ascb october 2018 | vol. 41 | no. 5
NEWSstem cells topic symposiaLETTER symposia 8 for doorstep 11 highlights 13 briefs meeting, keynote The 2018 ASCB|EMBO Meeting Cell biology of marine protists: Toward functional genomic tools for diverse new model organisms
The broad taxonomic and physiological diversity of marine unicellular eukaryotes offers exciting opportunities to investigate a range of features of the eukaryotic lineage that are inaccessible in canonical model organisms. On Wednesday, December 12, join us to learn more about ongoing efforts to develop functional genetic tools for better understanding the unique cell biological features of these emerging model marine protists.
Figure: Perkinsus olseni (marine bivalve parasite) expressing a GFP (green) fusion with an ex- ported cell-wall protein. Image courtesy of R.Waller, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
PLEASE JOIN US FOR MORNING AND AFTERNOON EVENTS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2018
ASCB Special Interest Subgroup: 8:30 - 11:05 a.m. Satellite Event: 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. see ASCB conference website for details
MOORE.ORG contents october 2018 | vol. 41 | no. 5
introduction ascb asks president’s column prophase 3 4 5 8 47 ascb|embo meeting features 8 stem cells principal topic 11 symposia highlights 13 2018 symposia briefs for doorstep meeting and keynote address regular issue content
louis-jeantet award lectures...... 34 ascb news e .e . just award winner...... 35 mboc to publish peer review reports...... 16 inaugural reipience of ascb prize in inclusivity ...... 36 crossing the great divide from academia to industry . . . . .17 ascb early career life scientist award...... 38 ascb receives nigms ipert funding...... 18 mboc paper of the year award...... 39 thirteen members honored as ascb fellows ...... 19 . inaugural porter prizes for research excellence . . . . . 40 dora interview series...... 20 2018 merton bernfield awardee...... 41
science and columns technology emerging voices...... 43 highlights from mboc ...... 21 science and society...... 46 under the microscope...... 22 highlights from lse...... 49
annual meeting careers ascb|embo meeting program...... 23 career navigator...... 50 ascb doorstep meeting ...... 25 dear labby...... 53 4D nucleome satellite meeting ...... 25 sponsors...... 26 career enhancement programming...... 27 members 2018 e .b . wilson medal...... 29 member profile...... 55 embo gold medal winners ...... 31 early career meetings...... 55 ruth lehmann to deliver 2018 keith porter lecture . . . . 33 member gifts...... 56 in memoriam...... 57 ascb newsletter october 2018 1
introduction ascb The ASCB|EMBO Meeting: NEWSLETTER the american society for An Annual Extravaganza cell biology 8120 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 750 Bethesda, MD 20814-2762, USA by w . mark leader, editor Tel: 301-347-9300 Fax: 301-347-9310 [email protected], www.ascb.org Erika C. Shugart The ASCB|EMBO Meeting is the largest gathering of cell biologists in the Chief Executive Officer
world, an annual extravaganza of science, technology, learning, collaboration, officers and fun. This issue of theNewsletter focuses on what will happen there. Jodi Nunnari President In the President’s Column, guest columnist Samara Reck-Peterson, co- Andrew Murray President-Elect chair of the Program Committee, reflects on her experiences at past Annual Pietro De Camilli Past President Gary J. Gorbsky Treasurer Meetings and offers an overview of the 2018 meeting. In the Features, science Kerry Bloom Secretary
writer Mary Spiro talks about what to expect at the Doorstep Meeting, council Keynote Lecture, and eight Symposia, and why it’s exciting. As always, there Angelika Amon Janet Iwasa are valuable and interesting nonscientific programs as well. The vast array of Mike Ehlers George Langford Bob Goldstein Wallace F. Marshall career enhancement programs at the meeting are listed on p. 28. John K. Haynes Anne Spang Rebecca Heald Julie Theriot The extraordinary science presented at the ASCB|EMBO Meeting is Erika L.F. Holzbaur Ora A. Weisz produced by extraordinary scientists. ASCB and EMBO honor many of them with achievement awards. In this issue, you can read about 13 awards contributors/staff presented to 16 scientists at all career levels. Many of the award recipients will W. Mark Leader Editor Thea Clarke Director, Communications and Education speak at the meeting. These are your peers, colleagues, mentors, and mentees. Leeann Kirchner Marketing and Design Manager Read about them here, then come to the meeting to hear what they have to say. Danielle Peterson Production Designer Mary Spiro Science Writer/Social Media Manager There’s much more at the meeting than the Keynote, Symposia, professional Kevin Wilson Director of Public Policy and Media Relations development programs, and award presentations, of course: Special Interest advertising Subgroups, information on education and public outreach, exhibits and For advertising information, visit www.ascb.org exhibitor workshops, thousands of posters, Minisymposia, Microsymposia, or contact [email protected] and lots of opportunities to meet friends and collaborators, old and new. If we were to discuss in detail everything that happens at the meeting, this issue ASCB Newsletter ISSN 1060-8982 of the Newsletter would be enormous. We hope you enjoy reading about the Volume 41, Number 5 meeting. But really, you just need to be in San Diego from December 8–12. October 2018 © 2018 The American Society for Cell Biology. Copyright to the articles is held by the author or, for staff-written articles, by the ASCB. The content of theASCB Newsletter is available to the public under an Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike Unported Creative Commons License (www.creativecommons. org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0). On the Cover: Science discussion tables at the 2017 ASCB|EMBO Meeting. Postmaster: Send change of address to: ASCB Newsletter The American Society for Cell Biology 8120 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 750 Bethesda, MD 20814-2762, USA “ASCB,” “The American Society for Cell Biology,” “iBioSeminars,” “DORA,” and “Molecular Biology of the Cell” are registered trademarks of The the ascb newsletter is published six times American Society for Cell Biology . “Cell Image per year by the american Library” is a common law trademark of The society for cell biology TM American Society for Cell Biology .
ascb newsletter october 2018 3 prophase
ascb asks . .
For each issue of the Newsletter, ASCB posts a question to our followers on social media. Follow @ASCBiology on Twitter or like the Facebook page American Society for Cell Biology to see all of our posts and images, as well as the posts with the hashtag #ASCBAsks. Thanks to those who took the time to share their thoughts with us on our question this time: What are some tips for getting the most out of the annual ASCB Meeting?
Get on social media, find a few people who you want to meet, see again, and email
them ahead of time . Pick a new to you subject area and go to a couple of talks . They are sometimes the best and can spark an idea for you . ~ Alexandra Surcel, @AlexandraSurcel
Be sure to check out the COMPASS Open Forum . It’s a great opportunity to meet
current and former COMPASS members, network, and voice any opinions or concerns you may have re: the trainee experience . ~ Ashley Lakoduk, @alakoduk
Poster sessions are where the action is . I always look through the abstract book and
pick out posters I’m interested in . Face time with the folks who’ve done the work can lead to new ideas, collaborators, and friendships . ~ Michael Torres, PhD, @Mykalt45
If you want to network with someone in particular, email them ahead of time to set
up a one-on-one meeting during the conference . Prior preparation goes a long way! ~ Adriana Bankston, @AdrianaBankston
Find a place to rest and sit down often to rest your legs and knees . Don’t wear
yourself out early . Attend Saturday sessions, they are really good . Talk to someone you haven’t before . ~ Ahna Skop, via Facebook
Follow us on Twitter at @ascbiology to find out the next question.
4 ascb newsletter october 2018 prophase president’s column Great Science and Perfect Weather at the 2018 ASCB|EMBO Meeting
By Samara Reck-Peterson, Guest Columnist
This year will mark the second joint ASCB|EMBO then. Each year I look forward to learning about new meeting and the 58th annual ASCB meeting, which is science, meeting old friends and colleagues, meeting being held in my new hometown, beautiful, sunny San newcomers to my field, and participating in the wealth Diego, CA! The beaches and weather are as perfect in of programming that focuses on career development December as they are in July. (Although, if we get some and science policy. rain while you are here, my apologies, but we need it!) I planned this year’s program with my EMBO co- We are expecting over 6,000 people from all over the chair Thomas Langer, ASCB President Jodi Nunnari, world to attend the 2018 ASCB|EMBO Meeting. Come and a fantastic Program Committee. Over the years join us! ASCB, now working in partnership with EMBO, In writing this piece I thought I’d first reflect on my has strived to lead the way in modern cell biology own experiences of attending ASCB meetings. My first at its Annual Meeting. This meeting is very much a ASCB meeting was in San Francisco in 1996 when I reflection of that. was a second-year graduate student in the Cell Biology Department at Yale University. Stem Cell Doorstep Meeting Not only was it my first time in San For the third year in a row there will Francisco, but it was my first major An early meeting be an ASCB Doorstep Meeting prior scientific meeting. I was blown that had a big to the main meeting. Past Doorstep away by the breadth and excitement Meetings focused on the cell biology of the meeting. Since that time, impact on me was of cancer (2016) and the cell biology I’ve attended nearly every ASCB the 1997 meeting, of brain development, function, and meeting. An early meeting that had when I remember degeneration (2017). This year’s a big impact on me was the 1997 Doorstep Meeting was organized by meeting, when I remember hearing hearing Eva Elaine Fuchs (Rockefeller University Eva Nogales, who is the incoming Nogales…talk about and HHMI) and Sean Morrison ASCB President-Elect, talk about the the structure of (University of Texas Southwestern structure of tubulin to a standing- Medical Center and HHMI) and is room-only crowd. This sense of tubulin to a standing- titled “Beyond Homeostasis: Stem excitement has continued through room-only crowd. Cells Under Stress.” The meeting the many ASCB meetings I have will take place on Saturday and attended and participated in since culminate in the ASCB|EMBO
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Keynote Lecture by Sean Morrison, Nuclear Organization, Cell titled “Niches for Stem Cells in Bone Migration, Neuronal Cell Marrow,” which is open to all. The 23 Biology, Cytoskeletal Dynamics, The theme of stem cells will Minisymposia Metabolism, Regeneration continue to be a thread throughout and 18 and Morphogenesis, Organelle the 2018 meeting with a Communication, and Quality Symposium on “Regeneration and Microsymposia Control. The 23 Minisymposia and Morphogenesis,” Minisymposia seek to cover the 18 Microsymposia seek to cover the on “The Biology of Stem Cells” and entire gamut of scientific interests of entire gamut of “Stem Cells and Organoids,” and a the ASCB|EMBO community. subgroup meeting on “New Tools scientific interests and Resources for Studies of Stem of the ASCB|EMBO Award Lectures Cell Biology.” An important component of the community. ASCB|EMBO meetings is to recognize Special Interest Subgroups the outstanding achievements of our In addition to the doorstep meeting, Saturday also members. One way in which we do this is through a features what has become one of the highlights of series of special award ASCB|EMBO meetings, the member-organized lectures at the meeting. Some of this year’s awards and Special Interest Subgroups. This is a mechanism for all awardees include the E.E. Just Award to Guillermina ASCB|EMBO members to apply to organize a meeting Lozano (MD Anderson Cancer Center, session on an emerging topic in cell biology. University of Texas), the Bruce Alberts This year there will be 26 subgroup sessions, on Award for Excellence in Science Education to Erin Saturday and at other times throughout the meeting. Dolan (University of Georgia), the E.B. Wilson Award For example, Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz (Janelia to Barbara Meyer (University of California, Berkeley, Research Campus and HHMI) and Thoru Pederson and HHMI), the Porter Lecturer to Ruth Lehmann (University of Massachusetts Medical School) will (Skirball Institute, New York University School of run a subgroup on “Physics and the Cell: 2018 and Medicine and HHMI), the Porter Prizes for Research Beyond” to highlight a major frontier in cell biology. Excellence to Andrew Moore (HHMI Janelia Research Bob Goldstein (University of North Carolina, Chapel Campus) and Melanie White (A*STAR), the EMBO Hill) and Mansi Srivastava (Harvard University) will Gold Medal to Marek Basler (Biozentrum at the chair the subgroup on “Emerging Model Systems,” University of Basel, Switzerland) and Melina Schuh which has become an important new area in modern (Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry in cell biology as techniques that have been developed Göttingen, Germany), the Jeantet Prize Lectures to in traditional model systems are being applied to Christer Betsholtz (Karolinska Institute, and Uppsala organisms that were previously less tractable. University, Sweden) and Antonio Lanzavecchia (Institute for Research in Biomedicine and Università Diverse Science Topics della Svizzera italiana, Switzerland), and the WICB This year’s meeting features eight Symposia topics awards (see p.51). that also focus on the forefront of modern cell biology:
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Scientific Workshops public policy sessions offered at the meeting, including There will be three scientific workshops at the meeting, “Advocacy Toolbox I: The Two-Minute Speech” and the goal of which is to provide in-depth technical “Advocacy Toolbox II: Practice Being an Advocate for insights on emerging techniques and tools for modern Science.” Those who are really inspired by advocacy cell biology. This year will feature “New Fluorescent should consider the session on Careers in Science Policy. Probes and High-Throughput Imaging Approaches” organized by Brenda Andrews (University of Toronto) Satellite Meetings and Courses and Luke Lavis (Janelia and HHMI), “Screening ASCB, in partnership with the 4D Nucleome group Approaches in Human Cells and CRISPR Methods” funded by the NIH Common Fund, will run a full- organized by Manuel Leonetti (Chan Zuckerberg day meeting on the Friday before the ASCB|EMBO Biohub) and Martin Kampmann (University of meeting begins. The goals of this group are to develop California, San Francisco), and “Electron Cryo- and apply approaches to map chromatin structure and Tomography and Correlated Light dynamics. The meeting will highlight and Electron Microscopy (CLEM)” progress toward these goals. organized by Wanda Kukulski (MRC [T]hree scientific Also on Friday, ASCB, in Laboratory of Molecular Biology) partnership with the Keck Graduate and Martin Pilhofer (ETH Zurich). workshops [will] Institute, will sponsor the “Biotech Mini-Course,” a daylong course for provide in-depth Career Enhancement graduate students and postdoctoral Programming technical insights fellows aimed at helping basic The ASCB and EMBO have been scientists be competitive for jobs in leaders in career enhancement on emerging the biotechnology and pharmaceutical programming for decades. Of special techniques and sectors. This successful course, as note this year there will be two well as the longer summer version career enhancement programming tools for modern of the biotech course, has now been theaters in the Learning Center cell biology. running for five years. (exhibit hall) with programs running On behalf of myself and my co- throughout each day of the meeting. chair Thomas Langer, we look There are events for every career forward to seeing you in San Diego level, with topics including career options for cell in December! biologists, how to thrive as a new faculty member, excelling in your current role, and understanding the National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant review process.
