Education & Seminars
Our members are active member of the Feinberg community, speaking at and participating in a number of educational events around campus on a variety of epigentics-related topics.
Use the tabs below to browse listings of upcoming genetics-related seminars and events. For a schedule of additional Northwestern University and Feinberg School of Medicine events, visit the Feinberg Medical School Event Calendar or PlanIt Purple.
May
09
SQE Forum on Biochemistry, Epigenetics, and Metabolism (BEaM)
Chicago - 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
The BEaM Forum is a data group where Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics members present ongoing work being conducted. It is a great opportunity to get feedback on your work from colleagues, and to make new connections and foster new collaborations within the Institute.
Our forum will normally be held every other week from 1:00-2:00 p.m. Presenters will give a 20-minute talk with 10 minutes for discussion and questions. We welcome presentation from students, techs, postdocs, and PIs. Presenting work-in-progress is always encouraged!
Pizza and soda provided.
Presenters:
Jonathan Gurkan, PhD Candidate, Singer Lab, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Presentation: "Metabolic regulation of regulatory T cells through fatty acid metabolism during viral pneumonia"
Ariana Kupai, Postdoctoral Fellow, Peek Lab, Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics
Presentation: "Contribution of the clock-hypoxia signaling axis to characteristics of LKB1- NSCLC"
May
01
BMG Seminar: Golnaz Vahedi, PhD, University of Pennsylvania
Chicago - 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
The Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics presents:
Golnaz Vahedi, PhD
Associate Professor of Genetics
Deputy Director, Institute for Immunology and Immune Health
Co-Director, Epigenetics Institute
Perelman School of Medicine
University of Pennsylvania
Presentation:
"Chromatin topology at paralogous transcription factors"
Abstract:
Transcription factors (TFs) decode genomic information to regulate cellular processes. In metazoans, gene duplication has given rise to paralogous TFs, which have functionally diversified to control cellular differentiation. While most paralogous TFs are dispersed across different chromosomes, some remain clustered—raising the question whether genomic proximity confers an evolutionary advantage. To address this, we investigated a ~1 Mbp locus containing two ETS family paralogs, Ets1 and Fli1. Using a sequential imaging technique called Optical Reconstruction of Chromatin Architecture (ORCA), we traced the 3D organization of this region in single alleles of T cells from genetically engineered mice with targeted deletions of key regulatory elements. In this talk I will discuss how genomic clustering of paralogous TFs enhances developmental robustness, buffering against genetic variation—particularly in dynamic systems like immunity.
Host: Dr. Feng Yue, Professor, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Pathology
May
08
BMG Seminar: Hani Goodarzi, PhD, UCSF
Chicago - 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
The Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics presents:
Hani Goodarzi, PhD
Core Investigator at Arc Institute
Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
University of California San Francisco
Presentation:
"Mosaics, Atlases, and AI: Charting New Paths in Precision
Oncology"
Abstract:
Precision oncology faces significant challenges due to the
inherent heterogeneity and complexity of tumor biology. Traditional drug
screening methods lack the scalability and context required to
accurately predict clinical outcomes. This talk highlights three
innovative approaches addressing these critical challenges: GENEVA,
Tahoe-100M, and scBaseCamp. First, GENEVA (Genetically Diverse and
Endogenously Controlled Phenotypic Variation Assay) enables scalable and
barcode-free phenotypic profiling, capturing intra- and inter-tumor
heterogeneity within patient-derived models. Second, Tahoe-100M
represents a groundbreaking giga-scale single-cell perturbation atlas,
encompassing over 100 million cells treated with diverse drug
combinations, providing unprecedented insight into cellular responses
and drug mechanisms. Finally, scBaseCamp introduces AI-driven data
curation, creating an expansive, uniformly processed repository of
single-cell data that fuels robust computational modeling and
reproducibility. Together, these platforms represent a powerful
integrative framework, advancing our understanding of tumor biology and
enhancing precision therapeutic strategies through data-driven insights
and scalable AI technologies.
Host: Dr. Saeid Parast, Post-Doctoral Fellow, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Shilatifard Lab
May
15
BMG Seminar: Carl Wu, PhD, Johns Hopkins
Chicago - 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
The Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics presents:
Carl Wu, PhD
Bloomberg Distinguished Professor
Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University
Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Presentation:
"The biogenesis and regulatory dynamics of chromatin accessibility for gene expression"
Abstract:
The creation of DNA accessibility in chromatin constitutes the first stage of eukaryotic transcriptional control. The establishment and maintenance of DNase hypersensitive, Nucleosome Depleted Regions (NDRs) at regulatory DNA elements require collaboration between ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complexes that mobilize nucleosomes, and certain transcription factors (TFs) that are unimpeded by nucleosome architecture. We use gene editing and single-molecule fluorescence microscopy to directly observe and quantify factor kinetics in real time, in vitro and in living cells. The results show that such TFs bind to chromatin transiently and with distinctive residence times on a ~100 sec timescale, enabling nucleosome displacement and highly dynamic assembly of the transcription preinitiation complex on a timescale of seconds. Our findings suggest that regulation of gene expression involves kinetic competition between multiple players for limited DNA space at gene promoters and enhancers.
Host: Dr. Daniel Foltz, Professor, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics
Apr
29
CDB Trainee Seminar Series-Bhuvanasundar Ranganathan PhD
Chicago - 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Cell & Developmental Biology (CDB) Trainee Seminar Series
"Vimentin in Motion and Motion by Vimentin"
Bhuvanasundar Ranganathan, PhD
Research Associate, Gelfand Lab
Simpson Querrey Auditorium
9am-10am
The department meets every Tuesday from 9:00 to 10:00 AM to enjoy a presentation from a research trainee (postbacc, pre-, post-doctoral fellow, etc). Meetings usually take place at Baldwin Auditorium, Lurie 1-123, with some exceptions.
Calendar invites with the meeting location are disseminated in advance. Please contact cdb@northwestern.edu for more information or sign-up to our event listserv at https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/cdb/about/listserv.html#listserv
Apr
29
M-I Seminar Series: Jessica Queen, MD, PhD
Chicago - 9:45 AM - 10:45 AM
Title: Fusobacterium nucleatum: an oral commensal turned gut oncomicrobe
Topic: There is growing evidence that microbiome dysbiosis contributes to the development, progression, and treatment responsiveness of colorectal cancer (CRC). Fusobacterium nucleatum is a member of the oropharyngeal microbiome and opportunistic pathogen that is strikingly enriched in mucosal and fecal samples from CRC patients. Currently, there is controversy as to whether F. nucleatum is a driver or passenger in colon tumorigenesis. Our translational work on F. nucleatum utilizes clinical samples, mouse models, and bioinformatics to address key open questions about F. nucleatum pathogenesis in the context of CRC.
Speaker:Jessica Queen, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Johns Hopkins
Host: Karla Satchell, PhD, Professor, Dept. of Microbiology-Immunology
Apr
29
Student Experiences in STEM
Online - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Student Experiences in STEM is an evidence-driven reading circle focusing on students’ experiences, development, and their perceptions of commonly used learning practices and the classroom environment. Recommended for those pursuing the CIRTL Certificate.
Apr
29
Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship Information Session
Evanston - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Are you interested in teaching English abroad after graduation? The U.S. Department of State’s Fulbright U.S. Student Program places English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) in classrooms abroad to provide support to local English teachers. ETAs strengthen English language instruction in seventy-five countries world-wide while serving as cultural ambassadors of the United States. Host institutions range from elementary and secondary schools to university-level language departments. Stop by the info session to meet the campus contact and learn more.
Apr
30
Application Workshop -- Fulbright Study/Research/Arts Awards
Evanston - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Interested in pursuing research, study, or the arts abroad? Attend an application workshop to learn about the Fulbright application process at Northwestern. We will discuss application components and successful application strategies. You do not need a draft of your essays, but will benefit most if you have a clear vision of your project.
Campus Deadline – Tuesday, Sept. 2nd, 2025
Apr
30
Immunology Discussion Club
Chicago - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
The Northwestern Immunology Discussion Club meets on Wednesday's from 3:30pm to 4:30pm and is led by Dr. Booki Min from Feinberg Department- Microbiology and Immunology and Dr. Stephanie Eisenbarth- Williams from The Center for Human Immunology. We discuss papers that have been published recently and Research In Progress talks. Note- members are required to present at least 1 IDC and 1RIP per year.
Apr
30
An Information Session About Recent Developments in US Immigration Law
Evanston - 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Join us for a panel discussion featuring immigration law experts from the Chicagoland area.
Panelists will provide an overview of recent developments in US immigration law and discuss how these changes are impacting various communities.
Topics will include:
- Recent executive actions
- Policies relevant to international students and scholars
- Know your rights
Open only to members of the Northwestern community who show a valid Wildcard.
Presented by: The Faculty Senate, Office of the Vice President for International Relations, The Graduate School, Buffett Institute for Global Affairs, Office of International Student and Scholar Services, Seigle Clinic for Immigrant Youth and Families, and the Department of Spanish and Portuguese.
May
02
CANCELLED - James C. Houk Lecture in Motor Control: "Basal Ganglia and the Decision to Act" with Ann Graybiel, PhD
Chicago - 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
THIS LECTURE WILL BE RESCHEDULED IN THE FALL
The Department of Neuroscience Presents:
The James C. Houk Lecture in Motor Control: "Basal Ganglia and the Decision to Act"
Ann Graybiel, PhD
Institute Professor
McGovern Institute for Brain Research
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
Every day is replete with occasions when ‘doing or not doing’, ‘going or not going’ decision-making is required. A wealth of evidence suggests that the basal ganglia underpin these daily behaviors. Yet a critical gap remains in understanding mechanisms underlying the modulation of motivated actions, both under normal conditions and in the wake of movement disorders. The basal ganglia are critical for this modulation. The canonical direct-D1 ‘Go’ and indirect-D2 ‘No-Go’ basal ganglia pathways are universally considered essential for these functions. Strong evidence and advanced models show that the direct-D1 and indirect-D2 pathway activities must be balanced for normal control. When they are out of balance, neurologic and neuropsychiatric disorders ensue, and pharmacologic and other treatments for Parkinson’s disease are largely based on these classical direct-indirect models of these circuits. Yet there is controversy about the degree to which the direct and indirect pathways act together or in opposition, as the classic models suggest. In our lab, we have found evidence strongly suggesting that extensions of these models are called for. By genetic engineering, we have delineated a pair of direct and indirect pathways that emerge from the striatum separately from the canonical pathways and that, unlike the classical pathways, target the dopamine-containing neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta. They receive input from cortical areas related to the limbic system, in contrast to the sensorimotor inputs to the canonical direct and indirect pathways. This newly delineated parallel pathway architecture of the basal ganglia at once suggests the need for talking account of this dual system in clinical settings and suggests a model whereby evolution provided a way to have behavioral state modulate the coordination of movement control and motivated action.
