Graduate Education Office (GEO) Newsletter
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Student of the Semester

Congratulations to Victoria Laney! She is the winner of the Student of the Semester! She has been heavily involved within the Biomedical Engineering Program this year. She has participated and co-organized recruitment efforts. Further, she has spearheaded the formation and is current President of the Underrepresented Minorities in BME. As President, she has pushed for change within her program as well as providing a valuable resource for students within the BME program. We would like to thank Victoria for all of her incredible contributions!
BGSO First-Year Coordinator
The BGSO is looking for a new first year coordinator for the incoming class of BSTP students (starting in February). The role of the first year coordinator is to welcome the incoming BSTP first years to Case Western and to help them have a smooth transition into grad school. This includes providing resources such as housing information, coordinating events (hopefully in person next year), and organizing student panels to inform students about rotations and how to choose a mentor. You also attend BGSO exec board meetings, gaining experience in leadership and student advocacy. Reach out to the BGSO (cwrubgso@gmail.com) if you’re interested!
BSTP Recruitment Volunteer Opportunities
Calling all current PhD students!
BSTP recruitment is quickly approaching--the first virtual interview day is earlier than usual, December 18--and we rely on current students to be the warm and welcoming faces of the School of Medicine.
Since interviews are entirely virtual this year, the opportunities to be involved in recruitment are slightly different. Here is the link to a sign-up sheet for the various volunteer positions, and here is the link to each job description. There will be four interview “weekends,” one in December, January, February, and March. Jobs include:
- Zoom happy hour/social hour with candidates
- Q&A session about the program, Case, and Cleveland
- recording a “tour” of your apartment
- point of contact for candidates pre- and post-interviews
- on call with Debbie Noureddine to host candidates whose interviewers didn’t show
Please sign up for as many as you are interested in and could possibly volunteer for. We will not schedule you for all of the slots you sign up for, but it helps us to have multiple options.
As we iron out the schedule for each activity, we will update the Google spreadsheet and email those who have signed up for the particular duties.
Thank you in advance for your participation! We are grateful for your availability and willingness to give back to the incoming class during what is a tumultuous, uncertain time.
We so appreciate your help!
Sincerely,
Brianna Busscher & Rachael Gowen
BGSO Recruitment Chairs
2021 Biomedical Graduate Student Symposium (BGSS)
After a successful 2020 Biomedical Graduate Student Symposium (BGSS), we're ready to plan next year's event! If you are interested in being a member of the organizing committee, please fill out the attached google form. Those interested will meet early 2021 to transition in the new subcommittees.
https://forms.gle/AcRYRxf6NTsV4hUj6
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Upcoming Events & Announcements
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Submit Your Abstract Today!
With hundreds of abstract categories, Experimental Biology 2021 is the event at which to share your cutting-edge research in the fields of anatomy, biochemistry, molecular biology, investigative pathology, pharmacology, and physiology.
Determine your abstract category and submit your abstract for an oral or poster presentation. Be sure to review the instructions before submitting.
Abstract-submission deadline: Jan. 7, 2021
Click here for more details.
Bioethics and Medical Humanities Information Session -
Discover the Research Ethics Concentration
Wednesday, December 16, 2020, from 2:00 PM until 3:00 PM EST
Interest in the challenges that emerge in the development of new technologies and advances in clinical, translational, and health prevention studies?
If so, we invite you to register for our virtual information session on Wednesday, December 16th to learn more about the Research Ethics Concentration in our Master of Arts in Bioethics and Medical Humanities program at Case Western Reserve University.
At this event, Associate Director of the Research Ethics Concentration, Dr. Marsha Michie will share insights into the concentration, personalized advising, program outcomes, and the application process.
Other topics we will cover include:
- Preparing specialists to pursue research ethics-related work or empirical investigations entering the job market
- Observing in clinical ethics rotations, at our surrounding top hospitals
- Collaborate with nationally and internationally-known faculty on research grants, practicum projects, and capstone papers
- Competitive research, teaching, and program assistantships that offset a portion of tuition
Interested in applying to begin in the Fall of 2021? The application is now live— apply early for a chance to apply for student assistantships.
Register here for the event.
Collaborating Network of Networks for Evaluating
COVID-19 and Therapeutic Strategies (CONNECTS)
The NHLBI’s Collaborating Network of Networks for Evaluating COVID-19 and Therapeutic Strategies (CONNECTS) is an important and innovative research effort. The goal of CONNECTS is to build on NHLBI’s existing clinical research networks across the nation and around the world to better understand the risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and to identify therapies that will slow or halt the disease progression and speed recovery.
Click here for more details.

