Important note: Please share this digital-only edition of Almanac with your colleagues. Read more.

UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

Tuesday June 2, 2020 Volume 66 Number 37 www.upenn.edu/almanac

Thirteen Undergraduates: MindCORE Lila R. Gleitman Changes to the From the President Undergraduate Summer 2020 Penn Computer Connection Fellowships The Division of Business Services wishes to inform the Penn Community that as of June Statement on the With support 30, 2020, the Computer Connection’s retail Death of George Floyd from a $1 million gift store, located on the second floor of the Penn Once again our nation mourns. The from an anonymous Bookstore, will permanently close. tragic and senseless death of George donor, MindCORE The store has adapted to the many changes Floyd is a vivid reminder of the inequal- summer fellowships in the technology-retail market since it opened will now be named ities and unacceptable indignities that so 35 years ago, but the combined impact of nar- many of our citizens constantly endure. the Lila R. Gleitman rower margins, fewer new product releases, Undergraduate Sum- The events in Minneapolis this week and extraordinary mass-market discounting should lead everyone to recognize how mer Fellowships. strategies from large retailers, has had a pro- The endowed fellow- much more work our society must do to nounced impact on the store’s ability to sustain realize liberty and justice for all. As a ships program sup- its operation. ports up to 10 Penn nation we have much work to do. Going forward, the University remains com- While the entire Penn communi- undergraduate stu- mitted to providing resources and value-add- dents with summer Lila R. Gleitman ed services that align with the technology needs ty weeps, and our hearts are filled with research experiences of the Penn community. The Office of Software sadness for this senseless loss of life, in the labs of MindCORE faculty. Licensing will remain and most likely expand we should remember the importance of Dr. Gleitman is an emerita professor of psy- its offerings. Also, the Penn Bookstore will ex- Penn’s commitment to doing our part to chology in the School of Arts & Sciences. Her pand its in-store inventory of computer supplies, create a more inclusive and mutually re- work has helped define the field of language accessories and peripherals to enable the Penn spectful environment and society free learning. Always interdisciplinary in her ap- Community to have easy access to such items. from discrimination and deprivation. proach, Dr. Gleitman forged ties across lin- Penn will also continue to leverage its sig- I especially want Penn’s African guistics and psychology through her empiri- nificant purchasing power and maintain its American students, faculty and staff to cally elegant investigations documenting how strong vendor relationships to support Penn’s know how much they and their contri- the inherent endowments that children bring to Schools and Centers. In partnership with Penn language learning interact with the input they butions to our community are treasured. Purchasing, institutional priorities such as col- It is particularly important at this diffi- receive to create language. She earned her mas- laborative purchasing, bulk orders and post- ter’s in linguistics from Penn in 1965 and her cult time that Penn’s students of color sale issue resolution will be preserved. Student- know their University supports them, PhD in 1967. After three years on the faculty at focused services, including the distribution of Swarthmore, she came to Penn, where she has which we unequivocally do. While we computers to Penn’s highly aided student pop- may be apart physically at this point in remained for the rest of her career. From 1980 to ulation and support for educational discount 2000, she served as co-director of Penn’s Insti- time, we are truly together in spirit. programs that promote school-based standards, We all long for the day when we tute for Research in Cognitive Science, the pre- will also be maintained. decessor to MindCORE. She has won numer- Although the retail store and associated never again bear witness to such a need- ous awards, including Penn’s Provost’s Award warehouse operations will be discontinued, the less death. Our prayers are for the Floyd for Distinguished PhD Teaching and Mentoring family, and for a healing of our nation’s Almanac fulfillment of existing orders will be honored, ( April 26, 2005), the John McGovern and information will be forthcoming and com- soul. Let all of us in the Penn commu- Award for the Behavioral and Social Sciences municated to members of the IT community nity use this moment to recommit, from Area from the American Association for Ad- regarding the availability of inventory and the the deepest corners of our hearts, to cre- vancement of Science, and the American Psy- process for placing new orders ating a living and learning environment chological Association’s Distinguished Scien- —Marie Witt, that is truly safe and welcoming for all. tific Contribution Award for significant impact Vice President for Business Services ­—Amy Gutmann, President on the science of psychology, both in research and in training of graduate students. She is a for- 2020 Models of Excellence Commemorative Video mer president of both the Linguistic Society of special 2020 Models of Excellence keepsake America and the Language Development So- Since 1999, Penn’s Models of Excellence ciety and is a fellow of the Cognitive Science Awards program has recognized the outstand- book at https://indd.adobe.com/view/1beaab32- Society, the American Association for the Ad- ing accomplishments of the University’s staff f0fc-43a0-8d1c-54c52cd6fac7 vancement of Science, the Society of Experi- members. This year is no exception. Although Please join the Models of Excellence team mental Psychologists, the American Academy the traditional Models of Excellence ceremony in congratulating this year’s honorees. Near and of Arts and Sciences, and the National Academy could not take place this spring, University in- far, the Penn community is grateful for your ser- of Sciences. vites the entire Penn community to take a mo- vice to the University’s mission in education, re- With help from additional funds, a total of ment to celebrate the 2020 honorees by viewing search and public service. 13 Penn undergraduates have been selected for a commemorative video. —Division of Human Resources summer 2020 fellowships. Participants receive Watch the 2020 Models of Excellence Video INSIDE a $4,500 stipend for their research work with at https://vimeo.com/409907040 The video fea- 2 Deaths a faculty mentor, a one-week programming tures staff member interviews, as well as portraits 3 Director of CASI; Faculty Director of Civic House; boot camp and workshop series in interdisci- of the 16 Models of Excellence, Pillars of Excel- Gymnastics Head Coach plinary topics of mind and brain, weekly sem- 4 Honors & Other Things lence, and Model Supervisor honorees. (See Al- 6 Penn Museum Online; Change to Work Addresses inar lectures, professional development train- manac March 3, 2020 for the list of winners.) in Workday Due to Remote Working ing, and one-on-one workplace advising from a Learn more about the contributions of the 7 Support Local Businesses; Update; CrimeStats; research trainee. PPSA Election; WPPSA Nominations; Webinar 2020 Models of Excellence program honor- Wednesdays; Penn Libraries Workshop Series ees by downloading an electronic copy of the 8 Research & Innovation ALMANAC June 2, 2020 www.upenn.edu/almanac 1 Deaths