About Dr. Graybiel
Ann M. Graybiel is an Institute Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she and her laboratory are actively investigating neural circuits related to the basal ganglia and to a range of neurologic and neuropsychiatric disorders. Her work is centered on understanding the functions of circuits leading from mood-related parts of the frontal neocortex through the striatum to the dopamine-containing neurons of the midbrain. This work took its origin in her discovery of neurochemically distinct compartments in the striatum, which she named ‘striosomes’. These are now known to provide all or nearly all striatal input to the dopamine-containing neurons of the midbrain. These circuits strongly bias decision-making made under motivationally challenging conditions, as though inducing optimistic or pessimistic state changes. They can strongly modulate responses to stress and levels of engagement across age, and levels of reinforcement-based learning. Her group is now harnessing molecular and genetic markers in functional work of these and related circuits of the striatal matrix, with the goal of contributing to clinical medicine as well as to fundamental understanding of the brain.
About the James C. Houk Lecture in Motor Control
In 2020, the late James C. Houk, PhD, and his wife Antoinette made a bequest to establish the Dr. James Houk Graduate Fellowship in Neuroscience. Their gift provides funding to outstanding graduate students studying neurophysiology at Northwestern and supports the annual James C. Houk Lecture in Motor Control, presented by a renowned motor neuroscientist.
About James C. Houk, PhD
Dr. James C. Houk originally studied electrical engineering before receiving his PhD in physiology at Harvard University. As an assistant professor at Harvard, he studied Golgi tendon organs, muscle spindles and developed control models of muscle activation through neuronal circuits in the spinal cord.
Later, as an associate professor at Johns Hopkins Medical School, Houk began work on the central nervous system in behaving monkeys, work he continued at Northwestern University, after being recruited in 1978 as chair of the Department of Physiology (now Neuroscience). During this time, Houk also built a world-renowned systems neuroscience group within the department.
In 2001, after 23 years, Houk stepped down as chair to concentrate on multimodal approaches to studying how the nonlinear dynamics of microscopic modules in the brain give rise to its unique computational properties. He became particularly interested in the interplay between the basal ganglia, motor cortex and cerebellum.
May
02
DGP Student Thesis Seminar - Maureen Haynes - Dr. William Muller Lab
Chicago - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Title of Presentation:
"Identifying the spatiotemporal distribution and functions of polymorphonuclear leukocytes during acute pneumonia"
This is a hybrid event. For Zoom access or more information, email rachael.hill@northwestern.edu.
May
05
Daniel Martin Watterson, BS, PhD, NAI | Department of Pharmacology Faculty Chalk Talk
Chicago - 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Title: "From concept to clinic: a platform for discovery of highly selective, small molecule therapeutic candidates and in vivo molecular probes for protein kinase targets".
Abstract: The first approved protein kinase inhibitor drug in 2001 was followed by a rapid expansion of approved tyrosine kinase inhibitor drugs and more recently serine/threonine (S/T) kinase inhibitors. The findings that many kinase inhibitors bind to multiple targets, including other kinase targets, led to the postulation that selective targeting of a kinase active site would be essentially impossible due to the conservation of catalytic domains across the kinome and the high levels of ATP in eukaryotic cells. Further, the added barrier of only ~2% of small molecule drugs having adequate blood brain barrier distribution resulted in neglect of CNS protein kinases as potential therapeutic targets. To date, there are only two protein kinase inhibitors approved for CNS use. A team of highly talented Northwestern University students and postdoctoral fellows filled the approach gap by developing a platform for design, discovery and development of novel S/T protein kinase inhibitors with high target selectivity and in vivo utility for CNS disorders. Continued development by our lab and collaborators is delivering novel small in vivo molecular probes for deconvoluting kinase mediated pathophysiology pathways and therapeutic candidates.
Speaker: Daniel Martin Watterson, BS, PhD, NAI; John G. Searle Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Northwestern University, Professor of Pharmacology, Feinberg School of Medicine
May
06
CDB Trainee Seminar Series - Prathyaya Ramesh
Chicago - 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Cell & Developmental Biology (CDB) Trainee Seminar Series
The department meets every Tuesday from 9:00 to 10:00 AM to enjoy a presentation from a research trainee (postbacc, pre-, post-doctoral fellow, etc). Meetings usually take place at Baldwin Auditorium, Lurie 1-123, with some exceptions.
Calendar invites with the meeting location are disseminated in advance. Please contact cdb@northwestern.edu for more information or sign-up to our event listserv at https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/cdb/about/listserv.html#listserv
May
06
A Mindful Moment
Online - 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM
In celebration of Teacher Appreciation Day, the Searle Center is hosting 45 minutes of guided meditation, visualization, and movement for faculty well-being.
Tuesday, May 6 from 11:00–11:45 am | Online
Drop in to practice techniques specifically tailored to ground, center, and refresh university instructors. Registrants will receive a confirmation email and Outlook calendar invitation including the Zoom link.
Please contact Veronica Womack at veronica.womack@northwestern.edu with questions.
May
06
M-I Seminar Series: Aliki Valdes
Chicago - 12:15 PM - 1:15 PM
Title: From models to mechanisms: understanding Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence
Topic: Population-based genomics and systems biology studies have advanced our understanding of P. aeruginosa pathogenicity, identifying novel bacterial traits that contribute to disease progression. While mouse models are the gold standard to measure virulence, alternative systems like Galleria mellonella larvae and epithelial cell cultures offer practical advantages, though their ability to reflect mouse virulence is still being evaluated. We compared these three model systems to determine their reliability in assessing P. aeruginosa virulence. We then employed the epithelial cell model system to identify P. aeruginosa factors that contribute to strain-to-strain differences in cytotoxicity. We used a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify accessory genomic elements (AGEs) associated with high levels of cytotoxicity. We are now testing some of these AGEs to determine whether they play a causal role in cytotoxicity. Our ultimate goal is to use high-throughput infection models to uncover specific genes and alleles that allow some P. aeruginosa strains to cause more severe infections than others.
Speaker: Aliki Valdes, Driscoll Graduate Program, Lab of Alan Hauser, PhD
Host: Alan Hauser, MD, PhD, Professor, Dept. of Microbiology-Immunology
May
06
Getting to Know Our Neurodivergent Students
Online - 12:30 PM - 1:00 PM
Part of the Getting to Know Our Students Series, this 30-minute virtual presentation provides strengths-based approaches for supporting the academic success and well-being of neurodivergent students.
Registrants will receive a confirmation email and Outlook calendar invitation including the event link.
May
07
Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship Information Session
Evanston - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Are you interested in teaching English abroad after graduation? The U.S. Department of State’s Fulbright U.S. Student Program places English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) in classrooms abroad to provide support to local English teachers. ETAs strengthen English language instruction in seventy-five countries world-wide while serving as cultural ambassadors of the United States. Host institutions range from elementary and secondary schools to university-level language departments. Stop by the info session to meet the campus contact and learn more.
May
07
Chicago KUH FORWARD 4th Annual Symposium
Chicago - 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Chicago KUH FORWARD Annual Symposium
The 4th Annual Chicago KUH FORWARD Symposium includes a keynote presentation, panel discussion, and a joint scientific poster session and networking reception.
CALL FOR POSTERS: We invite scientific poster presentatations by graduate and medical students, postdoctoral scholars, residents, fellows, and junior faculty who wish to showcase their benign kidney, benign urology, or benign hematology research.
This event is free but registration is required.
CLICK HERE FOR SYMPOSIUM DETAILS
May
07
Pedagogical Innovations in STEM
Evanston - 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Pedagogical Innovations in STEM is a scholarly exchange offered each quarter, showcasing leading-edge research that informs teaching and learning strategies. Recommended for those pursuing the CIRTL Certificate.
May
07
Immunology Discussion Club
Chicago - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
The Northwestern Immunology Discussion Club meets on Wednesday's from 3:30pm to 4:30pm and is led by Dr. Booki Min from Feinberg Department- Microbiology and Immunology and Dr. Stephanie Eisenbarth- Williams from The Center for Human Immunology. We discuss papers that have been published recently and Research In Progress talks. Note- members are required to present at least 1 IDC and 1RIP per year.
May
07
Application Workshop -- Fulbright Study/Research/Arts Awards
Evanston - 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Interested in pursuing research, study, or the arts abroad? Attend an application workshop to learn about the Fulbright application process at Northwestern. We will discuss application components and successful application strategies. You do not need a draft of your essays, but will benefit most if you have a clear vision of your project.
Campus Deadline – Tuesday, Sept. 2nd, 2025
May
09
Non-canonical basal ganglia control of locomotion and valence.
Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
The Department of Neuroscience Welcomes Dr. Rebekah Evans.
Assistant Professor
PhD in Neuroscience, George Mason University
The canonical basal ganglia model predicts that the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr) and the globus pallidus externa (GPe) will have specific effects on locomotion: the SNr inhibiting locomotion and the GPe enhancing it. We use in vivo optogenetics to show that the GPe exerts non-canonical effects on locomotion through inhibition of the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN). We also show that these structures mediate opposing effects on reward. To understand how these structures differentially modulate the PPN, we use ex vivo whole-cell recording with optogenetics to comprehensively dissect the SNr and GPe synaptic connections to regionally- and molecularly-defined populations of PPN neurons. The SNr inhibits all PPN subtypes, but most strongly inhibits caudal glutamatergic neurons. The GPe selectively inhibits caudal glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons, avoiding both cholinergic and rostral cells. This circuit characterization reveals non-canonical basal ganglia pathways for locomotion and valence.
May
12
Lurie Cancer Center Core Technologies & Applications Seminar Series
Chicago - 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Comparative Histopathology & Tissue Analytics Services at Northwestern University
Rizaldy P. Scott, M.S., Ph.D.
Research Associate Professor of Pathology
Scientific Director
Mouse Histology & Phenotyping Laboratory
Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
*Lunch will be provided
May
12
Goldwater Scholarship Information Session
Online - 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
The Goldwater Scholarship is the most prestigious national award given to undergraduates who plan to pursue research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering. You must be nominated by Northwestern to apply to the Goldwater. This session will highlight the internal application and nomination process. You will also learn about other prestigious fellowships that are of interest to Goldwater applicants.
May
13
Application Workshop -- Fulbright Study/Research/Arts Awards
Online - 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Interested in pursuing research, study, or the arts abroad? Attend an application workshop to learn about the Fulbright application process at Northwestern. We will discuss application components and successful application strategies. You do not need a draft of your essays, but will benefit most if you have a clear vision of your project.
Campus Deadline – Tuesday, Sept. 2nd, 2025
May
13
CDB Trainee Seminar Series - Nina Brown
Chicago - 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Cell & Developmental Biology (CDB) Trainee Seminar Series
The department meets every Tuesday from 9:00 to 10:00 AM to enjoy a presentation from a research trainee (postbacc, pre-, post-doctoral fellow, etc). Meetings usually take place at Baldwin Auditorium, Lurie 1-123, with some exceptions.
