talk, I will be discussing strategies and methods for building organisms that can make and use non-standard amino acids to make proteins with enhanced or expanded function.

ZOOM LINK: https://umich.zoom.us/j/94405051853

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Lecture / Discussion Sun, 21 Feb 2021 22:07:28 -0500 2021-02-25T16:00:00-05:00 2021-02-25T17:00:00-05:00 Off Campus Location Biomedical Engineering Lecture / Discussion BME Logo
Uncovering new functions of RNA modifications in mRNA processing (February 26, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/80070 80070-20550969@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, February 26, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

Abstract: Emerging evidence indicates that eukaryotic messenger RNAs are extensively decorated with modified nucleosides that have the potential to regulate eukaryotic gene expression through effects on mRNA metabolism. This talk will describe the discovery that the RNA modification pseudouridine is installed co-transcriptionally to pre-mRNA at thousands of positions by multiple pseudouridine synthases, revealing an endogenous function of pre-mRNA pseudouridylation in pre-mRNA processing. This function of pseudouridine synthases is important for our understanding of the many diseases associated with human pseudouridine synthase dysregulation.


Host: JK Nandakumar

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Workshop / Seminar Sun, 21 Feb 2021 16:21:04 -0500 2021-02-26T12:00:00-05:00 2021-02-26T13:30:00-05:00 Off Campus Location Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Workshop / Seminar Nicole Martinez
Science as Art Faculty Panel Discussion & Awards Ceremony (February 26, 2021 2:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82385 82385-21090310@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, February 26, 2021 2:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: ArtsEngine

Join a panel of faculty in this discussion of the intersection of science and art. Immediately following the panel, award winners will be announced for the 2021 Science as Art competition. You can view submissions and vote for peoples' choice award through 2:15pm on Friday, February 26, 2021.

Eleni Gourgou, Assistant Research Scientist, Mechanical Engineering
Brad Smith, Associate Dean for Academic Programs; Professor, School of Art & Design; Research Professor, Department of Radiology
Matthew Thompson, Assistant Professor of Music; Associate Faculty, UM Center for Japanese Studies
Moderated by Deb Mexicotte, Managing Director, ArtsEngine

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Livestream / Virtual Mon, 22 Feb 2021 11:46:00 -0500 2021-02-26T14:00:00-05:00 2021-02-26T15:00:00-05:00 Off Campus Location ArtsEngine Livestream / Virtual Science as Art
SEAS Ecosystem Science and Management Seminars Winter 2021 (February 26, 2021 2:30pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82302 82302-21062672@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, February 26, 2021 2:30pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: School for Environment and Sustainability

Topic: Quantifying resilience of coldwater fish habitat to climate change and watershed disturbance

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Lecture / Discussion Thu, 18 Feb 2021 18:36:22 -0500 2021-02-26T14:30:00-05:00 2021-02-26T16:00:00-05:00 Off Campus Location School for Environment and Sustainability Lecture / Discussion photo
CSCS Seminar: New data, models, and methods to guide SARS-CoV-2 vaccine design and vaccination programs that counter escape mutations (March 2, 2021 11:30am) https://events.umich.edu/event/82119 82119-21036721@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, March 2, 2021 11:30am
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: The Center for the Study of Complex Systems

Join Link: myumi.ch/v2ZYv

ABSTRACT:
Before the emergence of escape mutants that now threaten pandemic control, we constructed and analyzed the first model integrating immune waning and escape mutations. In the model, escape mutants were not problematic until a year into the pandemic. After they emerged, vaccination could worsen the pandemic. We examined four patterns by which existing escape mutants could stimulate further escape mutations. These provide insights in how to pursue epitope (the part of an antigen recognized by the immune system) specific model analyses. The time is ripe for this advance. The pandemic has unveiled new high-throughput methods to characterize immunity at an epitope specific and B and T cell specific levels. We will present our model and discuss how it could integrate systems immunology and systems epidemiology.

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Workshop / Seminar Mon, 01 Mar 2021 10:08:33 -0500 2021-03-02T11:30:00-05:00 2021-03-02T13:00:00-05:00 Off Campus Location The Center for the Study of Complex Systems Workshop / Seminar James Koopman and Carl Simon
Microscopic Characterization of Cellular Membrane as an Active Platform for Biological Function- Department of Biological Chemistry Seminar (March 2, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/80652 80652-20769622@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, March 2, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biological Chemistry

Dr. Emad Tajkhorshid, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, will present a virtual seminar on Tuesday March 2nd, 2021 at 12:00pm

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Workshop / Seminar Tue, 12 Jan 2021 13:27:59 -0500 2021-03-02T12:00:00-05:00 2021-03-02T13:00:00-05:00 Off Campus Location Biological Chemistry Workshop / Seminar Emad
Distinguished University Professorships (March 2, 2021 3:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/81694 81694-20943443@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, March 2, 2021 3:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: University and Development Events

President Mark S. Schlissel and Provost Susan M. Collins
invite you to join them online to honor and celebrate three
Distinguished University Professorship awardees as they present
on their career work in our 2021 lecture series.

Moderated by Michael Solomon, Dean and Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, the spring 2021 event features Distinguished University Professors Paul Courant (Economics and Public Policy), Deborah Goldberg (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology), and Judith Irvine (Linguistic Anthropology).

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Lecture / Discussion Tue, 23 Feb 2021 14:42:38 -0500 2021-03-02T15:00:00-05:00 2021-03-02T16:30:00-05:00 Off Campus Location University and Development Events Lecture / Discussion Spring 2021 Distinguished University Professorship awardees and lecturers
Microbiome Seminar: Assessing the role of microbial metabolites in enhancing iron-mediated cell toxicity in colon cancer (March 3, 2021 9:00am) https://events.umich.edu/event/82453 82453-21100207@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, March 3, 2021 9:00am
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Michigan Microbiome Project

Yatrik Shah lab, Molecular and Integrative Physiology

Host: Matthew Ostrowski, PhD, Microbiology and Immunology

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Workshop / Seminar Tue, 23 Feb 2021 16:26:13 -0500 2021-03-03T09:00:00-05:00 2021-03-03T10:00:00-05:00 Off Campus Location Michigan Microbiome Project Workshop / Seminar MMP
RNA Seminar featuring: Melissa Moore, Moderna Therapeutics (March 3, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/81265 81265-20879904@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, March 3, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for RNA Biomedicine

**Please register here for March 3rd seminar: https://umich.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_l0kt_NjpRh-f33LJj7KGpA

Dr. Moore will address scientists and non-scientists, and will take live questions.

In her role as Chief Scientific Officer, Platform Research, Dr. Melissa Moore is responsible for leading mRNA biology, delivery and computation science research at Moderna. She joined Moderna in 2016 from the University of Massachusetts Medical School, where she served as Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Pharmacology, Eleanor Eustis Farrington Chair in Cancer Research and a long-time Investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). Dr. Moore was also a founding Co-Director of the RNA Therapeutics Institute (RTI) at UMassMed, and was instrumental in creating the Massachusetts Therapeutic and Entrepreneurship Realization initiative (MassTERi), a faculty-led program intended to facilitate the translation of UMMS discoveries into drugs, products, technologies and companies. Dr. Moore is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences (2017) and a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2019).

Dr. Moore holds a B.S. in Chemistry and Biology from the College of William and Mary, and a Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry from MIT, where she specialized in enzymology under Prof. Christopher T. Walsh. She began working on RNA metabolism during her postdoctoral training with Phillip A. Sharp at MIT. During her 23 years as a faculty member, first at Brandeis and then at UMassMed, her research encompassed a broad array of topics related to the roles of RNA and RNA-protein (RNP) complexes in gene expression, and touched on many human diseases including cancer, neurodegeneration, and preeclampsia.

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Lecture / Discussion Wed, 10 Feb 2021 19:47:49 -0500 2021-03-03T16:00:00-05:00 2021-03-03T17:00:00-05:00 Off Campus Location Center for RNA Biomedicine Lecture / Discussion Melissa Moore, Ph.D., Moderna Therapeutics
DCM&B Tools and Technology Seminar (March 4, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/79918 79918-20515551@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, March 4, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: DCMB Tools and Technology Seminar

Tool link: https://github.com/rdcrawford/cognac

URL for remote viewing: https://umich-health.zoom.us/j/94886745590?pwd=LzhLU243K2ZhbXNzU1BJRHQ5V25BZz09

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Livestream / Virtual Fri, 19 Feb 2021 14:34:43 -0500 2021-03-04T12:00:00-05:00 2021-03-04T13:00:00-05:00 Off Campus Location DCMB Tools and Technology Seminar Livestream / Virtual
BME 500 Seminar: Danielle Bassett (March 4, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/81388 81388-20889818@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, March 4, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biomedical Engineering

TBD

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Lecture / Discussion Wed, 27 Jan 2021 21:05:02 -0500 2021-03-04T16:00:00-05:00 2021-03-04T17:00:00-05:00 Off Campus Location Biomedical Engineering Lecture / Discussion BME Logo
BME 500 Seminar: Sasha Cai Lesher-Perez (March 4, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/81387 81387-20889817@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, March 4, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biomedical Engineering

Efforts to close the gap between in vitro to in vivo model systems have produced technologies that more effectively evaluate spatial, structural, and mechanical control mechanisms. However, existing in vitro models lack temporal regulation that captures the controlled, rhythmic processes that often occur in biological phenomena. A major contributor to this tech-bio mismatch is the difficulty to easily and sustainably scale our ability to apply timed oscillations, representative of biorhythms, in vitro. Developing technologies that are simpler and more adoptable for users, while ensuring higher throughput, have the potential to shift the way in which we establish cell cultures with a dynamic biorhythmic baseline.

In this talk, I will cover how my previous work in different technology platforms will be leveraged to establish next generation cell and tissue culture platforms that enable biomolecule timed oscillations in more complex microenvironments. First, I will discuss the development of microfluidic self-regulating circuits as a tool to produce modular chemical profiles on-chip at different timescales. Second, I will describe microparticle building blocks for the generation of customizable porous scaffolds that are porous, and consequently perfusable, enabling our ability to apply biomolecule timed oscillations through liquid flow to 3D scaffolds. Finally, I will describe my proposed research on establishing biorhythms in vitro and how these in vitro model systems will enable my research group to begin studying how stress within our lives lead to specific disease priming mechanisms.

ZOOM LINK: https://umich.zoom.us/j/94405051853

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Lecture / Discussion Fri, 26 Feb 2021 16:50:20 -0500 2021-03-04T16:00:00-05:00 2021-03-04T17:00:00-05:00 Off Campus Location Biomedical Engineering Lecture / Discussion BME Logo
Viral hijacking of host molecular motors to promote nuclear entry (March 5, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82373 82373-21084381@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, March 5, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

During entry, most DNA viruses must navigate the crowded cellular environment to reach the nucleus where transcription and replication of the viral genome occur. How polyomavirus (PyV), a small, DNA tumor virus, accomplishes this essential step in infection is unclear. In mammalian cells, intracellular transport is facilitated largely by two host motors, kinesin and cytoplasmic dynein, which move cargo along microtubules towards the periphery and center of the cell, respectively. We reported that dynein motor activity is required for PyV disassembly and nuclear arrival, but the exact mechanisms by which it promotes this process were unknown. Processive dynein activity requires a three-protein complex composed of the dynein motor, dynactin activator and an adaptor that confers cargo specificity. Unexpectedly, our most recent data revealed that the BICD2 adaptor is sufficient to disassemble the virus independent of the other components within the complex revealing cargo remodeling as a novel function of dynein adaptors. As BICD2 associates with both dynein and kinesin and is involved in cargo transport to the nuclear membrane, we are now investigating the role of these factors in the subsequent nuclear arrival and import of PyV.

Host: Matt Chapman

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Workshop / Seminar Sun, 21 Feb 2021 16:28:01 -0500 2021-03-05T12:00:00-05:00 2021-03-05T13:30:00-05:00 Off Campus Location Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Workshop / Seminar Chelsey Spriggs
Training Program in Organogenesis Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowships - Request for Applications (March 8, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82789 82789-21179549@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Monday, March 8, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design

We are pleased to announce a competition for Pre-doctoral and Non-traditional postdoctoral Fellowships in Organogenesis as part of a NIH T32 Training Grant (Training Program in Organogenesis). The goal of the fellowship awards are to provide up to two years of support for outstanding scholars who wish to undertake a research project in the field of organogenesis.

Criteria used to evaluate all applications include the strength of the mentor and strength of the trainee (as evaluated by letters and CVs), the quality of the research project, and the degree to which the project fits the goals of the Training Program, and the Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design (CPOD).

The call for applications are for the following:

NIH T32 Predoctoral Fellowship (applicants must have achieved candidacy by the time of appointment to the training grant)
Dean’s Non-Traditional Postdoctoral Fellowship in Organogenesis (Non-Federally Funded)
The non-traditional postdoctoral fellowships are open to non-citizen and non-permanent residents, and provide partial funding for one (1) year.

Materials Due: Monday, May 17, 2021 5:00 pm Eastern Time.

Submit to Tamika Mohr at: organogenesis@umich.edu

Instructions and Application templates are attached and are available online at : https://medicine.umich.edu/dept/cpod/training-program

Faculty Mentors: If you are NOT a member of the Organogenesis faculty, but wish for a trainee in your lab to apply, you may submit a concurrent application for CPOD membership.

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Careers / Jobs Fri, 05 Mar 2021 12:00:32 -0500 2021-03-08T12:00:00-05:00 2021-03-08T17:00:00-05:00 Off Campus Location Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design Careers / Jobs
The Bee Lady Talks (March 8, 2021 6:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/79961 79961-20519523@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Monday, March 8, 2021 6:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (50+)

Explore the life of the honeybee in and out of the hive. Victoria Dluzen McIntyre is an amateur apiarist whose love of honeybees comes to her naturally - her family name ‘dluzen’ means ‘keeper of the bees’ in Polish.

Known as ‘The Bee Lady’, Victoria has travelled around southeastern Michigan giving talks (The Bee Lady Talks) to schools, garden clubs, and civic groups. Come and learn about the mysteries of the hive and how 50,000 bees work together for one common good.

Preregistration is required via the OLLI website or phone. A link to access the study group will be e-mailed to you approximately one week prior to the first session.

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Class / Instruction Fri, 11 Dec 2020 19:55:47 -0500 2021-03-08T18:00:00-05:00 2021-03-08T20:00:00-05:00 Off Campus Location Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (50+) Class / Instruction OLLI Study Groups
Mechanistic Insights into the mRNA Poly(A) Tail Machinery- G. Robert Greenberg Lectureship (March 9, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/80653 80653-20769631@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, March 9, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biological Chemistry

Dr. Lori Passmore, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, will present our annual G. Robert Greenberg Lectureship in Biological Chemistry. This will be a virtual seminar held at 12:00pm on Tuesday March 9th, 2021

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Workshop / Seminar Tue, 12 Jan 2021 13:31:56 -0500 2021-03-09T12:00:00-05:00 2021-03-09T13:00:00-05:00 Off Campus Location Biological Chemistry Workshop / Seminar passmore
"Body Plan Evolution: Hox-dependent morphogenesis in the sea anemone Nematostella Vectensis" (March 9, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82539 82539-21116090@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, March 9, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design

The NIH T32 Training Program in Organogenesis is pleased to present a Special Series: Emerging Concepts in Cell Signaling, Regulation, and Science Education with seminar guest Matthew C. Gibson, PhD.

Dr. Gibson is the Dean and Investigator the the Graduate School, Stowers Institute for Medical Research.

The talk is entitled, "Body Plan Evolution: Hox-dependent morphogenesis in the sea anemone Nematostella Vectensis."

Trainee Host: Bridget Waas, Ph.D. Candidate

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Lecture / Discussion Thu, 25 Feb 2021 13:45:51 -0500 2021-03-09T16:00:00-05:00 2021-03-09T17:00:00-05:00 Off Campus Location Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design Lecture / Discussion Flyer for the Event
A Nanoscale Blueprint of the Human Kinetochore and the Functional Limits of its Design (March 10, 2021 1:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82844 82844-21201315@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, March 10, 2021 1:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Cell & Developmental Biology

We are pleased to announce that Alex Kukreja, CDB Ph.D. Candidate will present his dissertation defense during a virtual seminar on March 10, 2021!

Hosted by: Ajit Joglekar

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Livestream / Virtual Mon, 08 Mar 2021 09:34:37 -0500 2021-03-10T13:00:00-05:00 2021-03-10T14:00:00-05:00 Off Campus Location Cell & Developmental Biology Livestream / Virtual A Nanoscale Blueprint of the Human Kinetochore and the Functional Limits of its Design
CCMB / DCMB Weekly Seminar Series (March 10, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82479 82479-21108092@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, March 10, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: DCMB Seminar Series

Abstract: Single-cell technologies have transformed biomedical research in the last few years. With single-cell sequencing, we can now simultaneously measure thousands of genomics features in a large number of cells, which provides an ultrahigh resolution phenotypic map for each individual. However, single-cell protocols are complex. Even with the most sensitive platforms, the data are often sparse and noisy. Recent development of single-cell multi-omics and spatial transcriptomics technologies further imposed additional challenges on data integration. In this talk, I will present several machine learning methods that my group recently developed for single-cell and spatial transcriptomics data analysis. I will discuss methods for simultaneous denoising, clustering and batch effect correction, single-cell multi-omics data integration, identification of spatially variable genes, generation of super-resolution gene expression, and inference of cell type distribution in spatial transcriptomics. I will illustrate our methods by showing results from ongoing collaborations on cardiometabolic disease and applications to brain and cancer data.
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Biography: Dr. Li’s research interests include statistical genetics and genomics, bioinformatics, and computational biology. The central theme of her current research is to use statistical and computational approaches to understand cellular heterogeneity in human-disease-relevant tissues, to characterize gene expression diversity across cell types, to study the patterns of cell state transition and crosstalk of various cells using data generated from single-cell and spatial transcriptomics studies, and to translate these findings to the clinics. In addition to methods development, Dr. Li is also interested in collaborating with researchers seeking to identify complex disease susceptibility genes and acting cell types. She is Director of Biostatistics for the Gene Therapy Program at Penn, where she advises biostatistics and bioinformatics analysis for various gene therapy studies. She is also Chair of the Graduate Program in Biostatistics. Dr. Li actively serves in the scientific community. She served as a regular member for the NIH Genomics, Computational Biology and Technology (GCAT) study section for 6 years, and the NHGRI Center for Inherited Disease Research (CIDR) for 3 years. She is an Associate Editor of Annals of Applied Statistics, Statistics in Biosciences, PLOS Computational Biology, and Human Genetics and Genomics Advances. She is an elected member of the International Statistical Institute and a Fellow of the American Statistical Association.

https://umich-health.zoom.us/j/93929606089?pwd=SHh6R1FOQm8xMThRemdxTEFMWWpVdz09

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Livestream / Virtual Wed, 24 Feb 2021 12:57:46 -0500 2021-03-10T16:00:00-05:00 2021-03-10T17:00:00-05:00 Off Campus Location DCMB Seminar Series Livestream / Virtual
DCM&B Tools and Technology Seminar (March 11, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/79919 79919-20515552@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, March 11, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: DCMB Tools and Technology Seminar

Genomic and epigenomic features are captured at a genome-wide level by using high-throughput sequencing technologies. Peak calling is one of the first essential steps in analyzing these features by delineating regions such as open chromatin regions and transcription factor binding sites. Our original peak calling software, F-Seq, has been widely used and shown to be the most sensitive and accurate peak caller for DNase I hypersensitive sites sequencing (DNase-seq) data. However, F-Seq lacks support for user-input control dataset nor reporting test statistics, limiting its ability to capture systematic and experimental biases and accurately estimate background distributions. Here we present an improved version, F-Seq2, which combined the power of kernel density estimation and a dynamic “continuous” Poisson distribution to robustly account for local biases and solve ties when ranking candidate peaks. In F-score and motif distance analysis, we demonstrated the superior performance of F-Seq2 than other competing peak callers used by the ENCODE Consortium on simulated and real ATAC-seq and ChIP-seq datasets. The output of F-Seq2 is suitable for irreproducible discovery rate (IDR) analysis as the test statistics calculated for individual candidate summit and ties are robustly solved.

Tool Link: https://github.com/Boyle-Lab/F-Seq2

URL for remote viewing: https://umich-health.zoom.us/j/94886745590?pwd=LzhLU243K2ZhbXNzU1BJRHQ5V25BZz09

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Livestream / Virtual Fri, 11 Dec 2020 08:08:59 -0500 2021-03-11T12:00:00-05:00 2021-03-11T13:00:00-05:00 Off Campus Location DCMB Tools and Technology Seminar Livestream / Virtual
EEB Virtual Seminar: Socio-eco-evo dynamics: Exploring how society shapes the biology of cities (March 11, 2021 3:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/80094 80094-20556871@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, March 11, 2021 3:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Urban ecosystems are intrinsically heterogenous, characterized by dynamic biotic and abiotic interactions that are not witnessed in non-urban environments. Urban flora and fauna experience a suite of novel disturbances and stressors that have led to remarkable phenotypic strategies and adaptations to cope with urban living. Despite recent groundbreaking discoveries and innovation in the fields of urban ecology and evolution, the drivers of urban heterogeneity that induce biological change are seldom articulated. The spatiotemporal distributions of urban organisms are directly affected by the uneven distribution of resources (e.g., refugia, food, water) across cities, all of which are connected to societal function and governance. Hence, to build a comprehensive understanding of urban systems and wildlife adaptation, we must integrate and reconcile how structural inequality – especially racism and classism – shape urban environmental mosaics. In this seminar talk, Dr. Chris Schell will discuss how structural and systemic inequalities, especially economic and racial inequality, shape ecological and evolutionary outcomes of wildlife. In doing so, he will discuss how leading with an environmental justice and activism framework in the natural sciences can promote conversation, sustainability, and resilience in a human-dominated world.
Join us on Zoom

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Livestream / Virtual Wed, 24 Feb 2021 11:25:47 -0500 2021-03-11T15:00:00-05:00 2021-03-11T16:00:00-05:00 Off Campus Location Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Livestream / Virtual Chris Schell field work
BME 500 Seminar: George Christ (March 11, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/81389 81389-20889819@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, March 11, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biomedical Engineering

Despite the well-documented capability of skeletal muscle to repair, regenerate, and remodel following injury, there remain a multitude of diseases, disorders, and traumatic injuries that result in irrecoverable loss of muscle structure and function. For example, volumetric muscle loss (VML) injuries are characterized by a degree of composite muscle tissue loss so severe, that it exceeds the native ability of the muscle to repair, thereby resulting in permanent cosmetic and functional deficits to the limbs, neck, or face. These injuries significantly impact both the civilian and military populations. Current treatment for VML injury involves surgical muscle transfer, although these procedures are often associated with both poor engraftment and donor site morbidity, as well as incomplete cosmesis and functional recovery. Not surprisingly, this unmet medical need has stimulated research efforts to develop new technologies for treatment of VML injuries. Recent attention has focused on development of tissue engineering (TE)/regenerative medicine (RM) technologies to provide more effective treatment options for large scale muscle injuries. A variety of preclinical approaches have been tried that include implantation of synthetic and/or natural extracellular matrices/scaffolds/constructs at the site of VML injury, both with and without a cellular component. Extant data indicate that the inclusion of a cellular component generally leads to a greater degree of functional improvement. Consistent with these preclinical results, recent clinical studies for treatment of VML injury, solely with implanted decellularized extracellular matrix scaffolds, have provided evidence for modest functional recovery but with little de novo muscle tissue regeneration at the injury site. More recently, bio-printed tissue engineered constructs and their potential applications to treatment of VML injury have been reported in the literature. While these initial clinical and preclinical observations are encouraging for the TE/RM paradigm, full structural and functional recovery has yet to be achieved, and thus, there remains significant room for therapeutic advancement. To this end, I will describe our highly collaborative efforts to boost development and evaluation of a range of implantable regenerative therapeutics (biomaterials and tissue engineered constructs) in biologically relevant animal models. The overall goal is to increase the efficiency of clinical translation of TE/RM technologies capable of more complete functional recovery following repair of VML injury.

