The 2019 Martin Luther King Jr. Campus Celebration begins with a tour of historical destinations in Tuskegee, Selma, and Montgomery, Alabama. Participants will explore key locations from the Civil Rights Era.

Participants will visit the Legacy Museum, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, and many  historic sites. This cultural immersion provides a rich, first-hand experience for up to 70 students and 30 faculty/staff members.

The tour is $130 for students and $230 for faculty/staff. The fee covers a two-night stay with breakfast, charter bus service, and tickets to selected venues.

Students Registration

Faculty/Staff Registration

Registration will continue until capacity is reached. Credit Card payments will be accepted through MarketPlace.

"Epigenetics: From Mechanisms to Tree of Life"

Epigenetics studies the interactions of genomic DNA with its environment that regulates gene expression. Tremendous progress has been made in current research of epigenetics in various cellular processes, diseases, as well as in behavior and sociality across the tree of life. 

The 2019 Suddath Symposium showcases the depth and diversity of epigenetics research.   Central and emerging topics of epigenetics, from mechanisms in normal and diseases states to evolution and behavior, will be covered. The symposium is intended to spark discussion of concepts that span diverse systems and to inspire future leaders in epigenetics.

The Suddath Symposium is held annually to celebrate the life and contribution of F.L. "Bud" Suddath by discussing the latest developments in the fields of bioengineering and bioscience. The speakers include leading researchers across the world. This successful symposium has been taking place for 27 years! Each year the symposium topic changes.

Symposium Chairs: Yuhong Fan, Ph.D., and Soojin Yi, Ph.D.

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS
Victor Corces, Ph.D. - Emory University
Sharon Dent, Ph.D. - University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Yuhong Fan, Ph.D. - Georgia Tech
Brendan Hunt, Ph.D. - University of Georgia
William Kelly, Ph.D. - Emory University
Ali Shilatifard, Ph.D. - Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Paula Vertino, Ph.D. - Emory University / University of Rochester
Hengbin Wang, Ph.D. - University of Alabama at Birmingham
Jerry Workman, Ph.D. - Stowers Institute for Medical Research
Soojin Yi, Ph.D. - Georgia Tech
Yi Zhang, Ph.D. - Harvard Medical School / Harvard Stem Cell Institute

Registration 
Early registration $25 through Friday, January 11, 2019 - all attendees
Regular registration $35 beginning Saturday, January 12, 2019 - all attendees

For complete symposium info and registration, visit: Suddath Symposium website

The 2019 Suddath Symposium is supported by the Parker H. Petit Institute of Bioengineering and Bioscience at Georgia Tech.

The Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, an internationally recognized hub of multidisciplinary research at the Georgia Institute of Technology, brings engineers, scientists, and clinicians together to solve some of the world’s most complex health challenges. With 19 research centers, more than 180 faculty members, and $24 million in state-of-the-art facilities, the Petit Institute is translating scientific discoveries into game-changing solutions to solve real-world problems.

Thesis Advisor:
Dr. Michael Goodisman
School of Biological Sciences
Georgia Institute of Technology

Committee Members:
Dr. Joseph R. Mendelson, III
School of Biological Sciences
Georgia Institute of Technology

Dr. Stephanie Braccini Slade
School of Biological Sciences
Georgia Institute of Technology