Calendar invites with the meeting location are disseminated in advance. Please contact cdb@northwestern.edu for more information or sign-up to our event listserv at https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/cdb/about/listserv.html#listserv
May
13
M-I Seminar Series: Gisela Storz, PhD
Chicago - 12:15 PM - 1:15 PM
Title: Genes within genes: another level of regulation
Topic: We are interested in identifying and characterizing genes that were previously missed, particularly those encoding small RNAs and small proteins of less than 50 amino acids. Although they were overlooked, small RNAs and small proteins have important regulatory roles. Initially, we focused our searches on intergenic regions, but it is now becoming clear that these regulatory molecules also can be encoded in intragenic regions. I will discuss the roles of example genes-within-genes as well as the implications for interpreting mutations and gene evolution.
Speaker: Gisela Storz, PhD, Principal Investigator, National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Host: M.-N. Frances Yap, Associate Professor, Dept. of Microbiology-Immunology
May
13
4th Annual Robert D. Goldman Lecture
Chicago - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
4th Annual Robert D. Goldman Lecture
Cosponsored by Walter S. And Lucienne Driskill Graduate Program Lectures in Life Sciences and Feinberg School of Medicine Department of Cell & Developmental Biology
"Ovarian cancer heterogeneity and tumor adaptation to chemotherapy"
Joan Brugge, PhD
Professor of Cell Biology
Director of the Ludwig Center
Harvard Medical School, MA
Dr. Brugge is currently Professor of Cell Biology at HMS and co-director of the Ludwig Center at Harvard. A graduate of Northwestern University, she did her graduate work at the Baylor College of Medicine, and then performed her postdoctoral training at the University of Colorado. Dr. Brugge has held full professorships at the SUNY, Stony Brook, and the University of Pennsylvania, where she was also an investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. From 1992-1997 Dr. Brugge was a founder and scientific director of the biotechnology company ARIAD. She then joined Harvard in 1997 and was Chair of Cell Biology from 2004-2014.
About the Annual Robert D. Goldman, PhD:
Robert D. Goldman, PhD, is the Stephen Walter Ranson Professor Emeritus of Cell and Developmental Biology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, where he served as chair of the department from 1981-2019. Dr. Goldman earned his doctorate in biology from Princeton University, after which he trained as a postdoctoral fellow at Hammersmith Hospital in London and at the MRC Institute of Virology in Glasgow. He was appointed assistant professor of Biology at Case Western Reserve University in 1969 and moved to Carnegie Mellon University in 1977, prior to joining the faculty at Northwestern.
The annual lecture commemorates the accomplishments of Dr. Goldman and are a celebration of science and innovative discoveries in cell and developmental biology.
May
14
Immunology Discussion Club
Chicago - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
The Northwestern Immunology Discussion Club meets on Wednesday's from 3:30pm to 4:30pm and is led by Dr. Booki Min from Feinberg Department- Microbiology and Immunology and Dr. Stephanie Eisenbarth- Williams from The Center for Human Immunology. We discuss papers that have been published recently and Research In Progress talks. Note- members are required to present at least 1 IDC and 1RIP per year.
May
15
Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship Information Session
Evanston - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Are you interested in teaching English abroad after graduation? The U.S. Department of State’s Fulbright U.S. Student Program places English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) in classrooms abroad to provide support to local English teachers. ETAs strengthen English language instruction in seventy-five countries world-wide while serving as cultural ambassadors of the United States. Host institutions range from elementary and secondary schools to university-level language departments. Stop by the info session to meet the campus contact and learn more.
May
16
FCVRRI Research in Progress Seminar - Drew Voigt, MD, PhD
Chicago - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Talk title - Ocular Proangiogenic Macrophages Localize Within Human Choroidal Neovascular Membranes
May
16
Dopamine waves support spatiotemporal computations in reinforcement learning
No Location - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
The Department of Neuroscience Welcomes Dr. Arif Hamid.
Assistant Professor, Department of Neuroscience
In this talk, I will examine the computational motivations and empirical evidence for spatiotemporal dopamine (DA) waves that support reward learning within fronto-striatal networks. I will focus on the cognitive striatum as a case study to show that DA waves tailor decision signals according to local computational/behavioral specialty-- accomplished via vector-weighting delays in DA pulses across space and time. This code resolves key computational challenges in competing C-BG mixture of experts: spatiotemporal credit assessment at reward, and dynamic reprioritization of circuit inference and gating during performance. Ultimately, these DA wave dynamics represent an empirically informed revision of the longstanding "global broadcast" hypothesis of DA RPE signals. Finally, I will briefly summarize our recent attempts at understanding the complexity of the DA wave manifold, and competitive/collaborative circuit interactions that constrain DA to motif trajectories during specific task demands.
University of Michigan University of Michigan
Doctor of Philosophy - PhD, Neuroscience, Decision Biology, Neuroeconomics 2011 - 2016
University of Minnesota University of Minnesota BS, Neuroscience 2008 - 2010
May
19
CDB Experts-in-the-field Seminar Series - Dr. Didier Stainier
Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CDB Experts-in-the-field Seminar Series
"Transcriptional adaptation, an RNA-based mechanism of genetic compensation"
Dr. Didier Stainier,
Director
Department of Developmental Genetics
https://www.mpg.de/6661546/heart-lung-research-stainier
Monday May 19th, 2025
12:00–1:00 PM
Simpson Querrey Auditorium
303 E. Superior St., Chicago, IL 60611
Host: Saba Parvez PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Cell and Developmental Biology
https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/cdb/faculty/profile.html?xid=62620
Cell & Developmental Biology Experts-in-the-field Seminar Series
The department hosts guest lectures every second Wednesday from 12-1 PM.
Calendar invites are disseminated in advance with event details. Contact cdb@northwestern.edu for additional details or sign-up for our listserv at https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/cdb/about/listserv.html#listserv
May
19
Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship Information Session
Evanston - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Are you interested in teaching English abroad after graduation? The U.S. Department of State’s Fulbright U.S. Student Program places English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) in classrooms abroad to provide support to local English teachers. ETAs strengthen English language instruction in seventy-five countries world-wide while serving as cultural ambassadors of the United States. Host institutions range from elementary and secondary schools to university-level language departments. Stop by the info session to meet the campus contact and learn more.
May
20
CDB Trainee Seminar Series - Lynn Heinz
Chicago - 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Cell & Developmental Biology (CDB) Trainee Seminar Series
The department meets every Tuesday from 9:00 to 10:00 AM to enjoy a presentation from a research trainee (postbacc, pre-, post-doctoral fellow, etc). Meetings usually take place at Baldwin Auditorium, Lurie 1-123, with some exceptions.
Calendar invites with the meeting location are disseminated in advance. Please contact cdb@northwestern.edu for more information or sign-up to our event listserv at https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/cdb/about/listserv.html#listserv
May
20
M-I Seminar Series: Karen Ottemann, PhD
Chicago - 9:45 AM - 10:45 AM
Title: Flagellar motors incorporate parts of type 4 pili to fine tune bacterial motility responses
Topic: Bacterial flagellar motors are complex nanomachies that vary in composition between microbes, with several boasting belts, cages and rings. The gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori has one of the most powerful and largest motors, containing multiple proteins that are largely unknown. In this work, we identified the proteins of the H. pylori flagellar cage, and determined surprisingly that they are orthologs of type 4 pili proteins PilO, PilN and PilM. Contrary to previous predictions, the cage proteins do not enhance flagellar function but instead regulate it, promoting bacteria to stop motility under particular settings. I’ll describe our path to identify the PilO, PilN and PilM cage and what we currently know about their function.
Speaker: Karen Ottemann, PhD, Professor, University of California-Santa Cruz
Host: Nicholas Cianciotto, PhD, Professor, Dept. of Microbiology-Immunology
May
21
Immunology Discussion Club
Chicago - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
The Northwestern Immunology Discussion Club meets on Wednesday's from 3:30pm to 4:30pm and is led by Dr. Booki Min from Feinberg Department- Microbiology and Immunology and Dr. Stephanie Eisenbarth- Williams from The Center for Human Immunology. We discuss papers that have been published recently and Research In Progress talks. Note- members are required to present at least 1 IDC and 1RIP per year.
May
22
Goldwater Scholarship Information Session
Online - 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
The Goldwater Scholarship is the most prestigious national award given to undergraduates who plan to pursue research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering. You must be nominated by Northwestern to apply to the Goldwater. This session will highlight the internal application and nomination process. You will also learn about other prestigious fellowships that are of interest to Goldwater applicants.
May
23
FCVRRI Research in Progress Seminar - Colin Lemire
Chicago - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Talk Title - Retinal Perivascular Macrophages
May
23
Brain circuits for visual context processing in health and disease
Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
The Department of Neuroscience Welcomes Dr. Jordan Hamm.
Associate Professor, Georgia State University.
Visual processing in the cerebral cortex is strongly modulated by context. For example, neural activity as early as primary visual cortex (V1) is increased to stimuli that deviate from contextual patterns, a phenomenon termed “deviance detection.” Critically, visual deviance detection, and its EEG biomarker mismatch negativity, is diminished in people with schizophrenia, suggesting altered predictive processing in cortical systems which could underlie core perceptual and cognitive features of the disease.
Columbia University, Postdoctoral, 2018, Biology
University of Georgia, Ph.D., 2013, Neuroscience
University of Georgia, M.S., 2010, Psychology
University of Georgia, B.A., 2008, Philosophy
May
27
CDB Trainee Seminar Series - Andres Gutierrez
Chicago - 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Cell & Developmental Biology (CDB) Trainee Seminar Series
The department meets every Tuesday from 9:00 to 10:00 AM to enjoy a presentation from a research trainee (postbacc, pre-, post-doctoral fellow, etc). Meetings usually take place at Baldwin Auditorium, Lurie 1-123, with some exceptions.
Calendar invites with the meeting location are disseminated in advance. Please contact cdb@northwestern.edu for more information or sign-up to our event listserv at https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/cdb/about/listserv.html#listserv
May
27
M-I Seminar Series: Francesca Di Nunzio, PhD
Chicago - 12:15 PM - 1:15 PM
Title: Journey to the Nucleus: Revisiting HIV's Post-Nuclear Entry Pathways
Topic: HIV integrates in active chromatin sites to release high levels of viral progeny or remains discreet within hosts. It requires the reverse transcription of RNA to DNA within a capsid shell, previously thought to uncoat post-fusion. Contrary to textbooks, recent evidence, including ours, shows uncoating and reverse transcription occur within the infected cell's nucleus, challenging traditional views and indicating a nuclear remodeling phase. Remarkably, HIV-1 exploits liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) to form membraneless organelles (HIV-1-MLOs) that support canonical nuclear reverse transcription and viral integration. I will discuss the in vivo detection of these structures, their composition, and their role in shielding the viral genome from the hostile cellular environment. Our findings open new research avenues on LLPS's role in HIV and potential as an antiretroviral target, prompting future studies to explore its comprehensive impact on infection.