ZOOM LINK: https://umich.zoom.us/j/94405051853

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Lecture / Discussion Mon, 08 Mar 2021 11:13:19 -0500 2021-03-11T16:00:00-05:00 2021-03-11T17:00:00-05:00 Off Campus Location Biomedical Engineering Lecture / Discussion BME Logo
Program in Biology and Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience Majors Panel (March 11, 2021 6:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82819 82819-21179587@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, March 11, 2021 6:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Program in Biology

Come meet representatives from the Program in Biology and Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience. You will be able to hear about the various majors available and ask any questions that you may have!

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Livestream / Virtual Fri, 05 Mar 2021 13:39:06 -0500 2021-03-11T18:00:00-05:00 2021-03-11T19:00:00-05:00 Off Campus Location Program in Biology Livestream / Virtual PiB and UPIN Major Panel Information
The ins and outs of bacterial organelles (March 12, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82374 82374-21084382@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, March 12, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

Abstract: Open any biology textbook and you are likely to learn that, in contrast to eukaryotes, bacteria do not contain organelles to compartmentalize and facilitate cellular functions. However, numerous protein- and lipid-bounded organelles are known to exist within a diverse array of bacterial species. In my group, we aim to understand the process of compartmentalization at a molecular level in order to understand the origins and functions of bacterial organelles and exploit them for future applications. I will discuss our work on the biogenesis and subcellular organization of the magnetic magnetosome organelles of magnetotactic bacteria and our recent discovery of ferrosomes, iron-accumulating compartments that define a novel class of bacterial organelles

Host: Anthony Vecchiarelli

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Workshop / Seminar Sun, 21 Feb 2021 16:43:04 -0500 2021-03-12T12:00:00-05:00 2021-03-12T13:30:00-05:00 Off Campus Location Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Workshop / Seminar Magnetosome chains
Early Career Scientists Symposium: Natural History Collections: Drivers of Innovation (March 12, 2021 1:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/81359 81359-20887834@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, March 12, 2021 1:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

A virtual symposium held on five consecutive Fridays beginning March 5, 2021.

REGISTRATION required for Zoom entry. Registrants will receive the Zoom link and passcode via email. See links this page to register and for more information.

Session II (Moderator: Taylor West)

1 pm Jocelyn Colella

1:30 pm Kelly Speer

2 pm Panel discussion: Jocelyn Colella and Kelly Speer

Jocelyn Colella
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences Department, Hubbard Genome Sciences Center, University of New Hampshire

Talk title: Connecting next-generation museum collections to public health

Abstract
Natural history collections are recognized repositories of molecular data, critical for measuring change through time. Historically, technology has had limited access the molecular secrets of aged specimens; however, high-throughput short-read sequencing has recently enhanced our ability to interrogate historical archives. Although specimen-derived DNA is not often amenable to long-read sequencing, creative reduced-representation genomic approaches that circumvent issues of DNA quality (e.g., RADsequ, exome capture) have catalyzed the field of museomics. New linked-read sequencing approaches (e.g., 10X Genomics) further enhance our ability to generate quality de novo genome assemblies from degraded specimens. These methods geographically connect short-reads in genome-space, creating assemblies with greater completeness and contiguity relative to shot-gun only assemblies. New technologies and the expanding availability quality reference assemblies from across the tree of life, increasingly enable comparative and population genomic studies that leverage the temporal depth and geographic breadth of museum archives. We use population-level genomic sampling across multiple species of Peromyscus (deer mice), a well-represented taxon in natural history collections, to identify genetic mechanisms of dehydration-tolerance. Desert-adapted deer mice may never drink water or urinate during their lifetime, yet they remain behaviorally and cognitively intact under extreme dehydration. In contrast, there are millions of dehydration-related deaths in humans each year. Identification of the genes and regulatory regions involved in desert adaptation in other mammals will help identify candidate loci for potential gene therapies in humans. A strong link between museums and public-health will bolster funding for these critical repositories and expand molecular applications. As the primary consumers of cryogenic tissue resources, it is the responsibility of the molecular biology community to contribute to the growth and maintenance of collections through the active contribution of biological resources via fieldwork or the incorporation of long-term specimen preservation costs into grant applications.

Kelly Speer
Biodiversity Genomics and George E. Burch Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for Conservation and Evolutionary Genomics, Smithsonian Institute of Conservation Biology, National Zoological Park and Department of Invertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History

Talk title: Determining drivers of symbiont evolution in a multi-tier hierarchical system

Abstract
The use of natural history specimens is continually reimagined beyond the original intent with which they were collected. Recently, natural history specimens have been used to examine change in host-associated microbial communities through time in response to environmental change. Leveraging the inherent nestedness of host-parasite-microbiome assemblages to minimize sources of variation, I examine how the microbiomes of insect parasites change across space, time and environments, and assess the implications of these changes for pathogen prevalence. I focus on the bacterial microbiome of bat flies (Streblidae and Nycteribiidae), which are obligate, blood-feeding ectoparasites of bats, that vector pathogens to their hosts. I find that bat fly microbiomes are extremely specific to the species of fly they occupy regardless of abiotic factors. However, habitat fragmentation, time and geographic space also contribute to variation in the microbiome of bat flies. This variation is not correlated with prevalence of two arthropod-vectored pathogens of bats, but possibly strain-level occurrence. As greater interaction between humans and wildlife leads to increased zoonotic disease events, it is imperative to explore natural history collections as untapped sources of information about the progression of pathogen spread and corresponding wildlife microbiome change.

Read more, including about the speakers and their talks, on the ECSS website: https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/ecss/

REGISTER: https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/ecss/home/register/

Illustration: John Megahan. Image credits: Eric LoPresti, John Megahan, Timothy James, Linda Garcia

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Livestream / Virtual Fri, 12 Mar 2021 15:08:39 -0500 2021-03-12T13:00:00-05:00 2021-03-12T15:00:00-05:00 Off Campus Location Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Livestream / Virtual Illustration of museum drawers opened and boxes on top containing the following: shell, plant, grasshopper, mushroom, snake, skull and owl.
SEAS Ecosystem Science and Management Seminars Winter 2021 (March 12, 2021 2:30pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82610 82610-21145761@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, March 12, 2021 2:30pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: School for Environment and Sustainability

Topic: Conservation in a time of radical change

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Lecture / Discussion Mon, 01 Mar 2021 08:49:50 -0500 2021-03-12T14:30:00-05:00 2021-03-12T16:00:00-05:00 Off Campus Location School for Environment and Sustainability Lecture / Discussion Con Eco
Genes in Diseases and Symptoms Careers in Health Speaker Series (March 13, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82457 82457-21102176@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Saturday, March 13, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Genes in Diseases and Symptoms

Our GIDAS Careers in Health speaker series continues with Dr. Carl Koschmann from 12-1pm EST on Saturday, March 13th. If you’re interested, fill out this quick form and we will send the Zoom link.

Link: https://forms.gle/X7DdRsodaNsUtLoF8

Dr. Koschmann focuses on the care of children and young adults with brain tumors. He specializes in the research and treatment of children with high-risk brain tumors such as high-grade glioma and DIPG. His talk will be followed by a Q&A session.

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Lecture / Discussion Tue, 23 Feb 2021 18:46:12 -0500 2021-03-13T12:00:00-05:00 2021-03-13T13:00:00-05:00 Off Campus Location Genes in Diseases and Symptoms Lecture / Discussion Dr. Carl Koschmann Speaker Series Poster
Training Program in Organogenesis Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowships - Request for Applications (March 15, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82789 82789-21179550@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Monday, March 15, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design

We are pleased to announce a competition for Pre-doctoral and Non-traditional postdoctoral Fellowships in Organogenesis as part of a NIH T32 Training Grant (Training Program in Organogenesis). The goal of the fellowship awards are to provide up to two years of support for outstanding scholars who wish to undertake a research project in the field of organogenesis.

Criteria used to evaluate all applications include the strength of the mentor and strength of the trainee (as evaluated by letters and CVs), the quality of the research project, and the degree to which the project fits the goals of the Training Program, and the Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design (CPOD).

The call for applications are for the following:

NIH T32 Predoctoral Fellowship (applicants must have achieved candidacy by the time of appointment to the training grant)
Dean’s Non-Traditional Postdoctoral Fellowship in Organogenesis (Non-Federally Funded)
The non-traditional postdoctoral fellowships are open to non-citizen and non-permanent residents, and provide partial funding for one (1) year.

Materials Due: Monday, May 17, 2021 5:00 pm Eastern Time.

Submit to Tamika Mohr at: organogenesis@umich.edu

Instructions and Application templates are attached and are available online at : https://medicine.umich.edu/dept/cpod/training-program

Faculty Mentors: If you are NOT a member of the Organogenesis faculty, but wish for a trainee in your lab to apply, you may submit a concurrent application for CPOD membership.

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Careers / Jobs Fri, 05 Mar 2021 12:00:32 -0500 2021-03-15T12:00:00-04:00 2021-03-15T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design Careers / Jobs
RNA Seminar featuring: James Nuñez, HHMI Hanna Gray Fellow, University of California, San Francisco (March 15, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/81286 81286-20881887@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Monday, March 15, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for RNA Biomedicine

REGISTRATION REQUIRED: https://umich.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_f8wC8rrJQzuhYzTEXoW69Q


ABSTRACT
General approaches for heritably altering gene expression would enable many discovery and therapeutic efforts. I will present CRISPRoff— a programmable epigenetic memory writer consisting of a single dead Cas9 fusion protein that establishes DNA methylation and repressive histone modifications to turn off transcription. Transient CRISPRoff expression initiates highly specific DNA methylation and gene repression that is maintained through cell division and differentiation of stem cells to neurons. Pairing CRISPRoff with genome-wide screens and analysis of chromatin marks enabled us to explore the rules for heritable silencing. We identify sgRNAs capable of silencing the large majority of genes including those lacking canonical CpG islands (CGIs) and reveal a wide targeting window extending beyond annotated CGIs. Our finding that targeted DNA methylation outside of CGIs leads to memorized gene silencing expands the canonical model of methylation-based silencing and broadly enables diverse applications including genome-wide screens, multiplexed cell engineering, enhancer silencing, and mechanistic exploration of epigenetic inheritance.

KEYWORDS: CRISPR, transcription, epigenetics
Flyer in PDF: https://rna.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Seminar-Flyer-03152021-Nunez.pdf

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Lecture / Discussion Thu, 18 Feb 2021 09:21:31 -0500 2021-03-15T16:00:00-04:00 2021-03-15T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for RNA Biomedicine Lecture / Discussion James Nunez, Ph.D. UCSF
Innovations in Global Maternal Healthcare Delivery (March 15, 2021 5:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82932 82932-21225228@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Monday, March 15, 2021 5:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for the History of Medicine

Hi UMMS!

NextGen Med and the Society for the History and Philosophy of Medicine are excited to co-host an educational discussion on Monday, March 15th from 5-6PM via Zoom! Please join us for a talk and Q&A, "How Philanthropy Can Catalyze Innovation in Global Public Health: Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Focuses in the Gates Foundation," with Program Officer Mrs. Anisha Gururaj.

Anisha Gururaj is a Program Officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, in the Maternal Newborn Child Health, Discovery & Tools team, where she develops strategy and manages an investment portfolio focused on developing and delivering novel technologies, like digital health, AI, and connected diagnostics, to transform maternal and newborn health across sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Previously, she has worked for a wide variety of technology and public health-focused organizations, ranging from the Baltimore city health department to med device startups and large manufacturing companies. She has a B.S. in Chemical-Biological Engineering from MIT and a dual MSc in Global Governance & Diplomacy and Women's Health Sciences from the University of Oxford where she studied as a Rhodes Scholar.

Zoom link here: https://umich.zoom.us/j/93942689324
Meeting ID: 939 4268 9324

Hope to see you there!

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Livestream / Virtual Thu, 11 Mar 2021 12:50:14 -0500 2021-03-15T17:00:00-04:00 2021-03-15T18:15:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for the History of Medicine Livestream / Virtual
Beyond the Ferritin Superfamily: New Chemistry and New Scaffolds for Dimetal Oxygenases-Department of Biological Chemistry Seminar (March 16, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/80654 80654-20769632@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, March 16, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biological Chemistry

Dr. Amie Boal, Penn State University, will present a virtual seminar on Tuesday March 16th, 2021 at 12:00pm

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Workshop / Seminar Mon, 08 Mar 2021 13:11:28 -0500 2021-03-16T12:00:00-04:00 2021-03-16T13:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biological Chemistry Workshop / Seminar Boal
SEAS Ecosystem Science and Management Seminars Winter 2021 (March 16, 2021 2:30pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83094 83094-21266976@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, March 16, 2021 2:30pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: School for Environment and Sustainability

Topic: Soil Microbial Structure and Function Underlying Sustainable Agroecosystems

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Livestream / Virtual Tue, 16 Mar 2021 15:24:51 -0400 2021-03-16T14:30:00-04:00 2021-03-16T16:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location School for Environment and Sustainability Livestream / Virtual Con Eco
How chromosome structure and recombination ensure segregation into sperm" (March 16, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82541 82541-21116091@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, March 16, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design

The Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design, alongside the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, is proud to present a Seminar with guest speaker Francesca Cole, PhD.

Dr. Cole is an Associate Professor in the Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis at the MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas. She is also the Co-Director of the Genetics and Epigenetics Program and Director of the Trainee Transitions for Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis program.

The talk is entitled, "How chromosome structure and recombination ensure segregation into sperm".

Faculty Host: Ben Allen, PhD, Associate Professor, Cell and Developmental Biology

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Lecture / Discussion Thu, 25 Feb 2021 13:58:31 -0500 2021-03-16T16:00:00-04:00 2021-03-16T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design Lecture / Discussion Flyer for the Event
Science Success Series | Overcoming the Fear of Failure in Personal and Academic Pursuits (March 16, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/80594 80594-20759752@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, March 16, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Science Learning Center

In this workshop, we'll build on the lessons of growth mindset and put failure into practice, with activities that allow us to focus on the learning that goes along with mistakes. This way, we can create environments that allow for innovation, personal, and professional growth.

Register at: myumi.ch/1pBpO

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Workshop / Seminar Mon, 11 Jan 2021 11:37:45 -0500 2021-03-16T16:00:00-04:00 2021-03-16T17:30:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Science Learning Center Workshop / Seminar you can('t) do it
TSCA @ 5 Years: Opportunities to Act with Foresight (March 16, 2021 7:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82485 82485-21108121@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, March 16, 2021 7:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Michigan Lifestage Environmental Exposures and Disease Center

The University of Michigan M-LEEaD Center is co-sponsoring an event to mark the 5-year anniversary of the bipartisan legislation called the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act. This reform law was designed to modernize U.S. industrial chemical policy to promote health, but has it lived up to its promise?

Public understanding is limited regarding how exposures to toxic chemicals affect health and how they might be regulated. Unlike pharmaceuticals, industrial and commercial chemicals are rarely tested for safety before they reach the U.S. market. The 1976 TSCA has been widely acknowledged to be a weak and ineffective law, and widespread exposures and harms continue. In the U.S., everyone is exposed to industrial and toxic chemicals, dozens and probably hundreds – well before birth. The amount of chemicals manufactured and imported continues to grow – it is trillions of pounds – and these chemicals remain largely unregulated. At the same time, we have seen an increase in chronic diseases, such as diabetes, autism, and infertility. Not everyone is equally at risk, and a higher burden of disease falls on low wealth communities and communities of color. These health disparities in exposures and health effects are illustrated and exacerbated by COVID.

The amended TSCA gave the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency new requirements and authorities. The public health impact points to the need for the U.S. EPA to fully use its new powers to evaluate all risks from hazardous chemicals and set policies which protect health and are accountable to high-risk communities. Preventive actions are urgently needed.

Watch “THE FOREVER CHEMICALS” documentary (2019, 26 min) at Great Lakes Now then join the March 16 forum. https://www.greatlakesnow.org/fc
“The Forever Chemicals” is an Emmy-winning examination of the impact of PFAS contamination in west Michigan
communities.

LEARN MORE AT OUR LIVE VIRTUAL PANEL DISCUSSION (registration required) on March 16 with Sandra Svoboda, “The Forever Chemicals” co-producer and Great Lakes Now Program Director; Tracey Woodruff, PhD, MPH, Professor, Ob/Gyn, Reproductive Sciences, University of CA-San Francisco; and Justin Onwenu, Environmental Justice Organizer, Sierra Club. Moderated by Patricia Koman, MPP, PhD, Research Investigator, Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan with Welcoming remarks from Gilbert S. Omenn, MD, PhD, the Harold T Shapiro Distinguished University Professor of Medicine (also Professor of Computational Medicine & Bioinformatics; Internal Medicine; Human Genetics; and Public Health, Univ of Mich).

REGISTER HERE https://bit.ly/37I2JaU

SPONSORED BY the Michigan Center on Lifestage Environmental Exposures and Disease (M-LEEaD) • U-M Environmental Health Sciences • Detroit Public Television • Wayne State CURES Center • U-M Sustainable Living Experience • UROP (U-M Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program) • UMIHSA (U-M Industrial Hygiene Students Association) • EHSA (Environmental Health Student Association) • American Chemical Society Outreach Organization • U-M Health Policy Student Association • Ecology Center • Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition • UCSF Program for Reproductive Health and the Environment • UCSF EaRTH Center

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Conference / Symposium Wed, 03 Mar 2021 12:57:09 -0500 2021-03-16T19:00:00-04:00 2021-03-16T20:30:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Michigan Lifestage Environmental Exposures and Disease Center Conference / Symposium March 16 Panel Discussion: TSCA @ 5 Years
Game of Microbes: Natural Products as Weapons for Microbial Regulation in the Oral Cavity (March 17, 2021 9:00am) https://events.umich.edu/event/82901 82901-21211384@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, March 17, 2021 9:00am
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Michigan Microbiome Project

Abstract: Co-existence and intraspecies interactions in human microbiomes have been well studied over the past decade. In the human oral microbiome alone, you can find over 700 different microbial species at a given time. These microbial species can shape the microenvironment throughout the human body, by their microbial interactions mediated by secretion of chemical mediators (i.e. secondary metabolites). These interactions are paramount to maintaining oral health and systematic health. Several epidemiological studies have linked dysbiosis of oral microbes with cardiovascular disease, poor glycemic control in diabetics, low b rheumatoid arthritis and a number of other conditions. Through recent advances in technology, including next-generation sequencing (NGS) and bioinformatic tools, have helped to unravel the complexities of the oral microbiome. It is still not understood how microbial interactions are mediated within the oral cavity and how they affect oral and systemic health. Using a prospective, split mouth, experimental gingivitis model on 20 healthy non-smoking participants, we were able to observe metabolite profile changes in oral cavity during gingivitis progression and identify several small molecules that have regulatory properties in pathogenic oral microbial growth. With this research, we may be able to develop novel enhancers and pharmaceuticals for oral health and characterize molecules that can serve as biomarkers for oral and systemic diseases.

Hosts: Matthew Ostrowski, Thomas Schmidt

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Workshop / Seminar Tue, 09 Mar 2021 16:13:03 -0500 2021-03-17T09:00:00-04:00 2021-03-17T10:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Michigan Microbiome Project Workshop / Seminar Michigan Microbiome Project
EEB student evaluation seminar: Regulatory evolution of duplicate genes (March 17, 2021 2:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82940 82940-21225236@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, March 17, 2021 2:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Anna presents her preliminary seminar

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Livestream / Virtual Thu, 11 Mar 2021 11:35:30 -0500 2021-03-17T14:00:00-04:00 2021-03-17T15:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Livestream / Virtual A graph showing regulatory evolution of duplicate genes
CCMB / DCMB Weekly Seminar Series featuring Sriram Chandrasekaran (Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering) (March 17, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82825 82825-21179592@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, March 17, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: DCMB Seminar Series

Abstract: Drug combinations have the potential to greatly expand our pharmacopeia while reducing both cost and drug resistance. Yet the current drug-discovery approach is unable to screen the astronomical number of possible combinations in different cell types and does not account for the complex environment inside the body. We have developed AI tools - INDIGO and MAGENTA - that predict the efficacy of drug combinations based on the properties of the drugs, the pathogen, and the infection environment. We are also using modeling to identify drugs that work in synergy with the host immune system. Using INDIGO and MAGENTA, we have identified highly synergistic combinations of repurposed drugs to treat drug resistant infections including Tuberculosis, the deadliest bacterial infection. INDIGO also accurately predicts the outcome of past clinical trials of drug combinations. Our ultimate goal is to create a personalized approach to treat infections using AI.
* * *
Biography: Chandrasekaran received his bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology from Anna University in 2008, and a PhD in Biophysics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2013. He worked at Harvard University and MIT as a Harvard Junior Fellow between 2013 and 2016 and became an Assistant Professor at UM in 2017. His lab develops systems biology algorithms for drug discovery. Computer models from his lab like INDIGO and MAGENTA are being used to design effective therapies against drug resistant pathogens. His lab also develops systems biology algorithms to understand metabolic regulation. The approaches that they have created (PROM, ASTRIX, DFA, EGEM and GEMINI) perform complementary functions in modeling of metabolic and regulatory networks. Chandrasekaran’s research has been published in Cell, Genome Biology, mBio, and PNAS. For his work, Chandrasekaran previously received the 2013 Harvard Junior Fellowship, the 2011 Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) International Predoctoral Fellowship, the 2014 William Milton Fund award, 2018 UM Precision Health Investigator Award, and the 2018 Distinguished Young Investigator Award from the AICHE COBRA society.


https://umich-health.zoom.us/j/93929606089?pwd=SHh6R1FOQm8xMThRemdxTEFMWWpVdz09

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Livestream / Virtual Fri, 05 Mar 2021 14:44:14 -0500 2021-03-17T16:00:00-04:00 2021-03-17T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location DCMB Seminar Series Livestream / Virtual Sriram Chandrasekaran, PhD (Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering)
EEB Virtual Seminar: The science underground: mycology as a queer discipline (March 17, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82462 82462-21106112@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, March 17, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Dr. Kaishian presents this virtual seminar with an extended Q & A session from 4:45 pm - 5:30 pm EST

SEE YOUR EMAIL or CONTACT US at eeb-webinfo@umich.edu for connection information.

Image credit: Patricia Kaishian

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Livestream / Virtual Wed, 17 Mar 2021 12:25:50 -0400 2021-03-17T16:00:00-04:00 2021-03-17T17:30:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Livestream / Virtual Mushrooms growing from moss, with a rainbow arcing underneath the largest cap
DCM&B Tools and Technology Seminar (March 18, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/79920 79920-20515553@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, March 18, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: DCMB Tools and Technology Seminar

Tool Link: WIZARD: https://github.com/ML4LHS/wizard
Tool Link: Clinspacy: https://github.com/ML4LHS/clinspacy
Tool Link: Runway: https://github.com/ML4LHS/runway

URL for remote viewing: https://umich-health.zoom.us/j/94886745590?pwd=LzhLU243K2ZhbXNzU1BJRHQ5V25BZz09

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Livestream / Virtual Fri, 11 Dec 2020 08:11:56 -0500 2021-03-18T12:00:00-04:00 2021-03-18T13:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location DCMB Tools and Technology Seminar Livestream / Virtual
NeuroNetwork for Emerging Therapies Mini Symposium Series: Nutrition & Brain Health with The Henry Ford (March 18, 2021 2:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82153 82153-21044613@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, March 18, 2021 2:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: NeuroNetwork for Emerging Therapies

"You are what you eat" is a common phrase that researchers and scientists are proving remarkably true. Unhealthy diets not only lead to obesity, but that obesity can even lead to cognitive decline, or a decreased ability to think.

