WUSTL program in national spotlight

Washington University is in the spotlight for its pivotal role in the Genomics Education Partnership (GEP), a collaborative effort to provide research experience in genomics to undergraduate classrooms across the country.
Genomics, the study of an organism's entire genome (collection of DNA), is an exciting area in which students get involved in research.
The GEP consists of more than 40 faculty members from a variety of colleges and universities, including historically black and Hispanic-serving institutions and schools with a high proportion of first-generation college students.
By making it easy for undergraduate institutions to incorporate research into their regular, academic-year curricula, the GEP can reach underserved students who otherwise have limited opportunities to learn to think like scientists.
At the helm of this mission is Sarah C.R. Elgin, Ph.D., the Viktor Hamburger Distinguished Professor in Arts & Sciences and professor of biology and of education in Arts & Sciences as well as professor of biochemistry and molecular biophysics and of genetics in the School of Medicine.
In 2002, Elgin was one of 20 professors awarded $1 million from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) to bring research into the undergraduate classroom. Over the next four years, Elgin and her colleagues developed and implemented a research-based genomics course for juniors and seniors at WUSTL to polish and interpret their own portion of raw DNA sequence.
The course, "Research Explorations in Genomics," is a collaborative effort. Elgin co-teaches with Elaine Mardis, Ph.D., associate professor of genetics and co-director of the Genome Sequencing Center, and Jeremy Buhler, Ph.D, associate professor of computer science and engineering. Several other members of the WUSTL community provide guest lectures to illustrate how they have used genomic approaches to answer diverse questions in their own research.
Elgin's course was so successful that she became one of eight professors to have their original HHMI grant funding renewed in 2006. With that support, she set out to make the course available to undergraduates at institutions across the country.
Biology majors at WUSTL often begin their research by spending a summer in the laboratory under the guidance of a faculty, graduate student or postdoctoral research mentor.
However, the privilege of a summer research experience is unusual at many institutions due to inadequate facilities, limited funding, high student-to-faculty ratios and a lack of experienced or research-active mentors.
Elgin's course overcomes these barriers by providing students with computer-based research opportunities.
This strategy minimizes the cost of research materials because the necessary data is freely available on the Web, and most institutions already possess adequate computer facilities.
Mentoring also is economized by teaching students the same electronic tools and strategies in a group setting and by relying on former students to serve as undergraduate teaching assistants (TAs).
Thus, one dedicated faculty member can provide research opportunities for a much larger number of students than would be possible in traditional, one-on-one mentoring relationships. GEP faculty and TAs learn the relevant software during summer workshops at WUSTL.
"Our GEP faculty is an impressive group," Elgin said. "Each member has taken the basic format and adapted it to the requirements of their institution and the needs of their students. Their energy and enthusiasm are terrific."
The GEP's approach makes offering a research-based course a viable option for a wide variety of institutions. Students in the program are currently working on a comparative genomics problem that focuses on genes in a heterochromatic, or tightly packed, region of the DNA.
In the future, students might participate in research ranging from regulation of gene expression to the evolution of a species.
To sum up the philosophy of the GEP, Elgin references an ancient Chinese proverb that states, "I hear and I forget; I see and I remember; I do and I understand." In other words, Elgin maintains that students can't truly understand the scientific process until they have conducted their own research.
This assertion is supported by an article recently published in the Oct. 31 issue of Science in which Elgin and her colleagues present results from an exit survey of students who participated in the GEP, a course without research or a summer research experience.
The evidence suggests that the GEP provides students with a more comprehensive learning experience than traditional, lecture-based courses.
The results also reveal that the GEP course is comparable to a summer research experience in terms of its capacity to help students prepare for a career in science.
According to Elgin, the success of the GEP can be partially attributed to students' sense of ownership over their research.
"It makes a huge difference to students when you tell them, 'You're responsible for this,'" Elgin said.
"'This is going to go in the databases. This is going to be used by different scientists. Do it right,'" she said.