Dr. Jenny McGuire
School of Biological Sciences
Georgia Institute of Technology

Dr. Megan Lee Wilson
Department of Psychology
Georgia State University

Abstract
African elephants (Loxodonta africana) are a highly social species that typically live in large, matrilineal family groups called herds which contain a linear dominance hierarchy between the adult females. Management plans for African elephants in human care try to replicate their natural social structures by creating small herds of females but these individuals are typically unrelated except in the case of mothers and their offspring. Despite low genetic relatedness, these females still create their own dominance hierarchies within the herds. Although elephants in human care have all of their needs provided for, dominance within herds can lead to preferential access to high-value resources such as food, water, and shade structures.
The purpose of this case study was to observe how the two female African elephants at Zoo Atlanta, Tara and Kelly, interacted with each other in terms of their usage of their current exhibit space. An incident occurred during data collection that led to a week-long separation of the elephants and the results of this study were then separated into two data sets. Anecdotal evidence of Kelly being the dominant individual was confirmed by Kelly initiating all 110 observed social interactions. After the incident there was a higher frequency of social interactions between the two elephants per hour. The amount of neutral and highly agonistic behaviors rose as well. It appears Kelly was re-establishing her dominance over Tara after their lengthy separation.
Both elephants had non-random patterns of exhibit spatial use when they were together and when they were alone in the exhibit, as well as before and after the incident. Before the incident, Kelly dominated use of the two areas that had direct access to the indoor barn when both females were in the exhibit together while Tara used the remaining two areas more often. These elephants have a complex social history, which includes Kelly dominating use of the barn and resources after a change to their social structure. As the dominant individual, Kelly had preferential access to this high-value area. Kelly continued to prefer staying in the areas closest to the barn when separated from Tara. The exhibit spatial use pattern displayed by Tara when separated from Kelly was different from her pattern when they were together because she used the area closest to the barn instead of the two furthest from the barn. The patterns after the incident were similar to those from the before results except Tara used the furthest area from the barn with a higher frequency when alone in the exhibit in addition to the closest. This change may have been caused by Tara’s restricted mobility after the incident.
Before the incident, all social interactions between the elephants and those that were agonistic in nature occurred randomly throughout the outside portion of the exhibit despite both elephants having specific patterns in how they used the exhibit. After the incident there was a non-random pattern in the location of all social interactions. More occurred in the area closest to the barn than would be randomly expected, which matches Kelly’s dominating use of that area. Although the occurrence of agonistic behaviors by area changed after the incident, the pattern was still random.

Open educational resources (OER) are free and open resources (including text, media, and other digital assets) that are useful for teaching and learning. This seminar will discuss the value of OER. Learn how Chrissy Spencer, senior academic professional in the School of Biological Sciences, and Carrie Shepler, director of first-year chemistry in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, are using OER in their classes. Matt Lisle and Rob Kadel of the Georgia Tech Center for 21st Century Universities, will also be on the panel.

Attendees can bring a brown bag lunch. Beverages, veggies and desserts will be provided.

RSVPs are required.

Thesis Advisor:
Dr. Peng Qiu
Department of Biomedical Engineering
Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University

Committee Members:
Dr. Soojin Yi
School of Biological Sciences
Georgia Institute of Technology

Dr. Gregory Gibson
School of Biological Sciences
Georgia Institute of Technology

Dr. David Archer
Department of Pediatrics
Emory University School of Medicine

Dr. Ignacio Sanz
Department of Medicine
Emory University

Abstract:
To quantitatively understand the cell behavior in molecular level, scientists have developed technologies including high throughput sequencing and flow cytometry. High throughput sequencing can obtain the entire genome sequence and measure expression of large number of genes. Flow cytometry can measure multiple parameters of large number of cells. Both technologies generate large amount of data in high dimension. Therefore, efficient methods to analyze and interpret the data become in demand. In my thesis, I focus on developing computational methods that deliver intuitive and interpretable visualization of biological data. The first chapter describes a software named Cluster-to-Gate (C2G) that can visualize existing clustering results of flow/mass cytometry data in the format of 2D gating hierarchy. Though C2G presents a way to visualize and interpret clustering results, the visualization is still data-driven and no human-knowledge is incorporated. To overcome the limitation of C2G, the second chapter describes a framework that can learn gating approach from existing publications to build a knowledge-graph. This knowledge-graph can automatically suggest order of marker usage and gating hierarchy for new data set, which can be used to gate cell populations. The obtained cell populations are immediately matched to known cell types in the knowledge-graph, which makes them interpretable. The third chapter describe a novel algorithm (GLaMST) to reconstruct lineage tree of B cell receptor gene from high throughput sequencing data. This algorithm outperforms state-of-art in both accuracy and speed.

Atlanta 500 Women Scientists is hosting a film screening of the award-winning documentary film "My Love Affair with the Brain: The Life & Science of Dr. Marian Diamond" (View the trailer here).

Part biography, part scientific adventure story, and part inspirational tale, this film details a story of a female neuroscientist who lived joyously at the forefront of scientific exploration and education, finding and sharing fact-based good news about the brain. 

The screening will be followed by a discussion featuring two local faculty in neuroscience, Marise Parent (Professor & Associate Director of the Neuroscience Institute at Georgia State University) and Audrey Duarte (Associate Professor in Psychology at Georgia Institute of Technology). They will discuss Dr. Diamond's impact on the field, as well as the science of learning, memory, and neuroplasticity. 

This screening is a fundraiser for our 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, 500 Women Scientists. They suggest a donation of $10-15, which will directly benefit outreach events hosted by the Atlanta 500WS pod and will help make science open, inclusive and accessible. All donations are tax deductible.