Speaker: Francesca Di Nunzio, PhD, Professor, Institut Pastetur
Host: Mojgan Naghavi, PhD, Professor, Dept. of Microbiology-Immunology
May
28
Immunology Discussion Club
Chicago - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
The Northwestern Immunology Discussion Club meets on Wednesday's from 3:30pm to 4:30pm and is led by Dr. Booki Min from Feinberg Department- Microbiology and Immunology and Dr. Stephanie Eisenbarth- Williams from The Center for Human Immunology. We discuss papers that have been published recently and Research In Progress talks. Note- members are required to present at least 1 IDC and 1RIP per year.
May
29
Application Workshop -- Fulbright Study/Research/Arts Awards
Evanston - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Interested in pursuing research, study, or the arts abroad? Attend an application workshop to learn about the Fulbright application process at Northwestern. We will discuss application components and successful application strategies. You do not need a draft of your essays, but will benefit most if you have a clear vision of your project.
Campus Deadline – Tuesday, Sept. 2nd, 2025
Jun
01
2025 Cancer Survivors' Celebration Walk & 5K
Off-Campus - 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM
On Sunday, June 1, Lurie Cancer Center and Northwestern Medicine will welcome cancer survivors and supporters to our 32nd Annual Cancer Survivors’ Celebration Walk & 5K!
Held on National Cancer Survivors Day, the community event is a one-of-kind opportunity for people who have faced or are facing cancer to connect and celebrate milestones with the families, friends, physicians, scientists, and care providers who support them every step of the way.
Highlights include a non-competitive walk or chip-timed 5K race along the lakefront, commemorative T-shirts, music and entertainment, inspiring speakers, activities for the family, and an opportunity to share a message on the Dedication Wall. The celebration in Chicago’s Grant Park is open to everyone whose life has been touched by cancer, regardless of where they were treated.
Advance registration is strongly encouraged and available online through May 31. Register by May 2 to receive your T-shirt by mail before the event.
Advances in cancer prevention and treatment – based on life-changing research – give us all more reasons to celebrate. Participants are invited to create a personalized fundraising page to support Lurie Cancer Center’s innovative research and survivorship programs when they register. Fundraising is optional and no minimum donation is required.
Jun
03
CDB Trainee Seminar Series
Chicago - 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Cell & Developmental Biology (CDB) Trainee Seminar Series
The department meets every Tuesday from 9:00 to 10:00 AM to enjoy a presentation from a research trainee (postbacc, pre-, post-doctoral fellow, etc). Meetings usually take place at Baldwin Auditorium, Lurie 1-123, with some exceptions.
Calendar invites with the meeting location are disseminated in advance. Please contact cdb@northwestern.edu for more information or sign-up to our event listserv at https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/cdb/about/listserv.html#listserv
Jun
04
Searle Center Community Celebration
Evanston - 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Mark your calendars! This open-house style event promises to be a vibrant and engaging afternoon where you'll get an exclusive look at our new strategic plan and priorities.
Come enjoy delicious food and drinks, connect with our community, and celebrate the achievements of the past year. We can't wait to see you there!
Jun
04
Immunology Discussion Club
Chicago - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
The Northwestern Immunology Discussion Club meets on Wednesday's from 3:30pm to 4:30pm and is led by Dr. Booki Min from Feinberg Department- Microbiology and Immunology and Dr. Stephanie Eisenbarth- Williams from The Center for Human Immunology. We discuss papers that have been published recently and Research In Progress talks. Note- members are required to present at least 1 IDC and 1RIP per year.
Jun
05
Goldwater Scholarship Information Session
Online - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
The Goldwater Scholarship is the most prestigious national award given to undergraduates who plan to pursue research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering. You must be nominated by Northwestern to apply to the Goldwater. This session will highlight the internal application and nomination process. You will also learn about other prestigious fellowships that are of interest to Goldwater applicants.
Jun
06
Application Workshop -- Fulbright Study/Research/Arts Awards
Evanston - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Interested in pursuing research, study, or the arts abroad? Attend an application workshop to learn about the Fulbright application process at Northwestern. We will discuss application components and successful application strategies. You do not need a draft of your essays, but will benefit most if you have a clear vision of your project.
Campus Deadline – Tuesday, Sept. 2nd, 2025
Jun
10
CDB Trainee Seminar Series
Chicago - 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Cell & Developmental Biology (CDB) Trainee Seminar Series
The department meets every Tuesday from 9:00 to 10:00 AM to enjoy a presentation from a research trainee (postbacc, pre-, post-doctoral fellow, etc). Meetings usually take place at Baldwin Auditorium, Lurie 1-123, with some exceptions.
Calendar invites with the meeting location are disseminated in advance. Please contact cdb@northwestern.edu for more information or sign-up to our event listserv at https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/cdb/about/listserv.html#listserv
Jun
11
Pain & Palliative Care Conference
Chicago - 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM
On Wednesday, June 11, 2025 the 19th Annual Pain & Palliative Care Conference will bring together physicians, nurses, social workers, physical therapists, occupational therapists, chaplains, and healthcare professionals to share research and clinical best practices to advance the field of palliative care and improve care for patients with serious illnesses and their loved ones.
Jun
11
CDB Experts-in-the-field Seminar Series
Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CDB Experts-in-the-field Seminar Series
Cell & Developmental Biology Experts-in-the-field Seminar Series
The department hosts guest lectures every second Wednesday from 12-1 PM.
Calendar invites are disseminated in advance with event details. Contact cdb@northwestern.edu for additional details or sign-up for our listserv at https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/cdb/about/listserv.html#listserv
Jun
11
Immunology Discussion Club
Chicago - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
The Northwestern Immunology Discussion Club meets on Wednesday's from 3:30pm to 4:30pm and is led by Dr. Booki Min from Feinberg Department- Microbiology and Immunology and Dr. Stephanie Eisenbarth- Williams from The Center for Human Immunology. We discuss papers that have been published recently and Research In Progress talks. Note- members are required to present at least 1 IDC and 1RIP per year.
Jun
13
Special Seminar: Dr. Marc Kirschner, Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School
Chicago - 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
CDB SPECIAL SEMINAR PRESENTATION:
"Tracing cell pathophysiology through Normalized Raman imaging of intact tissue"
Marc Kirschner, PhD,
Professor of Systems Biology
Harvard Medical School
John Franklin Enders Harvard University Professor
https://www.kirschnerlab.org/marc-kirschner
Friday, June 13, 2025
4:00–5:00 PM
Daniel Hale Williams Auditorium, McGaw 2-320
240 E. Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
Host:
Volodya Gelfand, PhD, Professor
Luisa Iruela-Arispe, PhD, Stephen Walter Ranson Professor & Chair
Department of Cell & Developmental Biology
Calendar invites with event details are disseminated in advance. Contact cdb@northwestern.edu for additional details or sign-up for our listserv at https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/cdb/about/listserv.html#listserv
Jun
17
CDB Trainee Seminar Series
Chicago - 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Cell & Developmental Biology (CDB) Trainee Seminar Series
The department meets every Tuesday from 9:00 to 10:00 AM to enjoy a presentation from a research trainee (postbacc, pre-, post-doctoral fellow, etc). Meetings usually take place at Baldwin Auditorium, Lurie 1-123, with some exceptions.
Calendar invites with the meeting location are disseminated in advance. Please contact cdb@northwestern.edu for more information or sign-up to our event listserv at https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/cdb/about/listserv.html#listserv
Jun
18
Lurie Cancer Center Symposium & Scientific Poster Session
Chicago - 2:00 PM - 6:30 PM
The 17th Annual Lurie Cancer Center Symposium will feature presentations from graduate students and post-doctoral fellows from our labs. A keynote lecture will be given by Kay Macleod, PhD, of the University of Chicago.
The Scientific Poster Session, which will take place immediately following the symposium, will feature the work of students and postdoctoral fellows from the laboratories of Lurie Cancer Center members on Northwestern’s Evanston and Chicago campuses.
Jun
18
Immunology Discussion Club
Chicago - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
The Northwestern Immunology Discussion Club meets on Wednesday's from 3:30pm to 4:30pm and is led by Dr. Booki Min from Feinberg Department- Microbiology and Immunology and Dr. Stephanie Eisenbarth- Williams from The Center for Human Immunology. We discuss papers that have been published recently and Research In Progress talks. Note- members are required to present at least 1 IDC and 1RIP per year.
Jun
24
CDB Trainee Seminar Series
Chicago - 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Cell & Developmental Biology (CDB) Trainee Seminar Series
The department meets every Tuesday from 9:00 to 10:00 AM to enjoy a presentation from a research trainee (postbacc, pre-, post-doctoral fellow, etc). Meetings usually take place at Baldwin Auditorium, Lurie 1-123, with some exceptions.
Calendar invites with the meeting location are disseminated in advance. Please contact cdb@northwestern.edu for more information or sign-up to our event listserv at https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/cdb/about/listserv.html#listserv
Jun
25
Immunology Discussion Club
Chicago - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
The Northwestern Immunology Discussion Club meets on Wednesday's from 3:30pm to 4:30pm and is led by Dr. Booki Min from Feinberg Department- Microbiology and Immunology and Dr. Stephanie Eisenbarth- Williams from The Center for Human Immunology. We discuss papers that have been published recently and Research In Progress talks. Note- members are required to present at least 1 IDC and 1RIP per year.
Jul
09
CDB Experts-in-the-field Seminar Series
Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CDB Experts-in-the-field Seminar Series
Cell & Developmental Biology Experts-in-the-field Seminar Series
The department hosts guest lectures every second Wednesday from 12-1 PM.
Calendar invites are disseminated in advance with event details. Contact cdb@northwestern.edu for additional details or sign-up for our listserv at https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/cdb/about/listserv.html#listserv
Jul
11
Oncology Review Symposium
Chicago - 8:00 AM - 5:15 PM
Join us in person Friday, July 11 for the 2025 Lurie Cancer Center Oncology Review, which provides medical, radiation and surgical oncologists, nurses, scientists and allied healthcare professionals with a comprehensive summary of the most up-to-date research and clinical data in the field of oncology. This review covers multiple oncology and hematology disease types, and each topic is presented by an expert in the respective field.
