Thursday, November 10th, 2011
7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Registration Open
7:30 a.m. – 8:15 a.m.
Networking Breakfast
8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Exhibit Set-up
8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
CONFERENCE ORIENTATION
Orientation for Undergraduates and Postbaccalaureates
(Mandatory for undergraduates and postbaccalaureates)
This orientation sets the tone of the conference,
provides an overview of ABRCMS for attendees,
and prepares them to take advantage of the many
opportunities available at the meeting. Featured topics
include tips on (i) following essential conference
etiquette, (ii) making the best of a scientific meeting,
(iii) successfully navigating a national conference, (iv)
establishing mentoring relationships, (v) networking
opportunities and techniques, and (vi) maximizing
professional growth opportunities.
Networking as a Required Life Skill and Professionalism
as a Necessary Attribute for Students.
Speaker
Howard G. Adams, Ph.D., H.G. Adams and
Associates, Norfolk, VA
Program Overview and Making the Most of ABRCMS
Speaker
Mary Sanchez Lanier, Ph.D., Washington State
University, Pullman, WA
Orientation for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral
Scientists
(Mandatory for doctoral-level graduate students and
postdoctoral scientists)
This session highlights ABRCMS program
enhancements for graduate students and postdoctoral
scientists.
Speaker
To Be Determined
Orientation for Exhibitors
(Recommended for first-time and returning exhibitors)
The session focuses on meeting highlights for
exhibitors and how exhibitors can make the most of
their ABRCMS experience and take leadership roles at
the conference. The session will cover future directions
of ABRCMS, solicit feedback and answer questions
that exhibitors may have. A representative from
Freeman, the ABRCMS exhibit hall decorator, will be
available to answer questions.
Speaker
John Augusto, Ph.D., University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
Orientation for Judges (All 12 disciplines)
(Mandatory for all student presentation judges)
Pick up your judging packet and learn the ins and outs
of the ABRCMS judging process.
9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
CONCURRENT SCIENTIFIC SESSIONS
(Eight session options)
Session 1
From the Study of DNases to Anticancer Drug
Screening; an Unexpected Scientific Journey
Sponsored by the American Society for Cell Biology
Over the past two decades, the Aguilera lab has cloned
and characterized DNase II enzymes from several
species. Work by this lab and others has revealed
that these enzymes are essential for phagocytic
DNA degradation. The lab has also demonstrated
that the depletion of this enzyme results in severely
immunocompromised fruit flies that rapidly succumb
to bacterial infection. Subsequent genome-wide
microarray analyses revealed that a large number of
genes in DNase-II-deficient flies are affected, and
current studies are under way to determine which
genes are responsible for the loss of fly viability after
infection. In addition to this ongoing research, our
group has been recently involved in efforts to discover
novel anticancer drugs.
Speaker
Renato Aguilera, Ph.D., University of Texas at El Paso,
El Paso, TX
Session 2
Shiga Toxins: Potent Poisons Essential for
Virulence of Escherichia coli Causing Food-Borne
Bloody Diarrhea and Kidney Disease
Sponsored by the American Society for Microbiology
This session focuses on the Shiga toxin made by some
types of Escherichia coli that are associated with bloody
diarrhea and hemolytic uremic syndrome, a potentially
lethal kidney disease. Shiga-toxin-producing E. coli
has caused sporadic and large outbreaks of illness,
including the recent outbreak in Germany that was
linked to contaminated sprouts.
Speaker
Alison O’Brien, Ph.D, Uniformed Services University
of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
Session 3
A Tale of LINEs: Epigenetic Reactivation of L1
Retrotransposon by DNA-Damaging Agents
Sponsored by the Society of Toxicology
Long interspersed nuclear element-1 (LINE-1 or
L1) is a mobile genetic element reactivated by DNAdamaging
agents, such as polyaromatic hydrocarbons
(PAHs) and UV light. These elements comprise 21%
of the human genome, and up to 100 are believed
to remain retrotransposition competent. Recent
studies in the Ramos laboratory have shown that
the reactivation of L1 by PAHs involves ligandmediated
activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor
transcription factor, oxidative stress, and disruption
of epigenetic programming via changes in DNA and
histone methylation. One of the most detrimental
consequences of L1 reactivation is its insertion into
functional regions of the genome, leading to the
disruption of cellular function and disease.