About the Author Sessions to Help You Become a Science Advocate Samara Reck-Peterson, University of California, In today’s political climate, it is more important than San Diego, and HHMI, is co-chair of the Program Committee for the 2018 ASCB|EMBO Meeting . ever that scientists be able to articulate the value of their work to the public. Learn how to do this at the
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Stem Cells Principal Topic for Doorstep Meeting and Keynote Lecture
By Mary Spiro
Both the day-long 2018 ASCB Doorstep Meeting maintain stem cells in damaged tissues. Replicative on Saturday, December 8, and the Keynote Lecture stress and the need to regenerate differentiated cells that evening for the 2018 ASCB|EMBO Meeting will can deplete stem cells, requiring the induction of feature discussions of stem cells. In fact this year’s distinct mechanisms that ensure stem cell persistence Keynote speaker helped plan the lineup of presenters beyond homeostasis.” for the Doorstep Meeting. The meeting will begin with a talk from Stanford University’s Roel Nusse, “The Origin of New Cells Doorstep Meeting in the Liver.” He will describe his research on Wnt The title of this year’s Doorstep Meeting, an ASCB signaling and the hepatocytes found in the pericentral exclusive event open to just 200 participants, is domain of the liver, which act like stem cells. “Beyond Homeostasis: Stem Cells Under Stress.” The Next, Anne Brunet, also of Stanford, will present meeting was co-curated by two leaders in the field “Mechanisms of Stem Cell Aging.” Her talk will of stem cell research—Elaine Fuchs, the Rebecca C. specifically focus on the systems that control neural Lancefield Professor from Rockefeller University/ stem cell homeostasis. The morning talks will round HHMI, and Sean Morrison, director of the Children’s out with a third Stanford presenter, Lucy Erin O’Brien, Medical Center Research Institute (CRI) at University who will offer up “Out of Many, One: Collective Cell of Texas Southwestern Medical Center/HHMI. Dynamics during Organ Renewal.” She will discuss Fuchs and Morrison have designed a meeting that cell number and cell patterning and the role they highlights and compares the mechanisms by which play in the dynamics of whole organ tissue renewal, stem cells respond to normal tissue regeneration as remodeling, and repair. well as to stress. “One of the most interesting areas of The afternoon session of the meeting begins with stem cell biology concerns the mechanisms by which Andrew Brack from the University of California, San stem cells withstand stresses such as tissue injury,” Francisco, who will present “Skeletal Muscle Stem they write in their introduction to the meeting. “So far, Cells: Regeneration and Aging.” His talk will answer most studies of stem cell function have been in normal the question: How do muscle stem cells resist stress tissues. Less is known about the mechanisms that in the face of aging, disease, or injury? Then Valerie
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Horsley of Yale University will share her fascinating Morrison will talk about how the microenvironment discoveries in “Fat Cells as Active Participants in in the bone marrow regulates stem cell maintenance Tissue Regeneration.” And lastly, Fuchs will present and tissue regneration. “Skin Stem Cells: Coping with Stress,” Using skin Morrison’s lab studies the molecular mechanisms cell epithelium as her model, Fuchs will describe the that make it possible for stems cells to persist in our mechanisms at play when things go right with skin tissues by undergoing self-renewing division. While stem cells and result in repair and renewal, and when one reason to better understand these processes is to they go wrong and lead to inflammation and cancer. promote normal tissue repair and renewal, another Fuchs says the goal of this work is to understand the reason to investigate them is to see when and where basic cell biology of epithelial stem cells to reveal they go awry. potential therapeutics for disease. “Cancer is a disease of dysregulated self-renewal, In addition to these presentations, students and in which cancer cells hijack the mechanisms that postdocs who submitted abstracts for the Doorstep stem cells normally use to replicate themselves and Meeting will be able to offer “poster teasers” or inappropriately activate those mechanisms to form abstract pitches before the morning and afternoon tumors,” Morrison explains. Morrison’s research, poster breakout sessions. A selected group of students which has been featured recently in the mainstream will present Top Poster Abstracts near the conclusion media, has shown that blood-forming stem cells take of the meeting. up more vitamin C than other blood-forming cells and that vitamin C is required to promote mechanisms Keynote Lecture that regulate stem cell function and suppress the Sean Morrison will give his Keynote Lecture “Niches development of leukemia. for Stem Cells in Bone Marrow” on Saturday evening at 6:00 pm, and the talk will be open to both Doorstep More Stem Cell Presentations Meeting attendees and regular ASCB|EMBO Meeting To further explore the stem cell theme, two of the registrants. Continuing on the theme presented by Minisymposia at the meeting will also focus on these Fuchs at the conclusion of the Doorstep Meeting, pluripotent cells. Biology of Stem Cells will be held on
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Sunday from 4:15 to 6:50 pm and will be led by co- chairs David Traver from the University of California, San Diego, and Ruwanthi Gunawardane from the Allen Institute for Cell Science. Topics include creating a stem cell map; mechanism for Wnt-Fzd specificity; hair follicle regeneration; spindle reorientation in stem cells; skeletal muscle regeneration; cell fate in the early Drosophila embryo; and breast cancer stem cell fate regulation. On Wednesday from 8:30 to 11:05 am, co-chairs Dirk Hockemeyer from the University of California, Berkeley, and Aron Jaffe of Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research will lead Biological Insights from Organoid Models of Health and Disease. This Minisymposium will cover genetically engineered Hematopoietic stem cells persist throughout adult human cortical spheroid models; 3D culture in brain- life in the bone marrow, where most blood cells are produced. Leptin Receptor+ perivascular stromal mimetic matrices; human mammary epithelia; blood cells (red) and endothelial cells (green) are the main progenitor regulation; and deep tissue engineering and sources of factors required for hematopoietic stem cell maintenance, creating the stem cell niche. reprogramming. (Morrison)
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Symposia Highlights: Nuclear Organization, Neuronal Cell Biology, Quality Control
By Mary Spiro
Symposia are among the most popular components of in non-dividing cells, such as neurons, which retain ASCB’s annual meetings. For the 2018 ASCB|EMBO their physiology for years in living animals.” Pombo Meeting in San Diego, experts from a plethora of cell explained that she will be presenting a proof-of- science disciplines will host eight symposia over four principle on an “easier, faster and more affordable days on topics that are both innovative and of version of GAM, compatible with its application in longstanding interest to attendees. Below is a sneak specific rare cell types without tissue disruption.” peek at some of the latest thinking to be explored on “Super-resolution Imaging of Transcription in themes central to cell biology and to the basic science Living Mammalian Cells” will be presented by Ibrahim underpinnings of forthcoming therapeutic applications. Cissé from the Department of Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The Cissé lab uses physical Nuclear Organization— techniques to see fleeting interactions of living cells. December 9, 8:00 am His talk will describe a method of visualizing an In the case of the genome, looks do count. How important part of the multistep process of gene chromosomes fold and the physical structure of the activation in transcription. Exploiting the fact that genome directly impact transcription and translation, RNA polymerases briefly cluster around the site of a which in turn can affect human health. Ana Pombo of gene that is to be switched on, Cissé used “quantitative the Belin Institute for Medical Systems Biology will live cell super-resolution and light sheet imaging to present the talk “Genome Architecture Mapping (GAM): study the organization and dynamics of endogenous Discovering 3D Chromatin Contacts in Rare Cell Mediator and RNA polymerase II directly in living Types.” GAM can plot chromatin connections across mouse embryonic stem cells,” he writes in his abstract. the genome. Chromatic connections are prevalent Arun Raj from the University of Pennsylvania will during active mitosis, but Pombo is particularly present “Mechanisms of Transcriptional Bursting.” interested in seeing where these chromatin connections Transcription is not a continuous process but switches are found in non-dividing cells. on and off again. Raj will describe how his lab is “Gene expression is controlled by long-range attempting to determine what causes genes to switch chromatin contacts between noncoding regulatory into and out of transcriptionally active states. The Raj regions and their target genes,” Pombo writes in her lab has “developed a new method for massive abstract. “In dividing cells, chromatin contacts are amplification of instantaneous transcriptional activity, established when cells exit mitosis [and] dissolve when thus allowing us to separate cells based on burst cells re-enter mitosis. Here, we ask whether terminal activity for subsequent biochemical analysis.” Raj will differentiation promotes specific longer-range contacts present some preliminary results in this regard.”
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Neuronal Cell Biology— Quality Control— December 9, 9:45 am December 12, 11:20 am The cell biology of neurons raises some fascinating Cellular quality control mechanisms maintain questions. J. Paul Taylor of the St. Jude’s Children’s homeostasis, but they could also be harnessed for Research Hospital/HHMI and Erika Holzbaur from therapeutic purposes. Rachel Green of the Johns the University of Pennsylvania will lead this discussion. Hopkins University School of Medicine/HHMI and Taylor’s talk, “Disturbance of Phase Transitions in Peter Walter, from the University of California, San Neurological Disease,” will report recent advances that Francisco, will lead this Symposium. In Green’s talk, reveal how diverse membrane-less organelles (such as “Ribosome Rescue and Homeostasis in Health and nucleoli, Cajal bodies, speckles, paraspeckles, P bodies, Disease,” she will present recent related observations stress granules, and RNA transport granules) assemble in the yeast and mammalian systems that can better via liquid–liquid phase separation of define the factors and mechanisms low sequence complexity domains that maintain cellular ribosome that are particularly enriched in The Cissé lab uses homeostasis. She will also explore RNA-binding proteins. “In my talk, how these impact development I will present evidence generated in physical techniques and stress responses. “We have my lab over the last eight years to see fleeting learned that different ribosome indicating that the defect underlying interactions of footprint sizes represent distinct many forms of amyotrophic lateral states of the ribosome in a cell and sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal living cells. that these signatures can inform us degeneration is a disturbance of on the molecular stresses that the phase transitions that ribosomes encounter,” Green stated. alters the dynamic properties of membrane-less Walter’s talk, “Targeting the Cell’s Stress Pathways for organelles,” Taylor said. Therapeutic Benefit,” will elucidate the basic science Holzbaur’s talk, “Dynamics of Autophagy in Neuronal needed to discover ways of harnessing the cell’s own Homeostasis and Neurodegeneration,” will touch on the self-correcting systems to fight disease. “Programmed role of both autophagy and mitophagy in maintaining cell death is thought to protect an organism from neuronal health and in causing disease. Holzbaur malfunctioning, rogue cells that result from an will talk about how the mechanism that forms accumulation of defective protein,” Walter writes. autophagosomes is altered during aging. Likewise, the “In various pathologies, the life/death balance can proper removal of dysfunctional mitochondria through inappropriately err on either side: killing cells that would mitophagy can also change with age. “We hypothesize be beneficial if kept alive, or alternatively inappropriately that both of these mechanisms are required to maintain protecting dangerous, disease-propagating cells. Studies neuronal homeostasis and become impaired during of the regulation of proteostasis now emerge as focal aging or in response to disease-causing mutations points of foundational basic research that powerfully linked to Parkinson’s and ALS.” connects to a wide spectrum of unmet clinical needs,” Walter added.
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2018 Symposia Briefs
By Mary Spiro
Cell Migration December 9, 9:45 am Michael Sixt of IST Austria will present “Principles of Leukocyte Locomotion and Navigation.” We have discovered that leukocytes are able to migrate in the total absence of transmembrane force coupling, making the cell entirely autonomous and independent of the composition of the extracellular environment. .
Anna Huttenlocher of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, will present “Imaging Leukocyte Dynamics in Vivo.” We exploit the optical transparency of zebrafish larvae to
image cell migration during wound repair. We will discuss Courtesy of Hans Clevers 3D image of eight breast cancer organoids captured the heterotypic cell–cell interactions and extracellular cues and 3D processed by Florijn Dekkers and Anne Rios. that mediate interstitial cell migration and resolution of inflammation.
Cytoskeletal Dynamics December 10, 8:00 am Anna Akhmanova of Utrecht University in The Andrew Carter from the MRC Lab Molecular Biology Netherlands will present “Control of Cell Architecture will offer up “The Dynein/Dynactin Complex and by Microtubule Minus-End Binding Proteins.” Long-Distance Transport.” Recently, several evolutionarily unrelated proteins were We used cryo-electron microscopy (cryoEM) to show how shown to autonomously recognize microtubule minus ends these adaptors recruit dynein to the filament of the actin- and regulate their dynamics. These include members of the related protein (Arp1) in dynactin. We revealed how CAMSAP/Patronin family and the microcephaly-related the formation of this complex activates dynein. We also protein ASPM. In my talk, I will discuss our findings on discovered that dynactin can recruit two dyneins side-by-side how these proteins control microtubule organization and cell resulting in a faster moving complex. polarity during cell migration and division. Bruce Goode of Brandeis University will also present.
