Announcements

NIH GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL FAIR

Wednesday, July 15, 2015; 9:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Natcher Conference Center (Building 45)
Registration: https://www.training.nih.gov/gp_fair

The fair provides an opportunity for NIH summer interns and postbacs, as well as other college students in the D.C. area, to prepare for the next step in their careers. They can explore educational programs leading to the Ph.D., M.D., D.D.S., M.D.-Ph.D., and other graduate and professional degrees. More than 150 colleges and universities from across the United States will be sending representatives of their graduate schools, medical and dental schools, schools of public health, and other biomedically relevant programs in hopes of recruiting NIH trainees. The day will also include workshops on getting into graduate and professional school, on M.D.-Ph.D. programs, on interviewing, and on on careers in public health, psychology, and dentistry. Exhibits will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. A list of participating institutions can be found at the registration Web site.

ASSAY GUIDANCE WORKSHOP
FOR HIGH-THROUGHPUT SCREENING AND LEAD DISCOVERY

Friday, July 17, 2015; 9:00 a.m.‒3:10 p.m.
Wiley Auditorium, Harvey W. Wiley Federal Building
FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, Md.
Registration required (deadline July 13): http://goo.gl/R5VBKv
Restricted to government employees—please have your badge with you

This free workshop for government researchers will provide information that will enable investigators to begin developing a translational project or to better understand and improve an existing project. Robust assay development for a high-throughput screen or lead optimization can be a rewarding yet challenging endeavor. Translating a bench assay to automation-compatible protocols requires rigorous attention to reagents, compound selection, and data-analysis tools. Many of the methodologies used in such projects are “tribal knowledge” within the pharmaceutical industry and not readily found in the literature. Therefore, it can be difficult to identify the best approach to developing assays for pharmacologically significant targets and pathways. Space is limited and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. The workshop is hosted by the FDA, NIH’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, and editors of the Assay Guidance Manual (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK53196/). The event is across the street from the College Park Metro Station, which is serviced by both the green and yellow lines; parking is available at the College Park Metro Station. Individuals with disabilities who need sign language interpreters and/or reasonable accommodation should contact the Federal Relay at 800-877-8339. Requests should be made at least five business days in advance of the event.

NIH RESEARCH FESTIVAL

Wednesday, September 16–Friday, September 18
Masur Auditorium, Lipsett Amphitheater, and FAES classrooms (Building 10)
Web site: http://researchfestival.nih.gov (to be updated soon)

This year’s Festival will feature the nine scientific initiatives outlined in the Intramural Research Program’s long-term plan. There will be three plenary sessions, one each morning, on: technology development; global health emergency response; and chronic inflammation. The concurrent workshops, which will take place in the afternoons, will focus on gene- and cell-based therapies; microbiome and drug resistance; RNA biology and therapeutics; vaccines; natural products; and neuroscience and compulsive behaviors. For questions, contact Jacqueline Roberts at researchfest@mail.nih.gov or check the Web site.

NIH DIGITAL SUMMIT

Optimizing Digital Media to Reach Scientists, Clinicians, Patients, and the Public
Monday, October 19 (time to be determined)
Lipsett Amphitheater (Building 10)
Registration required: http://www.nih.gov/news/events/digital-summit.htm

The summit will explore how digital media are being used by scientists, clinicians, patients, and the public and across government agencies to communicate information on health and science. For up-to-date information and registration details, visit http://www.nih.gov/news/events/digital-summit.htm. For questions, contact Yasmine Kloth at Yasmin.kloth@nih.gov.

FAES GRADUATE SCHOOL FALL 2015

Online Registration: July 6–September 7, 2015
Late registration until September 30 (late fee applies)
Open House: August 20, FAES Academic Center (Building 10)

The FAES Graduate School has 12 departments and offers over 120 evening courses to fit around the schedule of working professionals. Most courses are held in the evenings and are conveniently located on the main NIH Bethesda campus. Courses are credit-bearing and cover fields relevant to the broader biomedical research community: biochemistry, bioinformatics, biology, chemistry, epidemiology, genetics, immunology, mathematics, medicine, microbiology, pharmacology, public health, statistics, technology transfer, toxicology, MCAT Review, GRE, English as a Second Language, boot camp for university teaching, modern languages, and more. Students can also further their education and career development by completing FAES’s Advanced Studies in Public Health or Advanced Studies in Technology Transfer. Courses are open to the NIH community, other federal employees, and the general public. Tuition is $150–$450 per course. To enroll online and to view class times, locations, and tuition information, visit http://www.faes.org/grad, e-mail registrar@faes.org, or call 301-496-7976. The FAES Graduate School Office is located in Building 10, Room 1N241 (close to Masur Auditorium).