Apr
29
Lurie Cancer Center Basic Research Seminar: Lessons from T Cell Receptor Sequencing in Cancer Patients
Chicago - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
The Lurie Cancer Center Basic Research Seminar presents:
Lessons from T Cell Receptor Sequencing in Cancer Patients
Seth Pollack, MD
Steven T. Rosen Professor of Cancer Biology
Co-Leader, Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Initiative
Director of the Sarcoma Program, Lurie Cancer Center
Professor, Medicine (Hematology and Oncology)
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
May
06
Lurie Cancer Center Basic Research Seminar: Blood Chemicals and Anti-Tumor Immunity
Chicago - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
The Lurie Cancer Center Basic Research Seminar presents:
Blood Chemicals and Anti-Tumor Immunity
Jing Chen, PhD
Janet Davison Rowley Distinguished Service Professor of Medicine
Committee on Cancer Biology
Committee on Molecular Metabolism and Nutrition
University of Chicago
May
13
Lurie Cancer Center Basic Research Seminar: Advanced Cell Engineering Technologies for Large-Scale Biological Interpretation
Chicago - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
The Lurie Cancer Center Basic Research Seminar presents:
Advanced Cell Engineering Technologies for Large-Scale Biological Interpretation
Benjamin Haley, PhD
Professor, Opthalmology
Research Center of Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital
University of Montreal
Quebec, Canada
May
20
Lurie Cancer Center Basic Research Seminar: Horizons in Pathology - Innovations in Multiplexed Tissue Imaging for Discovery and Diagnostics
Chicago - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
The Lurie Cancer Center Basic Research Seminar presents:
Horizons in Pathology - Innovations in Multiplexed Tissue Imaging for Discover and Diagnosis
Sandro Santagata, MD, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Systems Biology
Harvard Medical School
Apr
29
CDB Trainee Seminar Series-Bhuvanasundar Ranganathan PhD
Chicago - 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Cell & Developmental Biology (CDB) Trainee Seminar Series
"Vimentin in Motion and Motion by Vimentin"
Bhuvanasundar Ranganathan, PhD
Research Associate, Gelfand Lab
Simpson Querrey Auditorium
9am-10am
The department meets every Tuesday from 9:00 to 10:00 AM to enjoy a presentation from a research trainee (postbacc, pre-, post-doctoral fellow, etc). Meetings usually take place at Baldwin Auditorium, Lurie 1-123, with some exceptions.
Calendar invites with the meeting location are disseminated in advance. Please contact cdb@northwestern.edu for more information or sign-up to our event listserv at https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/cdb/about/listserv.html#listserv
Apr
29
M-I Seminar Series: Jessica Queen, MD, PhD
Chicago - 9:45 AM - 10:45 AM
Title: Fusobacterium nucleatum: an oral commensal turned gut oncomicrobe
Topic: There is growing evidence that microbiome dysbiosis contributes to the development, progression, and treatment responsiveness of colorectal cancer (CRC). Fusobacterium nucleatum is a member of the oropharyngeal microbiome and opportunistic pathogen that is strikingly enriched in mucosal and fecal samples from CRC patients. Currently, there is controversy as to whether F. nucleatum is a driver or passenger in colon tumorigenesis. Our translational work on F. nucleatum utilizes clinical samples, mouse models, and bioinformatics to address key open questions about F. nucleatum pathogenesis in the context of CRC.
Speaker:Jessica Queen, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Johns Hopkins
Host: Karla Satchell, PhD, Professor, Dept. of Microbiology-Immunology
Apr
29
Lurie Cancer Center Basic Research Seminar: Lessons from T Cell Receptor Sequencing in Cancer Patients
Chicago - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
The Lurie Cancer Center Basic Research Seminar presents:
Lessons from T Cell Receptor Sequencing in Cancer Patients
Seth Pollack, MD
Steven T. Rosen Professor of Cancer Biology
Co-Leader, Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Initiative
Director of the Sarcoma Program, Lurie Cancer Center
Professor, Medicine (Hematology and Oncology)
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Apr
29
Student Experiences in STEM
Online - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Student Experiences in STEM is an evidence-driven reading circle focusing on students’ experiences, development, and their perceptions of commonly used learning practices and the classroom environment. Recommended for those pursuing the CIRTL Certificate.
Apr
29
Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship Information Session
Evanston - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Are you interested in teaching English abroad after graduation? The U.S. Department of State’s Fulbright U.S. Student Program places English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) in classrooms abroad to provide support to local English teachers. ETAs strengthen English language instruction in seventy-five countries world-wide while serving as cultural ambassadors of the United States. Host institutions range from elementary and secondary schools to university-level language departments. Stop by the info session to meet the campus contact and learn more.
Apr
30
Application Workshop -- Fulbright Study/Research/Arts Awards
Evanston - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Interested in pursuing research, study, or the arts abroad? Attend an application workshop to learn about the Fulbright application process at Northwestern. We will discuss application components and successful application strategies. You do not need a draft of your essays, but will benefit most if you have a clear vision of your project.
Campus Deadline – Tuesday, Sept. 2nd, 2025
Apr
30
Immunology Discussion Club
Chicago - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
The Northwestern Immunology Discussion Club meets on Wednesday's from 3:30pm to 4:30pm and is led by Dr. Booki Min from Feinberg Department- Microbiology and Immunology and Dr. Stephanie Eisenbarth- Williams from The Center for Human Immunology. We discuss papers that have been published recently and Research In Progress talks. Note- members are required to present at least 1 IDC and 1RIP per year.
Apr
30
An Information Session About Recent Developments in US Immigration Law
Evanston - 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Join us for a panel discussion featuring immigration law experts from the Chicagoland area.
Panelists will provide an overview of recent developments in US immigration law and discuss how these changes are impacting various communities.
Topics will include:
- Recent executive actions
- Policies relevant to international students and scholars
- Know your rights
Open only to members of the Northwestern community who show a valid Wildcard.
Presented by: The Faculty Senate, Office of the Vice President for International Relations, The Graduate School, Buffett Institute for Global Affairs, Office of International Student and Scholar Services, Seigle Clinic for Immigrant Youth and Families, and the Department of Spanish and Portuguese.
May
01
BMG Seminar: Golnaz Vahedi, PhD, University of Pennsylvania
Chicago - 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
The Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics presents:
Golnaz Vahedi, PhD
Associate Professor of Genetics
Deputy Director, Institute for Immunology and Immune Health
Co-Director, Epigenetics Institute
Perelman School of Medicine
University of Pennsylvania
Presentation:
"Chromatin topology at paralogous transcription factors"
Abstract:
Transcription factors (TFs) decode genomic information to regulate cellular processes. In metazoans, gene duplication has given rise to paralogous TFs, which have functionally diversified to control cellular differentiation. While most paralogous TFs are dispersed across different chromosomes, some remain clustered—raising the question whether genomic proximity confers an evolutionary advantage. To address this, we investigated a ~1 Mbp locus containing two ETS family paralogs, Ets1 and Fli1. Using a sequential imaging technique called Optical Reconstruction of Chromatin Architecture (ORCA), we traced the 3D organization of this region in single alleles of T cells from genetically engineered mice with targeted deletions of key regulatory elements. In this talk I will discuss how genomic clustering of paralogous TFs enhances developmental robustness, buffering against genetic variation—particularly in dynamic systems like immunity.
Host: Dr. Feng Yue, Professor, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Pathology
May
02
CANCELLED - James C. Houk Lecture in Motor Control: "Basal Ganglia and the Decision to Act" with Ann Graybiel, PhD
Chicago - 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
THIS LECTURE WILL BE RESCHEDULED IN THE FALL
The Department of Neuroscience Presents:
The James C. Houk Lecture in Motor Control: "Basal Ganglia and the Decision to Act"
Ann Graybiel, PhD
Institute Professor
McGovern Institute for Brain Research
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
Every day is replete with occasions when ‘doing or not doing’, ‘going or not going’ decision-making is required. A wealth of evidence suggests that the basal ganglia underpin these daily behaviors. Yet a critical gap remains in understanding mechanisms underlying the modulation of motivated actions, both under normal conditions and in the wake of movement disorders. The basal ganglia are critical for this modulation. The canonical direct-D1 ‘Go’ and indirect-D2 ‘No-Go’ basal ganglia pathways are universally considered essential for these functions. Strong evidence and advanced models show that the direct-D1 and indirect-D2 pathway activities must be balanced for normal control. When they are out of balance, neurologic and neuropsychiatric disorders ensue, and pharmacologic and other treatments for Parkinson’s disease are largely based on these classical direct-indirect models of these circuits. Yet there is controversy about the degree to which the direct and indirect pathways act together or in opposition, as the classic models suggest. In our lab, we have found evidence strongly suggesting that extensions of these models are called for. By genetic engineering, we have delineated a pair of direct and indirect pathways that emerge from the striatum separately from the canonical pathways and that, unlike the classical pathways, target the dopamine-containing neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta. They receive input from cortical areas related to the limbic system, in contrast to the sensorimotor inputs to the canonical direct and indirect pathways. This newly delineated parallel pathway architecture of the basal ganglia at once suggests the need for talking account of this dual system in clinical settings and suggests a model whereby evolution provided a way to have behavioral state modulate the coordination of movement control and motivated action.
About Dr. Graybiel
Ann M. Graybiel is an Institute Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she and her laboratory are actively investigating neural circuits related to the basal ganglia and to a range of neurologic and neuropsychiatric disorders. Her work is centered on understanding the functions of circuits leading from mood-related parts of the frontal neocortex through the striatum to the dopamine-containing neurons of the midbrain. This work took its origin in her discovery of neurochemically distinct compartments in the striatum, which she named ‘striosomes’. These are now known to provide all or nearly all striatal input to the dopamine-containing neurons of the midbrain. These circuits strongly bias decision-making made under motivationally challenging conditions, as though inducing optimistic or pessimistic state changes. They can strongly modulate responses to stress and levels of engagement across age, and levels of reinforcement-based learning. Her group is now harnessing molecular and genetic markers in functional work of these and related circuits of the striatal matrix, with the goal of contributing to clinical medicine as well as to fundamental understanding of the brain.
About the James C. Houk Lecture in Motor Control
In 2020, the late James C. Houk, PhD, and his wife Antoinette made a bequest to establish the Dr. James Houk Graduate Fellowship in Neuroscience. Their gift provides funding to outstanding graduate students studying neurophysiology at Northwestern and supports the annual James C. Houk Lecture in Motor Control, presented by a renowned motor neuroscientist.
About James C. Houk, PhD
Dr. James C. Houk originally studied electrical engineering before receiving his PhD in physiology at Harvard University. As an assistant professor at Harvard, he studied Golgi tendon organs, muscle spindles and developed control models of muscle activation through neuronal circuits in the spinal cord.
Later, as an associate professor at Johns Hopkins Medical School, Houk began work on the central nervous system in behaving monkeys, work he continued at Northwestern University, after being recruited in 1978 as chair of the Department of Physiology (now Neuroscience). During this time, Houk also built a world-renowned systems neuroscience group within the department.
In 2001, after 23 years, Houk stepped down as chair to concentrate on multimodal approaches to studying how the nonlinear dynamics of microscopic modules in the brain give rise to its unique computational properties. He became particularly interested in the interplay between the basal ganglia, motor cortex and cerebellum.
May
02
DGP Student Thesis Seminar - Maureen Haynes - Dr. William Muller Lab
Chicago - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Title of Presentation:
"Identifying the spatiotemporal distribution and functions of polymorphonuclear leukocytes during acute pneumonia"
This is a hybrid event. For Zoom access or more information, email rachael.hill@northwestern.edu.
May
05
Daniel Martin Watterson, BS, PhD, NAI | Department of Pharmacology Faculty Chalk Talk
Chicago - 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Title: "From concept to clinic: a platform for discovery of highly selective, small molecule therapeutic candidates and in vivo molecular probes for protein kinase targets".