Marna Barrett, PSOM 1984, he was an adjunct associate professor and Barry Stupine, Vet School Marna Sue Eva Barrett, former adjunct asso- then adjunct professor of pathology in Penn’s Barry Stupine, ciate professor of psychology in Penn’s Perelman Dental School and in the Vet School. former associate School of Medicine, died May 14. She was 63. In 1975, Dr. Fidler joined the National Can- dean the Universi- Born in Tampa, Dr. Barrett received her cer Institute (NCI), part of the National Insti- ty of Pennsylvania’s bachelor’s degree from the University of South tutes of Health (NIH), where he led the metas- School of Veterinary Florida in 1973 and a master’s in human ge- tasis program at the Frederick Cancer Research Medicine, died May netics from Sarah Lawrence College in 1981. Facility. His eight years there produced some of 6 at his home in Ry- She worked as a genetic counselor at New his early innovative work in unraveling the rid- dal of amyloidosis. York Hospital–Cornell Medical Center and also dles of how cancer spreads. He was 78. served as State Regional Genetics Counselor at In 1983, Dr. Fidler joined The University of Born in Wyn- the North Carolina Division of Health Services Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center as profes- nefield, he graduat- before joining the department of medical genet- sor and founding chair of cancer biology, a de- ed from Overbrook ics at the University of Tennessee. partment he led until 2008. He also served as High School in 1959, Dr. Barrett went on to make a career change, director of MD Anderson’s Cancer Metastasis then attended Temple earning a PhD in clinical psychology from the Research Center and Metastasis Research Labo- University, graduat- Barry Stupine University of Memphis in 1993. She was an as- ratory. In 2019, Dr. Fidler retired. ing in 1964. He went sistant professor of psychology at Indiana Uni- His experience as a veterinary surgeon on to George Washington University, where he versity of Pennsylvania for five years before taught him that the lethality of cancer is main- earned an MBA in health-care administration in joining the department of psychiatry as an as- ly due to the ability of cancer cells to spread, or 1968. Mr. Stupine completed an administrative sistant professor in psychology at the Hospi- metastasize, to other organs, and so he devoted residency at the Hospital of the University of tal of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) in his career to the study of metastasis at a time Pennsylvania in 1968. Mr. Stupine became assis- 2001. In 2005, she also took on a psychiatry po- when no one else was focusing on this topic. His tant executive director of HUP from 1969-1971, sition in the Clinical Practices of the University work exposed the origins of metastases, the pro- then joined the Medical College of Pennsylvania of Pennsylvania (CPUP). Dr. Barrett became an cesses by which these cells spread and thrive in as associate hospital administrator. adjunct associate professor of psychiatry in the other organs, the molecular diversity that makes In 1978, Mr. Stupine returned to the Univer- Perelman School of Medicine in 2013. them so hard to treat and the crucial support- sity of Pennsylvania as director of the Veterinary After retiring from Penn, she started a pri- ing role of their surrounding microenvironment. Hospital at the School of Veterinary Medicine. vate psychotherapy practice in Media, Pennsyl- He was founding editor of Cancer and Me- In 1987, he became associate dean for admin- vania, in 2019. She served as the executive of- tastasis Reviews and served as president of the istration at the Vet School, and in 1991, he was ficer of the Society for Psychotherapy Research American Association for Cancer Research named Penn’s interim Vice President for Hu- in 2016. (AACR) and the International Society of Dif- man Resources while continuing his Veterinary Dr. Barrett is survived by her spouse, Do- ferentiation. Dr. Fidler was a fellow of the School roles. He also held the post of special ris Tirado; daughter, Eva Isabel Tirado Barrett; American Association for the Advancement of assistant to the executive vice president, 1992- brothers, Jim (Patti), David and John (Cindy); Science and an inaugural member of the Acad- 1994 (Almanac October 24, 1995). nieces Sarah, Alix and Mahria; as well as rela- emy of the AACR. He received numerous hon- In addition to his work at Penn, he was a tives in Canada. ors throughout his career, including the World consultant to Hebrew University in Jerusalem A life celebration will be held at a later Health Organization’s Gold Medalist for Bio- and the US Department of Health Institutional time. Contributions in Dr. Barrett’s honor may logical Sciences and the American Cancer Soci- Review Board, which works to ensure that hu- be made to the National Cancer Institute or the ety’s Medal of Honor for Basic Research. man subjects are protected in research. He ad- Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Dr. Fidler is survived by his wife, Margaret vised the City of Philadelphia’s Hiring Review Pennsylvania. Kripke; daughters, Morli Josza and Katharine Board. He was president of the Abington School Kripke Tsela; brother, Yaron (Talia); and grand- Board, founding president of the Freire Charter Josh Fidler, Vet, Dental, children Eden, Evan and Jake Josza. School Foundation in Philadelphia, president of and Medical Schools Old York Road Temple–Beth Am, and a board Isaiah (Josh) Fidler, former associate profes- member of the Albert Einstein Society. Mr. Stu- sor of pathology in Hugh Bilson Lewis, PSOM pine also helped lead animal welfare groups, in- the School of Den- Hugh Bilson Lewis, former professor of cluding the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Soci- tal Medicine and the medicine and adjunct associate professor in he- ety (PAWS) and the Pennsylvania SPCA. School of Veterinary matology at Penn’s Perelman School of Medi- He is survived by his wife, Susan Rosen- Medicine at the Uni- cine, died April 25. He was 79. berg Stupine; sister, Sharla Feldscher; son, Jef- versity of Pennsylva- Dr. Lewis was recognized as an authority in frey (V’10); daughter, Erika Yablonovitz (C’95, nia, died May 8 at his comparative hematology. A native of Wales, Dr. GEd’96); and three grandchildren. home in Houston fol- Lewis earned his veterinary medical degree at lowing a long illness. Glasgow University. He then completed a resi- To Report A Death He was 83. dency at the University of Pennsylvania School Almanac appreciates being informed Dr. Fidler was of Veterinary Medicine, where he continued on of the deaths of current and former fac- born in Jerusa- as an NIH postdoc fellow before joining the ulty and staff members, students and oth- lem. After attending faculty as an assistant professor in medicine in er members of the University community. school and serving in 1971. In 1974 he became a lecturer in hematol- Call (215) 898-5274 or email almanac@ the Israeli army, Dr. Josh Fidler ogy and became adjunct associate professor in upenn.edu Fidler came to Amer- that same department in 1982. During that time However, notices of alumni deaths should ica and earned his veterinary medicine degree he also taught at Purdue for a few years, and he be directed to the Alumni Records Office from Oklahoma State University in 1963. served as senior director of pathology and toxi- at Suite 300, 2929 Walnut St., (215) 898- In 1965, Dr. Fidler joined Penn as an assis- cology at Smith Kline and French Laboratories. 8136 or email [email protected] tant instructor in Veterinary Clinical Studies. He left Penn in 1986 to become dean of Pur- From 1967 to 1970, he was a predoc trainee in due’s College of Veterinary Medicine, a po- Almanac Summer Schedule medical pathology in the School of Medicine. sition he remained in until 1996. In 1996, Dr. Almanac will be publishing weekly through He then served three years as an assistant pro- Lewis left Purdue to join MMI/Banfield, The the end of June and as needed throughout the fessor of pathology in the School of Dental Pet Hospital, as senior vice president of prac- summer. Volume 67 will begin on July 14. The Medicine before being promoted to an associate tice development. He also served as president deadline to submit content to be featured in the professor in 1973. In 1974, he took on a second- of DataSavant. He later moved to Vancouver, weekly issues is the Monday of the prior week. ary appointment in the School of Medicine as an Washington. For more information, visit https://almanac. associate professor of pathology. From 1975 to No service is scheduled for this time. upenn.edu/publication-schedule-deadlines 2 www.upenn.edu/almanac ALMANAC June 2, 2020 Tariq Thachil: Director of CASI Herman Beavers: Faculty Director of Civic House and the Steven J. Fluhar- Civic Scholars Program ty, Dean and Thomas Provost Wendell Veterans Upward Bound participants and Sayre S. Gates, Jr. Professor Pritchett and Vice High School students to read Wilson’s plays and of Psychology, Phar- Provost for Educa- write performance pieces, based on interviews macology, and Neu- tion Beth Winkel- with local community members, which are then roscience, has an- stein announce the performed by local Philadelphia actors. nounced that Tariq appointment of Her- “Herman Beavers,” said Provost