Danforth Foundation donates $10 million for neurodegenerative research

The Danforth Foundation has granted the Hope Center for Neurological Disorders at the School of Medicine a $10 million endowed gift for research into a range of conditions that cause injury and impairment to the brain and central nervous system.
The funds will be used to support innovative and groundbreaking new ideas for research with clear potential to improve diagnosis and treatment of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's disease, stroke, Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and other disorders.
The endowment created by the gift will be named for the late Donald Danforth Jr., a 1955 graduate of the Olin Business School who was executive vice president of Ralston-Purina Co. Danforth was the brother of Chancellor Emeritus William H. Danforth, M.D., former U.S. Senator John Danforth and St. Louisan Dorothy Danforth Miller.
WUSTL and Hope Happens have committed to raising additional matching endowed funds of $10 million for the same research programs over the next five years. The Hope Center was created in 2004 as a partnership between WUSTL and Hope Happens, a public charity started by Christopher Hobler, who lost his life to ALS in 2005.
"This gift is an outstanding example of how Washington University, Hope Happens and the St. Louis community continue to benefit from the generosity and leadership of the Danforths and the Danforth Foundation," Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton said. "As science develops a new generation of treatments for some of society's most devastating disorders, this donation and the mandate for additional fundraising that comes with it help ensure that Washington University and the Hope Center remain at the forefront of the field in research that will alleviate suffering and find solutions for earlier diagnosis and treatment."
"The support of the Danforth family has been at the center of so much that is good at Washington University," said Mark P. Goldberg, M.D., professor of neurology, of neurobiology and of biomedical engineering and director of the Hope Center. "In particular, the family has been enthusiastic supporters of the Hope Center since its beginning. This new gift will be incredibly helpful in advancing one of our primary missions: funding innovative new directions in diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders."
"As a physician, William Danforth knows what an important front these terrible conditions present in the battle for improved health and longevity," said Larry J. Shapiro, M.D., executive vice chancellor of medical affairs and dean of the School of Medicine. "The Danforth Foundation's generous new gift recognizes the bench-to-bedside research model we've fostered here at the School of Medicine through our BioMed 21 program as one of the best hopes for new treatments and cures for these disorders."
"This gift in honor of my brother, Don, means a lot to the family," said William H. Danforth, who is a member of the foundation board. "We all have great hopes that the discoveries of the wonderful scientific leaders of the Hope Center will help halt and prevent ALS and similar devastating diseases."
The Hope Center helps support the studies of more than 70 faculty and 500 scientists with shared research facilities and annual distribution of seed grants.

Today is APPLICATION DEADLINE DAY!!!

Please make sure you submit your DBBS Application by 5:00PM CST TODAY!
We will answer your questions and give you plenty of time to complete your application. If you start the application by December 1st, you will have a few days to complete and submit the application.The Admissions Committee will begin making interview decisions in December and will continue until the beginning of January.

The PhD deadline is quickly approaching. DBBS is seeing an increase in the number of applications this year. I encourage you to submit your application and all supporting documents as early as possible.

Check the status screen to see which items have been received and which are missing. Please follow up on any missing items with ETS, your Institutions and recommenders. If you think your recommenders need a reminder, you can re-send the recommendation e-mail to them from the status screen.

If you submitted the application and did not list the GRE scores (and TOEFL scores if applicable), please e-mail your scores to your admissions contact person. TOEFL score reports do not come directly to our office. It can take several weeks for the scores to reach us. However, as long as the TOEFL scores are listed on your application, we will begin the review of your application with these self reported scores.

Our office will be closed on Thursday and Friday, November 27th and 28th for observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. If you encounter any problem or have questions, the Admissions staff will be back in the office on Monday, December 1st and will assist you at that time. December 1st is also the deadline day. We will answer your questions and give you plenty of time to complete your application. If you start the application by December 1st, you will have a few days to complete and submit the application.