The third installment of the NeuroNetwork for Emerging Therapies Mini Symposium Series will explore what unhealthy foods do to the nervous system, a historical look at the downhill trend of eating habits, and how everyone can find an optimal nutritional balance. These presentations will be followed by a question and answer session.

“Nutrition & Brain Health” is made possible by the generous support of Robert and Katherine Jacobs, who believe that informing people about healthy food options is critically important to the health of their community.

Eva Feldman, MD, PhD, Director of the NeuroNetwork for Emerging Therapies, will moderate the 30-minute mini symposium and discuss diet and brain health. Debra Reid, PhD, MA, Curator of Agriculture and the Environment at The Henry Ford, will discuss the history of the American diet and how urban residents obtained fresh fruits and vegetables from urban markets, such as the Central Farmers Market that is under reconstruction at Greenfield Village. Michigan Medicine Lead Dietitian Danielle Karsies, MS, RDN, will provide direction for how people can apply the information from Drs. Feldman and Reid to help them make better food choices.

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Conference / Symposium Tue, 16 Feb 2021 13:46:27 -0500 2021-03-18T14:00:00-04:00 2021-03-18T14:30:00-04:00 Off Campus Location NeuroNetwork for Emerging Therapies Conference / Symposium Nutrition & Brain Health with The Henry Ford
EEB Virtual Seminar: (1) From surviving to thriving: mapping classroom ecosystems to foster student learning and community in Intro Biology Lab & (2) Spatial patterns in ecology and what we can learn from them (March 18, 2021 3:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/80459 80459-20722411@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, March 18, 2021 3:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Join us on Zoom

Image credits:
Plants: Andrew Seaman https://unsplash.com/photos/5uI3P4PEFiE
Aerial view of forest: Stephan Getzin

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Livestream / Virtual Tue, 16 Mar 2021 14:52:14 -0400 2021-03-18T15:00:00-04:00 2021-03-18T16:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Livestream / Virtual plants growing in pots side by side, one pot labeled with the word grow
BME 500 Seminar: Daniel Rueckert (March 18, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/81390 81390-20889820@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, March 18, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biomedical Engineering

Zoom Link: https://cwru.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_tmHJ7ArQRyO01NN6SfYYtg

Hosted by Dr. Frederick Epstein

Seminar Abstract:
The talk will focus on the use of deep learning techniques for the discovery and quantification of clinically useful information from medical images. The talk will describe how deep learning can be used for the reconstruction of medical images from undersampled data, image super-resolution, image segmentation and image classification. It will also show the clinical utility of applications of deep learning for the interpretation of medical images in applications such as brain tumour segmentation, cardiac image analysis and applications in neonatal and fetal imaging. Finally, it will be discussed how deep learning may change the future of medical imaging. https://openbme.org/

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Lecture / Discussion Mon, 15 Mar 2021 14:07:10 -0400 2021-03-18T16:00:00-04:00 2021-03-18T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biomedical Engineering Lecture / Discussion BME Logo
E. coli meets world: how the environment shapes a bacterial cell (March 19, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82376 82376-21084383@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, March 19, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

Abstract: Like other single celled organisms, bacteria are uniquely sensitive to changes in their physical and chemical environment. With only the minimal protection offered by their cell envelope, fluctuations in nutrient availability, pH, osmolarity, and temperature have an immediate impact on diverse aspects of cell physiology as bacteria struggle to adapt to the new condition. On a more extended time scale, nutrient availability is one of the major determinants of bacterial cell morphology. *Escherichia coli* cells are three times larger when cultured at steady state in nutrient rich conditions than in nutrient poor ones, due to the actions of nutrient-dependent division inhibitors, accelerated lipid synthesis and a concomitant increase in plasma membrane capacity, and other yet to be identified factors. Little is known, however, about the effect of other environmental conditions on bacterial cell morphology. Focusing on one environmental variable, I will discuss how modest changes in pH—too small to affect growth rate—alter the activity of the essential proteins that construct *E. coli*’s peptidoglycan cell wall, increase resistance to clinically relevant antibiotics, and reduce cell length by as much as 20%. Together this work identifies pH as a significant environmental determinant of bacterial physiology and morphogenesis whose impact is mediated primarily through changes in the cell envelope.

Host: Anthony Vecchiarelli

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Workshop / Seminar Sun, 21 Feb 2021 17:56:49 -0500 2021-03-19T12:00:00-04:00 2021-03-19T13:30:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Workshop / Seminar Petra Levin
Early Career Scientists Symposium: Natural History Collections: Drivers of Innovation (March 19, 2021 1:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/81368 81368-20887846@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, March 19, 2021 1:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

A virtual symposium held on five consecutive Fridays beginning March 5, 2021.

REGISTRATION required for Zoom entry. Registrants will receive the Zoom link and passcode via email. See links this page to register and for more information.

Session III (Moderator: Ben Nicholas)

1 pm Alexis Mychajliw

1:30 pm Daniel Park

2 pm Alex White

2:30 pm Panel discussion: Alexis Mychajliw, Daniel Park, Alex White

Alexis Mychajliw
Research Associate, La Brea Tar Pits and Museum
Assistant Professor, Middlebury College

Talk title: Conflicts in context: natural history collections as archives of human-carnivore interactions through time

Abstract
Human-wildlife conflict in both rural and urban areas is a persistent threat to the continued existence of many predators. Historically, mammalian carnivores have faced severe range contractions, but, in some places, they are naturally re-expanding or being reintroduced, accompanied by a range of political dilemmas and public misconceptions. In combination with traditional conservation studies of extant populations, I provide historic and pre-European baselines to anticipate these dilemmas and distinguish between novel behaviors versus the return of normal, pre-contraction variation. Museum collections (natural history, archaeological, and paleontological can provide unexpected spaces for policy-relevant dialogues among stakeholders and be at the center of interdisciplinary working groups including ecologists, paleontologists, historians, practitioners and social scientists. Employing a diverse range of geochemical, morphological and archival techniques in a conservation paleobiology framework, I have used museum collections to reframe public discourse on the reintroduction of grizzly bears to California, discover the first successful case of North American “Pleistocene rewilding” for carnivores from the 1930s, and evaluate how culturally important Japanese red foxes have responded to urbanization with attendant disease-transmission consequences. Given the cultural biases present in historical narratives of carnivore conflict, museum specimens provide an irreplaceable mechanism for separating perception from reality to guide real-world policy decisions, and museum exhibits themselves can be vehicles for communicating this new understanding.

Daniel Park
Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University

Talk title: Herbarium collections reveal wide variation in plant phenological responses to climate

Abstract
Changes in phenology–the timing of life history events–are among the most dramatic biological responses to climate change. Herbarium specimens represent snapshots of phenology (i.e. flowering and fruiting) at a specific place and time, and have tremendous promise to increase the spatial, temporal and taxonomic resolution of phenological data. However, difficulties in extracting useful information from specimens efficiently have limited efforts to apply collections-based approaches to large-scale phenological research. Here we present two contrasting approaches for this purpose; crowdsourcing and machine learning; and discuss the promises and opportunities of applying specimen-derived data to phenological research. Using these approaches, we examined tens of thousands of specimens and uncovered substantial and unexpected variation in phenological sensitivity across species ranges. We also observe patterns of temporal convergence among closely related species when they co-occur. These results suggest that phenological responses to climate change will be heterogeneous within communities and across regions, with large amounts of regional variability driven by local adaptation, phenotypic plasticity and differences in species assemblages. We thus demonstrate the utility of natural history collections in revealing large-scale patterns within assemblages and across continents that ultimately can improve forecasts of climatic change impacts on the structure and function of ecosystems.

Alex White
Machine Learning Postdoctoral Fellow, Data Science Lab, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution

Talk title: Biogeography of fern shapes as revealed by deep learning

Abstract
With digitized herbarium specimens and associated metadata accumulating rapidly in open access repositories, we are now able to exploit data-hungry computer vision techniques in order to evaluate fundamental questions in plant evolution. High among the list of unknowns are the roles that ecological factors and morphological similarity play in mediating biogeographic patterns of taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity. Here, I integrate deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) into a biogeographic study of morphological, taxonomic, and phylogenetic diversity in ferns and lycophytes. I show how CNNs and digitized specimens can be used to extract quantitative estimates of morphospace occupation, and I use these techniques to evaluate diversity-disparity relationships within ferns across latitudes. I also discuss how CNNs can be used to overcome logistical obstacles arising from modern specimen based workflows involving millions of images.

Read more, including about the speakers and their talks, on the ECSS website: https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/ecss/

REGISTER: https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/ecss/home/register/

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Livestream / Virtual Fri, 12 Mar 2021 15:09:27 -0500 2021-03-19T13:00:00-04:00 2021-03-19T15:30:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Livestream / Virtual Illustration of museum drawers opened and boxes on top containing the following: shell, plant, grasshopper, mushroom, snake, skull and owl.
SEAS Ecosystem Science and Management Seminars Winter 2021 (March 19, 2021 2:30pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83090 83090-21266972@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, March 19, 2021 2:30pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: School for Environment and Sustainability

Topic: Peasant agricultural landscapes as a matrix for biological and cultural diversity in Oaxaca, Mexico

Speaker: Mariana Benitez, Universidad Autonoma de Mexico

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Lecture / Discussion Tue, 16 Mar 2021 12:57:04 -0400 2021-03-19T14:30:00-04:00 2021-03-19T16:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location School for Environment and Sustainability Lecture / Discussion Con Eco
Training Program in Organogenesis Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowships - Request for Applications (March 22, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82789 82789-21179551@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Monday, March 22, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design

We are pleased to announce a competition for Pre-doctoral and Non-traditional postdoctoral Fellowships in Organogenesis as part of a NIH T32 Training Grant (Training Program in Organogenesis). The goal of the fellowship awards are to provide up to two years of support for outstanding scholars who wish to undertake a research project in the field of organogenesis.

Criteria used to evaluate all applications include the strength of the mentor and strength of the trainee (as evaluated by letters and CVs), the quality of the research project, and the degree to which the project fits the goals of the Training Program, and the Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design (CPOD).

The call for applications are for the following:

NIH T32 Predoctoral Fellowship (applicants must have achieved candidacy by the time of appointment to the training grant)
Dean’s Non-Traditional Postdoctoral Fellowship in Organogenesis (Non-Federally Funded)
The non-traditional postdoctoral fellowships are open to non-citizen and non-permanent residents, and provide partial funding for one (1) year.

Materials Due: Monday, May 17, 2021 5:00 pm Eastern Time.

Submit to Tamika Mohr at: organogenesis@umich.edu

Instructions and Application templates are attached and are available online at : https://medicine.umich.edu/dept/cpod/training-program

Faculty Mentors: If you are NOT a member of the Organogenesis faculty, but wish for a trainee in your lab to apply, you may submit a concurrent application for CPOD membership.

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Careers / Jobs Fri, 05 Mar 2021 12:00:32 -0500 2021-03-22T12:00:00-04:00 2021-03-22T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design Careers / Jobs
EEB student evaluation seminar: The role of gene flow in speciation in birds (March 23, 2021 1:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83186 83186-21290774@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, March 23, 2021 1:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Kristen presents her preliminary seminar

Image credits: Antonelli_gradients: Antonelli, Alexandre, et al. "Geological and climatic influences on mountain biodiversity." Nature Geoscience 11.10 (2018): 718-725.
Bird pictures: Birds of the World (S. M. Billerman, B. K. Keeney, P. G. Rodewald, and T. S. Schulenberg, Editors). Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/home

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Livestream / Virtual Fri, 19 Mar 2021 14:04:37 -0400 2021-03-23T13:00:00-04:00 2021-03-23T14:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Livestream / Virtual Four birds superimposed over a map of South America
"Coming together in challenging times: Multicellular assembly in engineered microenvironments" (March 23, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83016 83016-21243198@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, March 23, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design

The Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design, alongside the Department of Biomedical Engineering, is proud to present a seminar with guest speaker Brendon M. Baker, PhD.

Dr. Baker is an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Michigan.

The talk is entitled, "Coming together in challenging times: Multicellular assembly in engineered microenvironments"

Faculty Host: Ariella Shikanov, PhD, Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering

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Lecture / Discussion Wed, 17 Mar 2021 15:35:19 -0400 2021-03-23T16:00:00-04:00 2021-03-23T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design Lecture / Discussion Flyer for the Event
CCMB / DCMB Weekly Seminar Series Featuring Duncan K. Ralph (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center) (March 24, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82733 82733-21169592@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, March 24, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: DCMB Seminar Series

Abstract: Antibodies are an integral part of the adaptive immune response, and are a critical component of both vaccine-induced and naturally-acquired immunity. The development of deep sequencing approaches in recent years has allowed us to sample a significant fraction of the diverse repertoire of B cell receptor sequences from which antibodies are made. These sequences encode a wealth of information on the somatic rearrangement and evolutionary processes that determine the contours of our antibody repertoires, and thus our ability to respond appropriately to pathogens and vaccines. Extracting this information, however, requires a careful inference approach across several different analysis steps. I will describe the computational approaches that we have taken to solving these problems, which constitute the partis software package, and describe their application in several projects, including HIV and Dengue data.

* * *

Biography: Duncan attended the University of California at Santa Cruz for his undergraduate studies in physics, completing his thesis on energy transport in condensed matter theory in 2005. He completed his PhD at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2014, working on the Large Hadron Collider at the European particle physics laboratory (CERN). His thesis described the observation of Higgs boson decays to four leptons. Since 2014, he has worked in Frederick Matsen’s lab at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, first as a postdoctoral researcher and more recently as a staff scientist, writing new computational methods for the analysis of B cell receptor deep sequencing data.

https://umich-health.zoom.us/j/93929606089?pwd=SHh6R1FOQm8xMThRemdxTEFMWWpVdz09

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Livestream / Virtual Thu, 04 Mar 2021 11:20:24 -0500 2021-03-24T16:00:00-04:00 2021-03-24T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location DCMB Seminar Series Livestream / Virtual
5th Annual RNA Symposium, "Processing RNA" (March 25, 2021 11:00am) https://events.umich.edu/event/80161 80161-20572609@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, March 25, 2021 11:00am
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for RNA Biomedicine

FOR MORE DETAILS & ABSTRACTS VISIT: https://rna.umich.edu/2021-symposium/

Thursday, March 25, 2021
11:00 / Welcome
11:05 / KEYNOTE 1: Tracy Johnson, UCLA, “RNA Splicing, Chromatin Modification, and the Coordinated Control of Gene expression”
12:00 / Short break
12:10 / KEYNOTE 2: Kevin Weeks, UNC, “Structure-Based Discovery of New Functions in Large RNAs”
1:05 / Data Blitz: Cathy Smith, Daniel Peltier, Yan Zhang
1:35 / KEYNOTE 3: Feng Zhang, MIT, “Exploration of Biological Diversity to Discover Novel Molecular Technologies”
2:30 / Close Day 1

Friday, March 26, 2021
11:00 / Welcome
11:05 / KEYNOTE 4: Brenda Bass, University of Utah, “Distinguishing self and non-self dsRNA in vertebrates and invertebrates”
12:00 / Short break
12:10 / KEYNOTE 5: Christopher Lima, Sloan-Kettering Institute, “Mechanisms that target RNA for destruction”
1:05 / Data Blitz: Meredith Purchal, Adrien Chauvier, Shannon Wright
1:35 / Panel discussion with keynote speakers
2:30 / Close Day 2

Liveblogging by MiSciWriters! https://misciwriters.com/

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Lecture / Discussion Tue, 23 Mar 2021 15:03:26 -0400 2021-03-25T11:00:00-04:00 2021-03-25T14:30:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for RNA Biomedicine Lecture / Discussion 5th Annual RNA Symposium
DCM&B Tools and Technology Seminar (March 25, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82051 82051-21012687@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, March 25, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: DCMB Tools and Technology Seminar

URL for remote viewing: https://umich-health.zoom.us/j/94886745590?pwd=LzhLU243K2ZhbXNzU1BJRHQ5V25BZz09

(please note that this session will not be recorded)

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Workshop / Seminar Tue, 23 Mar 2021 17:42:45 -0400 2021-03-25T12:00:00-04:00 2021-03-25T13:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location DCMB Tools and Technology Seminar Workshop / Seminar
LHS Collaboratory March Session (March 25, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82008 82008-21006745@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, March 25, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Department of Learning Health Sciences

Speakers Stefan Boes, PhD and Sarah Mantwill, PhD from the university of Lucerne will discuss the Swiss Learning Health System.

Promoting and supporting uptake of evidence and evidence-informed decision-making in health-systems related policy and practice is a challenge. In Switzerland, the need to address this matter has been increasingly emphasized by different actors in the health system. In particular, the lack of comprehensive coordination efforts in the field of health services research, and subsequent knowledge translation activities, has been stressed. In response, the Swiss Learning Health System (SLHS) was established as a nationwide project in 2017, currently involving 10 academic partner institutions. One of the overarching objectives of the SLHS is to bridge research, policy, and practice by providing an infrastructure that supports learning cycles by: continuously identifying issues relevant to the Swiss health system, systemizing relevant evidence, presenting potential courses of action, and revising and reshaping responses. Key features of learning cycles in the SLHS include the development of policy/evidence briefs that serve as a basis for stakeholder dialogues with actors from research, policy and practice. Issues that are identified to be further pursued are monitored for potential implementation and eventually evaluated to inform new learning cycles and to support continuous learning within the system.

Dr. Boes and Dr. Mantwill will provide an overview of the SLHS and its key features, as well as its capacity building efforts to train young researchers in the field of learning health systems, and the development of a centralized metadata repository in support of creating a sufficient large evidence basis to support learning cycles in the Swiss health system. Further, they will discuss lessons learned from the past and the newest developments of the SLHS in light of a second funding phase supported by the Swiss government.

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Livestream / Virtual Thu, 25 Feb 2021 23:57:27 -0500 2021-03-25T12:00:00-04:00 2021-03-25T13:30:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Department of Learning Health Sciences Livestream / Virtual LHS Collaboratory Logo
EEB Virtual Seminar: The plant mating system and the evolution of resistance (March 25, 2021 3:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/80095 80095-20556872@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, March 25, 2021 3:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

The mating system, or who mates with whom, and how often, is a critical trait that influences the distribution of genetic variation among populations as well as fitness and the ability of populations to respond to selection. Although we know that the plant mating system is strongly influenced by environmental factors, we do not understand if and how the mating system may be shaped by anthropogenic forces. In this talk, I give a brief overview of the ongoing ecological genetics/genomics projects within the lab and focus on our attempts to understand how the mating system may evolve given regimes of strong human-mediated selection.

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Livestream / Virtual Mon, 22 Mar 2021 12:19:48 -0400 2021-03-25T15:00:00-04:00 2021-03-25T16:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Livestream / Virtual Evolution of resistance
BME 500 Seminar: Warren L. Grayson (March 25, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/81391 81391-20889821@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, March 25, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biomedical Engineering

Tissue engineering provides a viable means of regenerating bone and skeletal muscle tissues following injuries that lead to large volumetric defects. Our lab has developed advanced biomaterial and stem cell-based approaches to promote functional recovery following volumetric muscle loss and critical-sized craniofacial bone injuries. This presentation will focus on three areas of ongoing research: (1) I will present our lab’s efforts to regenerate vascularized and innervated skeletal muscle in mice including our recent studies using human pluripotent stem cells. (2) Recently, our group completed a study focused on designing biomaterials to guide bone regeneration in situ in minipigs using intraoperative protocols for combining autologous stem cells with 3D-printed scaffolds. (3) Understanding the interaction between vascular cells and osteoprogenitors is critical for developing effective treatment methods. I will describe recent studies in which we developed a quantitative imaging platform for characterizing the spatial relationships between cell populations in the native murine calvarium. https://openbme.org/

ZOOM LINK TO REGISTER: https://cwru.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Kgyl3yf4TcKvlk9xNKluhA

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Lecture / Discussion Sun, 21 Mar 2021 17:46:23 -0400 2021-03-25T16:00:00-04:00 2021-03-25T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biomedical Engineering Lecture / Discussion BME Logo
5th Annual RNA Symposium, "Processing RNA" (March 26, 2021 11:00am) https://events.umich.edu/event/80161 80161-20572610@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, March 26, 2021 11:00am
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for RNA Biomedicine

FOR MORE DETAILS & ABSTRACTS VISIT: https://rna.umich.edu/2021-symposium/

Thursday, March 25, 2021
11:00 / Welcome
11:05 / KEYNOTE 1: Tracy Johnson, UCLA, “RNA Splicing, Chromatin Modification, and the Coordinated Control of Gene expression”
12:00 / Short break
12:10 / KEYNOTE 2: Kevin Weeks, UNC, “Structure-Based Discovery of New Functions in Large RNAs”
1:05 / Data Blitz: Cathy Smith, Daniel Peltier, Yan Zhang
1:35 / KEYNOTE 3: Feng Zhang, MIT, “Exploration of Biological Diversity to Discover Novel Molecular Technologies”
2:30 / Close Day 1

Friday, March 26, 2021
11:00 / Welcome
11:05 / KEYNOTE 4: Brenda Bass, University of Utah, “Distinguishing self and non-self dsRNA in vertebrates and invertebrates”
12:00 / Short break
12:10 / KEYNOTE 5: Christopher Lima, Sloan-Kettering Institute, “Mechanisms that target RNA for destruction”
1:05 / Data Blitz: Meredith Purchal, Adrien Chauvier, Shannon Wright
1:35 / Panel discussion with keynote speakers
2:30 / Close Day 2

Liveblogging by MiSciWriters! https://misciwriters.com/

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Lecture / Discussion Tue, 23 Mar 2021 15:03:26 -0400 2021-03-26T11:00:00-04:00 2021-03-26T14:30:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for RNA Biomedicine Lecture / Discussion 5th Annual RNA Symposium
Molecular Genetics in the Orchard (March 26, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82378 82378-21086350@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, March 26, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

Fruit trees in commercial orchards are increasingly planted in high densities to maximize quality, enable mechanization, conserve resources, and increase profitability. A hundred years ago a traditional apple orchard may have had one to two hundred free standing trees per acre, while now planting over a thousand tree per acre trained to elaborate trellis systems is common practice. To maintain such high-density plantings, a significant amount of labor is needed along with growth regulator treatments and, in some cases, specialized dwarfing rootstocks. Still, not all fruit trees are easily amenable to growing in these systems. One of the focuses of my research program is to determine what controls fruit tree shoot architecture at the molecular and genetic level. The ultimate goal of this project is to identify methods that will reduce the labor required to manage high-density 2-dimensional plantings. In the process, we are generating fundamental knowledge about how plants grow the way they do, particularly in connection to the regulation of branch, or lateral shoot, angle. The main genes we are studying are TILLAR ANGLE CONTROL 1 (TAC1), LAZY1, and WEEP, which are present in vascular plants. TAC1 promotes the formation of wide branch angles, while the related gene LAZY1 promotes narrow branch angles. WEEP on the other hand regulates branch tip orientations. Peach trees with a non-functional WEEP allele exhibit a weeping branch phenotype. Genetic studies have linked the roles of these three genes together, and molecular and physiological studies suggest they have roles in regulating shoot growth in response to light and gravity. For this talk, I will present current and developing knowledge about their molecular mechanisms in connection to the regulation of lateral shoot orientations in plants.

