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USM Center for Molecular and Cellular Biosciences Hosting Fall Seminars

Thu, 08/12/2021 - 10:39am | By: Van Arnold

The Center for Molecular and Cellular Biosciences at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) will host a series of fall 2021 seminars, featuring an impressive array of guest speakers. 

The Center hosted its inaugural seminar series in the fall of 2019, but the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the 2020 schedule. The fall 2021 series will begin on Sept. 8 at 2 p.m. with a virtual seminar led by Dr. Zhe Li of the Harvard Medical School. All in-person seminars will be held at the Thad Cochran Center (Room 218) on the Hattiesburg campus.

Dr. Hao Xu, associate professor in USM’s School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, serves as the series coordinator. He notes that the seminars serve vital role in the Center’s mission.

“Within the Center for Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, there is an increasing drive to intensify graduate training and to elevate the research of each lab,” said Xu. “A high-quality seminar series plays an integral part in the success of the Center.”

The remaining fall seminars lineup includes:

  • Sept. 15: Dr. Jason Gigley, University of Wyoming
  • Sept. 29: Dr. Julian Hillyer, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
  • Oct. 6: Dr. William Wimley, Tulane University School of Medicine
  • Oct. 13: Dr. Rob Barrington, University of South Alabama
  • Oct. 20: Dr. Beth Stroupe, Florida State University
  • Oct. 27: Dr. Wes Sundquist, University of Utah
  • Nov. 3: Dr. Charley Barlowe, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth University
  • Nov. 10: Dr. Joel Goodman, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
  • Nov. 17: Dr. Vincent Starai, University of Georgia (virtual event)

“All of the guest speakers are leaders in their fields of research, from protein transport to HIV,” said Xu. “Many have led seminars on national or international platforms. I expect their seminars to bring excitement and to provoke new ideas.”

USM’s Center for Molecular and Cellular Biosciences is built upon existing strength in elucidating fundamental questions in cell and molecular biology, ranging from stem cell differentiation, HIV replication, mast cell degranulation, RNA biology, pathogen-host interaction to neurodegenerative and vector-born diseases.

To learn more about the Center, call 601.266.5611 or visit: https://www.usm.edu/molecular-cellular-biosciences/index.php