Speaker
Ken Ramos, Ph.D., University of Louisville, Louisville,
KY
Session 4
People and Plants: What Does Ethnobotany Offer
Biomedicine, and at What Cost?
Sponsored by the American Society of Plant
Biologists
Plants have long been used for a variety of purposes
by people of all cultures, and ethnobotany is the
scientific study of the relationships between plants and
human cultures. Join ethnobotanists Nancy Turner
and Karen C. Hall as they discuss the use of plants in
human culture for food, fibers, health, and medicines
and address the complexity of the issues arising from
the acquisition and commercialization of traditional
plants. The development of plant-derived goods,
such as medicines and other commercial products,
often affects communities of origin and alters the
ecology of the source plant’s environment. These
cultural and ecological tensions will be considered as
more traditional medicinal plants become part of the
Western pharmacopeia.
Speakers
Nancy Turner, Ph.D., University of Victoria, British
Columbia, Canada
Karen C. Hall, Ph.D., Clemson University, Clemson, SC
Session 5
Learning the Grammar for Selective Acylation of
Polyamines for Biomedical Application
Polyamines are important in various biological
processes, and acylated derivatives have considerable
potential as agents for biomedical intervention. The
Gutierrez lab is interested in developing synthetic
methodologies for the deliberate selective acylation
of specific amine functionalities in molecules
where several are present. The lab has synthesized1,3,5,7-tetrakis(aminomethyl)adamantane, a
tetrahedrally symmetric tetraamine, and are
developing it as a structural core for several classes of
compounds for biomedical application. Key here is
the ability to selectively address the four equivalent
bridgehead aminomethyl groups selectively to make
functional derivatives bearing substituents A through
C in patterns including AAAA (where the tetrahedral
symmetry Td of the parent core is maintained), AAAB
(with C3v symmetry), AABB (C2v symmetry), and
AABC (S1 symmetry).
Speaker
Carlos Gutierrez, Ph.D., California State University at
Los Angeles, CA
Session 6
Evaluating the Harms of Repeat Cancer Screening
for Use in Health Policy Decision Making
The breast cancer screening guidelines released the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) in
2009 have provoked ongoing controversy and raised
questions about methods for evaluating and for
communicating about cancer screening. This session
presents research into statistical estimators for the
harms of repeat screening regimens. In addition, the
USPSTF breast cancer screening guidelines will be
used to compare alternative estimators for the harms
and benefits of screening. The discrepancy among
these measures highlights the important role of
statisticians in identifying the most appropriate ways
to quantify cancer screening.
Speaker
Rebecca Hubbard, Ph.D., Group Health Research
Institute and University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Session 7
Understanding the Transmission Dynamics of
Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis: A Multidisciplinary
Approach
Drug resistance has compromised both the
outcomes of tuberculosis (TB) treatment and control
programs globally. Drug resistance initially emerges
when individuals fail therapy for drug-sensitive
TB and then spread the infection through their
communities. Murray and coworkers studied the
emergence and transmission of drug-resistant TB
using a multidisciplinary approach that integrates
epidemiology, mathematical modeling, genomics, and
molecular biology. This approach allowed them to
study the (i) emergence of resistance in an individual
infection and (ii) host, microbial, and community
factors that allow its transmission. Their approach
demonstrates the use of new tools, such as wholegenome
sequencing, to address pathogen emergence
and evolution.
Speaker
Megan Murray, M.D., M.P.H., Sc.D., Brigham and
Women’s Hospital, Harvard School of Public Health, and
Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Session 8
Interagency Collaboration and Coordination in
Social Policy Research: An Evidence-Based Strategy
for Sustainable Employment
How is psychological research grounded in science?
How can there be sound research design in providing
an evidence-based approached to investigations
and explorations personality traits, career interests,
and occupational outcomes? Studies have shown
that having certain characteristics (such as limited
English proficiency, poor mental or physical health,
issues with substance abuse, or limited educational
and employment backgrounds) make finding and
maintaining sustainable employment difficult.
Professionals interested in helping the “difficultto-
employ” find careers (not just jobs that make
temporary differences) must be creative and effective
in reaching and empowering this population, and
must use skills and strategies not typically found in
state or local employment agencies. This session will
describe how social science research is used to serve
the difficult-to-employ population and to create
comprehensive approaches that integrate assessment,
evaluation, and analyses to improve job placement and
career planning.