Host: Cora MacAlister

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Workshop / Seminar Thu, 25 Mar 2021 15:59:50 -0400 2021-03-26T12:00:00-04:00 2021-03-26T13:30:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Workshop / Seminar Courtney Hollender portrait with background photo of apple blossoms
Early Career Scientists Symposium: Natural History Collections: Drivers of Innovation (March 26, 2021 1:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/81362 81362-20887842@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, March 26, 2021 1:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

A virtual symposium held on five consecutive Fridays beginning March 5, 2021.

REGISTRATION required for Zoom entry. Registrants will receive the Zoom link and passcode via email. See links this page to register and for more information.

Session IV (Moderator: Teresa Pegan)

1 pm Eric LoPresti

1:30 pm Laurel Yohe

2 pm Panel discussion: Eric LoPresti and Laurel Yohe

Eric LoPresti, Postdoctoral Researcher, Michigan State University

Talk title: Plants and the materials that stick to them: an ecological and evolutionary investigation

Abstract
A pressed plant specimen in an herbarium has long been the source of morphological, chemical, genetic and other sorts of data on the plant. However, that physical specimen
also includes incidental collections of other material which can inform conclusions about the plant’s ecology and interactions. My research uses collections of sticky plants to study plant interactions by examining material that sticks to the plant during its lifetime; I have found sand, dead bugs, bird feathers and ash on the surfaces of plant specimens. My recent work has demonstrated that certain substances–biological or not–stuck to plants mediate both simple and complex interactions with both arthropods and mammals, resulting in major fitness implications for the plant. However, the ubiquity of these interactions is unknown. My research links the ecological functioning of sticky plant interactions with the breadth and evolutionary history of stickiness. I will detail ecological interactions of stickiness, broad patterns of stickiness across the plant phylogeny, as well as in more detail across a single clade of plants endemic to western North America.

Laurel Yohe
NSF Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Geology and Geophysics, Yale University

Talk title: Morphological and developmental basis of olfactory evolution: evidence from museum-collected iodine-stained bat specimens and embryos

Abstract
The sense of smell is essential for finding food in animals, but whether olfaction has evolved in relation to diet is not understood. Animals that more heavily rely on smell should have increased olfactory tissue than those that rely on other senses, yet this assumption is rarely tested. I investigated whether smell was associated with diet in a group of neotropical leaf-nosed bats known for their dietary diversity. Using iodine-stained museum specimens of both adult and embryo bats, I quantified the olfactory epithelium of nasal turbinate bones in species with divergent diets. Embryo specimens were obtained from museum-deposited adult females unknown to be pregnant during accession, providing a wealth of new specimens unbeknownst to science. I tested whether plant-visiting have more well-developed olfactory epithelium compared to animal-feeding bats. I discovered: [1] two of the five turbinate bones have increased epithelium in plant-visiting bats; and [2] development of turbinates remains simple earlier in ontogeny, but the two bones with increased epithelium develop at very late stages in plant-visiting bats. This discovery suggests olfactory adaptation in plant-visiting bats, and the accompanying morphology occurs at late developmental stages, supporting the notion that natural selection acts upon phenotypes appearing later in ontogeny.

Read more, including about the speakers and their talks, on the ECSS website: https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/ecss/

REGISTER: https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/ecss/home/register/

Illustration: John Megahan. Image credits: Eric LoPresti, John Megahan, Timothy James, Linda Garcia

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Livestream / Virtual Fri, 12 Mar 2021 15:11:29 -0500 2021-03-26T13:00:00-04:00 2021-03-26T15:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Livestream / Virtual Illustration of museum drawers opened and boxes on top containing the following: shell, plant, grasshopper, mushroom, snake, skull and owl.
Training Program in Organogenesis Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowships - Request for Applications (March 29, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82789 82789-21179552@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Monday, March 29, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design

We are pleased to announce a competition for Pre-doctoral and Non-traditional postdoctoral Fellowships in Organogenesis as part of a NIH T32 Training Grant (Training Program in Organogenesis). The goal of the fellowship awards are to provide up to two years of support for outstanding scholars who wish to undertake a research project in the field of organogenesis.

Criteria used to evaluate all applications include the strength of the mentor and strength of the trainee (as evaluated by letters and CVs), the quality of the research project, and the degree to which the project fits the goals of the Training Program, and the Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design (CPOD).

The call for applications are for the following:

NIH T32 Predoctoral Fellowship (applicants must have achieved candidacy by the time of appointment to the training grant)
Dean’s Non-Traditional Postdoctoral Fellowship in Organogenesis (Non-Federally Funded)
The non-traditional postdoctoral fellowships are open to non-citizen and non-permanent residents, and provide partial funding for one (1) year.

Materials Due: Monday, May 17, 2021 5:00 pm Eastern Time.

Submit to Tamika Mohr at: organogenesis@umich.edu

Instructions and Application templates are attached and are available online at : https://medicine.umich.edu/dept/cpod/training-program

Faculty Mentors: If you are NOT a member of the Organogenesis faculty, but wish for a trainee in your lab to apply, you may submit a concurrent application for CPOD membership.

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Careers / Jobs Fri, 05 Mar 2021 12:00:32 -0500 2021-03-29T12:00:00-04:00 2021-03-29T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design Careers / Jobs
Emerging Experimental Probes for Dynamical Networks that Control the Thermal Activation of Enzyme-Department of Biological Chemistry Seminar (March 30, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/80655 80655-20769633@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, March 30, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biological Chemistry

Dr. Judith Klinman, UC Berkeley, will present a virtual seminar on Tuesday March 30th 2021 at 12:00pm

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Workshop / Seminar Tue, 12 Jan 2021 13:36:34 -0500 2021-03-30T12:00:00-04:00 2021-03-30T13:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biological Chemistry Workshop / Seminar Klinman
"Neuroscience without neurons: Bodies without brains and other musings in science" (March 30, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83017 83017-21243199@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, March 30, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design

The NIH T32 Training Program in Organogenesis is pleased to present a Special Series: "Emerging Concepts in Cell Signaling, Regulation, and Science Education" featuring guest speaker Manu Prakash, PhD.

Dr. Prakash, PhD is an Associate Professor in Bioengineering and a Senior Fellow at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment at Stanford University.

The talk is entitled, "Neuroscience without neurons: Bodies without brains and other musings in science."

Trainee Host: Nafisa Nuzhat, Pearring Lab

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Lecture / Discussion Sat, 13 Mar 2021 16:09:57 -0500 2021-03-30T16:00:00-04:00 2021-03-30T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design Lecture / Discussion Flyer for the Event
CCMB / DCMB Weekly Seminar (March 31, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83395 83395-21369780@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, March 31, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: DCMB Seminar Series

Abstract:

Large, deeply phenotyped cohorts are reshaping the world of environmental epidemiology. Two such “big data” resources that are reshaping how we understand environmental health are electronic health records and human cohorts with genome-wide molecular phenotyping. Each provides a unique perspective that is moving the field closer towards “personalized” insights into environmental health risks. Here I will talk about a series of studies which utilize electronic health records and molecularly phenotyped cohorts to investigate vulnerable populations, gene-environment interactions, and epigenetic biomarkers of environmental sensitivity. Together these studies are helping us to understand environmental health risks in a new light.

Short bio:

Dr. Cavin Ward-Caviness is a Principal Investigator in the Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division of the US Environmental Protection Agency. With a background in computational biology and environmental epidemiology, Dr. Ward-Caviness seeks to understand the environmental factors which influence health in vulnerable populations and the molecular mechanisms that influence environmental health risks. The Ward-Caviness lab uses a variety of “big data” approaches, and Dr. Ward-Caviness is the PI of the EPA CARES research resource, which allows researchers to study environmental health effects in vulnerable patient populations, e.g. individuals with heart failure, using large electronic health record databases. Dr. Ward-Caviness is also interested in how epigenetics and metabolomics can serve as an early indicator of adverse health effects from chemical and social environmental exposures and in particular how molecular biomarkers can give us insight into how the environment may accelerate the aging process and thus contribute to chronic disease. By integrating molecular and clinical data, Dr. Ward-Caviness seeks to understand environmental health as a way to advance personalized medicine and reduce health disparities.

https://umich-health.zoom.us/j/93929606089?pwd=SHh6R1FOQm8xMThRemdxTEFMWWpVdz09

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Livestream / Virtual Mon, 29 Mar 2021 15:15:11 -0400 2021-03-31T16:00:00-04:00 2021-03-31T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location DCMB Seminar Series Livestream / Virtual
DCM&B Tools and Technology Seminar (April 1, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/79922 79922-20515555@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, April 1, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: DCMB Tools and Technology Seminar

Many protein function databases are built on automated or semi-automated curations and can contain various annotation errors. The correction of such misannotations is critical to improving the accuracy and reliability of the databases. We proposed a new approach to detect potentially incorrect Gene Ontology (GO) annotations by comparing the ratio of annotation rates (RAR) for the same GO term across different taxonomic groups, where those with a relatively low RAR usually correspond to incorrect annotations. As an illustration, we applied the approach to 20 commonly studied species in two recent UniProt-GOA releases and identified 250 potential misannotations in the 2018-11-6 release, where only 25% of them were corrected in the 2019-6-3 release. Importantly, 56% of the misannotations are “Inferred from Biological aspect of Ancestor (IBA)”, i.e. reviewed computational annotations based on phylogenetic analysis. This is in contrast to previous observations that attributed misannotations mainly to “Inferred from Sequence or structural Similarity (ISS)”, probably reflecting an error source shift due to the new developments of function annotation databases. The results demonstrated a simple but efficient misannotation detection approach that is useful for developing taxonomic constraints in large-scale comparative protein function studies.

Tool Link: https://zhanglab.ccmb.med.umich.edu/RAR

URL for remote viewing: https://umich-health.zoom.us/j/94886745590?pwd=LzhLU243K2ZhbXNzU1BJRHQ5V25BZz09

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Livestream / Virtual Fri, 11 Dec 2020 08:17:31 -0500 2021-04-01T12:00:00-04:00 2021-04-01T13:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location DCMB Tools and Technology Seminar Livestream / Virtual
LSI Seminar Series: Ginger Hunter, Ph.D., Clarkson University (April 1, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82695 82695-21161629@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, April 1, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Life Sciences Institute (LSI)

Abstract:
The ability of Notch signaling to drive a broad range of contact-mediated cell fate determination events relies, in part, on dynamic cell shape changes and cell contractility. Both of these behaviors require the activity of the cytoskeleton. Dynamic cell shape changes, like the formation of filopodia, allow distant cells to target and engage in signaling with each other. One example of this is the patterning of sensory bristles on the thorax of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. In this tissue, cellular protrusions are thin, dynamic, actin-based, filopodia-like structures which extend from the basal surface of the patterning epithelia. In this talk, Ginger Hunter, Ph.D., will present data supporting a role for these basal signaling filopodia in establishing the length scale of the bristle pattern. Cell contractility is an essential feature of epithelial tissue integrity. Hunter shows that contractility, mediated by actin and non-muscle myosin II, is critical for the efficiency of Notch signaling. Together, these results support a role for cell shape and actomyosin contractility in Notch signaling during bristle patterning.

Speaker:
Ginger Hunter is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York. She earned her B.S. from the University of Virginia and her Ph.D. from Duke University, where she studied mechanosensing in developing tissues in the fly embryo. She continued her studies into the mechanisms of emergent features of developing tissues during her postdoctoral training at the MRC-LMCB at University College London and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Hunter opened her laboratory at Clarkson in 2018. One goal of her lab is to understand the regulation of cell morphology, such as the activity of signaling filopodia, that contribute to the robust formation of tissue wide patterns.

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Workshop / Seminar Wed, 03 Mar 2021 09:27:24 -0500 2021-04-01T12:00:00-04:00 2021-04-01T13:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Life Sciences Institute (LSI) Workshop / Seminar LSI Seminar Series logo
EEB Virtual Seminar/student evaluation: Take it or leaf it: new approaches for quantifying leaf shape (April 1, 2021 3:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/79787 79787-20493916@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, April 1, 2021 3:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

William presents his preliminary seminar

Image: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

See your email or email us eeb-webinfo@umich.edu for the passcode.

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Livestream / Virtual Thu, 01 Apr 2021 14:38:03 -0400 2021-04-01T15:00:00-04:00 2021-04-01T16:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Livestream / Virtual purple flowers Herbarium specimens from Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
BME 500 Seminar: Tim Downing (April 1, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/81392 81392-20889822@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, April 1, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biomedical Engineering

https://openbme.org/

ZOOM LINK TO REGISTER: https://cwru.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_iY_PMZevQwWRYkMyK7ifzA

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Lecture / Discussion Fri, 26 Mar 2021 14:01:59 -0400 2021-04-01T16:00:00-04:00 2021-04-01T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biomedical Engineering Lecture / Discussion BME Logo
Cortical Computations for Learning (April 2, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82438 82438-21098219@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, April 2, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

Host: Sam Kwon

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Workshop / Seminar Fri, 02 Apr 2021 11:13:13 -0400 2021-04-02T12:00:00-04:00 2021-04-02T13:30:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Workshop / Seminar Yellow initials MCDB and cartoon of a microscope on a blue background
Early Career Scientists Symposium: Natural History Collections: Drivers of Innovation (April 2, 2021 1:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/81373 81373-20887848@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, April 2, 2021 1:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

A virtual symposium held on five consecutive Fridays beginning March 5, 2021.

REGISTRATION required for Zoom entry. Registrants will receive the Zoom link and passcode via email. See links this page to register and for more information.

Session V (Moderator: Brad Ruhfel)

1 pm Welcome and introduction: Brad Ruhfel

1:05 pm Closing remarks: Hernán López-Fernández

1:15 pm Keynote presentation: Pamela Soltis

2 pm Panel discussion: Pamela Soltis, Hernán López-Fernández

Abstract
Emerging cyberinfrastructure and new data sources provide unparalleled opportunities for mobilizing and integrating massive amounts of information from organismal biology, ecology, genetics, climatology and other disciplines. Key among these data sources is the rapidly growing volume of digitized specimen records from natural history collections. The world’s herbaria house an estimated 400,000,000 specimens, and as the number of online records – currently at ~60,000,000 – continues to grow, these data provide excellent information on species distributions, changes in distributions over time, phenology and a host of traits. Integration of information from specimen records with phylogenies, climate data and other resources enables new questions to be addressed while also providing new perspectives on longstanding questions in ecology and evolutionary biology. Although challenges to linking heterogeneous data remain, new advances are enabling the use of herbarium and other museum data in novel ways. Through a series of case studies, I will illustrate some of the many uses to which herbarium specimen data are currently being applied as well as some of the resources being developed to enable their use. These case studies link and analyze specimen data and related heterogeneous data sources to address a range of evolutionary and ecological problems.

Read more, including about the speakers and their talks, on the ECSS website: https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/ecss/

REGISTER: https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/ecss/home/register/

Illustration: John Megahan. Image credits: Eric LoPresti, John Megahan, Timothy James, Linda Garcia

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Livestream / Virtual Fri, 12 Mar 2021 15:12:50 -0500 2021-04-02T13:00:00-04:00 2021-04-02T15:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Livestream / Virtual Illustration of museum drawers opened and boxes on top containing the following: shell, plant, grasshopper, mushroom, snake, skull and owl.
SEAS Ecosystem Science and Management Seminars Winter 2021 (April 2, 2021 2:30pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83096 83096-21266979@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, April 2, 2021 2:30pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: School for Environment and Sustainability

Topic: Integrating food webs and food security: Biodiversity, inland fisheries and human nutrition

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Lecture / Discussion Tue, 16 Mar 2021 15:55:00 -0400 2021-04-02T14:30:00-04:00 2021-04-02T16:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location School for Environment and Sustainability Lecture / Discussion Con Eco
Training Program in Organogenesis Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowships - Request for Applications (April 5, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82789 82789-21179553@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Monday, April 5, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design

We are pleased to announce a competition for Pre-doctoral and Non-traditional postdoctoral Fellowships in Organogenesis as part of a NIH T32 Training Grant (Training Program in Organogenesis). The goal of the fellowship awards are to provide up to two years of support for outstanding scholars who wish to undertake a research project in the field of organogenesis.

Criteria used to evaluate all applications include the strength of the mentor and strength of the trainee (as evaluated by letters and CVs), the quality of the research project, and the degree to which the project fits the goals of the Training Program, and the Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design (CPOD).

The call for applications are for the following:

NIH T32 Predoctoral Fellowship (applicants must have achieved candidacy by the time of appointment to the training grant)
Dean’s Non-Traditional Postdoctoral Fellowship in Organogenesis (Non-Federally Funded)
The non-traditional postdoctoral fellowships are open to non-citizen and non-permanent residents, and provide partial funding for one (1) year.

Materials Due: Monday, May 17, 2021 5:00 pm Eastern Time.

Submit to Tamika Mohr at: organogenesis@umich.edu

Instructions and Application templates are attached and are available online at : https://medicine.umich.edu/dept/cpod/training-program

Faculty Mentors: If you are NOT a member of the Organogenesis faculty, but wish for a trainee in your lab to apply, you may submit a concurrent application for CPOD membership.

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Careers / Jobs Fri, 05 Mar 2021 12:00:32 -0500 2021-04-05T12:00:00-04:00 2021-04-05T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design Careers / Jobs
RNA Seminar featuring: Natoya Peart, PhD, University of Pennsylvania (April 5, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/81288 81288-20881888@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Monday, April 5, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for RNA Biomedicine

Registration required: https://umich.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0lUfePb0Qdac-cQZDpeiEQ


KEYWORDS: Alternative splicing, RNAMap, Esrp1

ABSTRACT: Coordinated regulation of alternative splicing is essential to the establishment of cell identity. The Epithelial Splicing Regulatory Proteins (Esrps), ESRP1 and ESRP2, are highly conserved paralogous proteins required for organogenesis of multiple organ systems and compromised function of Esrps contributes to human diseases and pathologies. Esrps are robustly expressed in the epithelial cells of the epidermis, large and small intestines, salivary glands, stomach, and a variety of other tissues, where they are vital in promoting an epithelial splicing network. Although ESRP1 and ESRP2 share partial functional redundancy, ESRP1 appears to play a larger role in regulating gene expression.
Using a combination of enhanced immunoprecipitation coupled with high throughput sequencing (eCLIP) in the epithelial cells of mouse epidermis and RNA sequencing analysis of alterations in splicing and total gene expression that result from epidermal ablation of Esrp1 and Esrp2 we generate a map of Esrp1 binding to RNA. We show that ESRP1 regulates splicing primarily through direct binding in a position-dependent manner to either promote exon inclusion or skipping. In particular, we show that Esrp1 binding upstream of or withing alternatively spliced exons suppresses exon inclusion, whilst binding downstream of the non-constitutive exon promotes exon inclusion. In addition, we identified widespread binding of ESRP1 in 3’ and 5’ untranslated regions (UTRs) of genes enriched for epithelial cell function suggesting that it directly regulates post-transcriptional gene expression steps in addition to splicing.


If you are having difficulties registering, please contact Martina Jerant at mjerant@umich.edu

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Lecture / Discussion Mon, 08 Mar 2021 12:23:08 -0500 2021-04-05T16:00:00-04:00 2021-04-05T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for RNA Biomedicine Lecture / Discussion Natoya Peart, PhD, University of Pennsylvania
Exploring the Modularity of Large Complexes Involved in Transcription Initiation and Chromatin Modifications-Martha Ludwig Lectureship (April 6, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/80656 80656-20769634@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, April 6, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biological Chemistry

Dr. Eva Nogales, UC Berkeley, will present the annual Martha L. Ludwig Lectureship in Structural Biology on Tuesday April 6th, 2021 at 12:00pm

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Workshop / Seminar Tue, 12 Jan 2021 13:39:18 -0500 2021-04-06T12:00:00-04:00 2021-04-06T13:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biological Chemistry Workshop / Seminar Nogales
Microbiome Seminar: Risk factors for Clostridioides difficile infections: beyond antibiotics (April 7, 2021 9:00am) https://events.umich.edu/event/83521 83521-21397362@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, April 7, 2021 9:00am
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Michigan Microbiome Project

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Lab PI, Schloss lab
Microbiology and Immunology, Michigan Medicine

Hosts:Matthew Ostrowski Ph.D. & Thomas Schmidt, Ph.D.

Abstract: Antibiotics are a major risk factor for Clostridioides difficile infections (CDIs) because of their impact on the intestinal microbiome. However, antibiotics are not the only drugs that alter the microbiome. In human cohorts, we have identified microbiota features that overlap between patients with CDIs or diarrhea, leading to our hypothesis that some patients with diarrhea are susceptible to C. difficile infection but have not been exposed to C. difficile spores. To examine how diarrhea impacts CDI susceptibility, we treated C57Bl/6 mice with 5-day and 1-day doses of 15% polyethylene glycol (PEG) 3350 in the drinking water and then challenged the mice with C. difficile 630 spores. We used clindamycin-treated mice as a control because they consistently clear C. difficile within 10 days post-infection (dpi). We also examined how PEG treatment impacts C. difficile clearance, by administering PEG for 1 day to clindamycin-treated, C. difficile-challenged mice. PEG treatment alone was sufficient to render mice susceptible to CDI and 5-day PEG-treated mice remain colonized for up to 30 dpi. In contrast, 1-day PEG treated mice were transiently colonized, clearing C. difficile within 7 dpi. Although 5-day PEG-treated mice exhibited prolonged C. difficile colonization, we saw no difference in histological inflammation between PEG- and clindamycin-treated mice. Additionally, administering PEG to mice after C. difficile challenge prolonged colonization up to 30 dpi in mice that received PEG immediately after challenge and 15 dpi in mice that received PEG 3 dpi. When we examined microbiota composition across the different treatment groups, we found there were increased Bacteroides and Enterobacteriaceae and decreased Lachnospiraceae and Oscillibacter in most of the PEG-treated mice with prolonged C. difficile colonization. Our findings suggest the osmotic laxative PEG 3350 alters the mouse microbiota and disrupts colonization resistance to C. difficile, as well as clearance in mice with a CDI. Further studies are needed to evaluate if laxatives impact human microbiota colonization resistance.

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Workshop / Seminar Fri, 02 Apr 2021 09:56:19 -0400 2021-04-07T09:00:00-04:00 2021-04-07T10:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Michigan Microbiome Project Workshop / Seminar Michigan Microbiome Project
CCMB / DCMB Weekly Seminar Series (April 7, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83241 83241-21320453@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, April 7, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: DCMB Seminar Series

Abstract: More than 3,000 new Marine recruits were studied prospectively during their initial Marine-mandated two-week quarantine and their subsequent basic training at Parris Island. The COVID Health Action Response for Marines (CHARM) studied completed 20,000 study visits and obtained more than 70,000 biosamples including pre- to post- SARS-CoV-2 infections in more than 1000 recruits. Serological, transcriptomic, and epigenetic analyses identify the response signature to SARS-CoV-2 infection in these largely asymptomatic young adults. Phylogenetic analysis and modeling provide insight into epidemiology and guidance for public health measures.