Register via Eventbrite, or RSVP through Facebook.

More about the film:

"My Love Affair with the Brain" is an award-winning PBS documentary that brings the viewer right into the heart of science and into a deeper understanding of your own brain.  Critically acclaimed, extensively tested for educational use from 5th grade thru Nobel Prize winners, this film is an intimate and inspirational portrait of one of the founders of modern neuroscience. 

Prepare to be smitten. Experience for yourself why Dr. Marian Diamond described her 60-year career researching the human brain as “pure joy.”

It is no exaggeration to say that Dr. Diamond changed science and society in dramatic ways over the course of her career. Her groundbreaking work is all the more remarkable as it began when so few women entered science at all. Shouted at from the back of the conference hall by noteworthy male academics as she presented her research, and disparaged in the scientific journals of a more conservative era, Dr. Diamond simply did the work and followed where her curiosity led her, bringing about a worldwide paradigm shift or two in the process. As she points out, in order to get to the answers that matter, you have to start by asking the right questions.

Part biography, part scientific adventure story, part inspirational tale, this is a story of a worthy role model, a woman who has lived joyously at the forefront of scientific exploration and education, finding and sharing fact-based good news about the brain.

Narrated by TV-star Mayim Bialik (Amy on Big Bang Theory, Blossom on Blossom). She not only plays a neuroscientist on TV, but is one in real life, Dr. Mayim Bialik, a PhD in Neuroscience from UCLA.

Getting There:

CenterForm is located in the M. Rich Center. Look for the green awning. You will have to buzz security to get in. Take the front elevator to the 4th floor. Follow the hallway to the back.

Driving Directions:

From I-75/85 Southbound

Exit #248a (Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive/State Capitol).

Turn right on Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive.

Continue for 4 blocks.

Parking garages on right on MLK & Pryor.

From I-75/85 Northbound

Exit #246 (Fulton Street/Central Avenue).

Follow Central Avenue. turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr, Drive.

Parking garages on right on MLK & Pryor.

From I-20 Eastbound

Exit #56B (Windsor Street/Spring Street/Stadium).

Go to 3rd Light; Turn Left on Central Avenue.

Stay on Central Avenue. Turn Left on Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive.

Parking garages on right on MLK & Pryor.

From I-20 Westbound

Exit #58 (Capitol Avenue).

Turn Right on Capitol to Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive.

Turn Left on Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive.

Parking Garages 2 Blocks on right on MLK & Pryor.

Public Transportation:

CenterForm recommends MARTA when convenient. We are very close to the Five Points MARTA station. Walking from the MARTA station: exit to Peachtree Street. From Peachtree Street, head SOUTH (right) toward Martin Luther King Drive. Turn left on Martin Luther King Drive. 115 Martin Luther King Jr Drive will be a block on your left.

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Bioinformatics in the School of Biological Sciences Biao Zeng defends his thesis:
Blood eQTL Detection in Structured Populations and its Application to Interpretation of Genetic Association Studies.

Thesis Advisor:
Dr. Gregory Gibson
School of Biological Sciences
Georgia Institute of Technology

Committee Members:
Dr. Joe Lachance
School of Biological Sciences
Georgia Institute of Technology

Dr. Annalise Paaby
School of Biological Sciences
Georgia Institute of Technology

Dr. Patrick McGrath
School of Biological Sciences
Georgia Institute of Technology