Pritchett, Thachil has been man Beavers as fac- “is the ideal faculty leader to advance Penn’s named director of the ulty director of Civic vital civic engagement programs in the years Center for Penn’s Ad- House and the Civic ahead. His wide range of experience exemplifies vanced Study of India Scholars Program. our highest ideals for engaging Penn students (CASI) and associate Dr. Beavers has and scholarship with our community, creating professor of political taught at Penn since a richer experience for everyone involved. We science. As director 1989 and is one of are indebted to the pioneering work of Profes- of CASI, he will also Tariq Thachil the University’s most sor Walter Licht—founder of the Civic Schol- hold the Madan Lal renowned mentors, Herman Beavers ars program in 2006 and faculty director of Civ- Sobti Chair for the Study of Contemporary In- writers and teachers. ic House since 2002—who will step down from dia. The appointment is effective July 1. He is professor of English and Africana Stud- his responsibilities at Civic House at the end of Dr. Thachil comes to Penn from Vanderbilt, ies, a distinguished poet and a widely published this academic year, while continuing his land- where he is currently an associate professor of scholar of 20th century American and African- mark scholarship as Walter H. Annenberg Pro- political science. He studies political parties American literature, especially the novels of Toni fessor of History.” and political behavior, social movements, eth- Morrison, the traditions of jazz and jazz writing, Dr. Beavers earned a PhD and MA from Yale nic politics and urban migration, with a regional and the work of 20th-century Southern writers. University, an MA from Brown University and a focus on South Asia. His current research exam- He received the 2017 SAS Dean’s Award for BA from Oberlin College. ines the political consequences of rapid urban- Mentorship of Undergraduate Research in rec- Civic House is Penn’s hub for civic engage- ization and internal migration in India. ognition of his well-known attention to advising ment, promoting mutually beneficial collabora- Dr. Thachil’s first book, Elite Parties, Poor Penn students, and he was elected that same year tions between Penn and Philadelphia community Voters: How Social Services Win Votes in India, as a Commissioner of the Middle States Com- nonprofit organizations. Through social- jus in 2014 and received several awards, including mission on Higher Education. tice education, trainings and workshops, Civic the Gregory Luebbert Book Award for best book Most notably, Dr. Beavers has been a leader in House prepares students for responsible commu- in comparative politics from the American Po- extending scholarship and teaching into the Penn nity engagement and empowers them to become litical Science Organization. His articles have community. His legendary ABCS (Academical- advocates for social change. The Civic Scholars appeared in the American Journal of Political ly-Based Community Service) course on August Program at Civic House provides undergraduate Science, Contemporary South Asia, Journal of Wilson, which was awarded the first Communi- students with a sustained four-year experience Politics and World Politics. He has written for ty Engagement Award from the Netter Center for in civic engagement and scholarship, including the Indian Express and The Washington Post. In Community Partnerships, brings together Penn dedicated proseminars, summer internships and 2019, he received the Heinz I. Eulau Award for undergraduates with West Philadelphia residents, a capstone senior research project. Best Article in the American Political Science Review. He holds a PhD in government from Cornell and a BA in economics from Stanford. Kirsten Becker: Gymnastics Head Coach Since its founding in 1992, CASI has ad- Kirsten Becker (C’13), a graduate of Penn’s “I am extremely honored to accept this po- vanced understanding of contemporary India by College of Arts & Sciences with a degree in sition and excited to continue the success and engaging in policy-relevant research focused on communications, an growth of the Penn gymnastics program,” Ms. present-day challenges; serving as a forum for Ivy Classic cham- Becker said. “I will strive to create a positive ex- seminars, workshops and conferences; produc- pion as a student- perience for every student-athlete. I know how ing scholarly publications; and providing under- athlete and assis- special the current student-athletes are and look graduate and graduate students with unparalleled tant coach at Penn, forward to picking up right where we left off last internship and research opportunities in India. has been promot- season. Thank you to Dr. Calhoun and the Penn “CASI was the first research institution in the ed to head women’s Athletics administration for entrusting me with US dedicated exclusively to the study of con- gymnastics coach, this responsibility. Penn has been a part of many temporary India, and it is an expression of our the T. Gibbs Kane, of my most cherished memories over the last 10 commitment to scholarship on India and South Jr. W’69 Director of years, and I’m excited to continue this journey.” Asia,” said Dr. Fluharty. “It is a vital part of our Athletics and Recre- In 2019, Penn compiled its best National drive to not only expand global understanding, ation M. Grace Cal- Qualifying Score ever and its score at Mary- but to discover global solutions to issues like houn announced on land was the best in program history, breaking a sustainability, poverty, and justice. Tariq Thachil May 19. Ms. Beck- 15-year-old record. The year before, Ms. Beck- will be an outstanding partner in this mission.” er has served as the Kirsten Becker er coached the first NCAA Regional qualifier in “I am extremely pleased Professor Tariq program’s assistant five years, Alex Hartke. Thachil has agreed to be CASI’s next director,” coach for the past five years, helping lead the As an assistant coach, she mentored 20 all- said Marshall M. Bouton (G’68), acting director Quakers to the 2020 Ivy Classic title and their ECAC gymnasts, six ECAC Scholar-Athletes, and visiting scholar at CASI, and former chair- highest team score in program history in 2019. four ECAC individual champions and three Ivy man and current member of its International Ad- “We are excited to promote one of our most Classic champions. This past year, Penn fresh- visory Board. “He will bring to the task not only accomplished gymnasts and our current assis- men were named ECAC Co-Specialist of the the depth of his superb scholarship on contem- tant coach, Kirsten Becker, to head coach,” Dr. Year (McCaleigh Marr) and ECAC Co-Rookie porary Indian politics and society, but also a per- Calhoun said. “Kirsten is a strong leader who is of the Year (Rebekah Lashley). Both are firsts sonal and professional commitment to greater composed, organized and passionate about the for the program. understanding of India and its many challenges.” program. She has proven her ability to recruit A decorated collegiate gymnast for Penn, The Madan Lal Sobti Chair for the Study of Con- high-level scholars and athletes and build strong Ms. Becker was a two-time team captain and temporary India was established through the generos- relationships, and her technical ability has led the 2013 ECAC Gymnast of the Year. A two- ity of alumni, parents and friends of Penn, including to record-breaking scores and Ivy Classic titles. time NCAA regional qualifier, she helped the P.C. Chatterjee; Raman Kapur (PAR’07); Sreed- We look forward to the bright future of Penn Quakers to two ECAC Championships and two har Menon; Sunil Mittal; Dalip Pathak (WG’78, women’s gymnastics.” Ivy Classic titles. Ms. Becker was the 2013 USA PAR’10); Rajiv Sobti (GR’84, PAR’08, PAR’12); Penn recorded its second-best score in the Gymnastics Collegiate Nationals Uneven Bars and Sanjiv Sobti (WG’85, GR’86, PAR’10, program’s history to win the Ivy Classic title this champion and was Penn’s nominee for the pres- PAR’20). The chair is named in honor of the Sobtis’ winter. As the program’s beam and floor exercise tigious NCAA Woman of the Year award. late father, Madan Lal Sobti, and supports in perpe- coach, Ms. Becker led the Quakers to their best She is currently pursuing a master’s degree tuity a professorship held by the director of CASI. beam score in school history at the event. in organizational dynamics from the University. ALMANAC June 2, 2020 www.upenn.edu/almanac 3 Honors & Other Things