* * *

Specialty: Neurology

Research Topics: Addiction, Apoptosis/Cell Death, Basal Ganglia, Bioinformatics, Brain, Cellular Immunity, Cerebral Cortex, Mathematical and Computational Biology, Multiple Sclerosis, Neuro-degeneration/protection, Receptors, Reproductive Biology, Signal Transduction, Theoretical Biology, Vaccine Development, Viruses and Virology

https://umich-health.zoom.us/j/93929606089?pwd=SHh6R1FOQm8xMThRemdxTEFMWWpVdz09

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Livestream / Virtual Tue, 23 Mar 2021 11:23:58 -0400 2021-04-07T16:00:00-04:00 2021-04-07T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location DCMB Seminar Series Livestream / Virtual
DCM&B Tools and Technology Seminar (April 8, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/79923 79923-20515556@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, April 8, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: DCMB Tools and Technology Seminar

URL for remote viewing: https://umich-health.zoom.us/j/94886745590?pwd=LzhLU243K2ZhbXNzU1BJRHQ5V25BZz09

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Livestream / Virtual Fri, 11 Dec 2020 08:19:03 -0500 2021-04-08T12:00:00-04:00 2021-04-08T13:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location DCMB Tools and Technology Seminar Livestream / Virtual
EEB Virtual Seminar: Causes and implications of sex difference in immune function (April 8, 2021 3:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83419 83419-21375691@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, April 8, 2021 3:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Both chromosomes and hormones are important modulators of immune function, driving rather different profiles of pathogen defense in males and females. Theoretical models based around trade-offs linked to immune function can bound expectations for what patterns of difference might evolve. Existing data illustrates the nuances emergent from the dynamic nature of immunity, and likely implications for human health.

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Workshop / Seminar Thu, 01 Apr 2021 13:29:41 -0400 2021-04-08T15:00:00-04:00 2021-04-08T16:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Workshop / Seminar Jess Metcalf talk
BME 500 Seminar: James Collins (April 8, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/81393 81393-20889823@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, April 8, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biomedical Engineering

James Collins, Ph.D.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

https://openbme.org/

ZOOM LINK TO REGISTER: https://cwru.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_MSUiecgNTLyXR5bM8HSnR

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Lecture / Discussion Fri, 02 Apr 2021 15:01:39 -0400 2021-04-08T16:00:00-04:00 2021-04-08T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biomedical Engineering Lecture / Discussion BME Logo
Molecular Basis of Inherited Parkinson’s disease (April 9, 2021 1:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82439 82439-21098220@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, April 9, 2021 1:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

Note: change in time to 1 PM

Abstract: Today more than 1 million people in the U.S. suffer from Parkinson’s disease, and although most cases are idiopathic,perhaps as many as 20% of cases have a genetic basis. We study the effect of mutations in the LRRK2 kinase that is the most frequent cause of inherited Parkinson’s. Pathogenic LRRK2 phosphorylates a subset of Rab GTPases that are
master regulators of membrane trafficking. We have discovered that Rab10 phosphorylation flips a switch on its function —phosphoRab10 bind an entirely new set of effectors that regulate the formation of primary cilia in cell culture and mouse brain. We are also studying regulation of LRRK2 by the PPM1H phosphatase and how loss of cilia could trigger Parkinson’s disease.

Host: Ming Li

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Workshop / Seminar Thu, 25 Mar 2021 16:02:03 -0400 2021-04-09T13:00:00-04:00 2021-04-09T14:30:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Workshop / Seminar Suzanne Pfeffer
Training Program in Organogenesis Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowships - Request for Applications (April 12, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82789 82789-21179554@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Monday, April 12, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design

We are pleased to announce a competition for Pre-doctoral and Non-traditional postdoctoral Fellowships in Organogenesis as part of a NIH T32 Training Grant (Training Program in Organogenesis). The goal of the fellowship awards are to provide up to two years of support for outstanding scholars who wish to undertake a research project in the field of organogenesis.

Criteria used to evaluate all applications include the strength of the mentor and strength of the trainee (as evaluated by letters and CVs), the quality of the research project, and the degree to which the project fits the goals of the Training Program, and the Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design (CPOD).

The call for applications are for the following:

NIH T32 Predoctoral Fellowship (applicants must have achieved candidacy by the time of appointment to the training grant)
Dean’s Non-Traditional Postdoctoral Fellowship in Organogenesis (Non-Federally Funded)
The non-traditional postdoctoral fellowships are open to non-citizen and non-permanent residents, and provide partial funding for one (1) year.

Materials Due: Monday, May 17, 2021 5:00 pm Eastern Time.

Submit to Tamika Mohr at: organogenesis@umich.edu

Instructions and Application templates are attached and are available online at : https://medicine.umich.edu/dept/cpod/training-program

Faculty Mentors: If you are NOT a member of the Organogenesis faculty, but wish for a trainee in your lab to apply, you may submit a concurrent application for CPOD membership.

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Careers / Jobs Fri, 05 Mar 2021 12:00:32 -0500 2021-04-12T12:00:00-04:00 2021-04-12T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design Careers / Jobs
Science Success Series- Wealth Beyond Health (April 12, 2021 6:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/79930 79930-20515562@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Monday, April 12, 2021 6:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Program

There are limitless options for a pre-med student beyond medical school and a traditional career as a doctor. Join us in exploration of other career tracks with alumni and experts. There is a world of options to apply skills in science, critical problem solving, and a desire to help people. Find your option for graduate school as a STEM student.

We will have a panel of current graduate students who talk about how they chose their program, what the application was like, how they got in, and how it is going. Learn the whole process from start to finish with students who have been in your shoes.

Register here:
https://myumi.ch/PlQlP

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Workshop / Seminar Tue, 30 Mar 2021 12:58:23 -0400 2021-04-12T18:00:00-04:00 2021-04-12T19:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Program Workshop / Seminar
Environmental Racism & Environmental Justice (April 13, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83622 83622-21440409@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, April 13, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Michigan Lifestage Environmental Exposures and Disease Center

Featuring Donele Wilkins (CEO, Green Door Initiative, Detroit) and Kathryn Savoie (Detroit Community Health Director, Ecology Center) with welcome and introductions by Amy Schulz (Professor HBHE, UM SPH). https://umich.zoom.us/j/91685410400

Final in this Series: April 20 "Community Action to Promote Healthy Environments: Research to Improve Air Quality and Health in Detroit".

Webinar series organized by the Community Engagement Core and the Integrated Health Sciences Core of the Michigan Center on Lifestage Environmental Exposures and Disease (M-LEEaD). Co-sponsored by the DEI Committee of Health Behavior & Health Education and the DEI Committee of the Department of Environmental Health Sciences.

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Lecture / Discussion Wed, 07 Apr 2021 18:05:04 -0400 2021-04-13T12:00:00-04:00 2021-04-13T12:50:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Michigan Lifestage Environmental Exposures and Disease Center Lecture / Discussion Environmental Racism & Environmental Justice
Reconstructing Biosynthetic Pathways One Step at a Time- Distinguished Graduate Lecture in Biological Chemistry (April 13, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/80658 80658-20769636@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, April 13, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biological Chemistry

Dr Vahe Bandarian, University of Utah, will present the Distinguished Graduate Lecture on Tuesday April 13th, 2021 at 12:00pm

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Workshop / Seminar Tue, 12 Jan 2021 13:42:38 -0500 2021-04-13T12:00:00-04:00 2021-04-13T13:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biological Chemistry Workshop / Seminar Bandarian
"RNA regulation in proteotoxic stress and genetic neurological disorders" (April 13, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83128 83128-21274909@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, April 13, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design

The Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design, alongside the Department of Human Genetics, is pleased to present the a seminar with speaker, Stephanie Moon, PhD.

Dr. Moon is an Assistant Professor of Human Genetics, a Faculty Scholar of the Center for RNA Biomedicine, and an Affiliate Faculty of Biological Chemistry at the University of Michigan.

The talk is entitled, "RNA regulation in proteotoxic stress and genetic neurological disorders"

Faculty Host: Sundeep Kalantry, PhD, Associate Professor of Human Genetics

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Lecture / Discussion Wed, 17 Mar 2021 15:41:29 -0400 2021-04-13T16:00:00-04:00 2021-04-13T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design Lecture / Discussion Flyer for the Event
CCMB / DCMB Weekly Seminar (April 14, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83595 83595-21436485@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, April 14, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: DCMB Seminar Series

Abstract:
My lab's research involves the development and application of systems biology approaches—combining computation, machine learning, quantitative modeling, and experiments—to study the immune system in health and disease. Recent technological and computational advances allow comprehensive interrogation of multiple modalities (e.g., proteins, mRNAs, immune receptor sequences) in single cell resolution in the human population. Here I will highlight our work in the analysis human and single cell variations along the axes of early immune development, vaccination, and COVID-19. If time permits, I will also discuss the integration of tissue imaging, machine learning, and multiscale dynamical modeling of immune cell interactions to investigate the homeostatic regulation of autoreactive T cells.

* * *

Biography: Dr. Tsang is a senior investigator in the NIH Intramural Research Program and leads a laboratory focusing on systems and quantitative immunology at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). He also co-directs the Trans-NIH Center for Human Immunology (CHI) and leads its research program in systems human immunology. Dr. Tsang trained in computer engineering and computer science at the University of Waterloo and received his Ph.D. in biophysics from Harvard University. Dr. Tsang has worked as a software engineer and pursued systems biology research in both academia and industry including Rosetta Inpharmatics, Caprion Proteomics, MIT, and Merck Research Laboratories. Dr. Tsang has won several awards for his research, including NIAID Merit Awards for the development of a data reuse and crowdsourcing platform OMiCC and for leading a system biology study of human immune variability and influenza vaccination, which was selected as a top NIAID Research Advances of 2014. He currently serves as the founding chief editor of systems immunology for Frontiers in Immunology. He has served as a scientific advisor for a number of programs and organizations including ImmPort (the clinical and molecular data repository for NIAID), the Committee on Precision Medicine for the World Allergy Organization, the NIAID Modeling Immunity for Biodefense Program, the Allen Institute, the Immuno-Epidemiology Program at the National Cancer Institute, and the Human Vaccines Project.

https://umich-health.zoom.us/j/93929606089?pwd=SHh6R1FOQm8xMThRemdxTEFMWWpVdz09

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Livestream / Virtual Wed, 07 Apr 2021 08:59:05 -0400 2021-04-14T16:00:00-04:00 2021-04-14T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location DCMB Seminar Series Livestream / Virtual
EEB Virtual Seminar/student evaluation: Origins and evolution of the gyromitrin mycotoxin in false morel mushrooms (April 15, 2021 3:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/79788 79788-20493917@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, April 15, 2021 3:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Alden presents his preliminary seminar

See your email or email us eeb-webinfo@umich.edu for the passcode.

Image: Alden Dirks

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Livestream / Virtual Mon, 05 Apr 2021 15:39:50 -0400 2021-04-15T15:00:00-04:00 2021-04-15T16:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Livestream / Virtual False morel mushrooms on the ground
BME 500 Seminar: Kelly J. Cross (April 15, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/81394 81394-20889824@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, April 15, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biomedical Engineering

Join us for a virtual seminar series on topics related to race and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. https://happenings.wustl.edu/event/an_honest_conversation_about_inequity_in_engineering#.YG9vT-hKhPY

Details:
DATE: Thursday, April 15, 2021
TIME: 4:00-5:00 PM
ZOOM LINK TO REGISTER: https://wustl.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_NvH4qVTSRx2uSXbdW-eXNA

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Lecture / Discussion Wed, 14 Apr 2021 14:13:34 -0400 2021-04-15T16:00:00-04:00 2021-04-15T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biomedical Engineering Lecture / Discussion BME Logo
BME Master's Defense: Fatimah Alkaabi (April 16, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83558 83558-21424731@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, April 16, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biomedical Engineering

The central auditory system consists of the brain nuclei that transmit peripheral auditory nerve input to the auditory cortex for hearing perception. Damage to the auditory end organ, the cochlea, can result in hearing loss that drives the central auditory system to disarray causing disorders such as hyperacusis and tinnitus. These disorders can negatively affect patients’ quality of life. Tinnitus sufferers generally describe their tinnitus as a narrowband of sound that occurs in quiet, while hyperacusis sufferers express an exaggerated perception of sound level or intensity. These two disorders are often grouped together because tinnitus sufferers tend to report symptoms of hyperacusis and vice versa. However, hyperacusis and tinnitus do not always co-occur, suggesting that they have different neural origins. To study these conditions, researchers have induced cochlear damage in animal models, followed by behavioral and electrophysiological assessments. However, no study has adequately distinguished hyperacusis from tinnitus in individual animals. In this thesis, I detail the development of a novel hyperacusis and tinnitus assessment paradigm for individual animals using the pinna reflex combined with auditory brainstem responses (ABR). In the first chapter, I detail several enhancements to a computer system that ensures accurate sound presentation concurrently with capture of pinna reflex video data, as well as streamlines the subsequent data analysis. In the second chapter, the ABR, an evoked potential reflecting the summed electrical activity of cells in the auditory brainstem pathway, was assessed. Several studies suggest that ABR-wave characteristics might provide evidence of hyperacusis. ABRs were evoked using conventional and novel sound stimuli. They were then examined to look for possible indications of hyperacusis in noise overexposed guinea pigs. The present findings are discussed with several suggestions for future hyperacusis assessments.



Date: Friday, April 16, 2021

Time: 12:00 PM

Zoom: https://umich.zoom.us/j/91698183229

Chair: Dr. Susan Shore

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Lecture / Discussion Mon, 05 Apr 2021 23:04:39 -0400 2021-04-16T12:00:00-04:00 2021-04-16T13:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biomedical Engineering Lecture / Discussion BME Logo
The Spindle: Mechanical Robustness with Dynamic Parts (April 16, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82437 82437-21098218@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, April 16, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

Host: Morgan DeSantis

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Workshop / Seminar Tue, 23 Feb 2021 11:23:41 -0500 2021-04-16T12:00:00-04:00 2021-04-16T13:30:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Workshop / Seminar Sophie Dumont
Training Program in Organogenesis Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowships - Request for Applications (April 19, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82789 82789-21179555@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Monday, April 19, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design

We are pleased to announce a competition for Pre-doctoral and Non-traditional postdoctoral Fellowships in Organogenesis as part of a NIH T32 Training Grant (Training Program in Organogenesis). The goal of the fellowship awards are to provide up to two years of support for outstanding scholars who wish to undertake a research project in the field of organogenesis.

Criteria used to evaluate all applications include the strength of the mentor and strength of the trainee (as evaluated by letters and CVs), the quality of the research project, and the degree to which the project fits the goals of the Training Program, and the Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design (CPOD).

The call for applications are for the following:

NIH T32 Predoctoral Fellowship (applicants must have achieved candidacy by the time of appointment to the training grant)
Dean’s Non-Traditional Postdoctoral Fellowship in Organogenesis (Non-Federally Funded)
The non-traditional postdoctoral fellowships are open to non-citizen and non-permanent residents, and provide partial funding for one (1) year.

Materials Due: Monday, May 17, 2021 5:00 pm Eastern Time.

Submit to Tamika Mohr at: organogenesis@umich.edu

Instructions and Application templates are attached and are available online at : https://medicine.umich.edu/dept/cpod/training-program

Faculty Mentors: If you are NOT a member of the Organogenesis faculty, but wish for a trainee in your lab to apply, you may submit a concurrent application for CPOD membership.

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Careers / Jobs Fri, 05 Mar 2021 12:00:32 -0500 2021-04-19T12:00:00-04:00 2021-04-19T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design Careers / Jobs
RNA Seminar featuring: Jailson (Jay) Brito Querido, Ph.D. MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK (April 19, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/81408 81408-20893767@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Monday, April 19, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for RNA Biomedicine

REGISTRATION REQUIRED: https://umich.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_78YYOhIhTbOBy2_JSdM7Wg

ABSTRACT: A key step in translational initiation is the recruitment of the 43S pre-initiation complex (43S PIC) by the cap-binding complex (eIF4F) at the 5´ end of mRNA. Eukaryotic initiation factors eIF1, eIF1A, eIF3, eIF5, and the ternary complex (TC) of eIF2–GTP–tRNAiMet bind to the 40S ribosomal subunit to form the 43S PIC. Once assembled, the 43S PIC is recruited to the cap-binding complex eIF4F at the 5´end of mRNA to form a 48S initiation complex (48S). The 48S then scans along the mRNA to locate a start codon. To understand the mechanisms involved, we determined the structure of a reconstituted human 48S using cryo-electron microscopy. The structure reveals insights into early events of translation initiation complex assembly. It reveals how eIF4F interacts with subunits of the eIF3 structural core near the mRNA exit channel in the 43S. The location of eIF4F is consistent with a slotting model of mRNA recruitment and suggests a “blind-region” that would preclude recognition of start sites upstream of the location of the P site at the point of recruitment.

KEYWORDS: mRNA, ribosome, eIF4F, eIF4A, translation

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Lecture / Discussion Tue, 13 Apr 2021 12:58:40 -0400 2021-04-19T16:00:00-04:00 2021-04-19T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for RNA Biomedicine Lecture / Discussion Jailson (Jay) Brito Querido, Ph.D.
Genome Organization and Transcriptional Regulation by the Nuclear Pore Complex- Department of Biological Chemistry Seminar (April 20, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/80659 80659-20769637@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, April 20, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biological Chemistry

Dr. Jason Brickner, Northwestern University, will present a virtual seminar on Tuesday April 20th, 2021 at 12:00pm

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Workshop / Seminar Tue, 12 Jan 2021 13:44:43 -0500 2021-04-20T12:00:00-04:00 2021-04-20T13:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biological Chemistry Workshop / Seminar Brickner
Master's Defense: Annie Taylor (April 21, 2021 10:30am) https://events.umich.edu/event/83750 83750-21485477@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, April 21, 2021 10:30am
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biomedical Engineering

Dopamine regulates motor performance and learning. Current models suggest that dopamine signals reward-prediction errors and/or movement vigor. These functions have been assessed predominantly using simple behavioral tasks. The role of dopamine in dexterous skill, however, is unknown. This question is important to understanding motor disorders such as Parkinson's Disease. Here we describe an experimental model to interrogate the role of dopamine release during learning and performance of dexterous skill. Fluorescent sensors dLight1.1 and GCaMP are used to monitor dopamine and calcium activity in the striatum and substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) in rats performing skilled reaching tasks. Preliminary experiments have successfully recorded reward-associated signals in both striatum and SNc. Adaptations to the recording setup to facilitate long-term recording in larger rodents are described. These results demonstrate the viability of fiber photometry for measuring dopamine-related activity during skilled reaching tasks.



Date: Wednesday April 21, 2021

Time: 10:30 AM

Zoom: https://umich.zoom.us/j/96449273959

Chair: Dr. Dan Leventhal

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Lecture / Discussion Tue, 13 Apr 2021 15:34:29 -0400 2021-04-21T10:30:00-04:00 2021-04-21T11:30:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biomedical Engineering Lecture / Discussion BME Logo
EEB thesis defense: Water column contributions to ecosystem production on coral reefs: an ecosystem ecology approach (April 21, 2021 1:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82902 82902-21211385@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, April 21, 2021 1:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Anjali presents her thesis defense.

Please check your email or contact eeb.gradcoord@umich.edu for the passcode at least a couple of hours prior to the event.

Illustration: John Megahan

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Livestream / Virtual Fri, 16 Apr 2021 18:10:53 -0400 2021-04-21T13:00:00-04:00 2021-04-21T14:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Livestream / Virtual Coral reef illustration by John Megahan
MS Defense: Can you see me now?: Optimizing SNAP- and Halo-tagging for Live Imaging in Xenopus laevis embryos (April 21, 2021 1:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83523 83523-21397365@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, April 21, 2021 1:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

Mentor: Ann Miller

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Workshop / Seminar Tue, 06 Apr 2021 15:02:05 -0400 2021-04-21T13:00:00-04:00 2021-04-21T14:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Workshop / Seminar micrograph of tissue
EEB thesis defense: Tailored vines and Taylor's law: examining vine growth on Puerto Rican coffee farms (April 22, 2021 1:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83165 83165-21282853@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, April 22, 2021 1:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Simone defends her thesis.

Please check your email or contact eeb.gradcoord@umich.edu for the passcode, at least a couple of hours prior to the event.

Illustration: John Megahan

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Livestream / Virtual Mon, 12 Apr 2021 12:59:41 -0400 2021-04-22T13:00:00-04:00 2021-04-22T14:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Livestream / Virtual Coffee cup with vines growing around and mountains in the background
Special Joint Seminar between DCMB, Mathematics, MIDAS, and Smale Institute (April 22, 2021 1:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83615 83615-21491327@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, April 22, 2021 1:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: DCMB Seminar Series

Abstract:

The quest to understand consciousness, once the purview of philosophers and theologians, is now actively pursued by scientists of many stripes. This talk looks at consciousness from the perspective of theoretical computer science. It formalizes the Global Workspace Theory (GWT) originated by cognitive neuroscientist Bernard Baars and further developed by him, Stanislas Dehaene, and others. Our major contribution lies in the precise formal definition of a Conscious Turing Machine (CTM), also called a Conscious AI. We define the CTM in the spirit of Alan Turing’s simple yet powerful definition of a computer, the Turing Machine (TM). We are not looking for a complex model of the brain nor of cognition but for a simple model of (the admittedly complex concept of) consciousness. After formally defining CTM, we give a formal definition of consciousness in CTM. We then suggest why the CTM has the feeling of consciousness. The reasonableness of the definitions and explanations can be judged by how well they agree with commonly accepted intuitive concepts of human consciousness, the range of related concepts that the model explains easily and naturally, and the extent of its agreement with scientific evidence.

https://umich.zoom.us/j/95135773568

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Livestream / Virtual Wed, 14 Apr 2021 10:17:45 -0400 2021-04-22T13:00:00-04:00 2021-04-22T14:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location DCMB Seminar Series Livestream / Virtual
EEB thesis defense: The effect of herbicide drift on the plant life cycle and pollinator attraction traits in four Ipomoea species: an ecological and evolutionary approach (April 23, 2021 10:00am) https://events.umich.edu/event/82964 82964-21227247@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, April 23, 2021 10:00am
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Whitney presents her thesis defense.

Check your email or contact eeb.gradcoord@umich.edu for the Zoom link at least two hours prior to the event please.

Image: Whitney White

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Livestream / Virtual Fri, 16 Apr 2021 11:34:11 -0400 2021-04-23T10:00:00-04:00 2021-04-23T11:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Livestream / Virtual Pink morning glories and a bee
20th Annual James V. Neel Lectureship (April 23, 2021 11:00am) https://events.umich.edu/event/83872 83872-21561727@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, April 23, 2021 11:00am
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Department of Human Genetics

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN GENETICS - 20TH ANNUAL JAMES V. NEEL LECTURESHIP

“Remembrance of Things Past: Reactivation of Fetal Hemoglobin for Therapy.”

Presented by:
Stuart H. Orkin, M.D.
David G. Nathan Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics
Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Harvard Medical School

FRIDAY, MAY 7, 2021
12:00PM - 3:00PM EST
Zoom Meeting ID: 983 1136 4189
Zoom Meeting Link: https://umich.zoom.us/j/98311364189

Sponsored by:
The Department of Human Genetics
University of Michigan Medical School
Event Website: https://medicine.umich.edu/dept/human-genetics/events/202105/20th-annual-james-v-neel-lectureship

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Lecture / Discussion Fri, 23 Apr 2021 11:02:42 -0400 2021-04-23T11:00:00-04:00 2021-04-23T12:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Department of Human Genetics Lecture / Discussion 2021 JAMES V. NEEL LECTURESHIP FLYER
Training Program in Organogenesis Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowships - Request for Applications (April 26, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82789 82789-21179556@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Monday, April 26, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design

We are pleased to announce a competition for Pre-doctoral and Non-traditional postdoctoral Fellowships in Organogenesis as part of a NIH T32 Training Grant (Training Program in Organogenesis). The goal of the fellowship awards are to provide up to two years of support for outstanding scholars who wish to undertake a research project in the field of organogenesis.