Abstract: The first approved protein kinase inhibitor drug in 2001 was followed by a rapid expansion of approved tyrosine kinase inhibitor drugs and more recently serine/threonine (S/T) kinase inhibitors. The findings that many kinase inhibitors bind to multiple targets, including other kinase targets, led to the postulation that selective targeting of a kinase active site would be essentially impossible due to the conservation of catalytic domains across the kinome and the high levels of ATP in eukaryotic cells. Further, the added barrier of only ~2% of small molecule drugs having adequate blood brain barrier distribution resulted in neglect of CNS protein kinases as potential therapeutic targets. To date, there are only two protein kinase inhibitors approved for CNS use. A team of highly talented Northwestern University students and postdoctoral fellows filled the approach gap by developing a platform for design, discovery and development of novel S/T protein kinase inhibitors with high target selectivity and in vivo utility for CNS disorders. Continued development by our lab and collaborators is delivering novel small in vivo molecular probes for deconvoluting kinase mediated pathophysiology pathways and therapeutic candidates.
Speaker: Daniel Martin Watterson, BS, PhD, NAI; John G. Searle Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Northwestern University, Professor of Pharmacology, Feinberg School of Medicine
May
06
CDB Trainee Seminar Series - Prathyaya Ramesh
Chicago - 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Cell & Developmental Biology (CDB) Trainee Seminar Series
The department meets every Tuesday from 9:00 to 10:00 AM to enjoy a presentation from a research trainee (postbacc, pre-, post-doctoral fellow, etc). Meetings usually take place at Baldwin Auditorium, Lurie 1-123, with some exceptions.
Calendar invites with the meeting location are disseminated in advance. Please contact cdb@northwestern.edu for more information or sign-up to our event listserv at https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/cdb/about/listserv.html#listserv
May
06
A Mindful Moment
Online - 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM
In celebration of Teacher Appreciation Day, the Searle Center is hosting 45 minutes of guided meditation, visualization, and movement for faculty well-being.
Tuesday, May 6 from 11:00–11:45 am | Online
Drop in to practice techniques specifically tailored to ground, center, and refresh university instructors. Registrants will receive a confirmation email and Outlook calendar invitation including the Zoom link.
Please contact Veronica Womack at veronica.womack@northwestern.edu with questions.
May
06
Lurie Cancer Center Basic Research Seminar: Blood Chemicals and Anti-Tumor Immunity
Chicago - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
The Lurie Cancer Center Basic Research Seminar presents:
Blood Chemicals and Anti-Tumor Immunity
Jing Chen, PhD
Janet Davison Rowley Distinguished Service Professor of Medicine
Committee on Cancer Biology
Committee on Molecular Metabolism and Nutrition
University of Chicago
May
06
M-I Seminar Series: Aliki Valdes
Chicago - 12:15 PM - 1:15 PM
Title: From models to mechanisms: understanding Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence
Topic: Population-based genomics and systems biology studies have advanced our understanding of P. aeruginosa pathogenicity, identifying novel bacterial traits that contribute to disease progression. While mouse models are the gold standard to measure virulence, alternative systems like Galleria mellonella larvae and epithelial cell cultures offer practical advantages, though their ability to reflect mouse virulence is still being evaluated. We compared these three model systems to determine their reliability in assessing P. aeruginosa virulence. We then employed the epithelial cell model system to identify P. aeruginosa factors that contribute to strain-to-strain differences in cytotoxicity. We used a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify accessory genomic elements (AGEs) associated with high levels of cytotoxicity. We are now testing some of these AGEs to determine whether they play a causal role in cytotoxicity. Our ultimate goal is to use high-throughput infection models to uncover specific genes and alleles that allow some P. aeruginosa strains to cause more severe infections than others.
Speaker: Aliki Valdes, Driscoll Graduate Program, Lab of Alan Hauser, PhD
Host: Alan Hauser, MD, PhD, Professor, Dept. of Microbiology-Immunology
May
06
Getting to Know Our Neurodivergent Students
Online - 12:30 PM - 1:00 PM
Part of the Getting to Know Our Students Series, this 30-minute virtual presentation provides strengths-based approaches for supporting the academic success and well-being of neurodivergent students.
Registrants will receive a confirmation email and Outlook calendar invitation including the event link.
May
07
Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship Information Session
Evanston - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Are you interested in teaching English abroad after graduation? The U.S. Department of State’s Fulbright U.S. Student Program places English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) in classrooms abroad to provide support to local English teachers. ETAs strengthen English language instruction in seventy-five countries world-wide while serving as cultural ambassadors of the United States. Host institutions range from elementary and secondary schools to university-level language departments. Stop by the info session to meet the campus contact and learn more.
May
07
Chicago KUH FORWARD 4th Annual Symposium
Chicago - 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Chicago KUH FORWARD Annual Symposium
The 4th Annual Chicago KUH FORWARD Symposium includes a keynote presentation, panel discussion, and a joint scientific poster session and networking reception.
CALL FOR POSTERS: We invite scientific poster presentatations by graduate and medical students, postdoctoral scholars, residents, fellows, and junior faculty who wish to showcase their benign kidney, benign urology, or benign hematology research.
This event is free but registration is required.
CLICK HERE FOR SYMPOSIUM DETAILS
May
07
Pedagogical Innovations in STEM
Evanston - 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Pedagogical Innovations in STEM is a scholarly exchange offered each quarter, showcasing leading-edge research that informs teaching and learning strategies. Recommended for those pursuing the CIRTL Certificate.
May
07
Immunology Discussion Club
Chicago - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
The Northwestern Immunology Discussion Club meets on Wednesday's from 3:30pm to 4:30pm and is led by Dr. Booki Min from Feinberg Department- Microbiology and Immunology and Dr. Stephanie Eisenbarth- Williams from The Center for Human Immunology. We discuss papers that have been published recently and Research In Progress talks. Note- members are required to present at least 1 IDC and 1RIP per year.
May
07
Application Workshop -- Fulbright Study/Research/Arts Awards
Evanston - 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Interested in pursuing research, study, or the arts abroad? Attend an application workshop to learn about the Fulbright application process at Northwestern. We will discuss application components and successful application strategies. You do not need a draft of your essays, but will benefit most if you have a clear vision of your project.
Campus Deadline – Tuesday, Sept. 2nd, 2025
May
08
BMG Seminar: Hani Goodarzi, PhD, UCSF
Chicago - 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
The Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics presents:
Hani Goodarzi, PhD
Core Investigator at Arc Institute
Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
University of California San Francisco
Presentation:
"Mosaics, Atlases, and AI: Charting New Paths in Precision
Oncology"
Abstract:
Precision oncology faces significant challenges due to the
inherent heterogeneity and complexity of tumor biology. Traditional drug
screening methods lack the scalability and context required to
accurately predict clinical outcomes. This talk highlights three
innovative approaches addressing these critical challenges: GENEVA,
Tahoe-100M, and scBaseCamp. First, GENEVA (Genetically Diverse and
Endogenously Controlled Phenotypic Variation Assay) enables scalable and
barcode-free phenotypic profiling, capturing intra- and inter-tumor
heterogeneity within patient-derived models. Second, Tahoe-100M
represents a groundbreaking giga-scale single-cell perturbation atlas,
encompassing over 100 million cells treated with diverse drug
combinations, providing unprecedented insight into cellular responses
and drug mechanisms. Finally, scBaseCamp introduces AI-driven data
curation, creating an expansive, uniformly processed repository of
single-cell data that fuels robust computational modeling and
reproducibility. Together, these platforms represent a powerful
integrative framework, advancing our understanding of tumor biology and
enhancing precision therapeutic strategies through data-driven insights
and scalable AI technologies.
Host: Dr. Saeid Parast, Post-Doctoral Fellow, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Shilatifard Lab
May
09
Non-canonical basal ganglia control of locomotion and valence.
Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
The Department of Neuroscience Welcomes Dr. Rebekah Evans.
Assistant Professor
PhD in Neuroscience, George Mason University
The canonical basal ganglia model predicts that the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr) and the globus pallidus externa (GPe) will have specific effects on locomotion: the SNr inhibiting locomotion and the GPe enhancing it. We use in vivo optogenetics to show that the GPe exerts non-canonical effects on locomotion through inhibition of the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN). We also show that these structures mediate opposing effects on reward. To understand how these structures differentially modulate the PPN, we use ex vivo whole-cell recording with optogenetics to comprehensively dissect the SNr and GPe synaptic connections to regionally- and molecularly-defined populations of PPN neurons. The SNr inhibits all PPN subtypes, but most strongly inhibits caudal glutamatergic neurons. The GPe selectively inhibits caudal glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons, avoiding both cholinergic and rostral cells. This circuit characterization reveals non-canonical basal ganglia pathways for locomotion and valence.
May
12
Lurie Cancer Center Core Technologies & Applications Seminar Series
Chicago - 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Comparative Histopathology & Tissue Analytics Services at Northwestern University
Rizaldy P. Scott, M.S., Ph.D.
Research Associate Professor of Pathology
Scientific Director
Mouse Histology & Phenotyping Laboratory
Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
*Lunch will be provided
May
12
Goldwater Scholarship Information Session
Online - 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
The Goldwater Scholarship is the most prestigious national award given to undergraduates who plan to pursue research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering. You must be nominated by Northwestern to apply to the Goldwater. This session will highlight the internal application and nomination process. You will also learn about other prestigious fellowships that are of interest to Goldwater applicants.
May
13
Application Workshop -- Fulbright Study/Research/Arts Awards
Online - 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Interested in pursuing research, study, or the arts abroad? Attend an application workshop to learn about the Fulbright application process at Northwestern. We will discuss application components and successful application strategies. You do not need a draft of your essays, but will benefit most if you have a clear vision of your project.
Campus Deadline – Tuesday, Sept. 2nd, 2025
May
13
CDB Trainee Seminar Series - Nina Brown
Chicago - 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Cell & Developmental Biology (CDB) Trainee Seminar Series
The department meets every Tuesday from 9:00 to 10:00 AM to enjoy a presentation from a research trainee (postbacc, pre-, post-doctoral fellow, etc). Meetings usually take place at Baldwin Auditorium, Lurie 1-123, with some exceptions.
Calendar invites with the meeting location are disseminated in advance. Please contact cdb@northwestern.edu for more information or sign-up to our event listserv at https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/cdb/about/listserv.html#listserv
May
13
Lurie Cancer Center Basic Research Seminar: Advanced Cell Engineering Technologies for Large-Scale Biological Interpretation
Chicago - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
The Lurie Cancer Center Basic Research Seminar presents:
Advanced Cell Engineering Technologies for Large-Scale Biological Interpretation
Benjamin Haley, PhD
Professor, Opthalmology
Research Center of Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital
University of Montreal
Quebec, Canada
May
13
M-I Seminar Series: Gisela Storz, PhD
Chicago - 12:15 PM - 1:15 PM
Title: Genes within genes: another level of regulation
Topic: We are interested in identifying and characterizing genes that were previously missed, particularly those encoding small RNAs and small proteins of less than 50 amino acids. Although they were overlooked, small RNAs and small proteins have important regulatory roles. Initially, we focused our searches on intergenic regions, but it is now becoming clear that these regulatory molecules also can be encoded in intragenic regions. I will discuss the roles of example genes-within-genes as well as the implications for interpreting mutations and gene evolution.