Iuliia Bryzgalova: Many of Dr. Giger’s investigations have in- influencing contemporary politics and policy on Tennis All-American volved the discovery of new disorders, the de- issues like housing segregation, educational in- The Intercollegiate Tennis Association velopment of new specific diagnostics and the equality, criminal justice and voting rights. An (ITA) has named sophomore Iuliia Bryzgalova introduction of new and improved therapies in expert in how communication constructs identi- of the University of Pennsylvania women’s ten- dogs. His studies also have advanced clinical ty and shapes social change in American culture, nis team an ITA Division I Women’s All-Amer- transfusion therapy and blood banking in dogs Dr. Jackson studies how media, journalism and ican. She is the only Ivy League singles player and helped make canine transfusion practical technology are used by and represent marginal- to receive the recognition. and safe. In addition, he has also been the Penn- ized groups, with a focus on communication by A native of Moscow, Russia, Ms. Bryzgalo- Gen Laboratory Director of the National Insti- and about Black and feminist activists. va finished the season with a 25-4 record and tutes of Health resource on Animal Models of Dr. Watts, a pioneer in the use of digital data ranked #13 in the country in singles competi- Human Disease for the past three decades. to study social networks and collective behav- tion. In late February, she was ranked as high as The awards, which are organized by the ior, seeks to deepen our understanding of the #10 in the nation, the highest singles ranking in Kennel Club Charitable Trust and underwritten origins, nature, and prevalence of misinfor- school history. Playing in the #1 spot, she was by a major gift from Vernon and Shirley Hill of mation, and its effects on democracy. Using a 7-4 against ranked opponents. Ms. Bryzgalova Metro Bank, highlight those individuals who go unique collection of datasets—including text had a successful fall season before the spring one step further to promote the health and well- from online news publishers; closed-caption campaign was cut short by the coronavirus. being of dogs through their work in the world of text from local television news programs; and veterinary science. Nominations for the awards nationally representative panels of mobile, web, Jean-Christophe Cloutier: were judged by a distinguished international and TV content consumption—Dr. Watts and Waldo Gifford Leland Award panel of influential veterinarians and scientific his collaborators at Penn, Microsoft Research, Jean-Christophe Cloutier, assistant professor researchers. MIT and Stanford will study how media pro- of English in the School of Arts and Sciences at Dr. Giger has published more than 250 peer- duce information, how people consume that in- Penn is the 2020 recipient of the Waldo Gifford reviewed original articles and more than 500 re- formation, and how it influences public opinion Leland Award given by the Society of American search abstracts. He was also the initiator and and understanding. Archivists (SAA) for his book, Shadow Archives: organizer of the International Canine and Fe- The Lifecycles of African American Literature. Penn Fellows line Genetics and Hereditary Disease Congress, Provost Wendell Pritchett and Vice Provost In the book, Dr. Cloutier uses a variety of Afri- which has been held every other year for the can American novels as alternative repositories for Faculty Anita Allen are pleased to announce past two decades and the WSAVA Hereditary the appointment of the twelfth cohort of Penn for the Black experience. The award is given for Disease Committee chair for over a decade. writing of superior excellence and usefulness in Fellows. The Penn Fellows Program provides leader- the fields of archival history, theory and practice. Sarah J. Jackson, Duncan Watts: “Based on a deep understanding of archival ship development to select Penn faculty in mid- history, theory and practice, Shadow Archives is Andrew Carnegie Fellowships career. Begun in 2009, it includes opportunities a compelling analysis of the power of archives to build alliances across the University, meet for truth-telling and scholarship that suggests distinguished academic leaders, think strategi- future paths for research,” noted the nominator. cally about University governance, and consult “Given the lack of institutions dedicated to the with Penn’s senior administrators. Black experience, the novel became an alterna- Faizan Alawi, associate professor of pathol- tive site of historical preservation, a means to en- ogy and associate dean for academic affairs in sure both individual legacy and group survival.” the School of Dental Medicine, teaches oral and Established in 1959, the Waldo Gifford Le- maxillofacial pathology, provides quality care land Award is named for one of North Ameri- to patients, and serves as director of Penn Oral ca’s archival pioneers and SAA’s second presi- Pathology Services. dent. Past recipients include Trevor Owens for Montserrat C. Anguera, associate professor The Theory and Craft of Digital Preservation; of biomedical sciences in the School of Veteri- Anthony Cocciolo for Moving Image and Sound nary Medicine, focuses her research on how fe- Collections for Archivists; and Philip C. Bantin Sarah Jackson Duncan Watts male lymphocytes maintain X-chromosome in- for Building Trustworthy Digital Repositories. Sarah J. Jackson activation, an epigenetic process responsible for Penn’s , Presidential As- equalizing gene expression between sexes. Urs Giger: sociate Professor in the Annenberg School for Lifetime Achievement Award Communication, and Duncan Watts, Penn Inte- E. Cabrina Campbell, professor and vice Urs Giger, the grates Knowledge professor with appointments chair for education in the department of psy- Charlotte Newton in the School of Engineering and Applied Sci- chiatry in the Perelman School of Medicine, has Sheppard Professor ence, the Annenberg School for Communica- expertise in the management of patients who of Medicine in the tion, and the Wharton School, have been named have severe mental illnesses and serves as the School of Veterinary 2020 Andrew Carnegie Fellows by the Carnegie director of residency training for the department Medicine at the Uni- Corporation of New York. Each fellowship car- of psychiatry. versity of Pennsylva- ries a grant of $200,000. J. Margo Brooks Carthon, associate profes- nia, has won the 2020 The 2020 class of Andrew Carnegie Fellows sor in the School of Nursing and senior fellow International Ca- includes 27 scholars. The candidates’ proposals of the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Eco- nine Health Lifetime were initially evaluated by an anonymous team nomics, focuses her research and teaching on Achievement Award. of prominent scholars, educators and intellec- the issues of marginalization and inequities in Dr. Giger was tuals, and the final selections were made by a health care. awarded the accolade distinguished panel of 17 jurors, including Penn in recognition of his Margo Crawford, professor of English, Ed- President Amy Gutmann. mund J. and Louise W. Kahn Professor for Fac- work, which spans Urs Giger Dr. Jackson will trace the role of African- four decades and has ulty Excellence and director of the Center for American media-makers in the 21st century. Africana Studies in the School of Arts and Sci- been dedicated to the study of clinical hema- She will consider how today’s Black media- tology, hereditary diseases and genetic predis- ences, specializes in 20th and 21st-century Afri- makers—including journalists, filmmakers, pod- can American literature, cultural movements, and positions in dogs, and veterinary transfusion casters, and digital influencers—are casting light therapy, the results of which have impacted di- visual art. She studies radical Black imaginations on stories that were once suppressed; sharing new and the global dimensions of Black aesthetics. agnostic testing and therapies among many ca- stories that grapple with race and democracy; and nine breeds. (continued on page 5) 4 www.upenn.edu/almanac ALMANAC June 2, 2020 (continued from page 4) Karen Detlefsen, professor of philosophy Penn GSE 2020 Faculty Recognition and Highlights and education in the School of Arts and Scienc- Penn GSE is proud to highlight and celebrate the recent accomplishments and honors of their