The Admissions Committee will begin making interview decisions in December and will continue until the beginning of January. Do not be concerned if you do not receive an invitation to interview but a friend does receive an invitation. The various Admissions Committees are on different review schedules and do not meet at the same time. I anticipate that the majority of the applications will be reviewed by the end of January and interview decisions will be made by the beginning of February. If you have not heard from us by the end of February, please contact us at that time.

Washington University scientists first to sequence genome of cancer patient (Acute Myelogenous Luekemia Cells)

For the first time, scientists have decoded the complete DNA of a cancer patient and traced her disease - acute myelogenous leukemia - to its genetic roots. A large research team at the Genome Sequencing Center and the Siteman Cancer Center at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Barnes-Jewish Hospital sequenced the genome of the patient - a woman in her 50s who ultimately died of her disease - and the genome of her leukemia cells, to identify genetic changes unique to her cancer.

Click Here to Read the Full Article

This story is featured in:
New York Times
Washington Post
CBS Radio
USA Today
Reuters
BBC

DBBS Associate Dean for Graduate Education, John Russell's Research Appears in the October issue of the Journal of Experimental Medicine

Click here to read Dr. Russell's Article in JEM

OCTOBER Fact of the Month

All DBBS applicants must travel to St. Louis for a personal interview. If an applicant is not available to travel to St. Louis for an interview during mid-January to mid-March, their application will not be considered. All interviews are by invitation only. Interviews are not conducted prior to submission and evaluation of an application. Most travel costs within the U.S. will be paid by DBBS. Telephone interviews are not permitted in substitution of a personal interview.

2009 Interview Dates:

Biochemistry - January 23 and February 20

Biophysics - February 6 and February 20

Computational Biology - February 6 and February 27

Developmental Biology - February 6 and February 20

Evolution, Ecology and Population Biology - February 13 and March 6

Genetics and Genomics - January 30, February 13 and February 27

Human and Statistical Genetics - February 13 and February 27

Immunology - February 20 and March 6

Molecular Cell Biology - January 23, February 20 and March 6

Microbiology - January 23, February 6 and February 27

Neurosciences - January 30, February 13, and March 27, 2009: Revisit opportunity for accepted students

Plant Biology - January 30 and February 27

Two DBBS Faculty Named to Institute of Medicine

Two faculty members at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have been elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, one of the highest honors medical scientists in the United States can receive.

Jeffrey I. Gordon, M.D., and David M. Holtzman, M.D., were recognized for their major contributions to the advancement of the medical sciences, health care and public health and commitment to service.

Gordon is the Dr. Robert J. Glaser Distinguished University Professor and director of the Center for Genome Sciences, and Holtzman is the Andrew B. and Gretchen P. Jones Professor and chair of the Department of Neurology.

Gordon is internationally known for his research on gut development and how gut microbes affect normal intestinal function, and predisposition to health and to certain diseases. His research has shown that our gut microbes are biomarkers, mediators and potential therapeutic targets in the war against the worldwide obesity epidemic. By sequencing the genes present in gut microbial communities of obese and lean mice, and by observing the effects of transplanting these communities into germ-free mice, he has shown that microbial communities from obese mice have an increased capacity to harvest calories from the diet. His work in humans is focusing on lean, obese and malnourished twins in order to obtain a deeper understanding of how we acquire our gut microbes, the genomic and metabolic underpinnings of their beneficial relationships with us, and how they help shape the nutritional needs of humans living in various parts of the world.

Gordon earned a bachelor's degree from Oberlin College, a medical degree from the University of Chicago and completed post-doctoral research at the National Institutes of Health. He has been on the faculty since 1981 and has mentored about 100 doctoral and M.D./Ph.D. students and post-doctoral fellows. His many honors include election to the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. He has published 400 research papers and holds 23 U.S. patents.