WALS RETURNS IN SEPTEMBER

Wednesdays, 3:00–4:00 p.m.
Masur Auditorium (Building 10)
Web site: https://oir.nih.gov/wals

The 2015–2016 Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series (WALS) starts September 2 with neuroscientist Edward Boyden, the founder of and principal investigator at MIT’s synthetic neurobiology group: “Tools for Comprehensive Molecular Imaging and Dynamical Control of Biological Systems.” The schedule is coming together and, when completed, will be posted on the WALS Web site.

ADVANCING SCIENCE, IMPROVING LIVES

NINR’s 30th Anniversary Scientific Symposium and Poster Session
Tuesday, October 13, 2015; 8:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Natcher Conference Center (Building 45)
For information and to register (required): http://www.ninr.nih.gov/30years

This special event marks the beginning of a yearlong observation of the National Institute of Nursing Research’s first 30 years at NIH. The symposium will feature keynote addresses, scientific presentations, a panel discussion, and a poster session. It will highlight many of the accomplishments of NINR and its scientists and showcase the positive impact that NINR’s science has had on the lives of millions of Americans. Please note: The Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science’s 2015 Special Topics Conference is scheduled for Wednesday, October 14, 2015, in Washington, D.C.

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATE (PRAT) PROGRAM

Accepting Applications
Deadline: October 2, 2015

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences’ Postdoctoral Research Associate (PRAT) program is accepting applications through October 2. PRAT fellows conduct research in scientific areas within the institute’s mission while in an NIH intramural research program (IRP) lab. Before applying, applicants must identify a potential preceptor in the NIH IRP and develop a research proposal. PRAT fellows receive three years of stipend support and additional benefits such as health insurance, a travel allowance, and professional-development training activities, including a monthly seminar series designed for fellows. For more information, visit http://www.nigms.nih.gov/Training/Pages/PRAT.aspx or contact Jessica Faupel-Badger at badgerje@mail.nih.gov.

PRAT 50TH ANNIVERSARY SYMPOSIUM

Friday, November 6, 2015; 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Ruth L. Kirschstein Auditorium, Natcher Conference Center (Building 45)
Registration requested (through October 30): https://meetings.nigms.nih.gov/Home/Index/19247

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences’ Postdoctoral Research Associate (PRAT) program will host this all-day event, which is open to the public. The objectives of this symposium are to recognize the research contributions of PRAT alumni; highlight the role of the PRAT program in the career path of alumni; and provide an opportunity for PRAT alumni to network with each other and current fellows. There is no cost to attend the NIGMS PRAT 50th Anniversary Scientific Symposium. However, we do ask that you register to allow us to anticipate the attendance and to enable sharing of contact information among interested participants. The event will be video cast live at http://www.videocast.nih.gov.

PLURIPOTENT STEM CELLS IN NEUROSCIENCE: RESEARCH AND APPLICATION

Monday October 26, 2015; 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Rooms 620-640, Porter Neuroscience Research Center (Building 35A)
For information and to register: https://meetings.ninds.nih.gov/meetings/PSCinNeuro

The symposium, presented by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, will feature talks by Kristen Brennand (Mount Sinai, New York), Kevin Eggan (Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.), Steven Finkbeiner (Gladstone Institute, San Francisco), Ron McKay (Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Baltimore), and Edward Wirth (Asterias Biotherapeutics, Menlo Park, Calif.). Contact Barbara Mallon for more information at mallonb@mail.nih.gov or 301-402-8246.

HISTORY OF MEDICINE LECTURES

At the National Library of Medicine (NLM)
Lister Hill Auditorium (Building 38A)

Tuesday, August 25, 2015 (2:00–3:00 p.m.): “Medical Identity and Ethnicity in Nineteenth-Century New Orleans”; Amy Wiese Forbes (associate professor and chair of History; director of European Studies, Millsaps College)

Thursday, September 17, 2015 (1:00–3:00 p.m.): “From Private Matter to Public Health Crisis: Nursing and the Intervention into Domestic Violence”; Catherine Jacquet (Louisiana State University). The lecture coincides with the opening of “Confronting Violence, Improving Women’s Lives,” a new special display curated by Jacquet, which will open in the NLM History of Medicine reading room on Monday, September 14, accompanied by a Web site and traveling banner exhibition. Guided tours of the display will follow the lecture. Additional program details to be announced soon.

Thursday, November 5, 2015 (2:00–3:00 p.m.): “Gathering and Spreading Knowledge: Publications and the Army Medical Library around World War I”; Sanders Marble (senior historian at the U.S. Army Office of Medical History)