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Metabolism Organelle Communication December 10, 9:45 am December 11, 8:00 am Heather Christofk of the University of California, Will Prinz of the National Institute of Diabetes and Los Angeles, will give the talk “Transitions in Cancer: Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, will give the talk Lessons from Viral Infection.” “The Role of ER Membrane Contact Sites in Lipid We have begun to study the specific metabolic genes Metabolism and Organelle Biogenesis.” altered by adenovirus infection and are examining their My lab studies how ER contact sites form and function. We role in anabolic metabolism, virus replication, and cancer are beginning to unravel their complex roles in intracellular proliferation. lipid trafficking and, more recently, de novo organelle biogenesis in the ER. We have found specialized subdomains “Mechanisms and Physiology of Lipid Storage in Lipid in the ER that are not only sites where lipid droplets and pre- Droplets” will be given by Robert Farese, Jr., from the peroxisome vesicles are generated but also mediate contacts Harvard School of Public Health and Harvard Medical with mature organelles. School. Studies on genetic factors controlling lipid droplet growth and David M. Sabatini from the Whitehead Institute for utilization will be presented, as will relevant studies of the Biomedical Research, Broad Institute, and MIT/HHMI physiology of lipid storage and lipid excess. will present “mTOR and Lysosomes in Growth Control.” I will discuss our latest work on how mTORC1 senses Regeneration and Morphogenesis cytosolic and lysosomal amino acids and the role selective December 10, 9:45 am autophagy plays. I will highlight our use of a method we The talk “Lgr5 Stem Cell-Based Organoids in Human developed to profile the metabolite and protein content of Disease” will be presented by Hans Clevers of the organelles to identify proteins that move on and off lysosomes Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of in response to nutrient conditions. Arts and Sciences and University Medical Centre Utrecht and Princess Maxima Center for pediatric Heidi McBride of the Department of Neurology and oncology in the Netherlands Neurosurgery at McGill University will give the talk We originally defined Lgr5 as a Wnt target gene, transcribed “New Insights into Mitochondrial Vesicle Transport.” in colon cancer cells. Two knock-in alleles revealed exclusive Our lab uncovered an additional feature of mitochondrial expression of Lgr5 in cycling, columnar cells at the crypt dynamics in their ability to segregate protein and lipid cargo base. Using lineage tracing experiments in adult mice, we laterally, ejecting them from the reticulum as vesicular found that these Lgr5+ve crypt base columnar cells (CBC) carriers. The last decade has revealed a number of important generated all epithelial lineages throughout life, implying that cellular functions for mitochondrial derived vesicles, from they represent the stem cell of the small intestine and colon. the removal of oxidized, damaged cargoes that are degraded This Symposium will also feature a talk by in the late endosome/lysosome or processed into peptides Magdelena Zernicka-Goetz of the University of for antigen presentation; to the de novo biogenesis of Cambridge. peroxisomes, and steady-state delivery of selected cargoes to peroxisomes.
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A color-coded time series of myosin distribution within a dendritic cell passing through a microfluidic channel splitting into four differentially sized channels. When facing differentially sized pores, cells prefer the biggest pore, thus moving along the path of least resistance. (Michael Sixt)
Micotubule organizations in mammalian cells. Model of the structure of cytoplasmic dynein (grey) (Anna Akhmanova) bound to dynactin (multicolor) via the Golgi vesicle cargo adaptor Bicaudal-D2 (orange). The dynein is reaching down to contact the microtubule track (dark and light green) that it will drag the cargo along. In the background are examples of electron density from the cryo-electron microscopy structure. Credit: Janet Iwasa (University of Utah).
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MBoC to Publish Peer Review Reports with Articles
By W. Mark Leader
To promote transparency in scientific research, credit for peer review. Organizations such as ASAPbio, ASCB’s basic research journal, Molecular Biology of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and the Wellcome Cell (MBoC), will begin publishing anonymous peer Trust support the movement. review reports along with articles. MBoC will begin publishing editors’ decision letters, “Publishing peer reviewers’ comments and authors’ which include the reviewers’ comments, together with responses will encourage fair and thorough review,” the authors’ responses, early in 2019. Authors will be said MBoC Editor-in-Chief David Drubin. “And able to opt out of having the reviews and responses particularly at MBoC, which has always encouraged published. constructive peer review, readers will benefit from MBoC also plans to allow reviewers to sign their the insights of reviewers. There is much to be learned reviews if they wish. A formal mechanism for doing about the strengths and limitations of a study by that will be put in place later in 2019. In the meantime, understanding how reviewers and authors have Drubin encourages reviewers to simply include their interacted to improve a manuscript.” names in their remarks to the author if they are There is a growing movement within the scientific willing to reveal their identity. “Disclosing reviewers’ community to encourage transparent peer review. identities takes transparency to the next level,” said Drubin is one of the signers of an open letter Drubin. “But of course it’s more complicated than promoting publication of peer review reports.1 publishing anonymous reviews. There are concerns More than a dozen editors representing more than about possible retaliation against critical reviewers, 80 journals signed the letter. The signers believe and in some cases reviewers may be reluctant to reveal that transparent peer review will increase reviewer their concerns about a paper. So signing reviews will and editorial accountability, provide opportunities be entirely optional.” to educate students about the peer review process, enhance readers’ understanding of the article in the Footnote 1 context of the field, and open a pathway to providing asapbio.org/letter.
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Crossing the Great Divide from Academia to Industry
By David Clarke, Science Journalist
Across the great divide, Just grab your hat, and take that ride —The Band
When Andrey Shaw left his Washington University academic career after 25 years to join biotechnology leader Genentech as a staff scientist, he knew he’d be entering an unfamiliar environment with decidedly different behavioral norms than those he knew at the university. But, he told a rapt audience of students at the July 9–14, 2018, ASCB–Keck Graduate Institute (KGI) course Managing Science in the Biotech Industry in Claremont, CA, there are many good reasons for “crossing the great divide.” Not the least of those reasons: “There’s great science on both sides.” But there are significant differences, Shaw Andrey Shaw talking to course participants explained, comparing Genentech’s highly collaborative “big team science” approach that employs a scientific University. “This program really connects you to the manager to keep everyone on track with the academic business world and things you’ve never considered as a basic research environment where “people are doing scientist, and things they never teach you.” their own thing.” Asia Mitchell of Oregon Health & Science Students explored these ideas further throughout University agreed: “The program is phenomenal and the course as they attended daily lectures, participated has far exceeded my expectations,” she said, adding in a team project that directly used what they learned that she didn’t know the course would involve actually in the lectures, heard from industry speakers, and developing a business strategy, performing a market got first-hand insights from company professionals analysis, and doing hands-on work. who spoke about their career paths and answered Crossing the great divide requires courage and a questions. willingness to redefine yourself, Shaw said. For ASCB- “We’re just being opened up to so much new KGI course students who decide to take that path, information that’s going to help us in our career their week-long experience equipped them with vital development,” said Elizabeth Walker of St. Louis knowledge for the journey.
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ASCB Receives NIGMS IPERT Funding for Diversity and Career Development Programs
By Sydella Blatch, Director of Professional Development
ASCB has received a five-year renewal award totaling development, and bioinformatics training, and a over $3 million from the National Institute of General practicum in which to practice the new skills in a Medical Sciences’ Innovative Programs to Enhance supported environment. Research Training (IPERT) initiative, which “supports The third aim is to take advantage of the ASCB|EMBO creative and innovative research educational activities Meeting to offer activities that increase the rate of designed to complement and/or enhance the training interaction among underrepresented and majority of a workforce to meet the nation’s biomedical scientists, as well as deliver mentoring and training to research needs” (https://bit.ly/2PdjaRL). Co-chair of emerging scientists. These activities include a travel ASCB’s Minorities Affairs Committee (MAC) Verónica awards program to bring underrepresented Segarra, MAC members Jim Vigoreaux and MariaElena undergraduates, grad students, postdocs, and junior Zavala, and ASCB CEO Erika Shugart are the PIs on faculty to the meeting, professional development the grant. But Vigoreaux notes, “MAC members and multiple structured mentoring opportunities for provided critical input and ideas for the proposal and these emerging scientists, a separate poster competition will be intimately involved in the planned activities for for networking and practice ahead of the general session, the project. It is truly a communal effort.” a major session to highlight spectacular research from The award, “Improving Diversity and Career an underrepresented scientist, and a major session to Transitions through Society Support,” has three aims recognize the importance of mentoring and show an designed to help underrepresented scientists through example of its impact. critical career transition stages: from graduate student All told, these activities are expected to impact more to postdoc, from postdoc to junior faculty, and from than 1,000 participants annually through a combination junior to tenured faculty. The first aim is to initiate a of activities that adapt best practices in academia to change in institutional culture toward inclusion through the needs and strengths of a scientific society, testing a an inclusiveness workshop for ASCB leadership, diversity multi-prong model for how a society can have a lasting and inclusion training for attendees at the ASCB|EMBO impact on diversity. Meeting, and a new poster session and keynote speaker Shugart observes, “The ASCB MAC has a long track on the scholarship of diversity. The goal is to signal to the record of consistent funding from the NIH. We are ASCB membership that diversity is relevant for all members. delighted that this new award will enable us to The second aim is to support grad students, postdocs, continue to provide programs that increase diversity and junior faculty at risk for lower-than-usual and inclusivity in the Society and the cell biology mentoring through multiyear programs that provide community. The chance to develop new programs as extensive mentoring and community, professional well as enhance existing efforts is very exciting.”
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Thirteen Members Honored as ASCB Fellows in 2018
Ueli Aebi Charles Asbury Juan Bonifacino Trisha Davis Ron Kopito
Mary Lee Ledbetter Vivek Malhotra Enrique Rodriguez-Boulan Kimberly Tanner Claire Walczak
Election as a Fellow of ASCB is an honor bestowed upon ASCB members by their peers. This year, 13 members have been named Fellows in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the field of cell biology and to the community of cell biologists through their service to ASCB. The ASCB Fellows program is committed to recognizing the breadth and Matthew D. Welch George Witman diversity of the Society’s membership. Toward this end, Fellows are nominated by their peers or through The newly elected Fellows will be acknowledged self-nomination, followed by evaluation and selection at the 2018 ASCB|EMBO Meeting before the Keynote by a Fellows Nomination Review Committee. The on Saturday, December 8, 6:00–7:30 pm. list of approved Fellow nominees is reviewed and approved by the ASCB Council.
*This article was updated on Oct. 29, 2018
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DORA Interview Series Focuses on Innovative Evaluation
Hiring, promotion, and funding decisions can weigh heavily on researchers, especially early-stage investigators who are in the process of navigating their career path . The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) Steering Committee introduced a four-part interview series in May to discuss different approaches to research evaluation that do not rely on the inappropriate use of journal-based metrics .
The last online interview in the series will be Monday, November 5, at 11:00 am EST . Christopher Jackson (Imperial College) will talk about his experience advocating change . Check the DORA website for information about registering to watch (www .sfdora .org) .
Previous Interviews with Sandra Schmid (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center) and Shahid Jameel (Wellcome Trust/DBT India Alliance) can be found on the DORA website (www .sfdora .org/blog) .
20 ascb newsletter october 2018 science and technology
Highlights from
www .molbiolcell org.
Be sure to check out the Special Issue on Forces on and within Cells: www.molbiolcell.org/toc/mboc/29/16 Some noteworthy Features from recent issues
Toward mapping the human body at a cellular Mechanoimmunology: molecular-scale forces resolution govern immune cell functions Ananda L. Roy and Richard S. Conroy (August 1) Sophie V. Pageon, Matt A. Govendir, Daryan Kempe, and Maté Biro (August 8)
Here are some important recent papers that the MBoC Editorial Board has selected for highlighting:
The stable actin core of mechanosensory Interstitial flow promotes macrophage stereocilia features continuous turnover polarization toward an M2 phenotype of actin cross-linkers Ran Li, Jean Carlos Serrano, Hao Xing, Tara A. Lee, Hesham Pallabi Roy and Benjamin J. Perrin (August 1) Azizgolshani, Muhammad Zaman, and Roger D. Kamm Mechanosensitive stereocilia in the inner ear have a (August 8) core of actin filaments abundantly bound by cross- Solid tumor tissues are characterized by an linker proteins. Although in mammals stereocilia actin elevated interstitial fluid flow from the tumor to the filaments are unusually stable, we demonstrate in surrounding stroma. It was found that this flow can vivo that the cross-linking proteins are mobile. Cross- polarize macrophages toward a tumor-supportive M2 linkers may therefore be remodeled in otherwise stable phenotype and direct macrophages to migrate against stereocilia cores. the flow via mechanotransduction pathways.
Anushree C . Gulvady
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under the microscope
About the Image Phosphatidylserine and GTPase activation control Cdc42 nanoclustering to counter dissipative diffusion. On the right is a high-density single particle tracking photoactivation localization microscopy (sptPALM) image of How to Submit Cdc42 in budding yeast. Each different colored track displays the mobility of an Do you have an image individual Cdc42 protein on the plasma membrane of a living cell. The image on you would like to see the left displays individual Cdc42 localizations as white points that are displayed published here? Please as a Voronoï-based segmented image. This method uses the protein individual contact Mark Leader localization as a seed around which polygons are drawn. The edges of the Voronoï at [email protected]. polygons are assembled equidistant from the nearest two seeds. By this method, Cdc42 is observed in nanoclusters that are outlined in blue. See Mol. Biol. Cell 29, 1299–1310. (Image: Elodie Sartorel and Mini Jose, European Institute of Chemistry and Biology, Bordeaux, France).
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FOLLOW THE ARC OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY…. Join us for the 2018 ASCB|EMBO Meeting, focusing on cell biology as the fundamental basis of biology and exploring more specialized fields, such as neurobiology and stem cell biology .