faculty. es, focuses her research on early modern philos- ophy including the history of philosophy of sci- ence, the history and philosophy of education, and women in the history of philosophy. Sandra González-Bailón, associate profes- sor in the Annenberg School for Communica- tion, analyzes the sometimes productive and sometimes problematic ways in which big data/ data science and the functionality of various net- work structures are mobilized to solve vexing problems, emphasizing the inextricable links between data science and social science and be- tween computer code and cultural practice. Sharon Hayes, professor of fine arts in the Ed Brocenbrough Charlotte Jacobs Michelle Neuman Sharon Ravitch Weitzman School of Design, works on devel- oping new representational strategies that ex- amine and interrogate the present political mo- ment as a moment that reaches simultaneously backward and forward, while often addressing political events or movements from the 1960s through the 1990s. Cait Lamberton, Alberto I. Duran Presi- dent’s Distinguished Professor in the depart- ment of marketing in the Wharton School, re- searches consumer decision-making, financial decision-making, and work that impacts critical policy issues of importance to higher education, such as student applications for financial aid. Zachary F. Meisel, associate professor of Marsha Richardson Howard Stevenson Sharon Wolf Jenny Zapf emergency medicine and director of the Center Ed Brockenbrough for Emergency Care Policy and Research in the , associate professor and early career educators and pre-service students in Perelman School of Medicine, researches pre- Calvin Bland Fellow, received a Body of Work YMHFA, in response to the Pennsylvania Depart- scription drug overdose, guideline adherence, Award from the American Educational Research ment of Education’s mandates to include trauma- Association’s Queer Studies Special Interest informed pedagogy in training curricula. opioid use disorder, patient safety, emergency Howard C. Stevenson, medical services and patient-centered compara- Group. This group periodically awards a scholar Constance Clayton tive effectiveness. who has contributed a significant body of work Professor of Urban Education, was named the that produces important scholarship in the area of 2020 Gittler Prize recipient by Brandeis Univer- Alain Plante, professor and undergraduate LGBTQ studies and/or Queer Theory in educa- sity. “Not only has Howard Stevenson brought chair of earth and environmental science in the tion and has shaped the field of LGBTQ studies a better understanding of the detrimental effects School of Arts and Sciences and faculty director in education and/or Queer Studies in education. caused by racial stress and trauma through his of the University Scholars Program, researches Charlotte Jacobs, co-director of the Inde- scholarship, he actively leads the way in im- soil science, ecosystem ecology and environ- pendent School Teaching Residency program, proving the lives of people affected by these is- mental science global change, with a focus on was awarded a fellowship by the Trustees’ sues,” Brandeis President Ron Liebowitz said. terrestrial carbon biogeochemistry. Council of Penn Women and the National Co- The Joseph B. and Toby Gittler Prize was cre- Timothy Rommen, Davidson Kennedy Pro- alition of Girls’ Schools to conduct a pilot study ated in 2007 to recognize outstanding and last- fessor and chair in the department of music in exploring the experiences of adolescent girls of ing scholarly contributions to racial, ethnic and/ the School of Arts and Sciences, focuses on co- color in all-girls schools. or religious relations. loniality/decoloniality, the political economy of Michelle Neuman, lecturer in the Interna- Sharon Wolf, assistant professor, is the recip- music and sound, Creole musical formations, tional Educational Development program, was a ient of the Journal of Research on Educational tourism, diaspora, music and spirituality and the guest co-editor of Early Years: An International Effectiveness outstanding article award for her ethics of intellectual history of ethnomusicology. Research Journal, Volume 39, Issue 3, a special article, “Experimental Impacts of the ‘Quality Sunny Shin, associate professor of micro- issue about early childhood policy in low- and Preschool for Ghana’ Interventions on Teacher middle-income countries. Professional Well-Being, Classroom Quality, biology in the Perelman School of Medicine, Sharon M. Ravitch focuses on uncovering innate immune mecha- , professor of practice, and Children’s School Readiness.” The paper nisms used by host cells to defend themselves has been named a Fulbright Specialist to work reports on the results of a randomized controlled against bacterial pathogens and how bacterial with BMN College of Home Science in Mum- trial of a teacher professional development pro- pathogens evade host immunity to cause dis- bai, India, on creating the conditions for protec- gram for public and private kindergartens in ease. tive pluralism for scheduled tribe and scheduled Ghana, examining impacts on teacher profes- caste first-generation female college students. sional well-being, classroom quality and chil- Quayshawn Spencer, Robert S. Blank Presi- Dr. Ravitch also recently served as a scholar-in- dren’s readiness during one school year. dential Associate Professor of Philosophy in the residence at St. George’s University in Grena- Jenny Zapf, senior fellow, served as a panel- School of Arts and Sciences, specializes in the da, West Indies, where she was asked to be the ist and a finalist judge for the Reimagine Higher philosophy of science, the philosophy of biol- board chair for the University’s Center for Re- Education Global Innovation Awards in London ogy and the philosophy of race. search on Storytelling in Education. in December. Reimagine Education rewards in- Melissa Wilde, associate professor in sociolo- Marsha Richardson, senior lecturer, was select- novative approaches to enhance student learn- gy in the School of Arts and Sciences, focuses on ed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Ser- ing and employability, offering $50,000 in fund- the ways in which religious institutions respond vices Administration (SAMHSA), in collaboration ing and 16 “Oscars” of Education. Dr. Zapf also to social, cultural and demographic change. with Bloomsburg University’s McDowell Institute, delivered a keynote address on “Education En- to become trained as a Youth Mental Health First trepreneurship: 3.0” at the European EdTech Aid Trainer. The organization is aiming to certify Network in Finland in February. ALMANAC June 2, 2020 www.upenn.edu/almanac 5 Penn Museum Online Activities While nearly everyone is at home, the Penn tion, visit www. Museum is offering its many activities online— penn.museum/ from traditional recipes and culturally inspired calendar/438/ arts and crafts on its Pinterest boards to informal between-the- lectures and anthropology projects on the new lines Penn Museum At Home website at www.penn. • Discover An- museum/athome/ cient Rome, Upcoming virtual events include: Pompeii, and • World Wonders which offers live in- Herculaneum teractive opportunities for school-aged with C. Brian children and their families Wednesday Rose, the Cura- mornings at 11 a.m. Celebrate the di- tor-in-Charge of versity of the world’s cultures through the Mediterra- these weekly workshops that will run all nean Section in summer. The first installment on June a four-part eve- 10 is “Can You Match That X-Ray,” ning class de- which welcomes young adventurers to signed to introduce adults to ancient a three-minute “pop-up” talk to showcase one learn more about the materials, Italy’s art and archaeology, beginning extraordinary artifact. At 5:30 p.m., raise a glass symbols and pro-cess of making Thursday, June 4 (see image). This to democracy during a special Living Room Lec- coins. For more infor-mation, visit is the first in a new series, “The Deep ture with C. Brian Rose. An archaeologist for www.penn.museum/events/kids-family/ Dig.” $175 General/$125 Member. For more than 40 years, he has much to say about world-wonders more information, visit https://tinyurl. the field—from life in Ancient Rome to current- • Starting June 8, adult learners can read com/discoverrome day excavations in Turkey. To participate, visit Between the Lines with the Penn Muse- In addition, on July 2, the Museum’s facebook.com/pennmuseum/ um’s virtual book club, which features participation in the Wawa Welcome America Follow @PennMuseum on social media to carefully curated books with cultural Festival will go virtual this year, with a 10 stay up-to-date with news and information, in- connections each month. June’s featured a.m. interactive tour of the Egypt Galleries; cluding the “Community Spotlight,” which book is Americanah by Chimamanda “At Home: Anthro LIVE,” an engaging welcomes the public to share their perspectives Ngozi Adichie and the online discussion session for elementary- and middle-school and shape the direction of an upcoming exhibit will be moderated by Dwaune Latimer, children to dig into archaeology and cultures through online voting. the Friendly Keeper of Collections in the from around the world at 11 a.m.; and at 1 African Section. $5. For more informa- p.m., the “Digital Daily Dig,” Change to Work Addresses in Workday Due to Remote Working The University of Pennsylvania continues their pay but instead will have any local taxes “Address Change: Possible Updates Needed to remote working to address the health and well- withheld for the tax jurisdiction in which they Tax Elections.” Workers should click on the being of its employees during the coronavirus reside. “BSI Tax Withholding Form Employee” link (COVID-19) pandemic. As remote work pro- Philadelphia residents—will not have their and review and complete the appropriate state gresses toward 90 days and more, we are now work location changed as there would be no or local tax forms displayed. Individuals should moving forward with making a change in Work- change to their tax withholding. also click on the “Pick Other Forms” button to day to update work addresses to home to ensure • Employees residing outside of Pennsylvania: determine if additional forms are available to be compliance with state and local tax withholding Employees who live in reciprocal states completed. For additional information, refer to requirements. The good news is that the Univer- (New Jersey, Ohio, Maryland, Virginia, West the Self Service-Access Tax Withholding Forms sity has identified a method to make a systemic Virginia and Indiana) who have elected to be tip sheet at www.workday.upenn.edu/docs/de- change to update work address. This systemic taxed in their state of residence instead of the fault-source/tip-sheets/self-service-access-tax- change will take the burden off the schools and state in which they work (PA)—will no lon- withholding-forms.pdf?sfvrsn=2acb8f56_30 centers to manually make these changes, as we ger have Philadelphia City Wage Tax withheld City Wage Tax Refunds previously thought. from their pay and will instead have any local Non-residents of Philadelphia may make a For employees residing outside of Philadel- taxes withheld for the tax jurisdiction in which claim directly with the City at the end of the phia who are working remotely, their work ad- they reside. Additionally, any credit received year for Philadelphia City Wage Tax withheld dress in Workday will be updated to be the same against state tax withholding for Philadelphia from their pay while they worked outside the as their primary home address effective June 1, City Wage Tax withheld will be adjusted for the City for the period March 13 through May 31, 2020. Work addresses will not be changed for change in local tax withholding. the remote work period prior to the effective identified groups of individuals in functional ar- Employees who live in reciprocal states (New date of the work location change. The complet- eas who cannot perform their job functions re- Jersey, Ohio, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia ed petition form must include the following: motely, as follows: and Indiana) who have NOT elected to be taxed • W-2 showing Federal, State, Medicare • FRES, Business Services, and in their state of residence, but are instead taxed and Local wages Public Safety union staff; in the state in which they work (PA)—will no • Statement of dates worked outside the • Penn Child Care Center employees; longer have Philadelphia City Wage Tax or City of Philadelphia signed by both the • Certain ULAR and EHRS employees Pennsylvania state tax withheld, but will instead employee and the employer (identified by the Provost’s Office); have state and local tax withheld based on the • Signatures from both the employee and • Certain Ryan Hospital employees state and locality of where they reside. the employer (identified by the Vet School); and Employees who live in non-reciprocal Any refund claim must be filed within three • Individuals identified as essential states—will no longer have Philadelphia City (3) years from the date the tax was paid or due, employees to HR Wage Tax or Pennsylvania state tax withheld whichever date is later. No change in work location will be made for and will instead have state and local tax with- For any days worked outside Philadelphia, students; temporary employees; postdocs; facul- held based on the state and locality of where the employee may be liable for taxes in other ty in early retirement; individuals on STD, LTD they reside. jurisdictions within Pennsylvania or in another or scholarly academic leave; or for individuals Workday Tasks to be Completed by state. It is the employee’s responsibility to deter- with a primary home address outside of the US. Employees mine whether they have any such liability, to file Note that this change will affect pay dates after For individuals residing outside of Penn- the appropriate tax forms, and to make any pay- June 1, 2020. The change will not be retroactive sylvania—To ensure they are properly taxed, ments due to such other jurisdictions. to March 13, 2020. workers should access Workday on June 1 to If you have any questions, please contact the Impact to Employees review and update their tax information. Indi- Penn Employee Solution Center at hcmsolution- • Employees residing in Pennsylvania: viduals whose work address has been changed [email protected] Non-Philadelphia residents—will no longer will receive a notice in Workday of a To-Do task —Department of Human Resources have Philadelphia City Wage tax withheld from 6 www.upenn.edu/almanac ALMANAC June 2, 2020 Support Local Businesses Through the Retail Restart Fund A family-owned restaurant serving the neighborhood for over 30 years. The local co-op making Update sure customers can shop as safely as possible. Independently-owned shops for books, unique gifts, Summer AT PENN board games and hardware. Local businesses are the backbone of our neighborhood, and they need our support. That’s why we are launching the Retail Restart Fund to get more cash directly into the FITNESS AND LEARNING hands of University City business owners and operators. Morris Arboretum Each spring, as we near the close of our fiscal year, we write to ask that you consider a contri- Register: morrisarb.org/learn bution to UCD so that we may sustain and grow our investments in places and people. Amid cri- 6/3 All About Succulents: A Guide to Succu- sis, this year is different. If you’re able, we ask that you consider summoning the same wonderful lent Houseplants and Landscape Plants; generosity and commitment to community, and direct it toward our local retailers and restaurants discuss- es the cultural requirements for a variety of succu- through the University City Retail Restart Fund, a new initiative to support our local economy we lent plants and ways they can be incorporated into will launch in the next few weeks. 100% of all proceeds raised through this fund will be regranted landscape design; 2 p.m.; $8/member, $10/non- to independently-owned businesses in our community to help them absorb the costs of re-opening members. safely—covering the purchase of supplies ranging from personal protective equipment (PPE) and contactless payment systems, to plexiglass dividers and outdoor tables. More details on how busi- SPORTS nesses can apply will be sent out soon! UCD is more than halfway toward the $50,000 goal, which would allow us to make mini-grants Fridays at 2:30 p.m., Quaker Classics will feature for up to 100 independently-owned retailers and restaurants. live rebroadcasts of Penn victories; www.youtube. Give today at https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/ucd20/donate to invest in the vibrancy of com/PennSportsNetwork our neighborhood and the vitality of our neighborhood businesses. 