Barb Nikolajczyk organized the Sept 22 BUMC Provost Workshop “Inflammation Symposium: Bipartisan Support by DAMPs and PAMPs” (co-organizer, Dan Remick). This is the first of a planned series of discussions on inflammation held in collaboration with the Inflammation Training Program, which aim to develop and support scientific teams to tackle the pathogenic aspects of uncontrolled inflammation.
2015 News
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
Michael Azer was a Finalist at the American Academy of Periodontology Balint Orban Award Competition
Michel Azer, a Masters student in the Nikolajczyk Lab, was a finalist at the American Academy of Periodontology Balint Orban Award Competition for excellence in basic research on periodontal disease. Kudos, Michel!
Stephanie D’Souza wins Award at the GSI Symposium
Congratulations to Stephanie D’Souza in the Kepler Lab for winning a poster award at the 2015 GSI Symposium.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER
Akshaya Ramesh receives Duke CHAVI-ID Award
Akshaya Ramesh in Thomas Kepler’s lab, won an award at the Duke CHAVI-ID annual conference held September 23-26, 2015 for her poster entitled “Immunogenomics of the Rhesus macaque, an animal model for HIV vaccine development.” Congratulations, Akshaya.
Fadie Coleman successfully defends her dissertation!
Congratulations to Fadie Coleman in Jay Mizgerd’s Lab on the successful defense of her dissertation entitled, “Influence of Macrophage NF-kB Activation on Pneumococcal Pneumonia” on September 29, 2015. Great job, Fadie!
Luis Agosto Receives Mathilde Krim Fellowship from amFAR
Luis Agosto, a postdoctoral fellow in the Henderson Lab, was awarded a Mathilde Krim Fellowship in Basic Biomedical Research from the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR). This career development award is to facilitate the transition from postdoctoral fellow to an independent career in HIV/AIDS research. Congratulations, Luis!
BUMC Provost Workshop Symposium co-organized by Barb Nikolajczyk
14th Annual Sue Kim Hanson Lecture
This Friday, September 25, 2015, Friday, the 14th Annual Sue Kim Hanson Lecture in Immunology will take place. This year’s speaker is Jean-Laurent Casanova, M.D., Ph.D. Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Professor, St. Giles Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, The Rockefeller University. The title of his seminar is: “Toward a Genetic Theory of Childhood Infectious Diseases.” The seminar will take place at 12:00 Noon in Kiefer Auditorium, Evans 1.
JULY/AUGUST NEWS
Microbiology Department Welcomes Incoming Students
The Department would like to welcome incoming PhD students R Baer (Galagan Lab), Alexander Barron (Browning Lab) , Molly Braun (Fearns Lab), Tessa Didonato (Fearns & Muhlberger Labs), and Kyle Pedro (Henderson Lab).
Welcome back Emily Nelson
Welcome back to Emily Nelson, a Graduate Student in the Mühlberger Lab who recently returned from Sierra Leone where she was part of the Ebola diagnostics team of Erasmus University/Partners in Health. Welcome home, Emily!
Lee Wetzler Helps Organize NIH Workshop
Lee Wetzler helped organize a NIAID workshop entitled “Gonorrhea Vaccines: The Way Forward” which was held June 29-30.
Suzanne Kijewski Successfully Defends her Dissertation
Congratulations to Suzanne Kijewski in Rahm Gummuluru’s lab on the successful defense of her dissertation entitled, “Mechanistic Differences in Interactions of HIV-1 and HIV-2 with Dendritic Cells” on July 16, 2015. Well done, Suzanne!
Emily Nelson in Sierra Leone
Emily Nelson, a graduate student in the Mühlberger Lab has joined the Ebola diagnostic team of Erasmus University/Partners in Health in Sierra Leone. Stay safe Emily!
Andrew Henderson Named Chair of NIH Study Section
Congratulations to Andy Henderson who has been named Chairperson for the AIDS Molecular and Cellular Biology NIH Study Section.
David Seldin
The Department of Microbiology mourns the loss of David Seldin, who was a member of the Microbiology Faculty since 1996. He was a revered researcher, teacher, mentor, colleague, and friend. For more on Dave’s life and accomplishments, please see the article in BU Today http://www.bu.edu/today/2015/david-seldin-obituary/
MAY/JUNE NEWS
Ronald Corley Elected AAAS Fellow
Congratulations to Ron Corley who was elected as a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) for his contributions to the field of immunology, particularly in elucidating innate functions of antibodies and B cells and their roles in accelerating adaptive immunity.
Welcome back Adam Hume
Welcome back to Adam Hume, a Research Scientist in the Mühlberger Lab who recently returned from Sierra Leone where he was part of the Ebola diagnostics team of Erasmus University/Partners in Health. Glad you are back home, Adam!
Greg Wasserman is 2015 Corwin Award Winner
Congratulations to Gregory Wasserman, the 2015 Corwin Award recipient. The Corwin Award recognizes a student who exemplifies the characteristics of an outstanding departmental “citizen.” Values of collegiality, scientific integrity, commitment to scientific endeavor, and active participation in departmental activites are all components taken into account when the selection of the Corwin Award recipient is made. These values best epitomize the contributions of Dr. Larry Corwin, a former member of the Microbiology Department for whom the award is named.
Jake Awtry in John Connor’s Lab is Awarded the Mark W. Riemen Summer Research Prize
We are pleased to announce that Jake Awtry, a BU undergrad working in John Connor’s lab has been awarded the Mark W. Riemen Summer Research Prize and the accompanying FROG Award for supplies. There was a high number of applications for this award, and it was felt that Jake’s application was among the best. Congratulations to Jake on his award.
Kristie Hilliard Successfully Defends her Dissertation
Congratulations to Kristie Hilliard in Lee Quinton’s Lab on the successful defense of her dissertation entitled, “The Functional Significance of the Lung-Liver Axis During Pneumonia” on May 13, 2015. Great job, Kristie!