Holtzman is known as one of the leading experts in researching the underlying mechanisms that lead to Alzheimer's disease in an effort to improve diagnosis and treatment. In addition to seeing patients at the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and the Memory Diagnostic Center, Holtzman leads a research team working with animal models of Alzheimer's and works closely with the Washington University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. His group has been instrumental in revealing mechanisms underlying how dangerous amounts of a protein called amyloid-beta (Abeta) begin to accumulate in the brain many years before symptoms arise. These basic science investigations have evolved over the years and are beginning to bridge the gap into the clinical arena.

Holtzman earned bachelors and medical degrees from Northwestern University. He completed an internship, residency and post-doctoral fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco, where he established the Memory and Cognitive Disorders Clinic and was assistant professor of neurology from 1991-1994, before joining the faculty at Washington University.
Past honors include the MetLife Foundation award for research on Alzheimer's Disease, a MERIT award from the National Institute on Aging and being selected as one of the Scientific American 50. He has published hundreds of papers in peer-reviewed journals, teaches medical students and supervises post-doctoral trainees.

Gordon and Holtzman are among 65 members whose elections to the Institute of Medicine were announced by the National Academy of Sciences Oct. 13. As members, Gordon and Holtzman make a commitment to devote a significant amount of volunteer time on committees engaged in a broad range of health-policy issues.

Biden, Palin set for Oct. 2 VP Debate- TONIGHT!

Sen. Joe Biden from Delaware and Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska, the vice presidential nominees of the Democratic and Republican parties, respectively, will debate each other at 8 p.m. (CDT) Oct. 2 in the Washington University in St. Louis Athletic Complex, according to the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD).
This is the first time the University will host a vice presidential debate. It's the fifth consecutive presidential election that the University has been selected by the CPD, the event's sponsor, to serve as a debate host.
The debate will be moderated by Gwen Ifill, a longtime correspondent and moderator for nationally televised public broadcasting news programs. Ifill, who serves as moderator and managing editor of PBS' "Washington Week" and senior correspondent for "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer," also moderated the CPD's 2004 vice presidential debate between Vice President Dick Cheney and Sen. John Edwards, held Oct. 5 at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.
Biden was nominated for vice president Aug. 27 at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colo. A week later, on Sept. 4, Palin was nominated for vice president at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn.
Biden, 65, is a 36-year veteran of the U.S. Senate. He was elected in 1972 when he was 29. He is known for his leadership in foreign policy, terrorism, crime and drug policy. He ran unsuccessfully for the presidential nomination of his party in 1988 and in 2008.
Biden is the former chairman and long-time member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Over the years he has been influential in crime and drug policy legislation. His Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, frequently referred to as the Biden Crime Bill, increased police numbers by 100,000 nationwide and brought more federal support for criminal justice.
The 2007 Biden Crime Bill addresses burgeoning crime problems such as online child exploitation, computer hacking and teenage prescription drug abuse.
Palins vice presidential nomination marks the first time that the Republican Party has nominated a woman for the position. On Dec. 4, 2006, she also made history when she became the first woman governor of Alaska.
Palin, 44, has overseen increases in Alaska state savings, education funding and implemented the Senior Benefits Program that provides support for low-income older Alaskans. Her administration has passed an overhaul of the states ethics laws and developed a process to construct a gas pipeline.
Palin is chair of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, a multistate government agency that promotes the conservation and efficient recovery of domestic oil and natural gas resources while protecting the environment.
Before becoming governor of Alaska, she served two terms on the Wasilla City Council and two terms as mayor/manager of Wasilla. Palin also has served as chair of the Alaska Conservation Commission, which regulates Alaska's oil and gas.

Washington University is the only institution to host more than two debates.
In 1992, the university hosted the first nationally televised three-candidate presidential debate in CPD history, was selected to host a presidential debate in 1996 that eventually was canceled, hosted the third and last presidential debate of the 2000 campaign season and the second of three presidential debates before the 2004 election.