6/5 (W) Basketball vs. Brown; original broad- —University City District cast: March 3, 2018. TALKS Penn Libraries Summer 2020-2021 PPSA Election 6/3 Stopping the Hate and Starting to Heal: Workshop Series Living With and Through the COVID-19 Pan- Visit https://upenn.co1.qualtrics.com/ Trying to figure out how to have a produc- jfe/form/SV_8wwN61Nxm7VBkxf to view demic; moderated discussion; 7 p.m.; info: https:// tive summer? Looking for training? Exploring tinyurl.com/y7wk5wze (ASAM, PennGlobal). the candidate profiles and cast your vote. new skills? The Penn Libraries is offering a va- Voting will end at 11:59 p.m. tomorrow, riety of workshops and series to help you make June 3. Voters’ emails must be on the PPSA the most of Summer 2020. Webinar Wednesdays email listserv for votes to be counted. Webinar Wednesdays is a series of To watch the presentation about the Penn Let them know what you want to learn by visiting https://tinyurl.com/PLWorkshopSeries live, recorded events designed to keep Museum that was given at the recent PPSA Penn staff informed about relevant top- meeting go to https://www.youtube.com/wat and keep an eye on their calendar for upcoming ch?v=l7Z2wrIQpJ0&feature=youtu.be opportunities by visiting https://guides.library. ics. Workday administrators are invited upenn.edu/workshops to attend the live events or access the video recordings on-demand. Webinars are conducted live, every WPPSA Call for Nominations: June 10 other Wednesday at noon, unless other- The Weekly Paid Professional Staff Assembly is seeking nominations for the following board wise noted. The schedule may change positions: because of presenter, topic or technical • WPPSA Chair issues as well as other factors. • WPPSA Chair-Elect (must be a former board member) For upcoming webinars and as well • WPPSA Treasurer (2) as recordings of past webinars, visit • WPPSA Secretary www.workday.upenn.edu/home/News/ • WPPSA Communications Manager (includes: outreach, webinar-wednesdays listserv management, and website management) If you, or a colleague you know of, are interested in these positions, please visit https://upenn.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cOnCmWu4f8EQgkJ to learn more and to submit an application. Applications are due by June 10 by 5 p.m. 3910 Chestnut Street, 2nd floor Please direct questions to Thalia Mangan at [email protected] Philadelphia, PA 19104-3111 Phone: (215) 898-5274 or 5275 FAX: (215) 898-9137 Email: [email protected] The University of Pennsylvania Police Department URL: www.upenn.edu/almanac

Community Crime Report The University of Pennsylvania’s journal of record, opinion and news is published Tuesdays during the academic year, and About the Crime Report: Below are the Crimes Against Persons or Crimes Against Society from as needed during summer and holiday breaks. Its electronic edi- the campus report for May 18-24, 2020. Also reported were 22 crimes against property (5 bike thefts, 4 thefts tions on the Internet (accessible through the Penn website) include from building, 3 thefts from vehicle, 3 vandalism, 2 auto thefts, 1 fraud, 1 retail theft, 1 theft other and 2 oth- HTML, Acrobat and mobile versions of the print edition, and interim er offenses) with 5 arrests. Full reports are available at: https://almanac.upenn.edu/sections/crimes Prior information may be posted in electronic-only form. Guidelines for weeks’ reports are also online. –Eds. readers and contributors are available on request and online. EDITOR Marguerite F. Miller This summary is prepared by the Division of Public Safety and includes all criminal incidents reported ASSOCIATE EDITOR Louise Emerick and made known to the University Police Department between the dates of May 18-24, 2020. The Universi- ASSISTANT EDITOR Alisha George ty Police actively patrol from Market St to Baltimore Avenue and from the Schuylkill River to 43rd St in con- EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Jackson Betz junction with the Philadelphia Police. In this effort to provide you with a thorough and accurate report on pub- lic safety concerns, we hope that your increased awareness will lessen the opportunity for crime. For any ALMANAC ADVISORY BOARD: For the Faculty Senate: concerns or suggestions regarding this report, please call the Division of Public Safety at (215) 898-4482. Martin Pring (chair), Sunday Akintoye, Christine Bradway, Daniel Cohen, Al Filreis, Cary Mazer. For the Administration: Stephen 05/19/20 8:32 AM 3400 Civic Center Blvd Complainant assaulted by known offender MacCarthy. For the Staff Assemblies: Jon Shaw, PPSA; Marcia 05/19/20 12:10 PM 3400 Spruce St Complainant harassed by offender Dotson, WPPSA; Rachelle R. Nelson, Librarians Assembly. 05/19/20 1:36 PM 400 University Ave Offender attempted to rob complainants 05/20/20 12:35 AM 100 S 43rd St Cab driver carjacked/Arrest The University of Pennsylvania values diversity and seeks tal- ented students, faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds. The University of Pennsylvania does not discriminate on the basis 18th District of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, Below are the Crimes Against Persons from the 18th District: 6 incidents (3 assaults and 3 robber- creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, ies) with 1 arrest were reported for May 18-24, 2020 by the 18th District covering the Schuylkill River to 49th veteran status or any other legally protected class status in the Street & Market Street to Woodland Avenue. administration of its admissions, financial aid, educational or ath- letic programs, or other University-administered programs or in 05/18/20 3:46 PM 3400 Civic Center Blvd Assault its employment practices. Questions or complaints regarding this 05/18/20 11:07 PM 4500 Regent St Robbery policy should be directed to Sam 05/19/20 1:39 PM 400 University Ave Robbery Starks, Executive Director of the Office of Affirmative Action and 05/19/20 1:55 PM 3400 Spruce St Assault Equal Opportunity Programs, 421 05/20/20 12:35 AM 137 S 43rd St Robbery/Arrest Franklin Building, 3451 Walnut 05/22/20 8:21 AM 4700 Chester Ave Assault Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104- 6205; or (215) 898-6993 (Voice). ALMANAC June 2, 2020 www.upenn.edu/almanac 7 RESEARCH & INNOVATION As the COVID-19 pandemic began to be felt, scientists at Penn started work to develop a vaccine and assess possible treatments. But the scope of COVID-19 studies at the University goes much broader. Scientists whose typical work finds them investigating autoimmune disease, influenza, HIV/AIDS, Ebola, cancer, hemophilia and more, are now applying their deep understanding of biology to confront a novel threat. Coming Together to Solve COVID-19 Mysteries What Does SARS COVID-19 Do To Our Lungs? Another respiratory pose the microbiome to find patterns in how they correlate with disease.” infection, influenza, has been a focus of research led by Andrew Vaughan, What Drugs Might Make An Impact? Absent a vaccine, researchers Penn Vet assistant professor of biomedical sciences. But Dr. Vaughan are looking to existing drugs—some already approved by the US FDA for didn’t hesitate to begin studies of the novel coronavirus once its eventual other maladies—to help patients recover once infected. Throughout his impact became apparent. Now, graduate students and research specialists career, Ronald Harty, Penn Vet professor of pathobiology and microbiol- in his lab—working no more than two together at a time to maximize so- ogy, has worked to develop antivirals for other infections, such as Ebola, cial distancing—are conducting new experiments focused more specifi- Marburg and Lassa Fever. cally on the biology of SARS-CoV-2, alongside parallel efforts by Ed- Though many of the biological details of how SARS-CoV-2 interacts ward Morrissey from PSOM. Knowing that the ACE2 receptor on lung with the human body are distinct from the other diseases Dr. Harty has cells is the gateway for the virus into the human body, they’re genetically studied, his group noticed a similarity: A sequence he’s targeted in oth- manipulating alveolar type-two lung cells, which are particularly essential er viruses—a motif called PPxY—is also present in the spike protein of for continuing oxygen exchange deep in the lungs, to alter or block ACE2 SARS-CoV-2, which the coronavirus uses to enter cells. gene expression to try to prevent viral entry. “This caught our eye,” said Dr. Harty, “and piqued our interest in the Why are Men Worse Off Than Women? In a separate project, Dr. very