Criteria used to evaluate all applications include the strength of the mentor and strength of the trainee (as evaluated by letters and CVs), the quality of the research project, and the degree to which the project fits the goals of the Training Program, and the Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design (CPOD).

The call for applications are for the following:

NIH T32 Predoctoral Fellowship (applicants must have achieved candidacy by the time of appointment to the training grant)
Dean’s Non-Traditional Postdoctoral Fellowship in Organogenesis (Non-Federally Funded)
The non-traditional postdoctoral fellowships are open to non-citizen and non-permanent residents, and provide partial funding for one (1) year.

Materials Due: Monday, May 17, 2021 5:00 pm Eastern Time.

Submit to Tamika Mohr at: organogenesis@umich.edu

Instructions and Application templates are attached and are available online at : https://medicine.umich.edu/dept/cpod/training-program

Faculty Mentors: If you are NOT a member of the Organogenesis faculty, but wish for a trainee in your lab to apply, you may submit a concurrent application for CPOD membership.

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Careers / Jobs Fri, 05 Mar 2021 12:00:32 -0500 2021-04-26T12:00:00-04:00 2021-04-26T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design Careers / Jobs
Gene Editing and the Food We Eat (April 27, 2021 1:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/79959 79959-20519521@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, April 27, 2021 1:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (50+)

Calling all non-biologists interested in learning how gene editing technology will impact the food in our grocery stores. Make more informed decisions. Learn about GMO food. Understand the concerns about safety and security. Discuss controversial topics including how we feed a growing world population, how crops are developed, GMO labeling, the hope for gene editing, and the role of government regulation.

The course includes online video, articles, and TED talks viewed prior to class, followed by a Zoom conference to discuss controversial topics.

Instructor Bryan Mckersie has 40 years’ experience in leading plant biotechnology research programs.

The study group will meet Tuesdays from April 27 through June 1. Preregistration is required via the OLLI website or phone. A link to access the study group will be e-mailed to you approximately one week prior to the first session.

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Class / Instruction Fri, 11 Dec 2020 19:48:22 -0500 2021-04-27T13:00:00-04:00 2021-04-27T14:30:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (50+) Class / Instruction OLLI Study Groups
EEB thesis defense: Comparative analysis of snake brain morphology across habitat specializations (April 28, 2021 1:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82965 82965-21227248@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, April 28, 2021 1:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Brianna defends her thesis.

Please check your email or contact eeb.gradcoord@umich.edu for the passcode at least two hours prior to the event.

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Livestream / Virtual Wed, 21 Apr 2021 16:05:20 -0400 2021-04-28T13:00:00-04:00 2021-04-28T14:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Livestream / Virtual 3D CT scan of snake heads and brain
Master's Defense: Ivo Cerda (April 30, 2021 10:00am) https://events.umich.edu/event/83915 83915-21612995@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, April 30, 2021 10:00am
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biomedical Engineering

Co-registering, chronic, and naturalistic assessments of the electrophysiological and behavioral features of the murine stress response can teach us how stress-behaviors are mechanistically driven by electrophysiological activity in neural circuits, how those relationships change over the course of the multi-week developing response to chronic ongoing stress, and how these changes ultimately contribute to the pathogenesis and progression of major depressive disorder and other psychiatric conditions. However, the long duration and multiplexed nature of the murine stress response have long been barriers to achieving such understandings. To address the need for technology that better captures the time progression of the murine stress response, we engineered the first-ever chronic recording system capable of gathering both behavioral and electrophysiological data in a naturalistic environment for freely-moving mice. Building from previous unpublished work at our lab, we first developed 16 units of a novel photointerrupter-based, Arduino-controlled digital phenotyping system capable of simultaneously recording 50+ behavioral metrics at a sub-second resolution continuously for weeks at a time. Subsequently, with the goal of assisting the concurrent exploration of brain mechanisms and behavior, we engineered a scaffold and cabling structure to support an ultra low-resistance commutator that allows chronic, multi-region brain electrophysiological recordings and integrated it into our digital behavioral phenotyping system. Our novel co-recording system is now fully operational and, along with allowing chronic electrophysiological recordings, supports measures of eating, drinking, food and sugary drink preference (a measure of anhedonia), locomotor activity, sleep, and actigraphy, all the while using 24/7 video tracking to allow detailed classification of behaviors at sub-second resolution. The system is also compatible with standard assessments in the field, including daily weight and fur checks. To demonstrate the duration of its co-recording capabilities, we implanted a cohort of mice with electrodes in three brain regions involved in the murine stress response – olfactory bulb, dorsal hippocampus, and medial prefrontal cortex – and recorded for five weeks. This is the first system to ever produce highly dense behavioral and electrophysiological data simultaneously and continuously over such a period of time.


Details:
DATE: Friday, April 30, 2021
TIME: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
LOCATION: Zoom https://umich.zoom.us/j/93571968494)
Chair Committee: Brendon Watson, Tim Bruns, Cindy Chestek

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Lecture / Discussion Thu, 29 Apr 2021 20:12:17 -0400 2021-04-30T10:00:00-04:00 2021-04-30T12:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biomedical Engineering Lecture / Discussion BME Logo
MCDB Defense: Mechanisms Influencing *C. elegans* Dosage Compensation (April 30, 2021 10:00am) https://events.umich.edu/event/83801 83801-21532317@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, April 30, 2021 10:00am
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

Master's student
Mentor: Gyorgyi Csankovszki

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Workshop / Seminar Mon, 19 Apr 2021 15:20:26 -0400 2021-04-30T10:00:00-04:00 2021-04-30T11:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Workshop / Seminar Yellow MCDB initials and Microscope drawing on blue
Novel upstream activation of mTORC2 by the innate immune kinase TBK1 (April 30, 2021 3:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83336 83336-21344239@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, April 30, 2021 3:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Cell & Developmental Biology

We are pleased to announce that Aaron Seth Tooley will present his Dissertation Defense on July 31st, 2020 through a live stream virtual seminar!

Dissertation Committee:
Associate Professor Diane C. Fingar, Mentor
Professor Marina Pasca Di Magliano, Chair
Associate Professor Ken Inoki
Professor Kristen J. Verhey

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Livestream / Virtual Fri, 26 Mar 2021 13:48:33 -0400 2021-04-30T15:00:00-04:00 2021-04-30T16:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Cell & Developmental Biology Livestream / Virtual Novel upstream activation of mTORC2 by the innate immune kinase TBK1
BME Commencement 2021 (May 1, 2021 3:30pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83890 83890-21595415@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Saturday, May 1, 2021 3:30pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biomedical Engineering

PLEASE MAKE SURE TO RSVP WITH THE LINK!

BME COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY
SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2021 | 3:30 PM EDT


COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY
ZOOM @ (3:30 PM)

AFTER PARTY
Spatial Chat @ (~4:30 PM)
(AFTER THE CEREMONY)

PROGRAM
Welcome & Introduction | Lonnie Shea Ph.D.
Program Chair Remarks | Rachael Schmedlen, Ph.D., Jan Stegemann, Ph.D., & Tim Bruns, Ph.D.
Program Coordinator Remarks | Rachel Patterson & Maria Steele
Alumni Welcome and Congratulations | Scott Merz, Richard Youngblood, & Xiaotian Tan
Student Addresses | Dipra Debnath, Ivo Woldarsky, & Katy Norman
Announcing the Graduates | Melissa Wrobel Ph.D., Brendon Baker, Ph.D., James Weiland, Ph.D., & Tim Bruns, Ph.D.
Confirmation of Degrees | Lonnie Shea, Ph.D.
Congratulations and Closing | Lonnie Shea, Ph.D.
Virtual socializing & After Party | Come congratulate and socialize with your fellow graduates, families, professors, and friends following the BME Commencement Ceremony.

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Ceremony / Service Tue, 27 Apr 2021 15:09:45 -0400 2021-05-01T15:30:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biomedical Engineering Ceremony / Service BME Logo
Training Program in Organogenesis Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowships - Request for Applications (May 3, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82789 82789-21179557@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Monday, May 3, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design

We are pleased to announce a competition for Pre-doctoral and Non-traditional postdoctoral Fellowships in Organogenesis as part of a NIH T32 Training Grant (Training Program in Organogenesis). The goal of the fellowship awards are to provide up to two years of support for outstanding scholars who wish to undertake a research project in the field of organogenesis.

Criteria used to evaluate all applications include the strength of the mentor and strength of the trainee (as evaluated by letters and CVs), the quality of the research project, and the degree to which the project fits the goals of the Training Program, and the Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design (CPOD).

The call for applications are for the following:

NIH T32 Predoctoral Fellowship (applicants must have achieved candidacy by the time of appointment to the training grant)
Dean’s Non-Traditional Postdoctoral Fellowship in Organogenesis (Non-Federally Funded)
The non-traditional postdoctoral fellowships are open to non-citizen and non-permanent residents, and provide partial funding for one (1) year.

Materials Due: Monday, May 17, 2021 5:00 pm Eastern Time.

Submit to Tamika Mohr at: organogenesis@umich.edu

Instructions and Application templates are attached and are available online at : https://medicine.umich.edu/dept/cpod/training-program

Faculty Mentors: If you are NOT a member of the Organogenesis faculty, but wish for a trainee in your lab to apply, you may submit a concurrent application for CPOD membership.

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Careers / Jobs Fri, 05 Mar 2021 12:00:32 -0500 2021-05-03T12:00:00-04:00 2021-05-03T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design Careers / Jobs
RNA Seminar featuring: Olivia Rissland, University of Colorado School of Medicine (May 3, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/81302 81302-20881902@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Monday, May 3, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for RNA Biomedicine

Registration Required: https://umich.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vA9zYS5nSEenf8Zmt1f-qA


ABSTRACT: The maternal-to-zygotic transition (MZT) is a conserved step in animal development, where control is passed from the maternal to the zygotic genome. Although the MZT is typically considered from its impact on the transcriptome, we previously found that three maternally deposited Drosophila RNA binding proteins (ME31B, Trailer Hitch [TRAL], and Cup) are also cleared during the MZT by unknown mechanisms. Here, we show that these proteins are degraded by the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Marie Kondo, an E2 conjugating enzyme, and the E3 CTLH ligase are required for the destruction of ME31B, TRAL, and Cup. Structure modeling of the Drosophila CTLH complex suggests that substrate recognition is different than orthologous complexes. Despite occurring hours earlier, egg activation mediates clearance of these proteins through the Pan Gu kinase, which stimulates translation of Kondo mRNA. Clearance of the maternal protein dowry thus appears to be a coordinated, but as-yet underappreciated, aspect of the MZT.

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Lecture / Discussion Fri, 02 Apr 2021 16:07:11 -0400 2021-05-03T16:00:00-04:00 2021-05-03T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for RNA Biomedicine Lecture / Discussion Olivia Rissland, Ph.D.
PhD Defense: Jonas Schollenberger (May 4, 2021 3:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83855 83855-21555868@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, May 4, 2021 3:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biomedical Engineering

Cerebrovascular occlusive disease (CVOD) is a major risk factor for ischemic stroke and is characterized by the presence of stenosis in the arteries supplying the brain. The cerebral vasculature has an innate ability to compensate for flow reductions, caused by the presence of CVOD, through a network of collateral pathways in the circle of Willis (CoW). However, flow compensation is highly patient-specific and dependent on the cerebral vasculature anatomy, availability of collateral pathways, degree of stenosis and, the condition of the cerebral microcirculation and its autoregulatory response. Unfortunately, clinically available imaging tools only provide limited information on flow compensation and the underlying cerebral hemodynamics. Given the complexity of the cerebral vasculature, better tools are necessary to characterize cerebral hemodynamics and guide the risk assessment of ischemic stroke.



Image-based computational fluid dynamics (CFD) provides a powerful tool for non-invasively analyzing cerebral hemodynamics with high spatial and temporal resolutions. However, CFD modeling of cerebral hemodynamics is challenging due to the need for patient-specific data to calibrate outflow boundary conditions in the brain. In this thesis, we explore a novel strategy to quantitatively characterize cerebral hemodynamics using CFD in combination with tissue perfusion from arterial spin labeling (ASL) MRI.



Firstly, we quantified territorial perfusion in the cerebral circulation through implementing and optimizing a vessel-selective arterial spin labeling (VS-ASL) sequence. VS-ASL is generally limited by its low labeling efficiency causing poor signal-to-noise ratio. We investigated the effects of off‐resonance, pulsatility, and vessel movement, and evaluated methods to maximize labeling efficiency and overall image quality. We found that an off-resonance calibration scan in combination with cardiac-triggering significantly improved labeling efficiency and image quality. Vessel movement during the MRI protocol occurred in the majority of study subjects and needs to be accounted for to maximize labeling efficiency.



Secondly, we developed a strategy to calibrate patient-specific CFD models of cerebral blood flow. The calibration consisted of estimating the total inflow to the CoW from PC-MRI and the flow splits in the CoW from non-selective ASL perfusion images. The outflow boundary conditions were iteratively tuned to match the estimated flow splits, and the ASL-calibrated CFD model was then validated against territorial perfusion maps from VS-ASL by calculating the blood supply to each cerebral territory using Lagrangian particle tracking (LPT). We found an overall good match in a small group of subjects; particularly, the flow compensation between hemispheres was captured well by the calibrated CFD models.



Thirdly, we investigated the impact of two outflow boundary condition strategies, an ASL-based and allometric-based calibration, on cerebral hemodynamics. The ASL-based calibrated CFD analysis captured the flow compensation between hemispheres as measured with VS-ASL and lead to an approximately symmetrical flow distribution in the CoW. In contrast, the allometric-based calibrated CFD analysis was unable to capture the collateral flow compensation, which resulted in large differences in flow between hemispheres.



Finally, the clinical feasibility and capabilities of our proposed CFD analysis was demonstrated in two CVOD patients. The CFD analysis showed significant differences in cerebral hemodynamics between the patients despite similar degrees of stenosis severity, highlighting the importance of a patient-specific assessment. Comparison of pre-operative and post-operative hemodynamics in one patient resulted in only minor changes following revascularization despite severe carotid stenosis. We demonstrated that our CFD analysis can provide detailed and quantitative information about hemodynamic impact of carotid stenosis and collateral flow compensation in the circle of Willis.


Date: Tuesday, May 4, 2021

Time: 3:00 PM

Zoom: https://umich.zoom.us/j/93059726229 (Zoom link requires prior registration)

Co-Chairs: Dr. C. Alberto Figueroa and Dr. Luis Hernandez-Garcia

For Assistance or Questions
um-bme@umich.edu

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Lecture / Discussion Thu, 22 Apr 2021 13:33:46 -0400 2021-05-04T15:00:00-04:00 2021-05-04T16:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biomedical Engineering Lecture / Discussion BME Logo
"Upgrading the Physiological Relevance of Human Brain Organoids" (May 4, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83845 83845-21548057@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, May 4, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design

The NIH T32 Training Program in Organogenesis presents seminar series: "Emerging Concepts in Cell Signaling, Regulation, and Science Education".

The Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design is proud to present guest speaker Giorgia Quadrato, PhD, to speak in our last seminar in this amazing series.

Dr. Quadrato is an Associate Professor of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine and a member of the Broad CIRM Center at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California.

The talk is entitled, "Upgrading the Physiological Relevance of Human Brain Organoids".

Trainee Host: Daysha Torres, Ph.D., Spence Lab

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Lecture / Discussion Wed, 21 Apr 2021 15:37:17 -0400 2021-05-04T16:00:00-04:00 2021-05-04T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design Lecture / Discussion Flyer for the Event
Bugs as Drugs: Engineering Bacterial Biotherapeutics (May 5, 2021 9:00am) https://events.umich.edu/event/83930 83930-21619144@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, May 5, 2021 9:00am
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Michigan Microbiome Project

ABSTRACT

The human body is a complex ecosystem supporting symbiotic relationships with thousands of microbial species. The ubiquity and importance of these commensal communities underscore their potential as an untapped reservoir of biological function, and recent increased interest into commensal microbial species has led to countless insights in this field. Due to these efforts, the opportunity now exists to capitalize on the increasingly sophisticated understanding of the human microbiota and expand research efforts beyond characterization, toward engineering. Commensal microbes are already perfectly suited for safe and effective habitation and colonization of various physiological niches; what remains is to harness their genomic plasticity and promote their capacity to function as robust biochemical factories. The Sirk Lab aims to engineer therapeutic capacity into commensal microorganisms to address unmet needs in human health, with a specific focus on generating strains of human gut bacterial species that can produce disease-fighting biological compounds in the intestinal tract to address key limitations with current therapeutic approaches for important diseases such as recurrent gastrointestinal infections. We are also pursuing studies focused on respiratory disease in both humans and animals of agricultural relevance.



BIO

Prof. Sirk received her AB in Biology from Occidental College in Los Angeles, CA and her Ph.D. in Molecular and Medical Pharmacology from UCLA. Her doctoral studies focused on engineering antibody fragments for targeted tumor imaging using positron emission tomography. Her postdoctoral training began at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, CA, where she continued to work with engineered antibodies while also performing detailed protein engineering studies to generate site-specific nucleases and recombinases for targeted genome modifications, in the era immediately prior to the introduction of CRISPR-based gene editing technology. She then pursued further postdoctoral training at Stanford University where she first began to explore the world of commensal microbes by studying the role that gut bacteria play in the activation of drug-like dietary molecules. At the University of Illinois, her research group aims to leverage the power of protein engineering, therapeutic biomolecules, and the ever-expanding opportunities of commensal microbial species and communities to address critical needs in disease prevention and treatment in humans, animals, insects, and plants.

HOSTS:
Matthew Ostrowski
Thomas Schmidt

https://umich.zoom.us/j/96357036922

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Workshop / Seminar Fri, 30 Apr 2021 12:26:40 -0400 2021-05-05T09:00:00-04:00 2021-05-05T10:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Michigan Microbiome Project Workshop / Seminar MMP logo
PhD Defense: Elissa Welle (May 7, 2021 10:00am) https://events.umich.edu/event/83883 83883-21587612@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, May 7, 2021 10:00am
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biomedical Engineering

Neural interfaces create a connection between neural structures in the body and external electronic devices. Brain-machine interfaces and bioelectric medicine therapies rely on the seamless integration of neural interfaces with the brain, nerves, or spinal cord. However, conventional neural interfaces cannot meet the demands of high channel count, signal fidelity, and signal longevity that these applications require.



In this thesis we characterized the damage resulting from conventional Utah arrays after multiple years of implantation in the cortex of a non-human primate. The neuron density around the electrode shanks was compared to the neuron density of nearby healthy tissue, finding a 73% loss in density around the electrodes. The explanted arrays were imaged and characterized for forms of electrode surface inconsistency. Coating cracks, tip breakage, and parylene cracks were the most common inconsistency. A significantly higher number of tip breakage and coating crack occurrences were found on the edges of the arrays as compared to the middle. In this work, we made clear the need for a minimally damaging alternative to the Utah electrode array.



Neural interfaces composed of carbon fiber electrodes, with a diameter of 6.8 microns, could enable a more seamless integration with the body. Previous work resulted in an array of individuated carbon fiber electrodes that could record reliably high signal-to-noise ratio neural signals from the brain for several months. However, the carbon fiber arrays were limited by only 30% of the electrodes recording neural signals, despite inducing very minimal inflammation. Additionally, it was relatively unknown if carbon fibers would make suitable long-term peripheral neural interfaces. Here, we illustrate the potential of carbon fiber electrodes to meet the needs of a variety of neural applications.



First, we optimized state-of-the-art carbon fiber electrodes to reliably record single unit electrophysiology from the brain. By analyzing the previous manufacturing process, the cause of the low recording yield of the carbon fiber arrays was identified as the consistency of the electrode tip. A novel laser cutting technique was developed to produce a consistent carbon fiber tip geometry, resulting in a near tripling of recording yield of high amplitude chronic neural signals. The longevity of the carbon fiber arrays was also addressed. The conventional polymer coating was compared against platinum iridium coating and an oxygen plasma treatment, both of which outperformed the polymer coating. In this work, we customized carbon fiber electrodes for reliable, long-term neural recording.



Secondly, we translated the carbon fiber technology from the brain to the periphery in an architecture appropriate for chronic implantation. The insertion of carbon fibers into the stiffer structures in the periphery is enabled by sharpening the carbon fibers. The sharpening process combines a butane flame to sharpen the fibers with a water bath to protect the base of the array. Sharpened carbon fibers recorded electrophysiology from the rat vagus nerve and feline dorsal root ganglia, both structures being important targets for bioelectric medicine therapies. The durability of carbon fibers was also displayed when partially embedded carbon fibers in medical-grade silicone withstood thousands of repeated bends without fracture. This work showed that carbon fibers have the electrical and structural properties necessary for chronic application.



Overall, this work highlights the vast potential of carbon fiber electrodes. Through this thesis, future brain-machine interfaces and bioelectric medicine therapies may utilize sub-cellular electrodes such as carbon fibers in medical applications.



Date: Friday, May 7, 2021

Time: 10:00 AM

Zoom: https://umich.zoom.us/j/95839545566 (Zoom link requires prior registration)

Chair: Dr. Cynthia Chestek

For Assistance or Questions
um-bme@umich.edu

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Lecture / Discussion Mon, 26 Apr 2021 17:03:39 -0400 2021-05-07T10:00:00-04:00 2021-05-07T11:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biomedical Engineering Lecture / Discussion BME Logo
2021 BME Symposium (May 10, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82858 82858-21203302@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Monday, May 10, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biomedical Engineering

To register please see:
https://myumi.ch/r8GzZ

The 2021 BME symposium will showcase our work in the areas of Imaging, Neural Engineering, Regenerative Medicine, and Precision Health. The event will take place over two days in the afternoons of Monday, May 10, 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM, and Tuesday, May 11, 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM. Each afternoon will include faculty talks, mini student dissertations, a panel discussion, and student poster sessions.

The goal of this event is to bring together faculty and students affiliated with BME from all parts of campus as a step toward building the BME community and celebrating accomplishments through difficult times while having an eye toward the future.

Please sign up and join us!

2021 U-M BME Symposium



May 10, 2021: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM


Imaging at UM

May 10, 2021 - 12:00pm - 1:30pm
Location: Virtual/Zoom
Livestream Available (Visible After Registration)

Moderator: Doug Noll
12:00 - 12:15 - Zhongming Liu, “Preclinical MRI of brain-gut interactions”
12:15 - 12:30 - Nicole Seiberlich, “Translating Quantitative MRI to the Clinic”
12:30 - 12:45 - Yannis Paulus, “Multimodal Photoacoustic Microscopy, OCT, and Fluorescence Molecular and Cellular Imaging of the Retina”
12:45 - 1:05 - Student Dissertations
1:05 - 1:30 - Panel Discussion - “The Future of Imaging Research at Michigan” - Vikas Gulani, Jeff Fessler, Cheri Deng, Zhen Xu, Xueding Wang


Neural Engineering at UM

May 10, 2021 - 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Location: Virtual/Zoom
Livestream Available (Visible After Registration)

Moderator: Jim Weiland
2:00 - 2:15 - Kamran Diba, TBD
2:15 - 2:30 - Scott Lempka, TBD
2:30 - 2:45 - Deanna Gates, TBD
2:45 - 3:05 - Student Dissertations
3:05 - 3.30 - Panel Discussion - “The Science Fiction Future of Neural Engineering” - Cindy Chestek, Parag Patil, Tim Bruns, Bill Stacey


Poster Session: Imaging & Neural Engineering

May 10, 2021 - 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Location: Virtual/Spatial Chat

This poster session will give BME students a chance to present and discuss their research in the areas of Imaging and Neural Engineering.