KEYNOTE LECTURE MINISYMPOSIUM/MICROSYMPOSIUM TOPICS Sean J . Morrison Autophagy and Proteostasis Director, Children’s Medical Biology of Stem Cells Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Cell Cycle, Cell Division, Cell Death Medical Center/HHMI Cellular Stress Responses Centrosomes, Cilia, and Flagella SYMPOSIA Cytoskeletal, Motility, and Cell Mechanics SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9 Evidence-Based Education: Promoting Excellence through Nuclear Organization 8:00–9:30 am an Inclusive Environment Ibrahim I . Cissé, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Ana Pombo, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology Membrane Organization and Trafficking Arjun Raj, University of Pennsylvania Metabolism
Cell Migration 9:45–10:45 am Morphogenesis and Multicellular Interactions Anna Huttenlocher, University of Wisconsin, Madison Neurobiology/Neurodegeneration Michael Sixt, IST Austria Neuronal Cell Biology Neuronal Cell Biology 9:45–10:45 am Nucleus Erika L.F. Holzbaur, University of Pennsylvania Pathogens J. Paul Taylor, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital/HHMI Phase Transitions MONDAY, DECEMBER 10 Stem Cells and Organoids Cytoskeletal Dynamics 8:00–9:30 am Anna Akhmanova, Utrecht University, The Netherlands Andrew Carter, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, UK IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES Bruce Goode, Brandeis University October 10 Final Abstract Submission (Poster Only) November 16 Hotel Reservation Deadline . ASCB and Metabolism 9:45–10:45 am EMBO’s Official Housing Partner is onPeak . Heather Christofk, David Geffen School of Medicine at Be sure to book through onPeak and book UCLA early for the best rates! Robert Farese, Jr ., Harvard School of Public Health and Harvard Medical School JOIN THE CONVERSATION #ASCBEMBO18 Regeneration and Morphogenesis 9:45–10:45 am Hans Clevers, Hubrecht Institute, The Netherlands Magdelena Zernicka-Goetz, University of Cambridge, UK https://ascb-embo2018.ascb.org
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11 LOOKING FOR LODGING? Organelle Communication 8:00–9:30 am Heidi McBride, McGill University Save time and book today in the pre-approved ASCB William Prinz, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive housing block. Visit ascb-embo2018.ascb.org/hotels and Kidney Diseases, NIH David M . Sabatini, Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Re- search and Massachusetts Institute of Technology
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12 Quality Control 11:20 am–12:20 pm Rachel Green, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Peter Walter, University of California, San Francisco/HHMI
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WORKSHOPS NEW FLUORESCENT PROBES AND HIGH-THROUGHPUT IMAGING APPROACHES Co-Organizers: Brenda Andrews, University of Toronto, and Luke Lavis, Janelia/HHMI
SCREENING APPROACHES IN HUMAN CELLS AND CRISPR METHODS Co-Organizers: Manuel Leonetti, Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, and Martin Kampmann, University of California, San Francisco
ELECTRON CRYO-TOMOGRAPHY AND CORRELATED LIGHT AND ELECTRON MICROSCOPY (CLEM) Co-Organizers: Wanda Kukulski, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, and Martin Pilhofer, ETH Zurich
SPECIAL INTEREST SUBGROUPS 5th Biannual Frontiers in Cytokinesis Neuronal Cytoskeleton: A Complex Interplay of Cytoarchitecture and Dynamics Bottom Up Cell Biology New tools and resources for studies of stem cell biology Building the Cell Next generation correlative microscopy: biological Cell Biology in Cancer Immunity applications and emerging techniques Cell biology of marine protists: Toward functional genomic Nuclear envelope dynamics in development and disease tools for diverse new model organisms Organelle interactome and cell plasticity control Cellular organization of metabolism: Biology, structure, and function of enzyme polymers Patterning the Cytoskeleton - PTMs, MAPs, ABPs Cilia, Stem Cell Signaling and Tissue Regeneration Physics and the Cell: 2018 and Beyond Emerging Model Systems Spatial and Temporal Analytical Tools for Cell Atlases Evolutionary Cell Biology Systems and synthetic biology of decoding complex cellular rhythms Intracellular Cargo Transport by Molecular Motors: What a Mesh! The Cellular and Molecular Basis of Invasive Metastatic Cancer Machine Learning in Cell Biology The many functions of cytoskeletal proteins Mechanisms of DNA Repair in Maintenance in the cell nucleus of Genome Integrity The midbody: from cytokinesis to signaling organelle NCI Emerging Topic Symposium: A New Nuclear-Nexus in Cancer Cell Biology Wnt Signaling in development and cancer
(Full workshop descriptions and special interest subgroups details can be found online .)
NEW FORMAT FOR CAREER ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMMING This year’s meeting will feature two exciting career theaters: one focused on different career tracks for cell biologists, and the other on programming to help you develop your current career .
“Exploring careers track” sessions will include: “Current career track” sessions will include: • Careers in Science Policy • Understanding the NIH Grant Review Process • Careers in Scientific Consulting • How to Thrive as a New Faculty Member: Strategies for Research and Mentoring Success • Career Options for Cell Biologists • How to Boost Your Research Project with the Support • Careers in Scientific Writing, Editing, of International Research Infrastructures and Communication
and more . .
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2018 ascb doorstep meeting
Ballroom 6AB, San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, CA Registration and abstract submission are now open at ascb-embo2018 . ascb .org/doorstep .
Abstract deadline is Wednesday, October 10 . You must be registered to attend to submit an abstract .
* You must be an ASCB member to attend the doorstep meeting . Discounted registration is available to those who also register for the 2018 ASCB|EMBO Meeting . The doorstep meeting is limited to the first 200 registrants .
Satellite Meeting: 4D Nucleome
Arrive early to attend the 2018 4DN-ASCB Satellite Meeting: Bridging the 4D Genome with Cell Biology on Friday, December 7, at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Hotel and Marina . This meeting will feature recent technological and conceptual advances in research of the higher order chromatin organization in eukaryotic cells, and will highlight the rapid progress in the study of genome organization . Visit https://ascb-embo2018 .ascb .org/satellite for more information, including the full program, or to register . The fee is $70 and includes light refreshments and lunch .
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THE ASCB THANKS THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS FOR SUPPORTING THE 2018 ASCB|EMBO MEETING (as of September 6)
Allen Institute for Cell Science Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Pfizer Keynote Subgroup and Satellite Event General Support
Bruker Corporation 3i Intelligent Imaging Innovations Springer Nature Publishing Group Subgroup Subgroup Childcare Grants
CBE—Life Sciences Education International Center for Genetic The Anatomical Record and the Education Minisymposium and Foun- Engineering and Biotechnology American Association of Anatomists dational Cell Biology Workshop Travel Awards Microsymposium
Chroma Technology Corporation National Institute of General Medical The Kavli Foundation Travel Awards Sciences, NIH Minisymposium Travel Awards Company of Biologists Worthington Biochemical Travel Awards Nikon Instruments Inc. Travel Awards Lanyards Getson & Schatz General Support
THE ASCB THANKS THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS FOR SUPPORTING THE 2018 DOORSTEP MEETING, BEYOND HOMEOSTASIS: STEM CELLS UNDER STRESS (as of September 6)
Biogen Frequency Therapeutics
Volunteer to Review CVs Give back to your cell biology community by signing up to help younger ASCB members with online CV review . We are always looking for more volunteers, including ASCB members in academia and industry, to help review cover letters, CVs, and resumes of young ASCB scientists . We will match you, and will only ask you to review two or three times a year . If you can help, please contact Thea Clarke at tclarke@ascb .org .
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CAREER ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMMING ASCB is committed to supporting members as they navigate their careers . With EMBO, it offers a vast array of career enhancement sessions at the meeting . The list below probably includes something of interest to you . Please consult the Program Book or Meeting App for times and locations of these events .
CAREER ADVICE Career and Mentoring Roundtables How to Thrive as a New Faculty Member: Strategies for Career Coaching Research and Mentoring Success Faculty Search and Starting a Lab at a Primarily Navigating Negotiation in Science: A Panel and Networking Undergraduate Institution Reception Green Cards for Scientific Researchers: How to Win Your Navigating the Faculty Job Search at an R1 Institute EB-1/NIW Case Starting a Research Lab at an R1 Institution Dissecting Job Ads and Tailoring your Résumé Social Media for Science Communication How to Deliver an Effective Chalk Talk Writing Your Science Story: How to Get Everyone Else WICB Awards and Mentoring Theater: Let’s Make a Deal: Excited about Your Work The Art of Negotiating for Success How to Review a Paper
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CAREER PATHS FUNDING Career Options for Cell Biologists For Faculty Members: National Institute of General Medical Sciences Undergraduate and Predoctoral Grant Programs Careers in Biotech Beyond the Bench Funding Opportunities from the European Research Careers in Science Policy Council: Supporting Top Researchers from Anywhere Careers in Science: Academic Core Facilities in the World Careers in Scientific Consulting International Funding Session from APOCB, China, and Careers in Scientific Editing, Writing, and Communications FAPESP, the São Paulo Research Foundation, Brazil Research Careers in Biotechnology Understanding the NIH Grant Review Process Searching for a Faculty Position and Starting a Lab at a Primarily Undergraduate Institution CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN SCIENCE Advocacy Toolbox I: The Two-Minute Speech
SUCCEEDING IN SCIENCE & RESEARCH Advocacy Toolbox II: Practice Being an Advocate EMBO Lab Leadership – Communication and Feedback for Science EMBO Lab Leadership – Roles, Values, and Expectations How to Improve Research Assessment for Hiring and Funding Decisions EMBO Lab Leadership – Teamwork and Conflict in the Lab Moving (Rapidly) toward Open Data for All and by All How to Boost Your Research Project with Support of International Research Infrastructures Organoids: The Future of Life Science Research The Cost and Benefit of Reproducibility
FOR STUDENTS AND POSTDOCS Getting into Graduate School: the Do’s, the Don’ts and the SPECIAL EVENTS What If’s First Timer? Making the Most of the Annual Meeting MD-PhD, Is it Right for Me? “I’m a Scientist . Ask Me about my Research!” Bar Night Getting the Most out of Your Thesis Committee 2018 E .E . Just Award Lecture: Guillermina (Gigi) Lozano: Helping the Next Generation of Researchers: Navigating the Regulating Wild Type and Mutant p53 and the Challenges and Answering the Call for Change Consequences on Tumor Evolution Hit the Ground Running: Early Success in Graduate School Celldance Video Premiere and Elevator Speech Awards Planning Your Exit from Graduate School COMPASS Open Forum: Giving and Receiving Feedback Elevator Speech Videotaping/Coaching Session Judged Poster Competition EDUCATION & INCLUSIVENESS Bruce Alberts Award for Excellence in Science Education International Exchange Fair Creating Inclusive Biology Education Environments Data Driven Approaches to Improving Teaching and Mentoring Education Happy Hour LGBTQ+ Diversity Session Foundational Cell Biology Workshop: Using Primary Literature to Teach Biology Enabling Persistence in Science: Creating Inclusive Environments through Microaffirmations Publishing Cell Biology Classroom Activities in CourseSource Statistical Thinking in Undergraduate Biology (STUB) Networking: Coordinating Teaching and Assessment
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Geneticist Barbara Meyer Honored with 2018 E.B. Wilson Medal
By Mary Spiro
ASCB’s highest scientific honor—the understanding of dosage compensation E.B. Wilson Medal—goes to Barbara and sex determination via chromosome Meyer for 2018. The award recognizes counting during the past three decades, cell biologists who have made far- Barbara’s contribution stands far apart reaching contributions throughout their because it is the product of a sustained lifetime. Meyer is a professor of genetics, brilliance, an insatiable curiosity, genomics, and development at the uncompromising rigor and scholarship, University of California, Berkeley, and and clarity of thought and expression… an investigator of the Howard Hughes [Barbara] has had an unparalleled ability Medical Institute. She was previously Barbara Meyer to see through to the heart of the matter, the head of the Genetics Division at the University and to probe with such insight and persistence that her of California, Berkeley. Prior to her Berkeley work has not only yielded a deep understanding of the appointment, she was a tenured professor in the target topics (dosage compensation, for example) but Department of Biology at the Massachusetts Institute also shed stunning new light on adjacent fields and of Technology. topics like higher-order chromatin structure, condensins, Using the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, and histone modification, to name just a few.” Meyer’s team explores the epigenetic mechanisms that Cynthia Kenyon, professor emerita at the University transmit information through cell division; the genetic of California, San Francisco, and Vice President of and molecular mechanisms of cell-fate determination; Aging Research at Calico wrote of Meyer’s fundamental the mechanisms that drive chromosomes into the right contributions to the understanding of global gene structure to achieve proper regulation mechanism. “I am gene expression and faithful particularly impressed by Barbara’s segregation, hence genome recent X-chromosome topological stability; and the control of Barbara’s analysis, which yielded important recombination during sperm and egg contribution stands information about the mechanism formation. by which condensin complexes can In his nomination letter, David far apart because bring chromosomal transcription C. Page, director of the Whitehead it is the product levels down by half during Institute wrote, “While numerous of a sustained interphase,” wrote Kenyon in her accomplished and lauded cell nomination letter. (Meyer’s lab biologists have made significant brilliance….” carried out this study in collaboration contributions to the collective with Job Dekker, University of