19th NPA Annual Conference
The virtual event, set for April 15-16, 2021, will be easy to join from across the nation or around the world. Attendees are provided with the opportunity to enhance their professional development and leadership skills. Register now for the largest educational conference and networking event dedicated to the postdoctoral community.
The NPA Annual Conference is the largest national conference and networking event dedicated to the postdoctoral community. Conference attendees - postdoctoral scholars, administrators, faculty, and representatives from disciplinary societies, industry, and corporations - are provided with the opportunity to gather and enhance their professional development and leadership skills.
Click here for more details.

Intersection Science Fellows Symposium
We are very proud to support the Intersection Science Fellows Symposium together with many other outstanding institutions (follow web-link below).
The Symposium will be held virtually on January 6 – 8. Please save the date.
The main goals of this cross-institutional symposium are to showcase the outstanding research of postdocs in the biological sciences, including those from backgrounds historically underrepresented in academia, and to support the scientific and professional development of the next generation of academic faculty. Head to https://www.intersectionssciencefellows.com/ for more details.
For postdocs:
· Review the eligibility criteria (via the website) and consider applying!
· Register to attend the Symposium (via the website)
· Forward to fellow postdocs to help spread the word about this important initiative.
· Consider volunteering to serve on the selection, programming and advertising committees - please direct inquiries to valerie.tornini@yale.edu.

Click here to view Youtube video.
Open EnRICH Internships
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The Huddle provides news and information about our interprofessional education and collaborative practice efforts within and beyond Samson Pavilion and the dental clinic. Click here to read the latest issue.
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Thursday, December 10th
Biochemistry Seminar
Rajesh Ramachandran, PhD
Associate Professor of Physiology & Biophysics
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
"Structures and Mechanisms in Mitochondrial Membrane Dynamics"
12p Zoom
Neurosciences Seminar
Attila Losonczy, MD, PhD
Professor, Department of Neuroscience
Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute
Kavli-Simons Fellow
Kavli Institute for Brain Science
Columbia University, New York
"The hippocampal triade: dissecting excitatory, inhibitory and modulatory underpinnings of episodic learning and memory"
12p Zoom
Friday, December 11th
Cancer Center Mini Retreat
Mini Retreat Presenters:
9:00-9:20am Defne Bayik, PhD
9:20-9:30am Q&A
9:30-9:50am Jennifer Yu, MD, PhD
9:50-10:00am Q&A
10:00-10:20am Eckhard Jankowsky, PhD
10:20-10:30am Q&A
10:30-10:50am Angela Ting, PhD
10:50-11:00am Q&A
9-11a Zoom
Cancer Center Seminar
Mario Suva, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Pathology, Mass General Hospital
Janet and William Ellery James MGH Research Scholar
Institute Member, the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Co-Leader, Neuro-Oncology Program, DF/HCC
"Dissecting Human Brain Tumors by Single-Cell Genomics"
12p Zoom
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Upcoming Dissertation Defenses
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Kristin Allan,
Molecular Medicine Dissertation Defense
Thursday, December 10th
10:00am – 12:00pm
"Exploring the Roles of Muller Glia and Activated Leukocyte Cell Adhesion Molecule A in Zebrafish Retinal Regeneration"
Greg Learn
Biomedical Engineering Dissertation Defense
Monday, December 14
1:00 – 3:00pm
"Towards Development of Affinity Polymer-Based Adhesion Barriers for Surgical Mesh Devices"
Ujjal Didar Singh Sekhon
Biomedical Engineering Dissertation Defense
Thursday, December 17
1:00 – 3:00pm
"Bio-Inspired Enzyme Responsive Technologies for the Treatment of Bleeding Dysfunctions"
Chen Weng
Genetics & Genome Sciences Dissertation Defense
Thursday, December 17
2:00 – 3:00pm
"Single-Cell Omics of Human Pancreatic Islets in Diabetes and B Cell Differentiation"
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GEO Wants to Hear From You
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Have you published a paper, received a fellowship, or have other exciting news you want to share? Well, the Graduate Education Office would like to hear you. To submit information to be included in the GEO newsletter, please complete the GEO announcement submission form.
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