Speaker: Gisela Storz, PhD, Principal Investigator, National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Host: M.-N. Frances Yap, Associate Professor, Dept. of Microbiology-Immunology
May
13
4th Annual Robert D. Goldman Lecture
Chicago - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
4th Annual Robert D. Goldman Lecture
Cosponsored by Walter S. And Lucienne Driskill Graduate Program Lectures in Life Sciences and Feinberg School of Medicine Department of Cell & Developmental Biology
"Ovarian cancer heterogeneity and tumor adaptation to chemotherapy"
Joan Brugge, PhD
Professor of Cell Biology
Director of the Ludwig Center
Harvard Medical School, MA
Dr. Brugge is currently Professor of Cell Biology at HMS and co-director of the Ludwig Center at Harvard. A graduate of Northwestern University, she did her graduate work at the Baylor College of Medicine, and then performed her postdoctoral training at the University of Colorado. Dr. Brugge has held full professorships at the SUNY, Stony Brook, and the University of Pennsylvania, where she was also an investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. From 1992-1997 Dr. Brugge was a founder and scientific director of the biotechnology company ARIAD. She then joined Harvard in 1997 and was Chair of Cell Biology from 2004-2014.
About the Annual Robert D. Goldman, PhD:
Robert D. Goldman, PhD, is the Stephen Walter Ranson Professor Emeritus of Cell and Developmental Biology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, where he served as chair of the department from 1981-2019. Dr. Goldman earned his doctorate in biology from Princeton University, after which he trained as a postdoctoral fellow at Hammersmith Hospital in London and at the MRC Institute of Virology in Glasgow. He was appointed assistant professor of Biology at Case Western Reserve University in 1969 and moved to Carnegie Mellon University in 1977, prior to joining the faculty at Northwestern.
The annual lecture commemorates the accomplishments of Dr. Goldman and are a celebration of science and innovative discoveries in cell and developmental biology.
May
14
Immunology Discussion Club
Chicago - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
The Northwestern Immunology Discussion Club meets on Wednesday's from 3:30pm to 4:30pm and is led by Dr. Booki Min from Feinberg Department- Microbiology and Immunology and Dr. Stephanie Eisenbarth- Williams from The Center for Human Immunology. We discuss papers that have been published recently and Research In Progress talks. Note- members are required to present at least 1 IDC and 1RIP per year.
May
15
BMG Seminar: Carl Wu, PhD, Johns Hopkins
Chicago - 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
The Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics presents:
Carl Wu, PhD
Bloomberg Distinguished Professor
Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University
Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Presentation:
"The biogenesis and regulatory dynamics of chromatin accessibility for gene expression"
Abstract:
The creation of DNA accessibility in chromatin constitutes the first stage of eukaryotic transcriptional control. The establishment and maintenance of DNase hypersensitive, Nucleosome Depleted Regions (NDRs) at regulatory DNA elements require collaboration between ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complexes that mobilize nucleosomes, and certain transcription factors (TFs) that are unimpeded by nucleosome architecture. We use gene editing and single-molecule fluorescence microscopy to directly observe and quantify factor kinetics in real time, in vitro and in living cells. The results show that such TFs bind to chromatin transiently and with distinctive residence times on a ~100 sec timescale, enabling nucleosome displacement and highly dynamic assembly of the transcription preinitiation complex on a timescale of seconds. Our findings suggest that regulation of gene expression involves kinetic competition between multiple players for limited DNA space at gene promoters and enhancers.
Host: Dr. Daniel Foltz, Professor, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics
May
15
Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship Information Session
Evanston - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Are you interested in teaching English abroad after graduation? The U.S. Department of State’s Fulbright U.S. Student Program places English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) in classrooms abroad to provide support to local English teachers. ETAs strengthen English language instruction in seventy-five countries world-wide while serving as cultural ambassadors of the United States. Host institutions range from elementary and secondary schools to university-level language departments. Stop by the info session to meet the campus contact and learn more.
May
16
FCVRRI Research in Progress Seminar - Drew Voigt, MD, PhD
Chicago - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Talk title - Ocular Proangiogenic Macrophages Localize Within Human Choroidal Neovascular Membranes
May
16
Dopamine waves support spatiotemporal computations in reinforcement learning
No Location - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
The Department of Neuroscience Welcomes Dr. Arif Hamid.
Assistant Professor, Department of Neuroscience
In this talk, I will examine the computational motivations and empirical evidence for spatiotemporal dopamine (DA) waves that support reward learning within fronto-striatal networks. I will focus on the cognitive striatum as a case study to show that DA waves tailor decision signals according to local computational/behavioral specialty-- accomplished via vector-weighting delays in DA pulses across space and time. This code resolves key computational challenges in competing C-BG mixture of experts: spatiotemporal credit assessment at reward, and dynamic reprioritization of circuit inference and gating during performance. Ultimately, these DA wave dynamics represent an empirically informed revision of the longstanding "global broadcast" hypothesis of DA RPE signals. Finally, I will briefly summarize our recent attempts at understanding the complexity of the DA wave manifold, and competitive/collaborative circuit interactions that constrain DA to motif trajectories during specific task demands.
University of Michigan University of Michigan
Doctor of Philosophy - PhD, Neuroscience, Decision Biology, Neuroeconomics 2011 - 2016
University of Minnesota University of Minnesota BS, Neuroscience 2008 - 2010
May
19
CDB Experts-in-the-field Seminar Series - Dr. Didier Stainier
Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CDB Experts-in-the-field Seminar Series
"Transcriptional adaptation, an RNA-based mechanism of genetic compensation"
Dr. Didier Stainier,
Director
Department of Developmental Genetics
https://www.mpg.de/6661546/heart-lung-research-stainier
Monday May 19th, 2025
12:00–1:00 PM
Simpson Querrey Auditorium
303 E. Superior St., Chicago, IL 60611
Host: Saba Parvez PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Cell and Developmental Biology
https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/cdb/faculty/profile.html?xid=62620
Cell & Developmental Biology Experts-in-the-field Seminar Series
The department hosts guest lectures every second Wednesday from 12-1 PM.
Calendar invites are disseminated in advance with event details. Contact cdb@northwestern.edu for additional details or sign-up for our listserv at https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/cdb/about/listserv.html#listserv
May
19
Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship Information Session
Evanston - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Are you interested in teaching English abroad after graduation? The U.S. Department of State’s Fulbright U.S. Student Program places English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) in classrooms abroad to provide support to local English teachers. ETAs strengthen English language instruction in seventy-five countries world-wide while serving as cultural ambassadors of the United States. Host institutions range from elementary and secondary schools to university-level language departments. Stop by the info session to meet the campus contact and learn more.
May
20
CDB Trainee Seminar Series - Lynn Heinz
Chicago - 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Cell & Developmental Biology (CDB) Trainee Seminar Series
The department meets every Tuesday from 9:00 to 10:00 AM to enjoy a presentation from a research trainee (postbacc, pre-, post-doctoral fellow, etc). Meetings usually take place at Baldwin Auditorium, Lurie 1-123, with some exceptions.
Calendar invites with the meeting location are disseminated in advance. Please contact cdb@northwestern.edu for more information or sign-up to our event listserv at https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/cdb/about/listserv.html#listserv
May
20
M-I Seminar Series: Karen Ottemann, PhD
Chicago - 9:45 AM - 10:45 AM
Title: Flagellar motors incorporate parts of type 4 pili to fine tune bacterial motility responses
Topic: Bacterial flagellar motors are complex nanomachies that vary in composition between microbes, with several boasting belts, cages and rings. The gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori has one of the most powerful and largest motors, containing multiple proteins that are largely unknown. In this work, we identified the proteins of the H. pylori flagellar cage, and determined surprisingly that they are orthologs of type 4 pili proteins PilO, PilN and PilM. Contrary to previous predictions, the cage proteins do not enhance flagellar function but instead regulate it, promoting bacteria to stop motility under particular settings. I’ll describe our path to identify the PilO, PilN and PilM cage and what we currently know about their function.
Speaker: Karen Ottemann, PhD, Professor, University of California-Santa Cruz
Host: Nicholas Cianciotto, PhD, Professor, Dept. of Microbiology-Immunology
May
20
Lurie Cancer Center Basic Research Seminar: Horizons in Pathology - Innovations in Multiplexed Tissue Imaging for Discovery and Diagnostics
Chicago - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
The Lurie Cancer Center Basic Research Seminar presents:
Horizons in Pathology - Innovations in Multiplexed Tissue Imaging for Discover and Diagnosis
Sandro Santagata, MD, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Systems Biology
Harvard Medical School
May
21
Immunology Discussion Club
Chicago - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
The Northwestern Immunology Discussion Club meets on Wednesday's from 3:30pm to 4:30pm and is led by Dr. Booki Min from Feinberg Department- Microbiology and Immunology and Dr. Stephanie Eisenbarth- Williams from The Center for Human Immunology. We discuss papers that have been published recently and Research In Progress talks. Note- members are required to present at least 1 IDC and 1RIP per year.
May
22
Goldwater Scholarship Information Session
Online - 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
The Goldwater Scholarship is the most prestigious national award given to undergraduates who plan to pursue research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering. You must be nominated by Northwestern to apply to the Goldwater. This session will highlight the internal application and nomination process. You will also learn about other prestigious fellowships that are of interest to Goldwater applicants.
May
23
FCVRRI Research in Progress Seminar - Colin Lemire
Chicago - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Talk Title - Retinal Perivascular Macrophages
May
23
Brain circuits for visual context processing in health and disease
Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
The Department of Neuroscience Welcomes Dr. Jordan Hamm.
Associate Professor, Georgia State University.
Visual processing in the cerebral cortex is strongly modulated by context. For example, neural activity as early as primary visual cortex (V1) is increased to stimuli that deviate from contextual patterns, a phenomenon termed “deviance detection.” Critically, visual deviance detection, and its EEG biomarker mismatch negativity, is diminished in people with schizophrenia, suggesting altered predictive processing in cortical systems which could underlie core perceptual and cognitive features of the disease.
Columbia University, Postdoctoral, 2018, Biology
University of Georgia, Ph.D., 2013, Neuroscience
University of Georgia, M.S., 2010, Psychology
University of Georgia, B.A., 2008, Philosophy
May
27
CDB Trainee Seminar Series - Andres Gutierrez
Chicago - 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Cell & Developmental Biology (CDB) Trainee Seminar Series
The department meets every Tuesday from 9:00 to 10:00 AM to enjoy a presentation from a research trainee (postbacc, pre-, post-doctoral fellow, etc). Meetings usually take place at Baldwin Auditorium, Lurie 1-123, with some exceptions.