intriguing possibility that this PPxY motif could play a role in the se- Vaughan is partnering with Montserrat Anguera, Penn Vet associate pro- verity of this particular virus.” He is testing antivirals he has helped iden- fessor of biomedical sciences, to explore a curious feature of COVID-19 tify that block the replication of Ebola, Marburg and other viruses to see if disease: the fact that more men than women become severely ill and die. A they make a dent on the activity of SARS-CoV-2. Those experiments will number of hypotheses have been put forward to explain the disparity, but be done in collaboration with colleagues whose labs can work in BSL-III the two labs are investigating one particular possibility. or -IV laboratories. “Dr. Anguera had posted something on Twitter saying that the ACE2 Also of interest is the speculation that the coronavirus might disrupt gene happens to be on the X chromosome, meaning that women have cell-cell junctions in the human body, making them more permeable for two copies of it,” said Dr. Vaughan. “I immediately texted her and said, ‘I virus spread. think there’s something to that.’” Another faculty member is assessing whether a drug developed for a very Hormone expression levels are another factor that may influence sex different condition—pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)—could serve differences in disease. Together, Drs. Anguera and Vaughan’s groups are coronavirus patients. Henry Daniell, vice-chair and W.D. Miller Professor in both studying ACE2 expression and exposing alveolar type-two cells to Penn Dental’s department of basic and translational sciences, shared news that various hormones to see how expression of viral receptors, ACE2 and oth- a drug grown in a plant-based platform to boost levels of ACE2 and its pro- ers, changes. “Ultimately we’d like to see if this changes susceptibility to tein product, angiotensin (1-7), was progressing to the clinic to treat PAH. Dr. infection, working with Susan Weiss and others,” said Dr. Vaughan. Daniell is now working with Kenneth Margulies, PSOM professor of medi- Do Genetics Influence Susceptibility? Individual differences in how cine and physiology and research and fellowship director of the Heart Failure people respond to infection may be influenced by their unique genomic se- and Transplant Program, to explore whether this novel oral therapy can im- quences. PIK Professor Sarah Tishkoff of PSOM and SAS is probing the rich prove the clinical course of patients with symptomatic COVID-19 infection. sources of genomic data her group already had in hand to look for patterns Reduced ACE2 expression has been linked to acute respiratory dis- that could explain differences in disease susceptibility. Using genomic data tress, severe lung injury, multi-organ failure and death, especially in older from 2,500 Africans collected for another project, Dr. Tishkoff’s team is look- patients. The earlier preclinical studies in PAH animal models showed that ing for patterns of genetic diversity. Early findings suggest that natural selec- orally delivered ACE2 made in plant cells accumulated ten times higher tion may have acted upon on a version of the ACE2 gene, making it more in the lungs than in the blood and safely treated PAH. Now, new clinical common in some African populations with high exposure to animal viruses. studies have been developed to explore whether oral supplementation of She is also collaborating with Anurag Verma and Giorgio Sirugo of ACE2 and angiotensin-1-7 can help mitigate complications of COVID-19 Penn Medicine to analyze genetic variation in samples from the Penn disease. The fact that freeze-dried plant cells can be stored at room tem- Medicine Biobank, looking in particular at people of African descent. perature for as long as a year and can be taken at home by COVID-19 pa- How is the Immune System Reacting? “The immune system is what tients make this novel approach an attractive potential option. eliminates the virus,” said E. John Wherry, chair of Systems Pharmacology “This trial has been given a high priority by the Penn Clinical Trial Work- and Translational Therapeutics at PSOM. “The immune system is what we ing Group,” said Dr. Daniell. “I’m pleased that this looks to be on the cusp need to activate with a good vaccine. But also, especially in many respira- of moving forward to help the growing number of COVID-19 patients.” tory infections, the immune system is what also causes damage. A healthy As the coronavirus began to spread in the US, Joshua Plotkin, Walter outcome means your immune system is striking a balance between killing H. and Leonore C. Annenberg Professor of the Natural Sciences, began to off the virus and not doing so much damage that it kills you.” raise alarms about Philadelphia’s St. Patrick’s Day parade. His studies of Dr. Wherry and Michael Betts, professor of microbiology, have em- the 1918 flu pandemic had explored disease incidence and spread, and it barked on a study to discern both the magnitude of patients’ immune re- was hard to avoid noticing the role of the Liberty Loan parade down Broad sponses as well as their “flavor,” that is, what components in the immune Street in triggering a rampant spread of flu back then. Now, with work system are being activated by the coronavirus. They are doing so by work- conducted with two graduate students and faculty member Simon Levin ing with clinicians at HUP and, soon, at Penn Presbyterian Medical Cen- from Princeton University, Dr. Plotkin has mathematically sound advice for ter, to collect blood samples from patients with severe and more mild in- policymakers hoping to effectively stem the spread of a pandemic. In a pre- fections, as well as patients who have recovered from illness, to profile print on arXiv.org, they share “optimal, near-optimal, and robust” strategies. their immune reactions. Variety across patients strongly suggests that the Their analysis makes the realistic assumption that policymakers can treatments that work for one patient may not for another, Drs. Wherry and only enforce social distancing for a limited amount of time and aims to Betts note. They are speaking daily with their colleagues on the front lines minimize the peak incidence of disease. The optimal strategy, they found, of COVID-19 care, relaying what they’re finding out in the lab. is to start by introducing moderate social distancing measures to keep the The PSOM’s Ronald Collman, professor of medicine, and Frederic incidence rate the same for a period of time. This would mean that every Bushman, William Maul Measey Professor in Microbiology, have been person with COVID-19 would infect one additional person. Then the in- devoting attention to how the community of bacteria, viruses, fungi and tervention should switch over to a full suppression—the strongest pos- parasites that dwell in the respiratory tract affect health and disease risk. sible quarantine—for the rest of the period. At the end of that period, all They are now addressing that question in the context of COVID-19. Ac- restrictions would be lifted. cording to Dr. Collman, “The microbiome can help set the tone for the im- “This works because you don’t want to fully suppress disease spread mune response to infections, influencing whether a patient ends up with right off the bat,” said Dr. Plotkin, “because then at the end, after you re- mild or severe disease. And second, the microbiome is where infectious move restrictions, there will be a second peak that is just as large as the agents that can cause infection can arise from. So if a patient dies of an first. By employing a moderate suppression at the beginning, you’re build- eventual pneumonia, the pathogen that caused that pneumonia may have ing up a population of people who are going to recover and become im- been part of that individual’s respiratory tract microbiome.” mune, without letting the epidemic get out of control.” Working with nurses at HUP to collect samples, Drs. Collman and Dr. Plotkin and colleagues are hoping to share the findings widely to Bushman are analyzing the microbiome of both the upper and lower por- help navigate a likely second wave of COVID-19. tions of the respiratory tract of COVID-19 patients. Their labs are using —Adapted from a story by Katie Baillie, Penn Today these samples to identify the types and quantities of organisms that com- Visit https://tinyurl.com/pennandcovid for the full story. 8 www.upenn.edu/almanac ALMANAC June 2, 2020