For additional information on the October 2 debate, please click here.

2008 Hippocrene Now On-Line

HIPPOCRENE is an arts magazine by and for the students, faculty, and staff of Washington University School of Medicine (WUSM). Submissions are accepted year-round, and published each Spring. Issues are freely available to all current medical students, graduate students in the Division of Biology & Biomedical Sciences (DBBS), and Medical School and DBBS Faculty.

Check out the 2008 Hippocrene On-line HERE.

SEPTEMBER Fact of the Month

DBBS Applicants are Required to Submit 2 Essays

Applicants are encouraged to give considerable time and thought to writing the three essays. (Some schools ask for a general “personal statement”, however DBBS requires that the applicant answer the specific essay questions listed.) The Admissions Committee evaluates a number of characteristics in order to assess a candidate’s ability to benefit from and contribute to their selected program. These include academic ability, research experience, leadership, teamwork, communication skills and other personal qualities. The essays are an opportunity to help the Committee relate to the applicant’s distinctive values, motivation, and perspectives and obtain as much information as possible about their previous research experience


The three essay questions are:
Required: Describe the scope and focus of your laboratory research experience(s). Please also indicate when, where, and with whom the work was done. Please do not simply list the research techniques you have mastered.
Required: Describe why you are interested in undertaking a graduate program in biology or biomedical sciences. Also, discuss the types of questions you wish to pursue during graduate study and how you envision your professional career developing.
Optional: Please provide any additional information (exceptional accomplishments as a student, obstacles, or special challenges) which you feel would be useful to the admissions committee in reaching a decision regarding your application.


Applicants may type the essay information directly in the space provided or copy text created in MS Word or a similar type document into the essay section of the application. Applicants will be allotted approximately two (2) pages per essay. Please address each essay question separately. Do not insert a personal statement in lieu of the three essay questions.

DBBS PhD Application is now LIVE!

Click Here to Access the electronic Application.

DBBS does not charge an application fee. The application will be available September 1, 2008- December 1, 2008, for Fall 2009 enrollment. The application instructions are available for your review.

For a listing of Interview Dates for Fall 2009 Enrollment, please click here.

Application Instructions and other Important Information . Please read before beginning the application.

You will find information on:
-GRE and TOEFL exams
-the three essay questions
-where to send transcripts
-much more useful information

Answers to most of your questions can be found on our newly revised Frequently Asked Questions page located here.

Contact Information for the Admissions Staff:

Below is the list of contacts based on the primary program that you are interested in:

Jennifer Dix - Computational Biology, Molecular Cell Biology, Neurosciences, Human and Statistical Genetics programs.
Rebecca Riney - Evolution, Ecology and Population Biology, Plant Biology programs.
Patrice Williams - Biochemistry, Developmental Biology, Immunology, Molecular Biophysics, Molecular Genetics and Genomics, Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis programs.

DBBS: 35 Years, 1000 Graduates

DBBS has recently been featured in Washington University's Outlook Magazine.

Check out the Article Here.

Signs of Fall 86 Orientation Packets!

It's that time of year again! Orientation begins on Monday, August 18 and we're ready for the Class of 2009 to arrive. This year, DBBS is welcoming 86 bright, enthusiastic future PhDs.

Orientation Activities Include:

Monday, August 18

- Administrative session, luncheon, Medical School campus
- Afternoon session, Danforth campus

Throughout the week:

Program presentation and advising session for the program in which the student is enrolled

Environmental Health & Safety session

Biology Department Welcome BBQ

Library on-line systems orientation

Faculty Poster Session

Welcome to all of the new DBBS Students!!!

AUGUST Fact of the Month

DBBS Applicants are Required to Submit 3 Letters of Recommendation.

Letters from research mentors are most important. If an applicant has had multiple research experiences, it is important to get letters from more than one mentor, including the current mentor. Only under rare circumstances would the committee need to see more than three letters of recommendation.