Dr. Jingjing Yang
School of Medicine
Emory University

Abstract:
Expression QTL (eQTL) detection has emerged as an important tool for unravelling the relationship between genetic risk factors and disease or clinical phenotypes. Most studies focus on analyses predicated on the assumption that only a single causal variant explains the association signal in each interval.  This greatly simplifies the statistical modeling, but is liable to biases in scenarios where multiple linked causal-variants are responsible. Here in this thesis, my primary goal was to address the prevalence of secondary cis-eQTL signals regulating peripheral blood gene expression locally, utilizing two large human cohort studies, each greater than 2,500 samples with accompanying whole genome genotypes.  The CAGE dataset is a compendium of Illumina microarray studies, and the Framingham Heart Study (FHS) is a two-generation Affymetrix dataset. I firstly describe performing simulation to reveal the potential interference of causal variants in LD regions. I then also describe a Bayesian co-localization analysis of the extent of sharing of cis-eQTL detected in both studies as well as with the BIOS RNA-seq dataset. Stepwise conditional modeling demonstrates that multiple eQTL signals are present for ~40% of over 3,500 eGenes in both microarray datasets, and that the number of loci with additional signals reduces by approximately two-thirds with each conditioning step. Although fewer than 20% of the peak signals across platforms fine-map to the same credible interval, the co-localization analysis finds that as many as 50%~60% of the primary eQTL are actually shared. Subsequently, co-localization of eQTL signals with GWAS hits detected 1,349 genes whose expression in peripheral blood is associated with 591 human phenotype traits or diseases, including enrichment for genes with regulatory functions such as protein kinase activity and DNA binding.  Just one quarter of these co-localization signals are replicated, further highlighting the technological and methodological barriers to reconciliation of GWAS and eQTL signals. My results are provided as a web-based resource for visualization of multi-site regulation of gene expression and their association with human complex traits and disease states. In addition to the cis-eQTL study, as a member of the eQTLgen consortium, I also conduct trans-eQTL detection in multiple cohorts, including FHS, which contains related individuals, and performed cis-trans eQTL mediation analysis, which I will as a side project.  This thesis provides novel insights into the complexity of gene regulation and the low consistency of fine mapping across studies, and introduces new software, PolyQTL, for colocalization of genetic signals in structured populations.

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Biology in the School of Biological Sciences Chinar Patil will defend his dissertation Genomic Basis of Evolutionary Radiation in Lake Malawi Cichlids.

Thesis Advisor:
Dr. J. Todd Streelman, Advisor
School of Biological Sciences
Georgia Institute of Technology

Committee members:
Dr. Michael Goodisman
School of Biological Sciences
Georgia Institute of Technology

Dr. Soojin Yi
School of Biological Sciences
Georgia Institute of Technology

Dr. Fredrik O. Vannberg
School of Biological Sciences
Georgia Institute of Technology

Dr. Reade B. Roberts
W.M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology
Comparative Medicine Institute
North Carolina State University

Summary
Understanding the genomic basis and origin of phenotypic variation is one of the fundamental questions of biology. Evolutionary radiations characterized by a range of natural phenotypic variants between genetically closely related species are a great model to study the origin and genetic mechanisms underlying phenotypic diversity. I use one such model, cichlids from Lake Malawi to understand the basis of complex behavior evolution. Lake Malawi cichlids are broadly divided into rock dwelling and sand dwelling lineages based on the habitat they colonize in the lake. Within this split on the basis of habitat comes a wide range of behavioral differences that define rock dweller and sand dweller cichlids. Within the sand dweller lineage, males build species specific bowers to attract females in seasonal leks. Whole genomes from 28 different cichlid species from Lake Malawi were used to show that:

(a) Most of the variation segregating rock dwelling cichlids from sand dwelling cichlids is in functional regions in the genome, associated with genes and pathways related to early brain development and adult behavior and

(b) Bower building behavior has repeatedly evolved via with polygenic selection on ancient and new genetic variants associated with genes and pathways involved in neural activity.

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Biology in the School of Biological Sciences Yusuf Uddin will defend his dissertation Biochemical Characterization and Cryo-EM Studies of a Highly Active Spinach Photosystem II Complex.

Thesis Advisor:
Dr. Ingeborg Schmidt-Krey
School of Biological Sciences
Georgia Institute of Technology

Committee members:
Dr. Al Merrill
School of Biological Sciences
Georgia Institute of Technology

Dr. Bridgette Barry
School of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Georgia Institute of Technology

Dr. Loren Williams
School of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Georgia Institute of Technology

Dr. Nael McCarty
Department of Pediatrics
School of Medicine
Emory University

Summary
Photosystem II (PSII) is a large, photosynthetic membrane protein complex responsible for water oxidation and the formation of oxygen on Earth. Understanding the structure of this protein is important for studying photosynthetic energy transfer and assembly mechanisms in higher plants. Recently, technological breakthroughs in the field of cryo-EM have lead to the ability to study this membrane protein by single particle analysis (SPA). This technique does not require the growth of crystals, a challenge that has hindered structural determination in higher plant PSII. In this work, the biochemical preparation of spinach PSII for cryo-EM is optimized to maintain high activity. Subunit characterization, oxygen activity, UV absorbance spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and negative stain transmission electron microscopy were employed to characterize the spinach PSII preparation. Cryo-EM experiments resulted in a first model of a highly active C2 PSII complex, which contains all intrinsic and extrinsic subunits essential for activity.