Speaker
Pamela Scott-Johnson, Ph.D, Morgan State University,
Baltimore, MD
11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
CONCURRENT PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS
(Seven session options)
Session 1
Picking the Perfect Ph.D. Program for You
(Recommended for undergraduate students interested in
the Ph.D. track)
Because pursuing a doctorate requires a major
investment of time and energy — at least four
years working as hard as you have ever worked and
deferring earnings — picking the Ph.D. program
that will provide you with the best chance of success
is crucial. Clearly you want to select a program with
research strengths that match your interests. This
workshop provides you with strategies for answering
important questions, such as: Is the program structure
compatible with my strengths and goals? How
successful is the program at producing Ph.D.s? What
careers are Ph.D.s from the program pursuing? Will
the program provide me with the professional skills I
need to succeed, and will I have the support I need to
complete the program?
Speakers
Sharon L. Milgram, Ph.D., National Institutes of
Health Office of Intramural Training & Education;
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; and National
Human Genome Research Institute, Bethesda, MD
Additional Speakers to Be Determined
Session 2
M.D.-P.h.D. — Is It Right for Me?
(Recommended for undergraduate students interested in
the M.D.-Ph.D. track)
The session provides potential M.D.-Ph.D. applicants
with information necessary to (i) decide if this is the
correct pathway for them, (ii) prepare and plan for
the M.D.-Ph.D. admissions process, and (iii) create
and submit a competitive application packet. Topics
include the admissions process, guidelines for
preparing an application, school selection, criteria
evaluated by M.D.-Ph.D. programs, necessary research
experience, national program data, the interview
process, matriculation, the M.D.-Ph.D. curriculum,
and post-training pathways. The session ends with a
Q&A period, and several M.D.-Ph.D. directors and
administrators will be present to speak with students
individually.
Speakers
To Be Determined
Session 3
Graduate Opportunities in Public and Global
Health Research
This session will draw on the natural sciences and
mathematics, as well as economics, and social and
cultural sciences to address public and global health
research is a model for interdisciplinary education
and training. Participants will learn about graduate
opportunities in public health and global health
research, including steps for pursuing advanced
degrees and succeeding in the field.
Speakers
To Be Determined
Session 4
Summer Research Programs — Essential
Components of the Graduate School Application
Process
(Mandatory for freshman students; recommended for
undergraduates and community college students)
Summer programs are essential for enhancing your
graduate school admissions file. This session discusses
(i) how to navigate the ABRCMS exhibit hall and
identify the best summer program for you, (ii) the
importance of summer internships, (iii) selecting and
applying to these programs, (iv) establishing a good
relationship with your faculty mentor, and (v) having
a successful summer research experience. Don’t miss
this opportunity to take home tips for getting accepted
into the best summer programs!
Speakers
Mekbib Gemeda, M.S., New York University School of
Medicine, New York, NY
Agustin Chicas, Ph.D., Cold Spring Harbor
Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY
Session 5
FACULTY SESSION
Teaching and Learning 101: Effective Teaching and
Assessment Strategies
(Recommended for program directors, faculty, and
administrators)
This session is directed to STEM educators who want
to improve their teaching styles based upon what is
known about how people learn. Effective teaching is
open to change: it involves regularly trying to assess
students’ understanding about a subject and building
upon this foundation. An effective teacher constantly
modifies his/her instruction in light of the evidence
collected about student understanding. Learn more
about effective strategies – learning goals, interactive
teaching, formative assessments, and teaching with
technology - as it applies to understanding science
and mathematics.
Speakers
To Be Determined
Session 6
GRAD/POSTDOC SESSION
Grant Writing 101 for Graduate Students and
Postdocs
(Recommended for graduate students and postdoctoral
scientists)
This session provides an overview of best practices
for preparing, writing, and submitting NIH, NSF,
and foundation grant proposals. Speakers will cover
information such as tips for organizing proposals
and avoiding pitfalls; the lifecycle of NIH, NSF, and
foundation proposals; and factors influencing funding
decisions.
Speakers
To Be Determined
Session 7
FACULTY SESSION
NIH Grants Management Workshop
(Recommended for program directors and faculty)
This session covers (i) National Institute of General
Medical Sciences/Minority pportunities in Research
updates, including current budget information; (ii)
clarification of requirements for the use of human
subjects; (iii) use of the “Streamlined Noncompeting
Award Process” for applications; and (iv) areas of
interest in the Minority Biomedical Research Support
and Minority Access to Research Careers programs.