Occasionally, students begin their latest research experience in August or September before completing an application a few months later. In this instance, the faculty member may not feel he/she has had enough time to assess the student's ability. The student can make note of this on the application form. The admissions committee may request a letter from that mentor in the spring.

c

Letters of recommendation should focus on the student's ability to reason scientifically. Examples of initiative, motivation, and determination are helpful to the committee.

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When students ask for letters of recommendation, it is helpful for the student to provide the faculty member with a copy of the student's resume, a transcript, and a description of why the student is interested in pursuing a career in scientific research.

Where in the World is DBBS Recruitment??

The Recruitment Season has begun!! Last week, several staff and faculty members spent the day in Bethesda, MD recruiting prospective PhD, MD and MSTP students at the NIH. It was the first Graduate and Professional School Recruitment Fair ever held at the NIH and was highly successful! We're looking forward to going back next year.


The Sunshine State?? I don't think so! Rain, Rain and more Rain is more like it! Two DBBS Staffers spent 3 days in Orlando, FL recruiting at the National Society of Collegiate Scholars Convention. While it was raining outside, DBBS was inside, recruiting fantastic undergraduate leaders for our PhD, MSTP and Summer Research Programs.

Want to know where DBBS will be this fall? Check out the DBBS Recruitment page for an updated list of our travel schedule. Click on Upcoming Recruitment Schedule for the full list.

JULY Fact of the Month

Successful DBBS Applicants generally have at least one year of research experience at the time of application.

Working in the lab or field setting helps students gain an understanding of the principles of research as well as the environment in which the research takes place. Students learn the techniques of research while absorbing the cultural environment. They usually know very quickly whether they like or dislike the culture of "bench" science. By starting this process early, students who love research have time to build upon their skills and knowledge. Those who do not like the research setting have time to find another setting or even change majors.

Many schools offer their own funded research programs or participate in programs funded by McNair, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, NIH, or NSF. If your school does not offer research programs, students may want to spend summers in a research program at another school or with a biotechnology company. Several summer research experiences are available at Washington University. These include the Biomedical Sciences Apprenticeship Program (BioMedRap) for underrepresented minority and disadvantaged college students who are interested in careers in biomedical research.

Students often have more than one research experience. It is important for the student to remain in contact with previous research mentors, so they may provide letters of recommendation later.The admissions committee will be looking for research experiences in which a student's level of independence can grow as their scientific skills develop and in which their native curiosity can be expressed. Ideally, the applicant would have research experience related to the area for which the applicant is applying.

St. Louis Named in Best Fireworks Displays

ProfessionalTravelGuide.com just named St. Louis as one of the Top Places to Watch Fireworks in the country! Read more on their website here.

If you're in St. Louis this weekend, be sure to check out Fair St. Louis/Celebrate St. Louis for a full slate of activities, including main stage entertainment acts, the Ameren/Schnucks K-Town Kids Zone, and spectacular fireworks display in the evening! There's lots of great food, FREE Concerts and a great view of fireworks over the Arch!

Thank you to MSTP student Mike Montana for the great pictures of last year's fireworks display!

DBBS Alum Karmella Haynes on NPR- Calculating Bacteria: Real Computer Bugs

DBBS Alum Karmella Haynes was recently interviewed on NPR. CLICK HERE to listen to Karmella discuss the prospects for biologically based computing, and ways in which calculating bacteria might be useful.

Online Chat a SUCCESS!
DBBS hosted its first on-line chat for incoming students on Thursday, June 12th. Martha Turner with the International Office was on hand to answer any questions that our incoming international students may have had about visas, passports, moving to St. Louis, etc. Thank you Martha for your time!!!

DBBS will be hosting a few more chat sessions for incoming students before the August Orientation. Keep an eye on the DBBS Homepage for upcoming chats!