May 11, 2021: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM


Regenerative Medicine at UM

May 11, 2021 - 12:00pm - 1:30pm
Location: Virtual/Zoom
Livestream Available (Visible After Registration)

Moderator: Lonnie Shea
12:00 - 12:15 - Carlos Aguilar, ”Understanding & Re-Writing Stem Cell Programs to Live Forever.”
12:15 - 12:30 - Idse Heemskerk, “Predicting cell fate from signaling history in human pluripotent stem cells”
12:30 - 12:45 - Ariella Shikanov, TBD
12:45 - 1:05 - Student Dissertations
1:05 - 1:30 - Panel Discussion - "Grand Challenges in Regenerative Medicine" - Dave Kohn


Precision Health at UM

May 11, 2021 - 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Location: Virtual/Zoom
Livestream Available (Visible After Registration)

Moderator: TBD
2:00 - 2:15 - Sriram Chandrasekharan, TBD
2:15 - 2: 30 - James Moon, TBD
2:30 - 2:45 - Deepak Nagrath, TBD
2:45 - 3:05 - Student Dissertations
3:05 - 3:30 - Panel Discussion - "Hope or Hype for Treating Diseases" - James Moon, Sriram Chandrasekharan, Deepak Nagrath



Poster Session: Regenerative Medicine & Precision Health


May 11, 2021 - 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Location: Virtual/Spatial Chat


This poster session will give BME students a chance to present and discuss their research in the areas of Regenerative Medicine and Precision Health.

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Conference / Symposium Thu, 22 Apr 2021 13:38:37 -0400 2021-05-10T12:00:00-04:00 2021-05-10T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biomedical Engineering Conference / Symposium BME Logo
Training Program in Organogenesis Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowships - Request for Applications (May 10, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82789 82789-21179558@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Monday, May 10, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design

We are pleased to announce a competition for Pre-doctoral and Non-traditional postdoctoral Fellowships in Organogenesis as part of a NIH T32 Training Grant (Training Program in Organogenesis). The goal of the fellowship awards are to provide up to two years of support for outstanding scholars who wish to undertake a research project in the field of organogenesis.

Criteria used to evaluate all applications include the strength of the mentor and strength of the trainee (as evaluated by letters and CVs), the quality of the research project, and the degree to which the project fits the goals of the Training Program, and the Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design (CPOD).

The call for applications are for the following:

NIH T32 Predoctoral Fellowship (applicants must have achieved candidacy by the time of appointment to the training grant)
Dean’s Non-Traditional Postdoctoral Fellowship in Organogenesis (Non-Federally Funded)
The non-traditional postdoctoral fellowships are open to non-citizen and non-permanent residents, and provide partial funding for one (1) year.

Materials Due: Monday, May 17, 2021 5:00 pm Eastern Time.

Submit to Tamika Mohr at: organogenesis@umich.edu

Instructions and Application templates are attached and are available online at : https://medicine.umich.edu/dept/cpod/training-program

Faculty Mentors: If you are NOT a member of the Organogenesis faculty, but wish for a trainee in your lab to apply, you may submit a concurrent application for CPOD membership.

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Careers / Jobs Fri, 05 Mar 2021 12:00:32 -0500 2021-05-10T12:00:00-04:00 2021-05-10T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design Careers / Jobs
2021 BME Symposium (May 11, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/82858 82858-21555869@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, May 11, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biomedical Engineering

To register please see:
https://myumi.ch/r8GzZ

The 2021 BME symposium will showcase our work in the areas of Imaging, Neural Engineering, Regenerative Medicine, and Precision Health. The event will take place over two days in the afternoons of Monday, May 10, 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM, and Tuesday, May 11, 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM. Each afternoon will include faculty talks, mini student dissertations, a panel discussion, and student poster sessions.

The goal of this event is to bring together faculty and students affiliated with BME from all parts of campus as a step toward building the BME community and celebrating accomplishments through difficult times while having an eye toward the future.

Please sign up and join us!

2021 U-M BME Symposium



May 10, 2021: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM


Imaging at UM

May 10, 2021 - 12:00pm - 1:30pm
Location: Virtual/Zoom
Livestream Available (Visible After Registration)

Moderator: Doug Noll
12:00 - 12:15 - Zhongming Liu, “Preclinical MRI of brain-gut interactions”
12:15 - 12:30 - Nicole Seiberlich, “Translating Quantitative MRI to the Clinic”
12:30 - 12:45 - Yannis Paulus, “Multimodal Photoacoustic Microscopy, OCT, and Fluorescence Molecular and Cellular Imaging of the Retina”
12:45 - 1:05 - Student Dissertations
1:05 - 1:30 - Panel Discussion - “The Future of Imaging Research at Michigan” - Vikas Gulani, Jeff Fessler, Cheri Deng, Zhen Xu, Xueding Wang


Neural Engineering at UM

May 10, 2021 - 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Location: Virtual/Zoom
Livestream Available (Visible After Registration)

Moderator: Jim Weiland
2:00 - 2:15 - Kamran Diba, TBD
2:15 - 2:30 - Scott Lempka, TBD
2:30 - 2:45 - Deanna Gates, TBD
2:45 - 3:05 - Student Dissertations
3:05 - 3.30 - Panel Discussion - “The Science Fiction Future of Neural Engineering” - Cindy Chestek, Parag Patil, Tim Bruns, Bill Stacey


Poster Session: Imaging & Neural Engineering

May 10, 2021 - 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Location: Virtual/Spatial Chat

This poster session will give BME students a chance to present and discuss their research in the areas of Imaging and Neural Engineering.


May 11, 2021: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM


Regenerative Medicine at UM

May 11, 2021 - 12:00pm - 1:30pm
Location: Virtual/Zoom
Livestream Available (Visible After Registration)

Moderator: Lonnie Shea
12:00 - 12:15 - Carlos Aguilar, ”Understanding & Re-Writing Stem Cell Programs to Live Forever.”
12:15 - 12:30 - Idse Heemskerk, “Predicting cell fate from signaling history in human pluripotent stem cells”
12:30 - 12:45 - Ariella Shikanov, TBD
12:45 - 1:05 - Student Dissertations
1:05 - 1:30 - Panel Discussion - "Grand Challenges in Regenerative Medicine" - Dave Kohn


Precision Health at UM

May 11, 2021 - 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Location: Virtual/Zoom
Livestream Available (Visible After Registration)

Moderator: TBD
2:00 - 2:15 - Sriram Chandrasekharan, TBD
2:15 - 2: 30 - James Moon, TBD
2:30 - 2:45 - Deepak Nagrath, TBD
2:45 - 3:05 - Student Dissertations
3:05 - 3:30 - Panel Discussion - "Hope or Hype for Treating Diseases" - James Moon, Sriram Chandrasekharan, Deepak Nagrath



Poster Session: Regenerative Medicine & Precision Health


May 11, 2021 - 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Location: Virtual/Spatial Chat


This poster session will give BME students a chance to present and discuss their research in the areas of Regenerative Medicine and Precision Health.

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Conference / Symposium Thu, 22 Apr 2021 13:38:37 -0400 2021-05-11T12:00:00-04:00 2021-05-11T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biomedical Engineering Conference / Symposium BME Logo
Training Program in Organogenesis Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowships - Request for Applications (May 17, 2021 12:00am) https://events.umich.edu/event/82789 82789-21177575@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Monday, May 17, 2021 12:00am
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design

We are pleased to announce a competition for Pre-doctoral and Non-traditional postdoctoral Fellowships in Organogenesis as part of a NIH T32 Training Grant (Training Program in Organogenesis). The goal of the fellowship awards are to provide up to two years of support for outstanding scholars who wish to undertake a research project in the field of organogenesis.

Criteria used to evaluate all applications include the strength of the mentor and strength of the trainee (as evaluated by letters and CVs), the quality of the research project, and the degree to which the project fits the goals of the Training Program, and the Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design (CPOD).

The call for applications are for the following:

NIH T32 Predoctoral Fellowship (applicants must have achieved candidacy by the time of appointment to the training grant)
Dean’s Non-Traditional Postdoctoral Fellowship in Organogenesis (Non-Federally Funded)
The non-traditional postdoctoral fellowships are open to non-citizen and non-permanent residents, and provide partial funding for one (1) year.

Materials Due: Monday, May 17, 2021 5:00 pm Eastern Time.

Submit to Tamika Mohr at: organogenesis@umich.edu

Instructions and Application templates are attached and are available online at : https://medicine.umich.edu/dept/cpod/training-program

Faculty Mentors: If you are NOT a member of the Organogenesis faculty, but wish for a trainee in your lab to apply, you may submit a concurrent application for CPOD membership.

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Careers / Jobs Fri, 05 Mar 2021 12:00:32 -0500 2021-05-17T00:00:00-04:00 2021-05-17T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design Careers / Jobs
RNA Seminar featuring: Thomas Martinez, Salk Institute for Biological Studies (May 17, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/81303 81303-20881903@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Monday, May 17, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for RNA Biomedicine

Registration Required: https://umich.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_90RkcQTGQZa7ifQ8kbSdNQ

KEYOWORDS: microprotein, smORF, ribosome profiling

ABSTRACT: Functional protein-coding small open reading frames (smORFs) are emerging as an important class of genes. Several smORF-encoded microproteins have been characterized and implicated in a variety of critical processes, including regulation of mRNA decay, DNA repair, and muscle formation. Thus, rigorous and comprehensive annotation of protein-coding smORFs is critical to our understanding of basic biology and physiology, as well as disease. We recently developed an improved workflow that integrates de novo transcriptome assembly and ribosome profiling to overcome obstacles with previous methods to more confidently annotate thousands of novel smORFs across multiple human cell lines, including hundreds encoded on putative non-coding RNAs. Over 1,500 smORFs are found in two or more cell lines, and ~40% lack a canonical AUG start codon. Evolutionary conservation analyses suggest that hundreds of smORF-encoded microproteins are likely functional. We also find that smORF-derived peptides are detectable on human leukocyte antigen complexes, positioning smORFs as a source of novel antigens. The annotation of protein-coding smORFs radically alters the current view of the human genome’s coding capacity and will provide a rich pool of unexplored, functional human genes.

BIO: Thomas received his B.S. in Biological Engineering from MIT and trained in Prof. JoAnne Stubbe’s laboratory, where he studied the mechanism of ribonucleotide reductase. He then recieved his Ph.D. in Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics from Caltech as an NIH NRSA predoctoral fellow under the mentorship of Prof. Peter Dervan. His thesis work focused primarily on characterizing the effects of DNA binding pyrrole-imidazole polyamides on DNA replication in prostate cancer cells. Thomas is currently an NIH NRSA postdoctoral fellow in Prof. Alan Saghatelian’s laboratory, where he has developed an integrative platform combining ribosome profiling and de novo transcriptome assembly to discover functional smORF encoded microproteins in the human genome.

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Lecture / Discussion Wed, 14 Apr 2021 12:39:54 -0400 2021-05-17T16:00:00-04:00 2021-05-17T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for RNA Biomedicine Lecture / Discussion Thomas Martinez, Salk Institute for Biological Studies
Microbiome Seminar: Developing and Applying a Microdroplet Co-Cultivation and Analysis Toolbox for Elucidating Microbiomes (May 19, 2021 9:00am) https://events.umich.edu/event/84064 84064-21619785@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, May 19, 2021 9:00am
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Michigan Microbiome Project

Speaker: Xiaoxia (Nina) Lin
Associate Professor, Dept. Chemical Engineering

Speaker Profile: Professor Lin’s research lies at the intersection of biology and engineering with a focus on microbial systems, particularly microbial communities, using systems biology and synthetic biology approaches. Her lab aims to employ engineering tools and skills such as microfluidics and quantitative modeling to help unlock mysteries of complex natural microbial communities, especially those closely associated with environment and health issues (e.g. human microbiome). In parallel, the research group exploits design principles nature utilizes and develops synthetic microbial consortia technologies to address critical needs faced by our society such as sustainable biofuel and chemical production.

Abstract: Microbes are everywhere in nature and they live in diverse communities that show remarkable metabolic capabilities and robustness. One research thrust in my lab has been to employ engineering related tools to study these naturally occurring microbial consortia in order to discover underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms. In particular, we have been developing a technological pipeline, based on nanoliter-scale microfluidic droplets, to co-cultivate sub-communities and characterize member interactions that shape the community structure and function. In this talk, I will present a number of technological modules we have created and are developing. I’ll also discuss how we are applying this toolbox, jointly with our collaborators, to the investigation of several microbiomes closely related to human health or the environment.

Zoom Meeting: https://umich.zoom.us/j/92773919973

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Workshop / Seminar Mon, 17 May 2021 14:12:26 -0400 2021-05-19T09:00:00-04:00 2021-05-19T10:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Michigan Microbiome Project Workshop / Seminar Michigan Microbiome Project
CGIS Winter Advising (May 19, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83938 83938-21619171@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, May 19, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for Global and Intercultural Study

As studying abroad becomes more of a possibility for U-M students, particularly for Winter 2022, CGIS will be offering a 2-day Winter Advising event where students can learn more about major-specific programs such as programs in the environment, pre-health, and public health and interest-specific program sessions such as studying abroad in the UK and English-Taught programs in Asia to name few. The LSA Scholarship Office and the Office of Financial Aid will join us on May 20th to help answer questions you may have on funding your semester program abroad as well as walking you through the application process! First Step sessions will be offered each day of the event as well. Each info session will be interactive. Each session will offer an opportunity to interact with advisors and address questions or concerns you may have regarding study abroad. To get a general idea of participation, please RSVP below and select info sessions that you'd be interested in. We'll send you a Zoom link as we get closer to the event!

DISCLAIMER: With each passing term, a small yet increasing number of our programs seem to offer the possibility of receiving students, so CGIS proceeded with very cautious optimism that students will be able to study abroad in the coming academic year. CGIS and the University of Michigan continue to closely monitor the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) situation as it develops worldwide. Parents and other concerned parties who would like to receive this information should ask their students to share the updates with them. Students planning to participate in CGIS programs worldwide are advised to continue to closely monitor the latest developments and to adhere to any national and international public health directives issued by their host country or institution. CGIS will contact students who have opened or submitted an application to a CGIS program if and when updates are available.

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Presentation Fri, 30 Apr 2021 16:02:10 -0400 2021-05-19T12:00:00-04:00 2021-05-19T14:30:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for Global and Intercultural Study Presentation Flyer
Microbial Masterpieces (May 19, 2021 3:30pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83989 83989-21619308@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, May 19, 2021 3:30pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Digital Media Commons

The recipient of the Experiments in Translation Grant, “Microbial Masterpieces” is a continuously evolving project aiming to communicate the importance of microorganisms to humanity and the planet. Our featured attraction is a giant Winogradsky Panel in the Duderstadt Center Gallery, which houses a brightly colored, continuously changing biofilm. In this presentation, we will share beautiful images and time lapses of the Winogradsky Panel; discuss the science underlying the Panel; and reflect on the importance of art in science communication. Additionally, we will share our progress in trying to make our project accessible to the blind and visually-impaired community through tactile and audio experiences.

The MM team includes: Erica Gardner (School for Environment and Sustainability; College of Engineering); Anna Urso (School for Environment and Sustainability); Bruna lunes Sanches (Taubman College of Architecture + Urban Planning)

Register in advance for this webinar:
https://umich.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Vm_HuWMRSMyE31cZzwCv7Q

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

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Presentation Thu, 06 May 2021 18:25:54 -0400 2021-05-19T15:30:00-04:00 2021-05-19T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Digital Media Commons Presentation Winogradsky Panel
CGIS Winter Advising (May 20, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83938 83938-21619172@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, May 20, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for Global and Intercultural Study

As studying abroad becomes more of a possibility for U-M students, particularly for Winter 2022, CGIS will be offering a 2-day Winter Advising event where students can learn more about major-specific programs such as programs in the environment, pre-health, and public health and interest-specific program sessions such as studying abroad in the UK and English-Taught programs in Asia to name few. The LSA Scholarship Office and the Office of Financial Aid will join us on May 20th to help answer questions you may have on funding your semester program abroad as well as walking you through the application process! First Step sessions will be offered each day of the event as well. Each info session will be interactive. Each session will offer an opportunity to interact with advisors and address questions or concerns you may have regarding study abroad. To get a general idea of participation, please RSVP below and select info sessions that you'd be interested in. We'll send you a Zoom link as we get closer to the event!

DISCLAIMER: With each passing term, a small yet increasing number of our programs seem to offer the possibility of receiving students, so CGIS proceeded with very cautious optimism that students will be able to study abroad in the coming academic year. CGIS and the University of Michigan continue to closely monitor the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) situation as it develops worldwide. Parents and other concerned parties who would like to receive this information should ask their students to share the updates with them. Students planning to participate in CGIS programs worldwide are advised to continue to closely monitor the latest developments and to adhere to any national and international public health directives issued by their host country or institution. CGIS will contact students who have opened or submitted an application to a CGIS program if and when updates are available.

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Presentation Fri, 30 Apr 2021 16:02:10 -0400 2021-05-20T12:00:00-04:00 2021-05-20T14:30:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for Global and Intercultural Study Presentation Flyer
PhD Defense: Edward Peter Washabaugh IV (May 27, 2021 10:00am) https://events.umich.edu/event/84050 84050-21619709@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, May 27, 2021 10:00am
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biomedical Engineering

Injuries to the neuromusculoskeletal systems often result in muscle weakness, abnormal coordination strategies, and gait impairments. Functional resistance training during walking—where a patient walks while a device increases loading on the leg—is an emerging approach to combat these symptoms. While simple passive devices (i.e., ankle weights and resistance bands) can be applied for this training, rehabilitation robots have more potential upside because they can be controlled to treat multiple gait abnormalities and can be monitored by clinicians. However, the cost of conventional robotic devices limits their use in the clinical or home setting. Hence, in this dissertation, we designed, developed, and tested passive and semi-passive wearable exoskeleton devices as a low-cost solution for providing controllable/configurable functional resistance training during walking.


We developed and tested two passive exoskeleton devices for providing resistance to walking and tested their effects on able-bodied participants and stroke survivors. First, we created a patented device that used a passive magnetic brake to provide a viscous (i.e., velocity-dependent) resistance to the knee. The resistive properties of the device could be placed under computer control (i.e., made semi-passive) to control resistance in real-time. Next, we created a passive exoskeleton that provided an elastic (i.e., position-dependent) resistance. While not controllable, this device was highly configurable. Meaning it could be used to provide resistance to joint flexion, extension, or to both (i.e., bidirectionally). Human subjects testing with these devices indicated they increased lower-extremity joint moments, powers, and muscle activation during training. Training also resulted in significant aftereffects—a potential indicator of therapeutic effectiveness—once the resistance was removed. A separate experiment indicated that individuals often kinematically slack (i.e., reduce joint excursions to minimize effort) when resistance is added to the limb. We also found that providing visual feedback of joint angles during training significantly increased muscle activation and kinematic aftereffects (i.e., reduced slacking).


With passive devices, the type of passive element used largely dictates the muscle groups, types of muscle contraction, joint actions, and the phases of gait when a device is able to apply resistance. To examine this issue, we compared the training effects of viscous and elastic devices that provided bidirectional resistance to the knee during gait. Additionally, we compared training with viscous resistances at the hip and knee joints. While the resistance type and targeted joint altered moments, powers, and muscle activation patterns, these methods did not differ in their ability to produce aftereffects, alter neural excitability, or induce fatigue in the leg muscles. While this may indicate that the resistance type does not have a large effect on functional resistance training during walking, it is possible that an extended training with these devices could produce a different result.


Lastly, we used musculoskeletal modeling in OpenSim to directly compare several strategies that have been used to provide functional resistance training to gait in the clinic or laboratory setting. We found that devices differed in their ability to alter gait parameters during walking. Hence, these findings could help clinicians when selecting a resistive strategy for their patients, or engineers when designing new devices or control schemes.



Date: Thursday, May 27, 2021

Time: 10:00 AM

Zoom: https://umich.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIufumrrDgtHd3z5Jg3Y_BG4ZC70OPrjTjk (Zoom link requires prior registration)

Chair: Dr. Chandramouli Krishnan

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Lecture / Discussion Fri, 14 May 2021 13:49:26 -0400 2021-05-27T10:00:00-04:00 2021-05-27T11:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biomedical Engineering Lecture / Discussion BME Logo
PhD Defense: William Y. Wang (June 4, 2021 12:30pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/84102 84102-21620248@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, June 4, 2021 12:30pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biomedical Engineering

Mechanoreciprocity in cell migration is an emerging concept describing the dynamic, bi-directional interactions between migrating cells and the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM) they negotiate. Migrating cells not only sense and adapt to biochemical and biophysical ECM cues, but also, exert forces, deposit matrix, and secrete chemokines, matrix metalloproteinases, and matrix crosslinking enzymes that dynamically alter the same ECM properties known to regulate cell migration. Due to limitations in standard cell migration assays, how matrix properties influence cell migration and in turn, how cells influence matrix properties, has previously been studied as separate processes. However, observations from development, wound healing, and a variety of disease processes highlight the interdependency and iterative relationship between cell migration and ECM. An improved understanding of the underlying mechanisms that orchestrate the coevolution of migrating cells and ECM will aid in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine efforts to guide repair fibroblasts to regenerate wound beds, direct collective endothelial cell migration to vascularize ischemic or engineered tissue grafts and confine otherwise metastatic cancer cells to the primary tumor. Thus, the focus of this dissertation is to design biomimetic microsystems that afford investigation of cell migration mechanoreciprocity with a focus on fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and cancer cells.



First, this thesis investigated how single mesenchymal cells (fibroblasts and cancer cells) migrate in fibrous stromal tissue settings, such as in trans-stromal cancer cell migration during metastasis. To model fibrous stromal tissue, 3D fiber networks were electrospun over microfabricated wells to define ECM mechanics. Independently tuning alignment and stiffness of these matrices resulted in two phenotypically distinct cell migration modes. In contrast to stiff matrices where cells migrated continuously in a traditional mesenchymal fashion, cells in deformable matrices stretched matrix fibers to store elastic energy; subsequent adhesion failure triggered sudden matrix recoil and rapid cell translocation (termed slingshot migration). Across a variety of cell types, traction force measurements revealed a relationship between cell contractility and the matrix stiffness where slingshot migration mode occurred optimally.



Next, this thesis describes how microenvironmental cues influence collective endothelial cell migration during sprouting angiogenesis towards the design of pro-angiogenic biomaterials. This work employed a multiplexed angiogenesis-on-a-chip platform to assess the chemokine-directed 3D invasion of endothelial cells from a lumenized parent vessel into user-defined ECM. By tuning soluble and physical cues of the ECM, this work identified how 1) functional angiogenesis requires microenvironmental cues that balance cell invasion speed and proliferation; 2) dynamic interactions between sprout stalk cells and ECM regulates neovessel lumenization; and 3) imbuing microporosity within synthetic hydrogels can enhance endothelial cell invasion and angiogenic sprout lumenization.



Lastly, this thesis investigated how fibrous matrix cues activate quiescent vessel-lining endothelial cells into invasive tip cells in the context of fibrosis. Composite hydrogels (electrospun fiber segments suspended within 3D ECM) were integrated with the angiogenesis-on-a-chip platform. These studies establish that heightened matrix fiber density destabilizes cell-cell adherens junctions, reduces endothelium barrier function, and promotes the invasion of endothelial tip cells. Performing transcriptomic and secretomic analyses on fiber-induced tip endothelial cells revealed that fibrous ECM cues promote a fibrosis propagating phenotype.