Speakers
Lori Burge, B.S., and the NIGMS Team, Grants
Management Office, National Institute of General
Medical Sciences, Bethesda, MD
12:30 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Networking Lunch
1:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
PLENARY SCIENTIFIC SESSION
Dying Young as Late in Life as Possible: Stem Cells,
Tissue Renewal, and Regeneration
What good is long life without youthful vigor? When
the Greek goddess Eos fell in love with Tithonus, a
mere mortal, Zeus granted him the imperfect gift
of immortality: Tithonus lived forever but did not
stop aging, thus condemning his existence to one of
the eternal decrepitude. In nature, organisms exist
that can be said to remain perennially youthful and
consequently die young as late in life as possible. Learn
what fundamental lessons such organisms are teaching
us about our own biology.
Speaker
Alejandro Sanchez Alvarado, Ph.D., Howard Hughes
Medical Institute and the University of Utah School of
Medicine
2:15 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Exhibits Open
2:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
POSTER SESSION 1
3:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Career Coaching Corner/Meet and Greet Speakers
4:00 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.
POSTER SESSION 2
5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
ORAL PRESENTATION SESSIONS 1 – 12
6:45 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
DINNER
7:45 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Plenary Professional Development Sessions for
Faculty, Students, and Postdoctoral Scientists
Session 1
Gateway to the Future – Career Paths in the
Biomedical Sciences, STEM Disciplines, and
Behavioral Sciences
There are many paths to your career goals. In this
session, we will explore the wide variety of academic
and nonacademic careers available in the biomedical
sciences, the physical sciences, engineering, and the
behavioral sciences, as well as the many types of
training that can help you reach your goals. Veteran
scientists talk about their career pathways, educational
backgrounds, what they enjoy about their work, and
life balance. At the end of the session, you will have
a clearer understanding of why graduate training
(including postbaccalaureate, graduate, and doctoral
programs) is the gateway to your future opportunities.
Moderators
Victoria H. Freedman, Ph.D., Albert Einstein College
of Medicine, Bronx, NY
Nancy Schwartz, Ph.D., University of Chicago,
Chicago, IL
Speakers
To Be Determined
Session 2
Job Search Skill Blitzes for Graduate Students and
Postdoctoral Scientists
This session is designed to help graduate students
and postdocs gain a broad appreciation for career
exploration and the job search process. The event will
be a fast-paced, fun-filled way to gather information,
learn new skills, and meet new colleagues. The session
begins with a brief overview of the job search process,
followed by three “skill blitz” sessions limited to 25
minutes each, with a 5-minute break between sessions.
Presenters will give highlights of the blitz topic, offer
a list of additional resources, and entertain questions
from the audience. Attend up to three sessions; then
meet as a group for a wrap-up and a networking
session. Blitz topics include finding your path,
LinkedIn and other online resources, informational
interviews and networking, cover letters, CVs and
resumes, interviewing basics, transferrable skills, and
job searches.
Moderator
Sharon Milgram, Ph.D., National Human Genome
Institute, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD
Additional Speakers
To Be Determined
Session 3
Bio2010 Meets Vision and Change in
Undergraduate Biology Education: The HHMI
SEA National Genomics Research Initiative
(Recommended for faculty, program directors, and
exhibitors)
This session advances recommendations from
the 2011 AAAS report Vision and Change in
Undergraduate Biology Education and highlights the
HHMI-sponsored Science Education Alliance (SEA)
National Genomic Research Initiative, which has
trained more than 1,600 students at 39 undergraduate
institutions in its first three years of implementation.
Participating students conduct authentic research
integrated into an introductory lab course built on
themes and techniques from across biology. Activities
include isolating and characterizing bacterial viruses
from the environment, preparing viral DNA for
sequencing, and annotating and comparing sequenced
genomes. Hear testimonies from students and faculty
about lessons learned and recommendations for facultyand administrators seeking support of student research
embedded into the curriculum. Time is planned for
academic administrators to discuss implementation
strategies at their respective institutions.
Speaker
Lucia Baker, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy
Chase, MD
Additional Speakers to Be Determined
9:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Dessert and Networking
This session is your opportunity to network with
speakers and attendees and continue discussions from
the preceeding sessions.
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2011 Program
Highlights