DBBS Student Research Video

Welcome BioMedRAP Class of 2008!!

After receiving 225 applications, our 2008 BioMedRAP class has arrived! 13 Students were accepted and this year we have 4 BONUS students joining us as guests.

The Biomedical Research Apprenticeship Program (BioMedRAP) is a 10 week summer research internship for exceptional students interested in pursuing biomedical research careers. The program is designed to provide a rigorous, in-depth research experience to prepare participants for top-quality Ph.D. and M.D/Ph.D. programs in the biomedical sciences.

BioMedRAP is in its 7thyear with 80+ students participating in the program thus far.

This year's participants are:

Taiwo Aderibigbe (Washington University in St. Louis)
Katherine Amato (Lee University)

Adam Canver (Johns Hopkins University)

David Dadey (Morehouse University)

Joshlean Fair (Alcorn State University)

Vovanti Jones (University of Maryland- Baltimore County)

Kirsten Kepple (Georgia Institute of Technology)

Xiaoxiao Li (Sarah Lawrence College)

Victor Ocasio (University of Puerto Rico- Mayaguez)

Benjamin Soloman (Cornell University)

Iboro Umana (Washington University in St. Louis)

Clorissa Washington (Benedict College)

Norelle Wildburger (Baylor University)

2008 Guests to BioMedRAP:

David Cotter (University of Nevada- Las Vegas)

Anil Meena (Indian Institute of Technology- Kanpur)

Carlo Mejia (University of California- Riverside)

Marwan Mustafa (University of Arizona)

We welcome them all and hope they have a FANTASTIC summer at Washington University!!

Delayed flights, wacky St. Louis weather, lack of sleep- and they're still smiling!!!!

Paperwork and lunch.. what more could you ask for???

Students enjoyed dinner and welcoming remarks by Dr. David Harris and Dr. John Kauwe.

Victor Ocasio (left) will be working in Dr. David Harris' (right) lab this summer.

35 Years, 1000 Graduates ONE Celebration

Washington University's Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences (DBBS) celebrated two milestones May 1-2: its 35th anniversary and the graduation of its 1,000th student. Established in 1973, DBBS has become the national model for graduate education in Biology and Biomedical Sciences because of its collaborative interdisciplinary approach.

The Division spans both the University's Danforth and Medical campuses to provide Ph.D. training programs in biology and the biomedical sciences. Established in 1973, the Division has become the national model for graduate education in biology and biomedical sciences because of its collaborative, interdisciplinary approach.

Unlike traditional doctoral training programs, which are organized along departmental lines, the Division trains students in programs organized around 12 scientific interests - computational biology, developmental biology, human and statistical genetics, and neurosciences among them.
Faculty and graduate students regularly cross disciplines, devising novel questions and approaches that might otherwise go unexplored. The Division currently consists of 662 graduate students and 385 faculty members from 34 university-wide departments.

To mark its celebratory events, the DBBS held an opening reception May 1. Events on May 2 included scientific talks by four alumni and career-path panel discussions on academics, science policy and regulatory affairs, government labs, and patent law and intellectual property.

Floyd E. Bloom, M.D., a member of the WUSTL Board of Trustees and professor emeritus at The Scripps Research Institute, gave the keynote address. Dr. Steven Wise (Neural Sciences 1977), the Division's First Graduate was on hand to present Dr. Zhen Mahoney (Molecular Genetics and Genomics 2007) with an award as the Division's 1000th Graduate.

Dr. Floyd Bloom, Keynote Speaker, "So Now What? Exploring Science with a PhD".

Dr. Kristin Hogquist, 1991 Immunology Graduate, presents her work "Educating T-cells: New and Old Paradigms in Thymic Selection".

Dr. Phil Needleman, Dr. John Russell and Dr. Ralph Quatrano welcome Dr. Floyd Bloom to the Celebration

Zhen shows off a gift from Dr. Wise, who is obviously still a Cards fan!!!!