The Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Holiday Party was held on December 1, 2022 at Sage. Thank you very much for all those who attended.
BIOCAPS Spotlight: Doris Metcalf
BIOCAPS Spotlight: Doris Metcalf
Graduate Program Coordinator
This month, the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology is delighted to shine a spotlight on Doris Metcalf for our BIOCAPS Spotlight Series to recognize Doris for her 12 years of outstanding service in our department.
Doris Metcalf is the backbone of the BMB graduate program, and a large portion of the BMB department’s research excellence is due to her role in the recruitment and stewardship of students through our program.
Dr. LeAnn Howe, Professor
Tell us about your role as the Graduate Program Coordinator.
I see my role as taking care of the grad students by being their resource person at all stages of their programs. This begins when they contact us for admissions, when they apply for scholarships, when they are struggling, and when they successfully complete our programs.
What is your most memorable moment at work?
There are many, but a relatively recent one is attending the 3 Minute Thesis competition in the spring. This is a world-wide competition where students present their research in simple every day language, https://3mt.grad.ubc.ca/. It is comforting to know that our future is being looked after by the next generation of researchers and scientists.
Tell us about your experience in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and UBC.
Every day I have the opportunity to work with our amazing faculty members and students, who inspires me. Even though the administrative duties do not change much, there are always new questions and challenges, which keeps me on my toes.
What advice would you give to new employees in the department?
UBC is an amazing place to work, as UBC have so many opportunities to learn and grow professionally.
What do you do for fun?
Watch Netflix during the rainy season and when the sun comes out go hiking in the local mountains.
BMBDG Seminar: Dr. Gerd Prehna – November 07, 2022 at 2:30 pm
Title: Versatility of the type VI secretion system.
Assistant Professor. Department of Microbiology.
University of Manitoba
Abstract: Type VI secretion systems (T6SSs) are dynamic nanomachines that Gram-negative bacteria use for numerous biological functions including killing competing bacteria and pathogenesis. Bacteria use the T6SS to deliver protein effectors into adjacent cells to kill rivals and establish niche dominance. In the evolutionary arms race of potent toxic effectors, the T6SS has been adapted to both secrete effectors directly into the periplasm of a prey-cell, and to secrete membrane proteins that target a toxin to the prey-cell cytoplasm. Using the Salmonella T6SS as a model system, our lab is studying the versatility of both T6SS effector secretion and function. Current research is focused on revealing the molecular mechanism of chaperone mediated membrane protein secretion by the T6SS and characterizing the biochemistry of the unique effectors that allow Salmonella serovars to outcompete the host microbiome.
Monday, November 07, 2022 at 2:30 pm at LSC 3 and Zoom
Hosted by: Dr. Natalie Strynadka