Life Science Initiative News
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Capital District Postdoc Association Research Symposium - September 20, 2021
The Capital District Postdoc Association is happy to announce their 1st Annual Research Symposium on Monday, September 20, 2021, 3-7pm. This exciting event will bring together postdocs across the Capital region to share their research, network, and learn more about the exceptional research being conducted across Albany area.
The symposium will be in the Life Science Research Building, University at Albany, SUNY. Registration is free and open to New York Capital Region postdocs only. CDPA membership not required. Learn more and register.
Save the Date: Workshop for Interaction and Scientific Collaboration, Tuesday, October 12
The 2021 Workshop for Interaction and Scientific Collaboration (WISC) will be held virtually on Tuesday, October 12, 2021. WISC is intended to bring faculty, graduate students, post-docs and professional staff together across the Life Sciences disciplines. Biologists, Chemists, Physicists and Psychologists gather to share their science and ideas across academia and industry. Scientists from local and regional institutions give presentations in an environment that is conducive to brainstorming and networking. Registration opens August 1.
Visit the WISC website for more about the event
Life Sciences Research Symposium XII, Friday, January 22, 2021
The Life Sciences Research Symposium provides an opportunity for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Fellows to present their research through oral and poster presentations, according the general format of main scientific conferences. It is an important event to promote student excellence and collaboration among researchers across the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Physics and Psychology. The Life Sciences Research Symposium will take place virtually on Friday January 22, 2021. See the full Life Sciences Research Symposium schedule.
Chemistry Professor Contributes to a Cancer Treatment Now in Clinical Trials
Max Royzen, an associate professor of Chemistry, partnered with San Francisco-based biotech firm Shasqi to develop an anticancer therapy that utilizes bio-orthogonal click chemistry to target a powerful drug at cancerous tumors.Bio-orthogonal click chemistry is a process by which two highly reactive compounds, selective for each other, react inside a live organism. According to Royzen, this makes the process incredibly valuable in medical chemistry, and in particular cancer treatment, because it can target the cancerous cells while sparing healthy cells. Read the article: Chemistry Professor Contributes to a Cancer Treatment Now in Clinical Trials
UAlbany Biology Lab's Findings Make the Cover of the Journal of Neuroscience
University at Albany Biology Professor Paolo Forni’s Lab made the January 8, 2020 cover of the Journal of Neuroscience. The lab discovered that a transcription factor called Gli3 is critical for the movement of a population of neurons that controls onset of puberty in mice and humans. Read the Journal of Neuroscience about Professor Forni's discovery article. Read the UAlbany News article about Professor Forni's discovery.
2019 Life Science Research Symposium Winners
The 2019 Life Science Research Symposium took place on November 15. The Life Sciences Research Symposium provides an opportunity for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Fellows to present their research through oral and poster presentations, according the general format of main scientific conferences. It is an important event to promote student excellence and collaboration among researchers across the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Physics and Psychology. View the LSRS poster and presentation winners
Tackling Fibrosis
Supported by a $3.4 million award from the National Institutes of Health, Professor Melinda Larsen of Biological Sciences is leading a team of undergraduate and graduate students to research the causes and potential treatments for fibrosis. (Photo by Brian Busher)
Researchers Target Toxic RNA for Clues to Subdue Myotonic Dystrophy
Newly published research by RNA Institute faculty may reveal clues for ways to treat a devastating neuromuscular disease. This recent work by Professor Andrew Berglund, director of the RNA Institute, and two new Institute scientists, John Cleary and Kaalak Reddy, seeks to identify drugs that would reduce the toxic RNA molecules that cause myotonic dystrophy (DM) Read the full article: Researchers Target Toxic RNA for Clues to Subdue Myotonic Dystrophy
Life Sciences Research Symposium XI, Friday, November 15, 2019
The Life Sciences Research Symposium provides an opportunity for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Fellows to present their research through oral and poster presentations, according the general format of main scientific conferences. It is an important event to promote student excellence and collaboration among researchers across the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Physics and Psychology. The Life Sciences Research Symposium will take place on Friday November 15, 2019 at the State University of New York at Albany in the Campus Center Assembly Hall. Visit the LSRS XI website for more details
Marlene Belfort Featured in STEM Interview
The Sanctuary for Independent Media's Sophia Cahillane talks to Professor Marlene Belfort on October 7, 2019 about her research and experiences in Biology as well as being a women in STEM. Listen to Marlene Belfort's interview on The Sanctuary for Independent Media
Junior Faculty win NSF and NASA Awards
Junior faculty who won major national awards from the National Science Foundation and NASA were honored at a reception in October. From left to right, Mariya Zheleva, Computer Science; Mustafa Aksoy, Electrical and Computer Engineering; Julia Jennings, Anthropology; Brian Rose, DAES; Jia Sheng, Chemistry; Justin Minder, DAES; Alan Chen, Chemistry/RNA Institute; Chinwe Ekenna, Computer Science; Justin Curry. Math and Statistics; Shaghayegh Sahebi, Computer Science; and Charalampos Chelmis, Computer Science.
Modifying the Genetic Blueprint
Jia Sheng, an assistant professor of chemistry at UAlbany, is one of just 16 faculty SUNY-wide to earn the National Science Foundation’s esteemed CAREER award. Sheng received $600,000 to study the structures and functions of natural ribonucleic acid (RNA) modifications and develop molecular tools for gene regulation. Read the article: Modifying the Genetic Blueprint
Flexibility for the Future
Two gifts totaling over $1 million dollars will help ensure student success at the College of Arts and Sciences far into the future, thanks to a loyal alum and UAlbany Foundation board member Kathleen Dennis '75 and Edelgard Wulfert, the college’s former dean. Read the article: Flexibility for the Future
Dr. Marlene Belfort Granted Honorary Doctorate
Distinguished Professor of Biological Sciences Marlene Belfort will be granted an honorary doctorate of science from the University of Cape Town in South Africa. Belfort, an internationally acclaimed molecular geneticist, will accept the degree in December 2019.
UAlbany News Podcast: How Zebras Can Help Us Understand Anthrax Transmission
On This Episode, Wendy Turner of Biological Sciences Shares Her Work in Studying African Wildlife
Wendy Turner is an assistant professor of biological sciences in the University at Albany’s College of Arts and Sciences. On this episode of the UAlbany News Podcast, Turner shares her work in analyzing anthrax transmission among African wildlife. Turner was awarded a $2.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation for this project. Listen to the podcast: How Zebras Can Help Us Understand Anthrax Transmission
CAS turns 25
ALBANY, N.Y. (Oct. 2, 2018) — Two visits from national figures, artistic showcases and a closing dinner highlight the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) this month.
David Gersten, professor in the Chanin School of Architecture at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, will join CAS faculty on Tuesday, Oct. 16, for a 4:15 p.m. panel discussion on “Engaging in a Changing World: The Transformative Power of Education Across Disciplines.” Read the article about CAS turning 25
Women in Science and Health (WISH) Seek to Improve the Environment for Women in STEM fields
The science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields have long been dominated by men, but fortunately that is changing. The number of women choosing STEM careers is increasing. However, the support needed to continue and strengthen this trend is still lacking.