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Massachusetts Medical have been shown to mediate such a School, who performed the This is the first profound effect on TAD structure computational analysis.) “Barbara in higher eukaryotes. This study used chromosome conformation time that a known now paves the way for deeper capture (3C) techniques to compare molecular trigger mechanistic studies.” X chromosome structure and Meyer earned her PhD at gene expression with that of and known DNA Harvard University with mentor an autosome. The results were target sequences… Mark Ptashne and conducted her beautiful and amazing: She showed postdoctoral research as a Helen that the DCC acts via rex sites to have been shown Hay Whitney Foundation Fellow impose TAD-domain structures to mediate such a with Sydney Brenner in the Medical [topologically-associating domains] Research Council Laboratory of specifically on X chromosomes, profound effect on Molecular Biology in Cambridge, UK. and specifically in XX animals. In TAD structure in She will be awarded with the other words, condensin complexes E.B. Wilson Medal on Tuesday, can act as structural elements to higher eukaryotes.” December 11, at 3:15 pm at the remodel chromatin and reduce gene 2018 ASCB|EMBO Meeting in San expression by half. This is the first Diego, where she will also present a time that a known molecular trigger and known DNA talk on her work. target sequences [validated in this study using CRISPR]
30 ascb newsletter october 2018 annual meeting EMBO Gold Medal Winners Honored for Research on Meiosis Mistakes, Bacterial Defense
By Mary Spiro
German biochemist and ASCB member Melina Schuh and Czech microbiologist Marek Basler have been awarded the 2018 EMBO Gold Medal. The award is given each year to scientists under the age of 40 who have made outstanding contributions to the life sciences in Europe. Basler and Schuh will be presented with the medals at the ASCB|EMBO Meeting in San Diego at a ceremony on December 10 at 3:15 pm where each will also present a scientific lecture. The medal carries a cash prize of 10,000 euros. Marek Basler Melina Schuh
Melina Schuh Melina Schuh, Director at the Max Planck Institute Schuh’s work involves aneuploidy, whereby, following for Biophysical Chemistry in Göttingen, Germany, is meiosis, oocytes end up with the wrong number of being recognized for her pioneering work on meiosis chromosomes. Schuh is specifically interested in why in mammalian oocytes. Schuh works in the newly and how the quality of egg cells decreases as women created Department of Meiosis at the institute and age. was the first to produce live cell imaging of meiosis in “[T]he decline in egg quality with advancing human egg cells. maternal age is the main reason why conception “I find meiosis fascinating, as all mammalian life becomes increasingly difficult as women approach starts with the formation of eggs and sperm,” Schuh their 40s,” Schuh said. “This decline in egg quality is explained. “Chromosome segregation errors during linked to the fact that eggs are as old as the woman: meiosis are a leading cause of pregnancy loss and A 40-year-old woman has 40-year-old eggs. I hope several congenital disorders such as Down syndrome. I that in the longer term, our research will help to am hence highly motivated to investigate how meiosis improve fertility treatments, which frequently fail proceeds, and how aneuploidy in eggs arises.” because of aneuploidy in eggs.” Much remains to be learned about how In his nomination letter, EMBO Member Sean chromosomes are distributed. The main focus of Munro, a group leader at the Medical Research
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Council’s Laboratory of bacterial defense mechanism called Molecular Biology (LMB) type VI secretion systems (T6SS). I hope that in the in Cambridge, UK, writes, “[Schuh] Basler’s research focuses on the is utterly committed, a broad longer term, our role of T6SS in bacterial survival, thinker, experimentally fearless, and research will help how it impacts pathogen virulence always looking for new questions and the spread of disease, as well and approaches. She has pioneered to improve fertility as the structure and function of the methods to image mammalian treatments, which system. As what has been described meiosis and used them to identify frequently fail as a “molecular speargun,” T6SS new players in this fundamental also could be exploited to deliver process.” because of therapies. Part of Schuh’s work has aimed at aneuploidy in eggs.” “Our research aims to provide a developing methods and techniques detailed insight into the function of to better understand meiosis. As this complex nano-machine and a PhD student with Jan to contribute to a deeper understanding Ellenberg at the European of bacterial infections in humans,” Molecular Biology Basler explains. “The elucidation of Laboratory in Heidelberg, The elucidation individual pathogen-specific T6SS she developed a way to use live of individual components could provide new cell imaging microscopy to study approaches for antibacterial therapies.” meiosis in mouse oocytes. Later she pathogen-specific Most recently, Basler’s team applied this technique to observe the T6SS components used cryo-electron microscopy to processes that result in aneuploidy reconstruct and further reveal how could provide new in human eggs. In addition to three major components of T6SS are identifying molecular processes approaches for assembled and how they work. during meiosis, Schuh has also antibacterial “His work has revolutionized established new tools to study gene research on bacterial secretion and protein function in the female therapies.” systems and clearly established germ cell. Schuh was offered a group him as a leader in this field,” leader position at LMB directly out wrote EMBO member Erich of graduate school. Nigg, professor of cell biology and director of the Schuh’s recent research reveals the role that Biozentrum, University of Basel. actin plays in the alignment of the spindle during Basler earned his PhD at the Institute of chromosome segregation. Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Prague. He was a postdoctoral fellow with John Marek Basler Mekalanos in the Department of Microbiology and Marek Basler, a professor at the Immunology at Harvard Medical School. Biozentrum (The Center for Molecular Life Sciences) at the University of Basel, Switzerland, is being recognized for his ground-breaking work on a
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Ruth Lehmann to Deliver 2018 Keith Porter Lecture
By Mary Spiro
Ruth Lehmann, chair of the Department of and adult life in order to generate a new Cell Biology and director of the Skirball organism. Because of their unique ability Institute of Biomolecular Medicine at to literally renew themselves, our research New York University, has been chosen takes advantage of the opportunities to present the Keith Porter Lecture on germ cell biology pose to understand Sunday, December 9, at 3:15 pm at the the cellular mechanisms of totipotency 2018 ASCB|EMBO Meeting in San Diego. and the challenges associated with Lehmann’s research revolves around germ immortality.” cells—the stem cells for the next The role of RNA biology in the germ generation—and her talk will no doubt Ruth Lehmann cell life cycle is of particular interest to touch on some of her latest observations Lehmann. in that fascinating realm. “We are interested in how RNAs localized to germ Lehmann’s model organism is Drosophila, and in her plasm are regulated and contribute to germ cell research she hopes to discover more about the biology formation and fate, how gene expression is regulated of the germ cells in this creature. The mechanisms by during germ cell development, and how the reproductive which germ cells are set aside from somatic cells during success of individual primordial germ cells (PGCs) is embryogenesis remain a mystery. determined,” Lehmann explains. “Despite their critical role, we still know little about Using in vitro assays and live cell imaging, Lehmann’s how germ cell fate is initiated and maintained and team has been able to track the journey of PGCs to their how germ cells evade the ultimately deadly fate of the final stop in the gonads and the mechanisms involved soma,” Lehmann writes. “In contrast to somatic cell in protecting the germ cell genome from generation to fates, no master-regulator transcription factor has generation. been identified that uniquely specifies germ cell fate; “Germ cells give rise to a new generation, thus the instead RNA regulation plays a prominent and highly integrity of the germ cell genome has to be protected conserved role in germ cells. As germ cells ‘make’ germ while at the same time there has to be room for cells, the work in our lab follows the germ line life improvement via mutation and recombination,” cycle: We are interested in how germ plasm assembles, Lehmann explained. “We study how host mechanisms in the mechanisms that separate germ cells from evolved to protect the genome against transposable somatic cells, in how germ cells migrate through the elements and how other intruders such as bacteria embryo to reach the somatic gonad, and in how germ influence germ line function and reproductive cell fate is maintained and protected throughout larval success.”
ascb newsletter october 2018 33 annual meeting Louis-Jeantet Award Lectures
By Mary Spiro
The 2018 Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine was awarded to Christer Betshotlz, director of the Integrated Cardio Metabolic Centre based at Karolinska Institute and professor at Uppsala University in Sweden, and to the immunologist Antonio Lanzavecchia, director of the Institute for Research in Biomedicine and Professor at the Università della Svizzera italiana in Switzerland. The two scientists will present individual award
lectures on Tuesday, December 11, at 9:45 am at the Wallerstedt ©Mikael 2018 ASCB|EMBO Meeting in San Diego. Christer Betsholtz Antonio Lanzavecchia Betsholtz studies angiogenesis, the mechanism whereby new blood vessels form from existing ones. In human immune response, which can be used against a particular, his laboratory has made seminal discoveries variety of common and emerging pathogens that regarding the vascularization of the blood–brain are responsible for life-threatening diseases such as barrier (BBB), the layer that protects the brain from influenza, Ebola, or Zika. This approach also led to the potentially neurotoxic substances present in the blood, surprising discovery of a new type of antibody specific to while allowing the passage of nutrients and other malaria parasites, revealing a new mechanism of antibody substances essential for the correct functioning of the diversification with important implications for brain. His research has important implications for the understanding host–pathogen interaction and for the development and treatment of diseases in the brain. development of new vaccines and antibody-based In his talk, “Cellular interactions and heterogeneity therapies. in the blood microvasculature,” Betsholtz will focus In his talk, “Lessons from the analysis of the immune specifically on the blood-brain barrier (BBB). “We response to Plasmodium falciparum,” Lanzavecchia will have begun constructing a molecular atlas of the BBB discuss a recent analysis of the antibody response to and other organotypic vasculatures using single cell the blood stage and pre-erythrocytic stage of P. falciparum RNA sequencing (scRNASeq) and proteomic analysis,” parasites. “Using structural and mutational data, we Betsholtz writes. “I will discuss how this data provides identified the elements required for germline recognition fundamental and specific information about and affinity maturation. These potent neutralizing microvascular organotypicity. I will also exemplify antibodies provide relevant information for lineage- how scRNASeq information provides insights into targeted vaccine design and immunization strategies,” arterio-venous specialization and identifies hitherto Lanzavecchia wrote. unrecognized vascular cell types and subtypes.” Every year, the Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine Lanzavecchia’s lab developed methods to isolate honors leading-edge researchers who are active in potent and broadly neutralizing antibodies from the the Council of Europe member countries. The prize
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fosters scientific excellence; it is not intended as the projects with high added value and of more-or-less consecration for work that has been completed, but immediate practical significance in the treatment of to finance the continuation of innovative research diseases.
Lozano Named 2018 E.E. Just Award Winner
By Mary Spiro
Each year the ASCB Minorities Affairs in the elimination or repair of cells Committee chooses an outstanding with damaged DNA. Alterations in underrepresented minority (URM) components of the p53 pathway, such as scientist who is known not only for his amplification of the Mdm2 gene, which or her scientific achievements but also encodes a p53 inhibitor, also contribute for mentoring other URM students and to tumorigenesis. The overall goal of my scientists. The 2018 recipient of the E.E. laboratory is to understand the signals Just Award is Guillermina (Gigi) Lozano, that regulate the p53 pathway and the professor and chair of the Department consequences of expressing wild-type or of Genetics, Division of Basic Science Guillermina (Gigi) mutant p53.” Research at the University of Texas MD Lozano Brian Lewis, associate professor of Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology at the University Lozano will present the E.E. Just Award Lecture of Massachusetts Medical School, remarked on the on Sunday, December 9, at 11:00 am at the 2018 impact of Lozano’s work and on her record of helping ASCB|EMBO Meeting. to increase diversity in the biomedical sciences. Using the mouse as her model organism, Lozano “Dr. Lozano is an accomplished scientist whose has spent her career gaining work over the past 30 years at MD insight into the functional Anderson has contributed significantly mechanism of cancer-associated Lozano has spent to our understanding of the p53 tumor genes. She is recognized for her career gaining suppressor and the basic mechanisms her studies of the p53 tumor underlying tumor development and suppressor pathway. insight into the progression,” Lewis wrote in his “Mutation of the p53 gene is a functional nomination letter. “During her critical event in the elaboration of mechanism illustrious career as an independent many tumors of diverse origin,” scientist, Dr. Lozano has maintained a writes Lozano. “The p53 protein of cancer- primary focus on understanding how is activated in response to DNA associated genes. the p53 protein functions within the damage, serving as a checkpoint cell, how the protein is regulated by
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its binding partner Mdm2, and how tumor-associated Her efforts to further the diversity of the biomedical mutations impact the normal cellular functions of workforce were recently recognized with the 2018 the protein. These studies have illuminated not only President’s Leadership Award for Advancing Women sporadic cancers but also inherited predisposition and Minority Faculty at MD Anderson.” syndromes such as the Li-Fraumeni syndrome.” Lozano earned her PhD at Rutgers University and He added, “During her tenure as a faculty member completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Princeton in at MD Anderson, Dr. Lozano has trained over 30 the laboratory of Arnold Levine, where she began undergraduates, 12 of whom are from underrepresented her career-long exploration of p53 function. She backgrounds, and over 30 PhD and MS students, completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Princeton including 5 from underrepresented backgrounds. University.
