Semi-Annual Notable News - Biochemistry Highlight

New Biochemistry DEI Initiative

The Department of Biochemistry launched the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee beginning 2023. In an effort to promote an inclusive environment where all are welcomed, supported, and valued, the Biochemistry DEI committee focuses on the following missions: 1) The Excellence in Biochemistry DEI Award; 2) The Biochemistry Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (BSURE); 3) Diversity in Biochemistry Seminar Series; and 4) Annual Symposium of the Diversity and Science Lecture Series (DASL).

The Excellence in Biochemistry DEI Award:

This award will recognize the outstanding efforts in promoting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion by a member of the Department of Biochemistry including students, postdoctoral fellows and faculty. The awardee will be selected by the DEI committee and provided with funds to travel and present at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS). Applicants can self-nominate or be nominated by submitting a one-page (max) statement summarizing their contributions to the DEI efforts within Emory. Applications should be submitted to biochem_DEI@emory.edu by May 15^th. The Awardee will be announced by July 1^st.

The Biochemistry Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (BSURE):

This 6-week program selects four outstanding undergraduate students from the broader metro-Atlanta area for a paid mentored research experience within a Biochemistry Department research laboratory. The program is open to junior and senior undergraduate students from traditionally underrepresented groups in STEM as defined by the NIH.

Diversity in Biochemistry Seminar Series:

To improve awareness about diverse trajectories in academia and increase the representation of speakers from underrepresented groups, we will:

Ask all Biochemistry Departmental seminar speakers to open their research talk by sharing their journey in science.
Reserve one seminar slot per semester for a trainee-nominated speaker from traditionally underrepresented groups in Biochemistry.

Annual Symposium of the Diversity and Science Lecture Series (DASL):

Each year the Department of Biochemistry will participate in the multi-institution DASL annual event showcasing the research and stories of trainees in the life sciences. The event will include an after-party to promote networking and a “listening” session to hear from all participants about changes and DEI initiatives they would like to see in the coming year.

More News

Dr. Zahra Nawaz, a Postdoctoral Fellow in the lab of Fikri Avci, has been awarded the AIDS Vaccine (AV200) Fellowship for 2023-2024.

The AIDS Vaccine (AV200) Fellowship award is given annually to outstanding research fellows working in the field of AIDS research for their exemplary contribution and commitment towards their research in HIV vaccine development, prevention, and cure. The fellowship is awarded by the Emory Vaccine Center and supported by Action Cycling Atlanta (ACA).

Dr. Shaima Nazaar, Postdoctoral Fellow in the lab of Blaine Roberts, received the 2023 Emory-Udall Parkinson’s Disease Center Pilot Grants Program award.

The Emory Udall Center administers a pilot grant program to encourage Parkinson's disease research at Emory which includes up to three grants annually for meritorious high-impact projects that generate preliminary data for larger grant applications. The Emory Primate Center, the Emory Movement Disorders Clinic, and the Emory College provide financial support for this pilot program.

The Roberts lab received a Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research award titled, "Validation of blood biomarkers for the detection of Parkinson’s Disease."

The Michael J. Fox Foundation leads and sponsors research prizes that are awarded to researchers who make a profound contribution to Parkinson's research.

Congratulations to Dr. Fikri Avci for his Glycobiology Significant Achievement Award for 2022. This award is given annually by Oxford University Press (publisher of Glycobiology) to honor new or mid-career scientists who have made key discoveries during their early careers with the potential to have a substantial impact on the glycoscience community.

Dr. Avci was also awarded an NIH/NIAID grant titled, "Molecular Mechanisms for Carbohydrate Presentation to CD4+ T cells by MHCII".

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