GO:MCB | Graduate Organization: Molecular and Cell Biology

MCB Graduate Student Recruitment

This event is by invitation only.

Dr. Katrina Velle (’18)
Assistant Professor
UMass Dartmouth
Host: Ken Campellone

A relative of the “brain-eating amoeba” uses conserved mechanisms to crawl through diverse environment

Summary: This talk will address how Naegleria gruberi amoebae crawl through simple and complex environments using two distinct modes of actin-dependent cell migration.

Bio: Katrina Velle is a cell biologist interested in cytoskeleton-driven phenotypes and pathogenic microbes. She is investigating the contributions of actin networks to cell migration, cell division, and osmoregulation in Naegleria, including the “brain-eating amoeba.” She received her PhD in Molecular and Cell Biology from UConn in 2018, and worked with Dr. Fritz-Laylin at UMass Amherst for her postdoctoral research. She is now an Assistant Professor of Integrative Biology at UMass Dartmouth. Her work has been supported by an NIH F32 fellowship (NIAID), an NIH K99/R00 Award (NIGMS), and Amazing Aven’s Quest for Amoeba Awareness.

Publication

Vella Lab Website

The DEI Committee is having an open meeting THURSDAY, 2/13 at 10AM if you would like to join us. We meet virtually in my Webex room: https://uconn-cmr.webex.com/meet/smh15104

The goal of the meeting is to strengthen our DEI Statement and discuss any current concerns you have regarding DEI and MCB.

UConn Molecular and Cell Biology Department and the School of Nursing are hosting a special seminar.

The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) leadership team will be presenting a lunchtime seminar on Addressing Ageism in Healthcare

Ageism in healthcare is the systematic and unjust treatment of individuals based on their age, particularly older individuals, within healthcare settings. It manifests in various forms and can have significant negative impacts on the health and well-being of older persons. The challenge is that an innate bias based on age is a long-ingrained part of our culture. Many miss the signs of societal, interpersonal, and especially self-directed ageism. Bringing to the forefront specific examples and context is an important first step to address this pervasive and important issue that affects us all as we age.

Presenters:
Marilyn R. Gugliucci
MA, PhD, FAGHE, FGSA, AGSF, FNAOME
GSA President
Professor & Director, Geriatrics Education & Research
University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, Maine

James C. Appleby
BSPharm, MPH, ScD (Hon)
Chief Executive Officer
Gerontological Society of America

Please RSVP here by Feb.6

MCB Faculty Meeting