Ahna Skop Chosen Inaugural Recipient of ASCB Prize In Inclusivity
By Mary Spiro
Ahna R. Skop, professor of Genetics at the University overlook our program in Genetics, as well as other of Wisconsin, Madison (UW-Madison), has been STEM disciplines, here at UW-Madison.” chosen as the inaugural recipient Doebley noted that Skop has been a leading of the ASCB Prize for Excellence in figure at the national level for underrepresented Inclusivity. Skop will receive a cash STEM students, giving a keynote talk at the award of $5,000 that she can use to Society for Advancement of Chicanos and advance inclusion activities at her Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) annual institution. She will be featured in conference and serving as a chapter advisor for a video at the 2018 ASCB|EMBO both SACNAS and the American Indian Science Meeting Keynote Address. In addition, and Engineering Society on the UW-Madison Skop will contribute an essay to campus. She previously served on the SACNAS the Society’s basic research journal, Ahna Skop National Nominations Committee and is Molecular Biology of the Cell. currently on the ASCB Minorities Affairs Committee. Skop was nominated by John Doebley, professor She has also been a member of the Nuclear and and chair of the Genetics department at UW-Madison. Cytoplasmic Structure/Function and Dynamics Study In his letter, Doebley wrote that, along with being Section, a Cell Biology Integrated Review Group at the recognized for her work in genetics and cell biology, National Institutes of Health. “Ahna is also a highly visible advocate and role model In these many roles, and being part Native American for underrepresented students who might otherwise and also low-income, Skop understands well the
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challenges and difficulties facing underrepresented bring to the table and to science,” Skop says. students and women, and she is committed to doing all Her next tactic is something called “grading in reverse,” she can to help students succeed. Skop is Eastern Band an evidence-based grading method whereby students Cherokee, Lebanese, and Ukrainian, and her begin the course possessing all possible points, or the ever-growing family is a genetic melting pot of America, equivalent of an A. Their goal is to maintain as many including Mexican, Chinese, and Haitian backgrounds. points as possible throughout the semester. Her passion for STEM diversity is driven by her family “Students are not terrified of failure because the and love of culture, food, and travel. amount of points you lose is very small for each Award committee chair George Langford added, assessment. So 20 points off of 800 total points is still “Skop exemplifies the very best qualities that the ASCB an A. The students don’t give up early in the semester,” Prize for Excellence in Inclusivity seeks to recognize. She explained Skop. “They keep working to improve, and is an accomplished scientist with a strong track record they do. Several students have come to me in private in research, has made a lasting impact on her institution after class to say that they have never felt more confident and the broader scientific community by advocating to succeed in a class on day one. In the end, the results for and creating an inclusive environment.” Langford, are pretty remarkable. Students who come in as C a long-time ASCB member and professor and dean students, often are the best and most creative.” emeritus of the College of Arts and Sciences at Syracuse Lastly, Skop is committed to bridging the gap University, went on to say that Skop “cultivates between science and the public. As an affiliate faculty inclusivity in her research laboratory, in the classroom member at the University of Wisconsin’s program in where she practices active learning pedagogy, and Life Sciences Communication and at the UW-Madison throughout the UW-Madison campus. As one of her Arts Institute, she works to train scientists to use innovative nominators stated, ‘Ahna participates in nearly every ways to engage the public with science, communication, institutional minority recruiting and retention event.’ and art. She says oral, visual, and written communication Her boundless energy, personal commitment, and skills are a key to success in the science, technology, advocacy for social justice made her the unanimous engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM) disciplines. choice to be the inaugural recipient of the ASCB Prize.” “I work to incorporate written, verbal, and visual But what does cultivating inclusivity look like? ways to communicate science in giving assessments Skop said she takes a multi-pronged approach toward of their speaking, written, and visual communication achieving inclusivity with students. First, she gets to projects,” said Skop. “Some students realize they are know them, lets them get to know each other, and lets much better at visualizing a problem than working on them get to know her. Even though she knows this takes it in written form. Here is where I cater to their abilities time away from teaching course content, she says it is and work to improve the skills they need help with. I critical for student engagement. tell them to work on their writing but to visualize it “When the students realize that we share similar first, then write it down after you have seen it in the passions for food, travel, Project Runway, or Anthony slideshow, for example. The visual learners then learn Bourdain, the barriers for student interaction begin to be to use this technique to improve their writing skills. broken, and they feel comfortable approaching me inside The challenge here is that this might be the first time and outside of class. Equally, the students start to find that they have been told to visualize a concept and connections between each other, and they start talking communicate it to an audience.” in and outside of class more freely. It becomes a space Skop plans to use her prize winnings to send several where they are welcome and respected for what they underrepresented undergraduate students to the annual
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meetings of ASCB and SACNAS, “so that they can status, the similarities that bind all of us can be found. experience how fun it is to be a scientist, to network, and Finding commonalities and highlighting the unique to get inspired by current research.” qualities are keys to excellent mentor–mentee and Creating an inclusive environment for STEAM professional relationships, as well as providing platforms students in school, in the workplace, or any scientific for innovative ideas and discoveries in science.” realm is something everyone can foster, Skop believes. This ASCB Prize for Excellence in Inclusivity is made “As much as we are all different from each other in possible through a grant from the Howard Hughes terms of culture, gender, upbringing, and socioeconomic Medical Institute.
Neuroscientist and Stem Cell Biologist Sergiu Pasca to Receive ASCB Early Career Life Scientist Award
By Mary Spiro
Sergiu Pasca, assistant professor of Psychiatry and to find that the timing of cortical development is Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University, has been maintained in a dish as well. Not only can the brain named recipient of the 2018 ASCB Early Career Life 3D cultures be used to study the normal human brain, Scientist Award. The prize is given to outstanding but they can be used to model diseased brains as well. researchers who have served as independent In one study of a monogenic form of autism, his lab investigators for seven or fewer years. found defects in cell migration of GABAergic cells and Trained as a medical doctor in Romania, Pasca developed identified ways to restore normal cell behavior. He and powerful technology to derive self-organizing 3D human his team are now growing forebrain assembloids from brain tissue in vitro starting from pluripotent stem stem cells taken from patients with various forms of cells. These cultures are also known as neural spheroids neuropsychiatric disorders, including epilepsy, autism, or brain-region-specific organoids, and Pasca’s and schizophrenia. laboratory has demonstrated over the last several years Pasca said that this personalized 3D brain tissue how to guide the specification of 3D tissue-like structures platform has the potential to bring molecular biology to in vitro and elegantly used this platform to ask questions psychiatry and holds great potential to offer critical new about the cell biology of the human brain. knowledge to diagnose and treat neuropsychiatric Pasca has shown for the first time that organoids can diseases. be put together to form brain assembloids and enable At the 2018 ASCB|EMBO Meeting in San Diego, cell migration or long-distance connections and the Pasca will present the talk “Uncovering the Hidden Cell generation of neural circuits. His lab has also maintained Biology of the Human Brain” in the Neurodevelopment some cultures for the longest times ever reported, going and Neurodegeneration Minisymposium on Monday, on for hundreds of days, and this feature allowed Pasca December 10, at 4:35 pm.
38 ascb newsletter october 2018 annual meeting Jian Zhang to Receive MBoC Paper of the Year Award
By W. Mark Leader
Jian Zhang was named by the Molecular that the centrosome position defines the Biology of the Cell (MBoC) Editorial Board front of a migrating cell,” said MBoC as recipient of the 27th annual MBoC Editor-in-Chief David Drubin. “In fact, Paper of the Year Award. As a graduate they show that exactly the opposite is student in Yu-Li Wang’s lab at Carnegie true—the centrosome defines the rear of a Mellon University, Zhang was first migrating cell.” author of the article “Centrosome defines Zhang will present his latest research the rear of cells during mesenchymal at the ASCB|EMBO Meeting in San Diego migration” (Mol. Biol. Cell 28, 3240– in the Cell Adhesion, Motility, and 3251), which appeared in MBoC’s Fourth Mechanics Minisymposium at 4:35 pm on Annual Special Issue on Quantitative Jian Zhang Sunday, December 9. Cell Biology. Zhang is now a postdoc at TheMBoC Paper of the Year is selected Vanderbilt University. by the Editorial Board from among papers published “By combining micropatterning, microsurgery, live- in the journal each year between June and May that cell imaging, and computer modeling, the authors of have a postdoc or student as the first author. this remarkable study challenge conventional wisdom
When you publish in a nonprofit society journal, like ASCB's MBoC and LSE, your author fees benefit science by supporting society programs.
ascb newsletter october 2018 39 annual meeting Inaugural Porter Prizes for Research Excellence
By Mary Spiro
ASCB has named the winners of the inaugural Porter White has leveraged the skills of colleagues from Prizes for Research Excellence. The $4,000 prize for different disciplines to maintain a high level of outstanding postdoctoral research will go to Melanie productivity and quality of research. Plachta explained White, a research fellow at Institute of Molecular & that after White joined his lab in 2016, she “mastered Cell Biology (IMCB) A*STAR, Singapore. A $2,000 advanced imaging technologies, developed an award for outstanding predoctoral research goes to impressive number of new molecular tools to follow Andrew Moore of the University of Pennsylvania the dynamics of cells in living mouse embryos, learned (UPenn). White and Moore were chosen because they quantitative methods for image analysis, and established exemplify the pioneering spirit and contributions to intensive and truly cross-disciplinary collaborations cell biology of one of ASCB’s founders, Keith R. Porter. with multiple laboratories worldwide. This is all despite Both will receive their awards at the 2018 ASCB|EMBO taking maternity leave for two children during this Meeting in San Diego and have been invited to present time…. In the two short years that Melanie has been in talks at Minisymposia. They will also dine with the Singapore, she has also contributed heavily to another 2018 Porter Lecturer and receive up to $1,000 of their postdoc’s project examining microtubule dynamics in travel costs covered. the embryo….” White will present her latest work in the Patterning Melanie White and Tissue Morphogenesus Minisymposium on White uses quantitative live imaging to study how Monday, December 10, at 5:05 pm. molecular processes affect cellular structure and function to direct early mammalian development. Her Andrew Moore work revealed the first mechanism explaining how the Moore states that his overarching research goal was early mammalian embryo compacts. Her mentor and to develop a “deeper understanding of how cells senior PI at IMCB, Nicolas Plachta, describes White regulate the structure and function of mitochondrial as “a tremendous scientist and exactly the sort of networks through selective mitophagy and dynamic biologist whose contributions merit recognition by this fission and fusion.” As an undergraduate at Haverford prestigious honor.” College, Moore was named an HHMI interdisciplinary Following White’s PhD at University College London scholar, which came with a research grant. There, and a postdoc at the University of Edinburgh where she he sharpened his live-cell imaging expertise studying studied the molecular and cell biology of the nervous morphogenesis in Drosophila in the lab of Rachel system, she gained expertise in generating viruses to Hoang. alter gene expression and neuronal activity in the brain Later, the graduate training model at UPenn allowed for both investigative and therapeutic purposes. him to rotate through several laboratories. In the lab Using a multidisciplinary approach in her work, of Robert Kalb, he studied mitochondrial health and
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metabolism in tissue derived from patients with She notes that he has been invited to present talks at familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In Kacy multiple meetings and graduated with a number of Cullen's lab, he investigated mitochondrial dynamics publications, including three first-author primary in reactive astrocytes after acute brain injury in swine. research publications and an invited review. In 2014 he joined Erika Holzbaur’s lab where he said, Since graduation, Moore did his postdoc with “I chose to combine my interests in mitochondrial Jennifer Lippincott-Schwarz at HHMI’s Janelia biology with the lab’s strong background in live-cell Research Campus and has now become an imaging and autophagy research.” independent researcher there. Moore’s work showed how two ALS-associated Moore will present his work in the Cell Size, proteins, optineurin and its kinase TBK1, are required Cell Division, and Contractility Minisymposium on for selective mitophagy. In his thesis work, he looked Tuesday, December 11, at 5:35 pm. at how the actin cytoskeleton also plays important roles The selection committee commends the outstanding in mitochondria network inheritance in somatic cells. research of graduate student applicants Ananpurna Moore gained the distinction at UPenn as a live Vemu, Jared Bard, Tyler Allen, and Victoria Denecker imaging wizard. “Andy is an authority on live imaging and postdoc applicants Peter Ly, Samantha Lewis, and and super-resolution microscopy,” said Holzbaur. Takashi Akera.
Kelsie Eichel Named 2018 Merton Bernfield Awardee
By Mary Spiro
Kelsie Eichel, now a Damon Runyon postdoctoral fellow All cellular functions of β-arrestins were thought in the laboratory of Kang Shen at Stanford University, to require arrestin to be engaged in a stable physical has been selected to receive the 2018 Merton Bernfield complex with its cognate GPCR. Von Zastrow explained Award. She will be honored with a plaque, $1,000, and that during her work with him, “Kelsie delineated a a chance to speak at the Organelle Homeostasis distinct and additional cellular mechanism in which Minisymposium during the 2018 ASCB|EMBO Meeting β-arrestin is activated by transient interaction with a in San Diego. Her talk is on Tuesday, December 11, GPCR but then dissociates and mediates downstream at 5:20 pm. effects without the receptor.” Eichel was selected for her graduate research in the Her current work is focused on how neurons use lab of Mark von Zastrow through the multidisciplinary polarized membrane trafficking mechanisms to Tetrad Program at the University of California, San selectively transport proteins to axons or dendrites. Francisco, on the cell biology of β-arrestins, critical Understanding how neurons produce elaborate mediators of G protein–coupled receptor (GPCR) membrane protein compartmentalization is critical function. In his recommendation letter, von Zastrow to understanding basic neurobiology as well as diseases describes Eichel as having “native observational skills, of the nervous system. creativity, critical thinking, and fierce determination The selection committee commends runner-ups combined with a terrific work ethic.” Alexander Muir, Erin Langdon, and Takashi Akera for their outstanding work.
