Nick Lennemann, Ph.D. presenting at the Virology in Progress Seminar on May 17, 2024.The UAB Department of Microbiology is proud to announce the launch of two innovative seminar series to foster collaboration and advance research within the scientific community.
These series provide an invaluable platform for researchers and trainees to share findings, exchange ideas, and build meaningful partnerships across the campus.
The Bacterial Physiology and Pathogenesis Seminar Series
The Bacterial Physiology and Pathogenesis Seminar Series (BPPSS), spearheaded by Carlos Orihuela, Ph.D., will be on the first Thursday of every month commencing August 1 and will provide a platform for in-depth discussions and presentations on the latest developments in bacterial physiology and pathogenesis.
The first seminar will feature speakers Kevin Harrod, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, and Eriel Martinez, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Microbiology.
Orihuela explained that the series continues the former “Joint Lab Meeting” organized for many years by the Moon Nahm Lab, which eventually evolved into a seminar series overseen by himself and Megan Kiedrowski.
“Unfortunately, COVID-19 forced us to switch to a virtual format, and in-person attendance never fully recovered,” Orihuela said. “The goal is to reunite everyone interested in bacteriology once a month to discuss exciting science."
Two speakers will be featured at each event, each giving a 25-minute talk and five minutes for questions. One speaker will be a faculty member, and the other a senior trainee (a fourth- or fifth-year graduate student or postdoc). While in-person attendance is encouraged, Zoom will be an option for faculty at other institutions who wish to participate.
Orihuela added that the seminars are intended to be informal.
“Ideally, the principal investigators will present work or projects they are open to collaborating with others on,” he said. “For the trainee, it’s a work-in-progress meeting, and they’ll get to share their exciting results with the group. Having two speakers means there will also be considerable diversity in topics. The seminar series aims to encourage interactions, build community, promote great science, and have fun doing all this.”
The Virology in Progress Seminar Series
Lochlain Corliss, Ph.D. candidate, presenting at the Virology in Progress Seminar on May 17, 2024.
The department is also introducing the Virology in Progress (VIP) Seminar Series, led by Nick Lennemann, Ph.D. According to Lennemann, the series is crucial for researchers to present their innovative virology research to the UAB virology community.
“I am hopeful that this series will push the virology research at UAB forward and increase the enthusiasm for collaborating across campus,” Lennemann said. “Recent interactions between colleagues and, most importantly, trainees have highlighted the need to bring the virologists back together in a format where we can share ideas and build collaborations.”
The VIP series will be held twice a month. It will consist of two 20- to 25-minute talks from faculty, students, or staff, with five to ten minutes for questions.
The first series began on May 17 with Lennemann and Lochlain Corliss, a Ph.D. candidate in the UAB Department of Microbiology, as the speakers. The next seminar is scheduled for May 31, featuring Manse Kim, Ph.D., an instructor in the Department of Microbiology, and J. Victor Garcia, Ph.D., professor and chair.
For anyone interested in presenting about pursuing virology collaboration at UAB, please email Lennemann at njlenn@uab.edu.