Calendar invites with the meeting location are disseminated in advance. Please contact cdb@northwestern.edu for more information or sign-up to our event listserv at https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/cdb/about/listserv.html#listserv
May
27
M-I Seminar Series: Francesca Di Nunzio, PhD
Chicago - 12:15 PM - 1:15 PM
Title: Journey to the Nucleus: Revisiting HIV's Post-Nuclear Entry Pathways
Topic: HIV integrates in active chromatin sites to release high levels of viral progeny or remains discreet within hosts. It requires the reverse transcription of RNA to DNA within a capsid shell, previously thought to uncoat post-fusion. Contrary to textbooks, recent evidence, including ours, shows uncoating and reverse transcription occur within the infected cell's nucleus, challenging traditional views and indicating a nuclear remodeling phase. Remarkably, HIV-1 exploits liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) to form membraneless organelles (HIV-1-MLOs) that support canonical nuclear reverse transcription and viral integration. I will discuss the in vivo detection of these structures, their composition, and their role in shielding the viral genome from the hostile cellular environment. Our findings open new research avenues on LLPS's role in HIV and potential as an antiretroviral target, prompting future studies to explore its comprehensive impact on infection.
Speaker: Francesca Di Nunzio, PhD, Professor, Institut Pastetur
Host: Mojgan Naghavi, PhD, Professor, Dept. of Microbiology-Immunology
May
28
Immunology Discussion Club
Chicago - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
The Northwestern Immunology Discussion Club meets on Wednesday's from 3:30pm to 4:30pm and is led by Dr. Booki Min from Feinberg Department- Microbiology and Immunology and Dr. Stephanie Eisenbarth- Williams from The Center for Human Immunology. We discuss papers that have been published recently and Research In Progress talks. Note- members are required to present at least 1 IDC and 1RIP per year.
May
29
Application Workshop -- Fulbright Study/Research/Arts Awards
Evanston - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Interested in pursuing research, study, or the arts abroad? Attend an application workshop to learn about the Fulbright application process at Northwestern. We will discuss application components and successful application strategies. You do not need a draft of your essays, but will benefit most if you have a clear vision of your project.
Campus Deadline – Tuesday, Sept. 2nd, 2025
Jun
01
2025 Cancer Survivors' Celebration Walk & 5K
Off-Campus - 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM
On Sunday, June 1, Lurie Cancer Center and Northwestern Medicine will welcome cancer survivors and supporters to our 32nd Annual Cancer Survivors’ Celebration Walk & 5K!
Held on National Cancer Survivors Day, the community event is a one-of-kind opportunity for people who have faced or are facing cancer to connect and celebrate milestones with the families, friends, physicians, scientists, and care providers who support them every step of the way.
Highlights include a non-competitive walk or chip-timed 5K race along the lakefront, commemorative T-shirts, music and entertainment, inspiring speakers, activities for the family, and an opportunity to share a message on the Dedication Wall. The celebration in Chicago’s Grant Park is open to everyone whose life has been touched by cancer, regardless of where they were treated.
Advance registration is strongly encouraged and available online through May 31. Register by May 2 to receive your T-shirt by mail before the event.
Advances in cancer prevention and treatment – based on life-changing research – give us all more reasons to celebrate. Participants are invited to create a personalized fundraising page to support Lurie Cancer Center’s innovative research and survivorship programs when they register. Fundraising is optional and no minimum donation is required.
Jun
03
CDB Trainee Seminar Series
Chicago - 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Cell & Developmental Biology (CDB) Trainee Seminar Series
The department meets every Tuesday from 9:00 to 10:00 AM to enjoy a presentation from a research trainee (postbacc, pre-, post-doctoral fellow, etc). Meetings usually take place at Baldwin Auditorium, Lurie 1-123, with some exceptions.
Calendar invites with the meeting location are disseminated in advance. Please contact cdb@northwestern.edu for more information or sign-up to our event listserv at https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/cdb/about/listserv.html#listserv
Jun
04
Searle Center Community Celebration
Evanston - 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Mark your calendars! This open-house style event promises to be a vibrant and engaging afternoon where you'll get an exclusive look at our new strategic plan and priorities.
Come enjoy delicious food and drinks, connect with our community, and celebrate the achievements of the past year. We can't wait to see you there!
Jun
04
Immunology Discussion Club
Chicago - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
The Northwestern Immunology Discussion Club meets on Wednesday's from 3:30pm to 4:30pm and is led by Dr. Booki Min from Feinberg Department- Microbiology and Immunology and Dr. Stephanie Eisenbarth- Williams from The Center for Human Immunology. We discuss papers that have been published recently and Research In Progress talks. Note- members are required to present at least 1 IDC and 1RIP per year.
Jun
05
Goldwater Scholarship Information Session
Online - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
The Goldwater Scholarship is the most prestigious national award given to undergraduates who plan to pursue research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering. You must be nominated by Northwestern to apply to the Goldwater. This session will highlight the internal application and nomination process. You will also learn about other prestigious fellowships that are of interest to Goldwater applicants.
Jun
06
Application Workshop -- Fulbright Study/Research/Arts Awards
Evanston - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Interested in pursuing research, study, or the arts abroad? Attend an application workshop to learn about the Fulbright application process at Northwestern. We will discuss application components and successful application strategies. You do not need a draft of your essays, but will benefit most if you have a clear vision of your project.
Campus Deadline – Tuesday, Sept. 2nd, 2025
Jun
10
CDB Trainee Seminar Series
Chicago - 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Cell & Developmental Biology (CDB) Trainee Seminar Series
The department meets every Tuesday from 9:00 to 10:00 AM to enjoy a presentation from a research trainee (postbacc, pre-, post-doctoral fellow, etc). Meetings usually take place at Baldwin Auditorium, Lurie 1-123, with some exceptions.
Calendar invites with the meeting location are disseminated in advance. Please contact cdb@northwestern.edu for more information or sign-up to our event listserv at https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/cdb/about/listserv.html#listserv
Jun
11
Pain & Palliative Care Conference
Chicago - 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM
On Wednesday, June 11, 2025 the 19th Annual Pain & Palliative Care Conference will bring together physicians, nurses, social workers, physical therapists, occupational therapists, chaplains, and healthcare professionals to share research and clinical best practices to advance the field of palliative care and improve care for patients with serious illnesses and their loved ones.
Jun
11
CDB Experts-in-the-field Seminar Series
Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CDB Experts-in-the-field Seminar Series
Cell & Developmental Biology Experts-in-the-field Seminar Series
The department hosts guest lectures every second Wednesday from 12-1 PM.
Calendar invites are disseminated in advance with event details. Contact cdb@northwestern.edu for additional details or sign-up for our listserv at https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/cdb/about/listserv.html#listserv
Jun
11
Immunology Discussion Club
Chicago - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
The Northwestern Immunology Discussion Club meets on Wednesday's from 3:30pm to 4:30pm and is led by Dr. Booki Min from Feinberg Department- Microbiology and Immunology and Dr. Stephanie Eisenbarth- Williams from The Center for Human Immunology. We discuss papers that have been published recently and Research In Progress talks. Note- members are required to present at least 1 IDC and 1RIP per year.
Jun
13
Special Seminar: Dr. Marc Kirschner, Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School
Chicago - 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
CDB SPECIAL SEMINAR PRESENTATION:
"Tracing cell pathophysiology through Normalized Raman imaging of intact tissue"
Marc Kirschner, PhD,
Professor of Systems Biology
Harvard Medical School
John Franklin Enders Harvard University Professor
https://www.kirschnerlab.org/marc-kirschner
Friday, June 13, 2025
4:00–5:00 PM
Daniel Hale Williams Auditorium, McGaw 2-320
240 E. Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
Host:
Volodya Gelfand, PhD, Professor
Luisa Iruela-Arispe, PhD, Stephen Walter Ranson Professor & Chair
Department of Cell & Developmental Biology
Calendar invites with event details are disseminated in advance. Contact cdb@northwestern.edu for additional details or sign-up for our listserv at https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/cdb/about/listserv.html#listserv
Jun
17
CDB Trainee Seminar Series
Chicago - 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Cell & Developmental Biology (CDB) Trainee Seminar Series
The department meets every Tuesday from 9:00 to 10:00 AM to enjoy a presentation from a research trainee (postbacc, pre-, post-doctoral fellow, etc). Meetings usually take place at Baldwin Auditorium, Lurie 1-123, with some exceptions.
Calendar invites with the meeting location are disseminated in advance. Please contact cdb@northwestern.edu for more information or sign-up to our event listserv at https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/cdb/about/listserv.html#listserv
Jun
18
Lurie Cancer Center Symposium & Scientific Poster Session
Chicago - 2:00 PM - 6:30 PM
The 17th Annual Lurie Cancer Center Symposium will feature presentations from graduate students and post-doctoral fellows from our labs. A keynote lecture will be given by Kay Macleod, PhD, of the University of Chicago.
The Scientific Poster Session, which will take place immediately following the symposium, will feature the work of students and postdoctoral fellows from the laboratories of Lurie Cancer Center members on Northwestern’s Evanston and Chicago campuses.
Jun
18
Immunology Discussion Club
Chicago - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
The Northwestern Immunology Discussion Club meets on Wednesday's from 3:30pm to 4:30pm and is led by Dr. Booki Min from Feinberg Department- Microbiology and Immunology and Dr. Stephanie Eisenbarth- Williams from The Center for Human Immunology. We discuss papers that have been published recently and Research In Progress talks. Note- members are required to present at least 1 IDC and 1RIP per year.
Jun
24
CDB Trainee Seminar Series
Chicago - 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Cell & Developmental Biology (CDB) Trainee Seminar Series
The department meets every Tuesday from 9:00 to 10:00 AM to enjoy a presentation from a research trainee (postbacc, pre-, post-doctoral fellow, etc). Meetings usually take place at Baldwin Auditorium, Lurie 1-123, with some exceptions.
Calendar invites with the meeting location are disseminated in advance. Please contact cdb@northwestern.edu for more information or sign-up to our event listserv at https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/cdb/about/listserv.html#listserv
Jun
25
Immunology Discussion Club
Chicago - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
The Northwestern Immunology Discussion Club meets on Wednesday's from 3:30pm to 4:30pm and is led by Dr. Booki Min from Feinberg Department- Microbiology and Immunology and Dr. Stephanie Eisenbarth- Williams from The Center for Human Immunology. We discuss papers that have been published recently and Research In Progress talks. Note- members are required to present at least 1 IDC and 1RIP per year.
Jul
09
CDB Experts-in-the-field Seminar Series
Chicago - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CDB Experts-in-the-field Seminar Series
Cell & Developmental Biology Experts-in-the-field Seminar Series
The department hosts guest lectures every second Wednesday from 12-1 PM.
Calendar invites are disseminated in advance with event details. Contact cdb@northwestern.edu for additional details or sign-up for our listserv at https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/cdb/about/listserv.html#listserv
Jul
11
Oncology Review Symposium
Chicago - 8:00 AM - 5:15 PM
Join us in person Friday, July 11 for the 2025 Lurie Cancer Center Oncology Review, which provides medical, radiation and surgical oncologists, nurses, scientists and allied healthcare professionals with a comprehensive summary of the most up-to-date research and clinical data in the field of oncology. This review covers multiple oncology and hematology disease types, and each topic is presented by an expert in the respective field.