ascb newsletter october 2018 41 42 ascb newsletter october 2018 columns Emerging Voices Writing as a Scientist: A Skill for Life A column by the Committee for Postdocs and Students (COMPASS) By Gaia Cantelli
In today’s intense research environment, scientists magazine articles, newspapers, press releases, patient must become effective communicators to gain a outreach websites, and so on. You may find the latter competitive edge and to make a difference in their in scientific papers, posters, etc. Do yourself a favor communities. Explaining science to the public is an and keep these separate. While most scientists know essential skill for any scientist, to keep their papers, presentations, whether it is to engage with and posters professional in tone, it the public through outreach [I]t is a good idea to can be tempting when writing for a opportunities, to educate students, always have a very general audience to try and address or to communicate with patient your colleagues at the same time as advocates on grant panels and at clear picture in your the general public. However, mixing fundraisers. If you are looking for a mind of whom you science writing and scientific writing nonacademic career after graduate are writing for. will not result in a compelling piece school or your postdoc, learning that successfully targets the intended how to write about your work is audience because it was not written an even more essential skill. Being able to explain to with a specific audience in mind. While writing, it is a future employers what you have done as a scientist good idea to always have a very clear picture in your is vital—and writing is perhaps the most in-demand mind of whom you are writing for. Your audience is transferable skill you can boast when transitioning the single most important part of your brief! from the bench to a desk. Most jobs involve some Once you are done writing, read over your piece aspect of writing; what’s more, communicating and test yourself. Pick a random paragraph and complex concepts accurately, simply, and engagingly is try to objectively assess whether it is addressing its a highly sought-after skill in all lines of work. appropriate audience. Watch your language and the Here are a four (plus one) key suggestions you can words you choose to use; technical jargon is best left put into practice to refine your science writing skills. out of all science writing, unless you have the time and word count to properly explain what it means. 1. Keep Your Science Writing and Your tone and style are also important to consider Scientific Writing Separate when making sure that your piece is appropriate Science writing is writing about science for the for a nonscientific audience. Dramatic pauses and public. Scientific writing is writing about science nonconventional style choices are not appropriate for other scientists. You may find the former in while writing a scientific paper, but can be very
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powerful tools to engage a lay blog. While blogging can seem quite audience. The same goes for humor, [T]here is almost as intimidating, with monetization which is not really appropriate for much to be learned and social media marketing seeming scientific writing (even though I by other people’s like a full-time job, you can keep it personally feel it should be!), but can simple and just write for yourself. be quite a good idea in some pieces failures as by their Every time you click “publish” you of science writing. triumphs. will have practiced and will be a much better writer for it! 2. Write, Write, Write The best piece of advice you will ever receive as a 3. Read, Read, Read writer is to write, write, write! Practice is the best Reading, as well as writing, is how we form an idea of way to perfect your skills. Find ways to practice your what is good versus bad science writing. Therefore, science writing and other forms of communication make a habit to read some good science articles in and make sure that you do so at least a couple of the news on a regular basis.1 Observe what you like times a month. Find out whether your institution has and what you dislike about them and keep track of a blog or magazine you could write for and just go for your style and structure preferences. Do you like it. Find outreach opportunities that get scientists in informational lists? Do you like articles that are funny? touch with children and the general public and engage Do you like infographics? You can try out different with nonscience strangers. Talk to them about your styles in your practice writing and see whether they work and listen to their questions! Find the best way are for you. to explain what you do and see what As well as reading great writing lessons you can learn from what by amazing professionals, keep an confuses your audience. Outreach You would be eye open for bad writing by not- opportunities also offer plenty of surprised to find so-amazing writers (often found writing opportunities, from outreach in lower-quality newspapers and a pamphlets to posters. how few people variety of kooky websites). In fact, Other science writing actually know there is almost as much to be learned opportunities can come through by other people’s failures as by their your scientific work. If you are what a cell is! triumphs. Every time you come involved in publishing a scientific across something that is confusing article, there are plenty of outlets that will ask you to or poorly explained, take a step back and ask yourself publish a lay-person summary of your work. Many why. Is it confusing because of the language it uses, is journals require you to submit a summary for the the grammar bad, or is it just not very graceful? Spot general public, and there are websites dedicated to patterns of bad writing and start looking for them in scientists explaining their papers. Your lab website your own writing. You will learn how to edit yourself may need an update—and your boss is quite likely to just by reading over other people’s bad articles and allow you to spruce it up with some excellent science mentally editing them. If you know something of the writing (it’s free labor!). underlying science, ask yourself whether these articles Finally, keep in mind the option of starting your are accurate enough. Most importantly, do they own blog or even contributing to the ASCB COMPASS convey just how cool the experiments they describe
44 ascb newsletter october 2018 columns Emerging Voices
are? You can learn from all of these mistakes and make 5. Bonus: If You Are Going to Be at your writing stronger. ASCB|EMBO 2018, Come to Our Science Writing Session! 4. Get a Little Help from Your (Non- Last, and perhaps least, if you are going to Science) Friends ASCB|EMBO 2018 (and if you can you should!), It is very, very difficult to think as a nonscientist if consider joining us for the COMPASS career you have spent a few years embedded in the world of enhancement session “Writing Your Science Story: science. Thankfully, you probably have at least a few How to Get Everyone Else Excited about Your Work.” non-science friends. If you don’t (and it happens!), We are going to feature some exciting activities to help you may have non-science family. Make use of your you think about the way you write about your work, contacts and ask them questions. People love to and you will be able to hear from some truly amazing help with science, especially if you emphasize how panelists who work as writers in a professional important being able to explain your work could be. capacity. You will be able to ask our panelists your Send drafts to your non-science friends and ask them own science writing questions and perhaps be inspired for advice, or simply ask them if they are familiar with to start writing more, or change the way you write what a certain term means. You would be surprised altogether. You can follow us on social media at to find how few people actually know what a cell is! #writeyoursciencestory for more updates! Be prepared, however, to accept non-science criticism from non-scientists. While your science may be well up Reference 1 to snuff, you may find that you need to work on your Cantelli G (February 16, 2018). Five fun ways to keep up with science outside your job. www.ascb.org/ascb-post/careers/five- style to make your pieces engaging and fun to read. fun-ways-keep-science-outside-job. Your non-science friends may also point out that your science articles are too science-y—that The COMPASS session “Writing Your is, they have too much scientific detail in them. It is Science Story: How to Get Everyone Else Excited about Your Work” will take place very natural for scientists who are used to repeating at the 2018 ASCB|EMBO Meeting on themselves over and over with lists of experimental Monday, December 10, from 12:00–1:00 pm detail to lose the knack for editing themselves. Keep in Theater #4 . in mind that science writing is never going to have as many details in it as scientific writing covering the same topic. In fact, you may find that it is best to leave out information that seems important to a scientist but does not really add any value to a nonscientific audience. For example, scientists often like to show the same results in a variety of ways, such as showing
the importance of a signaling pathway by gene knock- About the Author down, gene over-expression, and treatment with an Gaia Cantelli is a lecturing fellow at Duke University . agonist and with an antagonist. All this information can be condensed in a single sentence.
ascb newsletter october 2018 45 columns Information from the Public Policy Science and Society Committee Opponents Try Fetal Tissue Research Ban Again By Kevin Wilson
For the second year in a row, Republicans in the U.S. the bill. During debate on the Pocan amendment, House of Representatives are trying to prohibit the use supporters of the fetal tissue research ban focused of U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) research their comments on what they referred to as the funds for research with fetal tissue. The first attempt “abortion industry” and the selling of “baby body was in 2017, during the preparation of the NIH’s parts.” After 15 minutes of debate, the amendment to FY18 budget. After a long battle, with the help of pro- remove the ban was defeated. research members of the House and the support of the Unlike the situation with the FY18 budget, when ASCB and other professional scientific organizations, the U.S. Senate inserted its own watered down fetal NIH supporters on the Hill were able to remove all tissue ban, Appropriations Committee leaders in the of the anti-research provisions that Republicans had Senate have reached a bipartisan agreement this year inserted into the FY18 NIH budget. not to include any policy riders in the Senate versions In June, as the House Appropriations Committee of FY19 agency budgets. Policy riders are a means to began to create the FY19 NIH budget, research use budgets of federal agencies to force policy changes. opponents in the House once again inserted a ban on As of September, it is expected that the Senate fetal tissue research. During Committee consideration opposition to policy riders will serve as the key to of the NIH budget, Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI) offered removing the fetal tissue prohibition. an amendment to remove the fetal tissue ban from
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Capitol Hill Life Science Fair By Kevin Wilson
For the first time in memory, live scientific research came to Capitol Hill in the form of the 2018 Life Science Fair and Reception held on July 18, 2018. The fair, organized by the Coalition for the Life Sciences, had exhibits from eight organizations, including the ASCB, and was attended by at least 150 people, including three members of Congress. The ASCB table was staffed by graduate students from Johns Hopkins University School Brianna Barry, Isabelle Malouf, and ASCB member Molly Gordon talk with Congressman Neal Dunn at the 2018 Life Science Fair and Reception. of Medicine and focused on demonstrations and displays make sure they could see the DNA too. about various model organisms, including live ASCB member Molly Gordon, from the Drosophila, budding yeast, and tardigrades. The Department of Cell Biology at Johns Hopkins, along students also demonstrated how to use household with Brianna Barry and Isabelle Malouf, also from items to extract DNA from budding yeast. This the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, demonstration proved to be very popular. represented the ASCB. Representatives Joe Barton Congressional staff and other attendees were amazed (R-TX), Lou Correa (D-CA), and Neal Dunn (D-FL) that it is possible to see DNA, calling friends over to attended the fair. Will Trump Restructure the NIH? By Kevin Wilson
How many times have you complained about to try. For most of the 20th century, newly elected something the federal government does that doesn’t presidents have taken advantage of that opportunity to make sense to you, finishing with, “If I were president, launch wholesale efforts to reorganize the Executive I would change that”? Branch of the government. Since the 1970s Presidents Even if you can get yourself elected president you Carter, George W. Bush, and Obama have had their may not be able to make all the sweeping changes own reorganization plans. Now add the Trump you’d like, but you would at least have the opportunity Administration to the list.
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The recently released Trump plan, “Delivering The Trump plan also calls for the general Government Solutions in the 21st Century,” reads like restructuring of National Institutes of Health (NIH) most other plans, with the stated goals of learning administrative functions but does not provide from the private sector and avoiding one-size-fits-all details. In addition, the plan calls for the transfer of approaches. three agencies currently outside of the NIH into the The recommendation that has attracted the most NIH as new institutes. The agencies are the Agency news is a proposal to merge the Department of for Healthcare Research and Quality; the National Education with the Department of Labor, creating the Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; and the Department of Education and the Workforce. National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, The proposal of most interest to the life science and Rehabilitation Research. At some point in the research community is a proposal to centralize future, the plan calls for the mission of each of the new the administration of graduate fellowship grants institutes to be reviewed with the goal of transferring at “multiple Federal agencies” within the National those operations to the existing NIH institutes. Science Foundation (NSF) The goal of the proposal Most proposals within the Trump plan would is to reduce administrative costs. As a first step, the need to be approved by Congress to be implemented, plan calls for the NSF to conduct a government-wide making it unlikely that any changes will be made. You inventory of current fellowship programs. can read the complete plan at https://bit.ly/2MNCtQA.
Don’t Forget to Vote! As a citizen and a scientist, one of the most important advocacy- related activities you can participate in is to vote in your local, state, and national elections, regardless of who you vote for .
Elections help decide the direction of local government services such as education and public works, state policies, and national laws and regulations that can impact the world . In advance of election day, spend some time learning about the issues that are important to you and where the candidates stand on those issues .
For information about voting in your state, including information about registering to vote, early voting opportunities, and your polling location, go to www .headcount .org/ voter-info .
48 ascb newsletter october 2018 columns
Highlights from
ASCB’s education journal, CBE—Life Sciences Education (LSE), is your source for • Tried and tested ideas for improving your teaching and mentoring • Data-driven strategies for improving students’ learning, development, and success • Evidence-based approaches for engaging students and overcoming everyday teaching challenges • Valid and reliable assessment tools
Here are some highlights from the June 1, 2018, issue:
Connecting Structure–Property and Structure–Function Relationships across the Disciplines of Chemistry and Biology: Exploring Student Perceptions Kathryn P. Kohn, Sonia M. Underwood, and Melanie M. Cooper To inform future interdisciplinary course reform that may bridge student understanding of structure–property and structure–function relationships across chemistry and biology, undergraduate students coenrolled in relevant introductory chemistry and cell and molecular biology courses were interviewed.
Challenging Cognitive Construals: A Dynamic Alternative to Stable Misconceptions Julia S. Gouvea and Matt R. Simon Results presented here challenge the idea that teleological, anthropocentric, and essentialist statements are evidence of deeply held intuitive cognitive frameworks. An alternative perspective of cognition as dynamic and context dependent is proposed.
Reading Quizzes Improve Exam Scores for Community College Students Pamela Pape-Lindstrom, Sarah Eddy, and Scott Freeman A 6-year study shows that implementing reading quizzes in an introductory biology course can boost exam performance for community college students.
EcoEvo-MAPS: An Ecology and Evolution Assessment for Introductory through Advanced Undergraduates Mindi M. Summers, Brian A. Couch, Jennifer K. Knight, Sara E. Brownell, Alison J. Crowe, Katharine Semsar, Christian D. Wright, and Michelle K. Smith EcoEvo-MAPS (Ecology and Evolution–Measuring Achievement and Progression in Science) is designed to measure student thinking in foundational ecology and evolution concepts at multiple time points during an undergraduate degree. Evidence of validity and reliability was collected through an iterative process of faculty review, student interviews, and analyses of assessment data from more than 3,000 students at 34 institutions.
Check out LSE’s Evidence-based Teaching Guides at https://lse .ascb .org .
Explore the Anatomy of an Education Research Study at http://www .ascb org/annotations. and learn about the design, conduct, interpretation, and presentation of education research .