Overall, the work presented in this dissertation integrates tunable biomaterials with microfabricated devices to investigate cell migration mechanoreciprocity of single mesenchymal cell migration, the collective migration of endothelial cells during angiogenesis, and endothelial-mesenchymal transition of quiescent endothelial cells into a fibrosis propagating cell phenotype.



Date: Friday, June 4, 2021

Time: 12:30 PM

Zoom: https://umich.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcsf-uhpj4vGtyM7x-td2VV39BzqmF_zoob (Zoom link requires prior registration)

Chair: Dr. Brendon Baker

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Lecture / Discussion Mon, 24 May 2021 14:17:02 -0400 2021-06-04T12:30:00-04:00 2021-06-04T13:30:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biomedical Engineering Lecture / Discussion BME Logo
RNA Innovation Seminar featuring Rising Scholars: Khan & McMillan (June 14, 2021 4:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83934 83934-21619166@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Monday, June 14, 2021 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for RNA Biomedicine

Registration Required: https://umich.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uLz-ONHVQPuRINMYUNvBJQ

“CCR5 as a model to examine reporter assays in evaluating translational phenomena”
Yousuf Khan
Knight-Hennessy Scholar
Stanford University

KEYWORDS: dual luciferase, frameshifting, recoding, CCR5
ABSTRACT: During the decoding of a subset of mRNAs, a proportion of ribosomes productively shift to the −1 reading frame at specific slippage-prone sites in a phenomenon known as programmed −1 ribosomal frameshifting (−1 PRF) to generate a frameshifted, C-terminally unique protein. The first experimentally verified occurrence of functionally utilized non-retroelement derived −1 PRF in humans has been reported in the mRNA encoding the immune-functioning C-C chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5). Here, we show that frameshifting does not occur during CCR5 decoding. Apart from its importance in understanding expression of a gene relevant to cancer, an HIV-1 receptor (and the associated claimed rationale for generating the first humans derived from genetically modified embryos), the findings imply that caution is appropriate in assessing results from translational reporter assays.

~and~

“Intersection between RNA methylation and TDP43-mediated toxicity in ALS”
Michael McMillan
Ph.D. candidate
Cellular and Molecular Biology
University of Michigan

KEYWORDS: TDP43, m6A, ALS, RNA stability
ABSTRACT: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease resulting in the death of upper and lower motor neurons. ALS has no known cure and limited therapeutic options, and the underlying pathological mechanisms remain unclear. Despite considerable variability in clinical presentation, over 95% of ALS cases exhibit cytoplasmic inclusions of the RNA binding protein TDP43. Emerging evidence suggests that TDP43 is crucial for RNA stability, and that dysregulation of RNA homeostasis may contribute to ALS pathogenesis.
Methylation of RNA at the 6th position nitrogen (N6-methyladenosine methylation, or m6A) by methyltransferases (writers) or removal of methyl groups by demethylases (erasers) has dramatic effects on RNA stability and translation mediated by a family of RNA biding proteins that recognize methylated RNA (readers). m6A writers and erasers specifically localize to nuclear speckles, membraneless nuclear organelles rich in RNA binding proteins and splicing factors, including TDP43. Together with our data showing that TDP43 regulates RNA stability, these observations suggest that TDP43 may destabilize m6A modified RNA. Here, we show that methylated RNA co-purified with TDP43 from cultured cells via RNA immunoprecipitation, and abrogation of methylation sites disrupted TDP43 binding, suggesting that TDP43 recognizes m6A modified RNA in cellulo. We also noted profound and widespread hypermethylation of coding and non-coding transcripts in ALS spinal cord, many overlapping with confirmed TDP43 target transcripts. Consistent with a central role for m6A modification in TDP43-mediated toxicity, we identified several factors operating within the m6A pathway that enhance or suppress the toxicity of TDP43 in rodent primary cortical neurons via a single-cell CRISPR/Cas9 candidate-based screen. Genetic knockout of the established m6A reader YTHDF2 rescued TDP43 toxicity in primary neurons, and YTHDF2 was also upregulated in ALS postmortem sections. Together, these data imply a fundamental link between m6A RNA modifications and ALS pathogenesis, potentially mediated by TDP43-dependent RNA destabilization.

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Lecture / Discussion Tue, 18 May 2021 14:31:45 -0400 2021-06-14T16:00:00-04:00 2021-06-14T17:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Center for RNA Biomedicine Lecture / Discussion Yousuf Khan (Stanford) & Mike McMillan (U-M)
Genetic variation, ER stress, Disease modifiers (June 17, 2021 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/84244 84244-21620803@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, June 17, 2021 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

Host: Baharr Chawla

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Workshop / Seminar Tue, 08 Jun 2021 16:49:56 -0400 2021-06-17T12:00:00-04:00 2021-06-17T13:30:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Workshop / Seminar Yellow-MCDB-initials-Microscope-on-blue
UM Single Cell Spatial Analysis Program (SCSAP) Kickoff Symposium (June 22, 2021 1:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/84222 84222-21620781@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, June 22, 2021 1:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Single Cell Spatial Analysis Program (SCSAP)

The UM BSI SINGLE CELL SPATIAL ANALYSIS PROGRAM KICK OFF SYMPOSIUM

Featuring Keynote Speaker Tzumin Lee, M.D. PhD.
Presenting: Linking single-cell genomics with single-cell genetics.

Date: June 22nd
Time: 1:00 pm -4:30 PM EST
Location: Zoom Webinar
Register at: https://umich.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Zax2iT5TReGILR_sQmIZ3w

Additional Mini-talks on: Spatial Transcriptomics, Single Cell RNA-Seq, CyTOF, Multispectral Imaging, Seq-SCOPE, Rare Cell Isolation.

Speakers:
Roger Cone, Ph.D. Evan Keller, Ph.D.
Thomas Wilson, M.D., Ph.D. Jun Li, Ph.D.
Tim Frankel, M.D. Sue Hammoud, Ph.D.
Jun Hee Lee, Ph.D. Olivia Koues, Ph.D.
Sunitha Nagrath, Ph.D. Justin Colacino, Ph.D.
Arvind Rao, Ph.D. Max S. Wicha, M.D.
Patricia Schnepp, Ph.D.

Find us at https://singlecellspatialanalysis.umich.edu
Questions/Comments please contact us at singlecellspatialanalysis@umich.edu

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Workshop / Seminar Fri, 04 Jun 2021 13:26:44 -0400 2021-06-22T13:00:00-04:00 2021-06-22T16:30:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Single Cell Spatial Analysis Program (SCSAP) Workshop / Seminar Dr. Tzumin Lee
PhD Defense: Jiayue Cao (June 23, 2021 3:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/84287 84287-21621035@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, June 23, 2021 3:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biomedical Engineering

The stomach and brain interact closely with each other. Their interactions are central to digestive functions and the “gut feeling”. The neural pathways that mediate the stomach-brain interactions include the vagus nerve and the thoracic nerve. Through these nerves, the stomach can relay neural signals to a number of brain regions that span a central gastric network. This gastric network allows the brain to monitor and regulate gastric physiology and allows the stomach to influence emotion and cognition. Impairment of this gastric network may lead to both gastric and neurological disorders, e.g., anxiety, gastroparesis, functional dyspepsia, and obesity. However, the structural constituents and functional roles of the central gastric network remain unclear. In my dissertation research, I leveraged complementary techniques to characterize the central gastric network in rats across a wide range of scales and different gastric states. In animal experiments, I used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to map brain activity synchronized with gastric electrical activity and to map brain activations induced by electrical stimulation applied to the cervical vagus or its afferent terminals on the stomach. I also used neurophysiology to characterize gastric neurons in brainstem in response to gastric electrical stimulation. Results from my studies suggest that 1) gastric neurons in the brainstem are selective to the orientation of muscle activity relayed through intramuscular arrays, 2) the central gastric network is intrinsically coupled to gastric slow waves and their amplitude fluctuations primarily via vagal signaling, 3) selective stimulation of the vagus can evoke widespread and fast brain responses and alter functional connectivity within and beyond the central gastric network. My dissertation research contributes to the foundation of mapping and characterizing the central and peripheral mechanisms of gastric interoception and sheds new light on where and how to stimulate the peripheral nerves to modulate stomach-brain interactions.



Date: Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Time: 3:00 PM

Zoom: https://umich.zoom.us/j/2757414653

Chair: Dr. Zhongming Liu

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Lecture / Discussion Tue, 15 Jun 2021 23:04:33 -0400 2021-06-23T15:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biomedical Engineering Lecture / Discussion BME Logo
PhD Defense: Eric Charles Hobson (June 24, 2021 10:30am) https://events.umich.edu/event/84237 84237-21620794@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, June 24, 2021 10:30am
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biomedical Engineering

Mechanical testing of viscoelastic biomaterials is of critical importance in biomedical engineering, enabling basic research into the role of the extracellular matrix, investigatory and diagnostic testing of tissues and biofluids, and the development and characterization of tissue engineered therapeutics. Conventional material testing approaches used for soft biomaterials generally require force application through direct contact with a sample, leading to potential contamination and damage, and thereby limiting these approaches to end-point measurements. To overcome these limitations, we have developed a new measurement technique, Resonant Acoustic Rheometry (RAR), which enables high-throughput, quantitative, and non-contact viscoelastic characterization of biomaterials, soft tissues, and biological fluids.



RAR uses ultrasonic pulses to both generate microscale perturbations and measure the resulting resonant oscillations at the surface of soft materials using standard labware. Resonant oscillatory properties obtained from the frequency spectra of the surface oscillations, including the resonant frequency and the damping coefficient, are used to quantify material properties such as shear modulus, shear viscosity, and surface tension in both viscoelastic solids and liquids.



We developed a prototype RAR system and tested it on a range of soft biomaterials, with shear moduli ranging from under 100 Pa to over 50 kPa, including fibrin, gelatin, and polyethylene glycol (PEG). Shear moduli measured using RAR were validated both computationally using finite element analysis and experimentally using conventional shear rheometry, with excellent linear correlation in measured elasticity between techniques (R2 > 0.95). By performing parallel RAR experiments using microwells of different sizes, we verified that resonant oscillatory behaviors could be used to quantify the intrinsic viscoelastic properties of a material. We also demonstrated the rapid, non-contact monitoring of changes in material properties over a variety of temporal scales, ranging from processes occurring on the order of milliseconds to those occurring over hours and days. High temporal resolution RAR measurements, with sampling intervals as low as 0.2 seconds, were used to characterize the gelation process. Characteristic features of the resonant surface waves during phase transition were applied to identify the gel point for various hydrogels. High sample throughput was demonstrated by performing longitudinal RAR testing to explore the impact of hydrogel polymer and crosslinker concentration on both reaction kinetics and final mechanical properties in full factorial experiments consisting of over 15,000 unique measurements. We were able to identify individual effects of design parameters as well as interactions that led to unexpected mechanical properties, demonstrating the importance of combinatorial methods and high-throughput mechanical characterization in material design.



These studies demonstrate that RAR can rapidly and accurately assess the mechanical properties of soft viscoelastic biomaterials. The measurements generated are analogous to those produced using conventional mechanical testing, and RAR is further capable of longitudinal viscoelastic studies over time. RAR applies automation in both data collection and analysis, allowing high throughput measurement of an array of samples without contact or the need for manual intervention. Furthermore, RAR uses standard microwell plates, which simplifies sample preparation and handling. The viscoelastic properties of soft biomaterials are relevant in a wide range of applications, including for clinical diagnostic assays and the development of hydrogel materials for regenerative medicine. RAR represents a fast, accurate, and cost-effective method for materials characterization in these applications.



June 24 - 10:30 AM

Zoom: https://umich.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcsd-iurTosGdNn_gR-FbOCe5TUR09Y58WV

Co-Chairs: Dr. Cheri Deng and Dr. Jan Stegmann

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Lecture / Discussion Tue, 22 Jun 2021 16:37:33 -0400 2021-06-24T10:30:00-04:00 2021-06-24T11:30:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biomedical Engineering Lecture / Discussion BME Logo
BME Master's Defense: Spencer Morris (June 28, 2021 10:00am) https://events.umich.edu/event/84342 84342-21623372@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Monday, June 28, 2021 10:00am
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biomedical Engineering

Acquiring accurate measurements for blood flow is a clinically relevant problem of interest. Three-dimensional color flow with partial volume correction (PVC) is a relatively new method for measuring blood flow that accounts for beams located partially outside of the blood vessel. Recent work has shown that the relationship between color flow power and partially perfused voxels is nonlinear. This work investigates the statistics of color power measurements in simulated plug flow to help explain this nonlinear behavior. Data was acquired using Field II simulations in which a 3.75 MHz mechanically swept linear array obtained RF data of blood moving through a vessel. Blood in the vessel exhibited plug flow, and tissue backscatter was set to 40 dB below blood. The statistics of color power at each point in the processing chain were analyzed using histograms, established results in ultrasound statistics, and derived probability density functions (pdfs). For locations completely inside the beam, power before additional processing showed exponential behavior, whereas the square root of power, i.e., amplitude, was Rician distributed. After implementing the Kasai algorithm, the power values could be estimated with a gamma distribution with a shape parameter of 2.21. Kasai powers corresponding to tissue could also be fitted with a gamma distribution, albeit with a shape parameter close to 1, indicating close to exponential behavior. Kasai powers for partial volume data were intermediate between the tissue and blood data. A method for estimating partial volume weight from the skewness and kurtosis of samples taken from the same location is also discussed.

Date: Monday, June 28, 2021
Time: 10:00 AM
Zoom: https://umich.zoom.us/j/97162930417
Chair: Dr. Oliver Kripfgans

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Presentation Tue, 22 Jun 2021 11:48:21 -0400 2021-06-28T10:00:00-04:00 2021-06-28T11:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biomedical Engineering Presentation BME Event
Interrogating organ-specific niche factors in the developing human intestine to inform organ engineering (June 30, 2021 1:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/83889 83889-21593465@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, June 30, 2021 1:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Cell & Developmental Biology

We are pleased to announce that Emily Hollloway will present her dissertation defense on June 30, 2021, at 1:00 pm via a live stream virtual seminar!

Dissertation Committee:
Associate Professor Jason Spence, Mentor
Associate Professor Benjamin Allen, Chair
Professor Andrew Putnam
Assistant Professor Daniel Lucas
Professor Yukiko Yamashita

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Livestream / Virtual Tue, 27 Apr 2021 11:32:38 -0400 2021-06-30T13:00:00-04:00 2021-06-30T14:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Cell & Developmental Biology Livestream / Virtual Interrogating organ-specific niche factors in the developing human intestine to inform organ engineering
PhD Defense: Hans Zander (July 9, 2021 9:00am) https://events.umich.edu/event/84346 84346-21623406@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, July 9, 2021 9:00am
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Biomedical Engineering

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a neuromodulation technique that applies electrical stimulation to the spinal cord to alter neural activity or processing. While SCS has historically been used as a last resort therapy for chronic pain management, novel applications and technologies have recently been developed that either increase the efficacy of treatment for chronic pain or drive neural activity to produce muscular activity/movement following a paralyzing spinal cord injury (SCI). Despite these recent innovations, there remain fundamental questions concerning the neural recruitment underlying these efficacious results. This work evaluated the neural activity and mechanisms for two novel SCS applications: closed-loop spinal cord stimulation for pain management, and ventral, high frequency spinal cord stimulation (HF-SCS) for inspiratory muscle activation following a SCI.

To evaluate neural activity, I developed computational models of SCS. Models consisted of 3 components: a finite element model (FEM) of the spinal cord to predict voltages during stimulation, biophysical neuron models, and algorithms to apply time-dependent extracellular voltages to the neuron models and simulate their response. While this cutting-edge modeling methodology could be used to predict neural activity following stimulation, it was unclear how common anatomical or technical model simplifications affected neural predictions. Therefore, the initial goal of this work was to evaluate how modeling assumptions influence neural behavior.

My initial work identified how several relevant anatomical and technical factors influence model predictions of neural activity. To evaluate these factors, I designed an FEM of a T9 thoracic spine with an implanted electrode. Then, I sequentially removed details from the model and quantified the changes in neural predictions. I identified several factors with profound (>30%) impacts on neural thresholds, including overall model impedance (for voltage-controlled stimulation), the presence of a detailed vertebral column, and dura mater conductivity. I also identified several factors that could safely be ignored in future models. This work will be invaluable as a guide for future model development.

Next, I developed a canine model to evaluate T2 ventral HF-SCS for inspiratory muscle activation. I designed and positioned two neuron models hypothesized to lead to inspiratory behavior: ventrolateral funiculus fibers (VLF) leading to diaphragm activation and inspiratory intercostal motoneurons. With this model, I predicted robust VLF and T2-T5 motoneuron recruitment within the physiologic range of stimulation. Additionally, I designed two stimulation leads that maximize inspiratory neuron recruitment. The finalized leads were evaluated via in vivo experiments, which found excellent agreement with the model. This work builds our mechanistic understanding of this novel therapy, improves its implementation, and aids in future translational efforts towards human subjects.

Finally, I developed a computational model to evaluate closed-loop stimulation for chronic pain. This work characterized the neural origins of the evoked compound action potential (ECAP), the controlling biomarker of closed-loop stimulation. I modified my modeling methodology to predict ECAPs generated during low thoracic dorsal stimulation in humans, which matched with experimental measurements. This modeling work showed that ECAP properties depend on activation of a narrow range of neuron diameters and quantified how anatomical and stimulation factors (CSF thickness, stimulation configuration, lead position, pulse width) influence ECAP morphology, timing, and neural recruitment. These results improve our mechanistic understanding of closed-loop stimulation and may lead to expanded clinical utility as well as better validation of future SCS computational models.

Date: Friday, July 9, 2021

Time: 9:00 AM EDT

Zoom: https://umich.zoom.us/j/96847307388

Chair: Dr. Scott Lempka

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Lecture / Discussion Tue, 22 Jun 2021 16:45:26 -0400 2021-07-09T09:00:00-04:00 2021-07-09T10:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Biomedical Engineering Lecture / Discussion BME Logo
UMBS Summer Lecture Series: Hann Lecture in Ornithology (July 13, 2021 7:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/84356 84356-21623498@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, July 13, 2021 7:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: University of Michigan Biological Station

Piping Plover recovery: 40 years of science and conservation in the Great Lakes

Dr. Francie Cuthbert (University of Minnesota) will give this year's Hann Endowed Lecture in Ornithology on her decades-long effort to protect and preserve the Piping Plover - an endangered shorebird native to the Great Lakes Region.

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Livestream / Virtual Tue, 06 Jul 2021 10:07:55 -0400 2021-07-13T19:00:00-04:00 2021-07-13T20:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location University of Michigan Biological Station Livestream / Virtual A Frontier Airlines jet named for Dr. Cuthbert
Homologous chromosome pairing in meiosis (July 14, 2021 2:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/84408 84408-21623879@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, July 14, 2021 2:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

Abstract: Sexual reproduction in eukaryotes relies on meiosis, a specialized form of cell division that enables genetic diversity via recombination and segregation of alleles. The basic program is conserved from yeasts to mammals. A central question is how each chromosome identifies its homolog among numerous potential partners. The overarching goal of our research is to understand how the nuclear organization and motion of chromosomes contributes to the correct pairing, synapsis, and recombination of homologs during meiosis I prophase – and how infidelity in these processes leads to chromosomal abnormalities that underlie infertility, birth defects, or pregnancy loss in humans. We use budding yeast and zebrafish as models to understand how these interrelated processes have evolved.

Host: Cassie Zuckerman

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Workshop / Seminar Wed, 07 Jul 2021 17:42:51 -0400 2021-07-14T14:00:00-04:00 2021-07-14T15:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Workshop / Seminar portrait of Dr. Sean Burgess
MCDB PhD Defense: Control of Chromatin by RNA-Mediated Transcriptional Silencing (July 19, 2021 1:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/84412 84412-21623898@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Monday, July 19, 2021 1:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

Mentor: Prof. Andrzej Wierzbicki

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Workshop / Seminar Thu, 08 Jul 2021 13:40:52 -0400 2021-07-19T13:00:00-04:00 2021-07-19T14:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Workshop / Seminar Yellow MCDB initials with drawing of a microscope on blue background
UMBS Summer Lecture Series: Pettingill Lecture in Natural History (July 21, 2021 7:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/84357 84357-21623499@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Wednesday, July 21, 2021 7:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: University of Michigan Biological Station

Dr. Jessica Hellmann (University of Minnesota Institute on the Environment) will present this year's Pettingill Endowed Lecture in Natural History: Population biology in study, in practice, and in the human imagination.

From why some species might not move under a changing climate, to the steps we can take to overcome those limitations and, importantly: the many things we might need to know--and worry--about ecological intervention.

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Livestream / Virtual Fri, 25 Jun 2021 15:20:10 -0400 2021-07-21T19:00:00-04:00 2021-07-21T20:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location University of Michigan Biological Station Livestream / Virtual Dr. Jessica Hellmann
Contextualized Monitoring in the Marine Environment (July 27, 2021 5:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/84744 84744-21624859@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, July 27, 2021 5:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Michigan Robotics

Co-Chair:
Kira Barton & Alex Shorter

Abstract:
Marine mammal monitoring has seen improvements in the last few decades with advances made to both the monitoring hardware and post-processing computation methods. However, these improvements have primarily been focused on and implemented in wild animal tracking, with less attention paid to the managed environment. This is a particularly important deficiency, as the cooperative nature of institutionally managed animals allows for research on swimming kinematics and energetics behavior with an intricacy that is difficult to achieve in the wild. This dissertation uses robotics-inspired physical kinematics and localization techniques to address two primary limitations in marine mammal monitoring: 1) the lack of persistent, absolute estimates of animal swimming energetics and kinematics, and 2) the lack of a robust, precise localization method for managed cetaceans. To resolve these, the hardware and animal tracking methods developed to enable the rest of the dissertation are first defined. Next, a physics-based approach to directly monitor cetacean swimming energetics is both presented and implemented to study animal propulsion patterns under varying effort conditions. Finally, a high-fidelity 3D monitoring framework is introduced for tracking institutionally managed cetaceans, and is applied alongside the energetics estimation method to provide a first look at the potential of spatially-contextualized animal monitoring.

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Presentation Mon, 26 Jul 2021 10:13:20 -0400 2021-07-27T17:00:00-04:00 2021-07-27T19:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Michigan Robotics Presentation A dolphin with monitoring equipment.
UMBS: Science Communication + Advocacy Panel (July 27, 2021 6:30pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/84649 84649-21624360@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, July 27, 2021 6:30pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: University of Michigan Biological Station

A moderated discussion hosted by Kayla Mathes (U-M '18, UMBS researcher and Virginia Commonwealth University doctoral candidate).

Early-career interdisciplinary scientists/UMBS community members Eva Roos, Hannah DeHetre, Laura Hickey, and Lisa Haber talk about what science communication means to them, how it plays a role in their own work and in the context of a field station, and how it can be used as a powerful tool for education and advocacy.

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Livestream / Virtual Tue, 20 Jul 2021 09:23:51 -0400 2021-07-27T18:30:00-04:00 2021-07-27T19:30:00-04:00 Off Campus Location University of Michigan Biological Station Livestream / Virtual Panelists Eva Roos, Hannah DeHetre, Laura Hickey, and Lisa Haber.
MCDB Defense: Hydroxyproline O-Arabinosylation in Pollen Fertility (August 3, 2021 10:00am) https://events.umich.edu/event/84833 84833-21625108@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, August 3, 2021 10:00am
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

Mentor: Cora MacAlister

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Workshop / Seminar Fri, 30 Jul 2021 11:09:05 -0400 2021-08-03T10:00:00-04:00 2021-08-03T12:00:00-04:00 Off Campus Location Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Workshop / Seminar Yellow MCDB initials microscope drawing on blue