Stay up to date with all that LSE has to offer by following us on Twitter @CBELifescied .
ascb newsletter october 2018 49 careers A column by the Women in Cell Biology Career Navigator (WICB) Committee Women in Cell Biology (WICB) Events and Awards at the ASCB|EMBO Meeting
By Diane L. Barber and Sandra K. Masur
We all constantly negotiate with our colleagues, our Roundtables, led by experts, are a forum for questions bosses, our grad students, and with our partners and discussions on issues of importance to cell biologists and other family members. WICB is presenting two at various stages of their careers, with each table activities at the ASCB|EMBO Meeting in December focusing on one of more than 30 specific topics. Topics that offer insights on how to negotiate for what you include but are not limited to Career Transitions, Jobs need. in Biotech, Dual Careers, and Strategies for Obtaining “Navigating Negotiation in Science” will be a Postdoc. Roundtables will occur on two days—Sunday, the topic of our Panel and Networking Reception December 9, and Monday, December 10—from 1:00 pm– presented in partnership with the Committee for 2:00 pm in the Learning Center. Information on each Postdocs and Students on Monday, December 10, of these events is included in the ASCB meeting website, from 7:15–8:45 pm. The event features a panel of https://ascb-embo2018.ascb.org. experts sharing advice and answering your questions And we also celebrate recipients of our WICB on negotiation approaches. The panel will be followed Childcare Awards, which provide financial help to by a “meet and greet” networking reception. Last year attend the meeting for parents who are grad students, we had a highly successful and lively discussion on postdocs, or junior faculty and are presenting their resiliency in science. science at the meeting. Applications for Childcare “Let’s Make a Deal! Negotiating for Success” will Awards are linked to the WICB webpage and are due be the topic of our WICB Mentoring Theater held annually right after the second deadline for abstract Tuesday, December 11, from 10:45 am–noon. ASCB submissions. The Childcare Awards are made possible Thespians will perform brief skits that use satire and with support from the Springer Nature Publishing humor to demonstrate negotiation skills. Before the Group. skits we will be honoring our three WICB awardees (see recipients below). We welcome meeting attendees Three WICB Research and to join us to honor the awardees and enjoy the skits. Leadership Awards At the ASCB|EMBO Meeting we will again offer our Sophie Dumont: Junior Award “Career Discussion and Mentoring Roundtables” for for Excellence in Research which we now partner with other ASCB committees. Sophie Dumont, an associate professor in the Department
50 ascb newsletter october 2018 careers
of Cell and Tissue Biology work is generating new insights into how the spindle at the University of and kinetochore generate and respond to force to California, San Francisco robustly segregate chromosomes. (UCSF), is the recipient of In his nomination letter, Iain Cheeseman the 2018 Junior Award for (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) said that Excellence in Research. Dumont’s creative methods allow her to address This award recognizes questions that others are not even considering. newly independent, early- Dumont recently received the UCSF Outstanding Sophie Dumont career scientists within Faculty Mentoring Award in recognition of her seven years of their first dedication to mentoring graduate students. Read more appointment who show in a profile of Dumont published in the Journal of Cell significant potential Biology.1 for making scientific contributions. Dumont Elizabeth Chen: Mid-Career Award bridges biophysics and for Excellence in Research cell biology to address Elizabeth Chen, a professor in the Department of fundamental questions Molecular Biology at the University of Texas Southwestern on how chromosomes Medical Center (UTSW), is this year’s recipient of the Elizabeth Chen accurately segregate Mid-Career Award for Excellence in Research. WICB during cell division. added the Mid-Career Award in 2013 to recognize Her group uses physical women investigators who have held an independent and molecular tools position for 7 to 15 years. Chen exemplifies the award’s together with imaging to recognition of exceptional scientific and leadership probe the mechanics of the contributions to cell biology in this critical career mammalian spindle and period between junior and senior stages, a period not kinetochore in live cells. typically celebrated with awards. Dumont acquired Chen’s research program addresses questions of expertise in biophysics cell–cell fusion by investigating mechanisms across
Eva Nogales during her PhD research scales from molecules to cells to tissues in situ, the latter with Carlos Bustamante focused on myoblasts in Drosophila. By showing that at the University of California, Berkeley, probing cell fusion is an asymmetric, actin-driven process enzyme-substrate mechanochemistry at the single- coordinated between partnering cells and revealing molecule level. She then moved her physical thinking a biophysical interplay at the fusogenic synapse that to the cellular level, studying chromosome segregation involves both pushing and resisting forces of adjacent as a postdoctoral fellow with Tim Mitchison at cells, her research has challenged existing paradigms. Her Harvard Medical School. She further developed this work is providing new insights that can be applied to stem research direction as an independent investigator. Her cell–based therapies for tissue regeneration and repair.
ascb newsletter october 2018 51 careers Career Navigator
Chen received her PhD in Developmental Biology Nogales is noted for her outstanding work in at Stanford University under the direction of Bruce structural and cell biology, including her pioneering Baker and completed her postdoctoral fellowship at and innovative use of cryo-EM to resolve the UTSW working with Eric Olson, where she used genetic structure of microtubules and microtubule interacting screens with Drosophila to identify evolutionarily proteins as well as transcription and DNA replication conserved proteins that promote myoblast fusion. machineries. This work was celebrated in 2016, Chen began her independent career as an assistant when she received the Keith R. Porter Award. Her professor in 2002 at Johns Hopkins University, and exceptional level of productivity, with more than 180 moved to UTSW in 2016. publications, has given us breakthrough discoveries As noted by Olson, her nominator, Chen has on the architecture, functional states, and regulatory distinguished herself by applying an interdisciplinary interactions of macromolecular assemblies. approach to a traditionally genetics-dominated As noted by her nominator, Matt Welch at UC research field. Olson and supporting references Berkeley, Nogales also has a strong leadership record also highlight her leadership roles in graduate and in training junior investigators, heading the Biophysics postdoctoral training, organizing scientific meetings, Graduate Program and chairing the Undergraduate and advisory boards. During her career Chen has Affairs Committee at UC Berkeley, as well as serving received many honors and awards, with recent on councils and meeting organizing committees recognitions as an American Heart Association for ASCB, the Biophysical Society, and Gordon National Established Investigator and an HHMI Conferences. Her former postdocs wrote with great Faculty Scholar. appreciation of Nogales’ outstanding mentoring and nurturing of junior investigators by optimizing Eva Nogales: Sandra K. Masur their success in their career trajectories. In fact, she Senior Leadership Award is usually seen at the ASCB|EMBO Annual Meeting Eva Nogales, professor in the Molecular and Cell surrounded by highly motivated students asking Biology Department at University of California, questions. We are delighted that this award coincides Berkeley (UC Berkeley), receives the WICB Sandra K. with Nogales being elected 2020 ASCB President. Masur Senior Leadership Award, which recognizes a woman or man with outstanding scientific Reference 1 achievements combined with a strong record of Powell K (2016). Sophie Dumont: Mastering the uncanny mechanics of living systems. J Cell Biol 212, 744–745. leadership and fostering the careers of more junior investigators. She began her independent career in 1998 at UC Berkeley and has been About the Authors an HHMI investigator since 2000. In Diane L . Barber, WICB Chair, is Professor and Chair of the recognition of her early promise, she Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, UCSF . Sandra received the WICB Junior Award for K . Masur, WICB Associate, is Director of the Office for Women’s Careers and Professor of Ophthalmology at the Excellence in Research in 2005. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai .
52 ascb newsletter october 2018 careers
DEAR LABBY
Meetings Large and Small
DEAR LABBY: I am an assistant professor with limited funds for travel to meetings. Although I am a devoted ASCB member, I am torn between going to a large meeting like that hosted by ASCB and EMBO and a smaller one more directed toward my research area, like a Gordon Conference. I can only afford to do one of them. What should I be weighing in my decision? — Traveler in Need of a Destination
Got Questions? DEAR TRAVELER: Thank you for staying connected to ASCB and its membership. Your question is an excellent one and asked every year by members Labby has answers. ASCB’s who are early in their careers, and even pondered by those later in their popular columnist will select careers. Labby’s career has benefited greatly from both types of meeting. The career-related questions advantages that you have to weigh relate to what you hope to accomplish at the for publication and meeting. Are you at a stage in your research where you really need to focus on a thoughtful response in the specific question, or would your research (or teaching) benefit from the broader ASCB Newsletter. perspective that might be gained at a large meeting? Confidentiality guaranteed As large meetings will have symposia in your research area, both types of if requested. Write us at meetings provide ample opportunities to connect with those working in your area. [email protected]. The smaller meetings will have you rubbing shoulders with the prominent names who are attending, as they will likely join the mealtimes and the coffee hours. The larger meetings will have you rubbing shoulders with some of these same folks as well, but you would have to make more of an effort to interact with them. The larger meetings provide a greater context for the work being done in several interconnected areas, and the ideas generated across those areas often lead to your having new approaches to your own specific research and teaching. Similarly, larger meetings provide the benefit that you may meet others working on topics indirectly related to your area, which may facilitate collaborative projects. The smaller meetings allow your path to intersect with that of nearly everyone who participates, and that is not true of the larger meetings. But there are more opportunities for more intersections at the larger meetings simply because of the larger number of scientists and educators who attend. Finally, don’t forget that a large meeting like the ASCB|EMBO Meeting will
ascb newsletter october 2018 53 careers
provide a wealth of nonscientific sessions that focus on topics like careers, education, and communication. Consider whether you will benefit from such sessions. Each type of meeting has so many positives that you should decide what works better for your budget. In addition, societies like ASCB offer travel monies that can be requested to assist your attendance. If you receive one of these awards, you get the best of both worlds as you can then afford going to both meetings and taking home new ideas, new personal connections, and new collaborations that really do last a lifetime and a full career. Enjoy both! —Labby
Remaining 2018 Application Deadlines: Oct 30
54 ascb newsletter october 2018 members
member profile upcoming Beata early career meetings Edyta Modeling Context-Dependent Cell Biology in Organoids Meeting Mierzwa October 23, 2018 Hefei, China
By Leeann Kirchner 2nd Annual UCLA Mitochondrial Symposium Beata Edyta Mierzwa is a postdoctoral fellow at the November 2, 2018 University of California, San Diego, and the Ludwig Los Angeles, CA Institute for Cancer Research. In her scientific research, she seeks to answer many unresolved California State University questions about cell division. During her PhD Interdisciplinary Cancer Meeting she focused on how cells separate in cytokinetic November 6, 2018 abscisson—the final step of cell division—by studying Northridge, CA the dynamics of the ESCRT-III machinery. For her postdoc, Mierzwa is approaching mitosis by exploring the variation in the cell division machinery in different ASCB is pleased to provide Early Career cell types, with the aim to find cell type–specific Meeting Grants to graduate students and targets for cancer therapy. postdocs to organize one-day meetings. Along with her scientific research, Mierzwa is also Such meetings usually involve two or more institutions (within the United States or a successful science artist—creating illustrations for international), and topics can range from her own and others’ scientific research. She says that basic science to career development as long “[Her] science art has been developing into a mission as there is clear relevance to the broadly defined field of cell biology. to communicate science both inside and outside the scientific community.” The next deadline to apply for funds will be in To create her art, Mierzwa first breaks down the January 2019. Applicants must be or become essence of complex scientific findings to translate it members of the ASCB. into a visual, thinking of a metaphor or play on words For more information visit www.ascb.org and that describes an abstract biological process in an click on “Meetings.” intuitive way. After finalizing the concept, she creates a detailed hand drawing using pencil on paper and then adds colors digitally. She also designs science-inspired clothes with her own drawings and microscopy images. Mierzwa will be designing this year’s ASCB T-shirt! More of her work can be found online at www.beatascienceart.com.
ascb newsletter october 2018 55 members member gifts | october 2018
ASCB Donors Thank you to our recent donors to the ASCB Partnership Initiative . Their generous donations help to support ASCB’s programs and services . TM
Individual Donors (between 6/1/2018 and 7/31/2018) The ASCB Partnership Gold ($1,000+) Initiative Supports the Juan Bonifacino Pietro De Camilli Programs You Care About Brigid Hogan George Langford Did you know that membership dues cover only part Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz of the costs of your member benefits? ASCB depends Thoru Pederson on additional support from members and external Michael K . Rosen and Yuh Min Chook stakeholders, such as industry partners, as well as Patrick Schneider private and federal grants . The ASCB Partnership Initiative supports priority programs of the Society Friends (<$250) that address the challenges and opportunities facing Damian Dudka the field of cell biology, including public support Fatima Javed for science, workforce issues, and interdisciplinary Yeongseo Kim science . Maria Fe Lanfranco Gallofre Elizabeth Raff These programs include: Jean Sanger • Summer Biotech Management Course, Scott Soderling • Honorific Awards, Derek Tokar • Outreach Grants, and Shaohe Wang • ASCB’s advocacy work, • As well as many other programs .
We are over halfway toward our goal of $300,000 in commitments from individuals, companies, and other organizations before the end of 2018 . Will you help us reach this ambitious goal?
To learn more about the Partnership Initiative, or to get involved, contact Erika Shugart, ASCB CEO, at eshugart@ascb .org .
Are You Getting ASCB Pathways?
You should be regularly receiving our monthly email update, ASCB Pathways—alerting you to the latest ASCB happenings and Annual Meeting updates . If you aren’t seeing the e-newsletter in your inbox, please check your spam filter, and/or contact your system administrator to whitelist *ascb .org .
56 ascb newsletter october 2018 members in memoriam Laura Lee Richardson, 67, Cancer Researcher
By Mary Spiro
Laura Lee Richardson, Assistant Dean of Academic Richardson specialized in testicular cancer research Affairs and the Director of Preclinical Education with respect to how the transcription factors SKI and at Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of SNO are altered in testicular tumors. She directed Medicine, died suddenly at her home in West Virginia the university’s Anatomy Outreach Program, which on May 28, 2018. Richardson had been a member of introduced Huntington, WV, high school students ASCB since 1998. to laboratory research opportunities. The program Born in Washington, DC, Richardson grew up helped to attract underrepresented minorities and in Bethesda, MD, and went on to study biology at rural students to medical school at Marshall. In Newton College of the Sacred Heart, prior to its addition, she directed the Human Gift Registry, merger with Boston College. She earned a master’s which encourages whole body donation for medical degree from the University of Virginia and a doctoral education purposes. She led the annual memorial degree from Georgetown University. Following service that helped honor the memory of the donors. postdoctoral training at The Burnham Institute and A memorial service in her honor was hosted by the University of Tennessee, she joined the basic Marshall University at the Joan C. Edwards Playhouse science faculty of Marshall University. on July 29 where she was recognized for her teaching, mentorship, and friendship.
The Newsletter Welcomes Letters to the Editor Have thoughts you’d like to share with your colleagues? We’d be happy to consider your Letter to the Editor for publication in the ASCB Newsletter . Write to the Editor at mleader@ascb .org .
ascb newsletter october 2018 57 See pg. 23 for a list of scientific topics
THE forum for discovery and cutting-edge research in cell and molecular biology
Conference Highlights Keynote Sean J. Morrison Professional development and leadership training Director, Children’s Medical for every career stage! Center Research Institute, University of Texas Workshops on the latest scientific techniques and Southwestern Medical methods Center/HHMI Member-organized scientific subgroups Major award lectures for top international Program Co-Chairs: Thomas Langer, Max-Planck-Institute for Biology of scientists Aging, Cologne
...and more! Samara Reck-Peterson, University of California, San Diego/HHMI
/ascbiology ascb-embo2018.ascb.org @ascbiology Join the conversation #ascbembo18
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