Paul Sternberg Named New Chair of BBE
Paul Sternberg, Bren Professor of Biology, has been selected as the new chair of Caltech's Division of Biology and Biological Engineering (BBE). On September 1st, he began a five-year term, taking over the William K. Bowes Jr. Leadership Chair from Richard Murray.
"I love being at Caltech because of the many wonderful colleagues in our division, across campus, and at JPL," Sternberg says. "Our connectedness, intellectual resources, and technological capabilities position us to take on many of the challenges of this century, many of which involve biology. I look forward to helping keep Caltech the best place in the world to do science and to learn how to be a superb biological engineer or biologist."
BBE Welcomes Joan Sullivan as New Division Operations Officer
Joan began her career with Caltech in 1991 and brings a wealth of experience and a proven ability to establish effective relationships to the DOO position. She has worked with various groups on campus, including Financial Services, the Office of Public Relations (OSC), Development and Institute Relations (AAR), and EAS. Joan has served as BBE’s Business Operations Manager since 2015. In this role, she closely collaborated with the BBE DOOs, overseeing planning, policy and procedure, and administrative support for the Division. Her commitment to the Institute and BBE has earned the respect of both leadership and staff. Congratulations Joan!
Joan Sullivan - ext. 4954, joan.sullivan@caltech.edu
Welcome to BBE!
Liz Demeter
Liz absolutely loves being a part of the Merkin Institute of Translational Research since she joined in July, and how welcoming everyone has been. Working towards better healthcare products and services is near and dear to her heart after being a family caregiver for many years. After living out of state for 9 years, Liz is happy to be back home in Los Angeles and near family. Her love of sunshine, the beach, and Spanish architecture also called her home. Having worked at a different major university for almost 8 years, specifically in Cancer research, Caltech has a familiarity to Liz but a prestige all its own. Go Beavers! Liz can be found in Alles 182.
Ryan Hurley
Ryan joined Caltech on a temporary assignment in August and was hired as a full time Administrative Assistant in October. He worked as an Executive Assistant in the Entertainment industry during the last four years, learning valuable skills in time management and organization. In 2024, Ryan decided to change career paths and enroll in Grad School, which ultimately brought him to the admin assistant role here at Caltech. Along with his experience, he brings a can-do attitude and positive energy to the workplace. In his free time, he can be found watching movies and television, or obsessing over his beloved Chicago Bears, and he also enjoys baking (mainly focaccia). He is excited to be part of the team and looks forward to working with everyone! Ryan is supporting Long Cai, Trevor Nolan, and Zhen Chen. You may find Ryan in BBB 222.
Evangeline Williams
Please welcome our new BBE Grant Manager, Evangeline Williams. She has over 20 years of experience in grant administration, most recently at the Ellison Institute of Technology and San Diego State University. Outside of work, Evangeline loves to travel (especially for missions), dance, and singing karaoke. She also loves gardening in her free time and going to the gym for Zumba lessons. Evangeline is working remotely from her home in San Diego and can be reached via email ewillia2@caltech.edu.
Please also Welcome
Madeleine Adolf, Cytometry Technician - Rothenberg Lab
Leah Andrews, Research Technician-Associate - Zernicka-Goetz Lab
Cherie Capri, Administrative Assistant - Professor Baltimore
Yu-Jen Chen, Research Technician - Thomson Lab
Sebastián Guevara Zuluaga, Lab Technician - Elowitz Lab
Jordan Lay, Research Technician - Elowitz Lab
Camryn Lee, Research Technician - Voorhees Lab
Dina Malounda, Laboratory Manager - Voorhees Lab
Lusineh Manasyan, Research Technician - Bjorkman Lab
Ryan Martinez, Zebrafish Facility Research Support - Prober Lab
Acacia Mayfield, Scientific Researcher - Gradinaru Lab
Alyssa Player, Research Technician - Bjorkman Lab
Ivan Putra, Research Technician Associate - Zernicka-Goetz Lab
Troy Sandberg, Research Scientist - Elowitz Lab
Shanya Sanof, Research Assistant - Chen Lab
Melanie Tiangco, Lab Coordinator/Administrative Assistant - Phillips Lab
Welcome Postdocs!
Ti Hoangdang Eriksson, Parker Lab
Daichi Hayakawa, Winfree Lab
Samuel Holtzen, Van Valen Lab
Kelly Kadlec, Andersen Lab
Lara Krisst, Shimojo Lab
Daewon Lee, Oka Lab
Xiaohui Li, Nolan Lab
Brandon Ruszala, Andersen Lab
Lucas Schaus, Mayo Lab
Ninadini Sharma, Zernicka-Goetz Lab
Mingkun Wu, Guttman Lab
Yuning You, Thomson Lab
Mark Zhang, Sternberg Lab
Postdoc Events
Summer Postdoc Game Night
Our postdoctoral reps organized a fun Summer Games Night in the Chen Upper Gardens. Warm weather, a beautiful sunset, a selection of unique pizzas and drinks, and lots of mind-boggling games – just the perfect way to end the week! There was lots of mingling and chatter between new and existing postdocs, fostering inter-lab/division connections!
Farewell to BBE Representatives 2023-2024
With the end of Summer, we bid farewell to the 2023-2024 BBE Postdoc Reps – Emma Boxer, Pallavi Panda & Sayan Dutta. While they had an enriching term serving as postdoc reps, we hope the BBE postdoc community benefited from their flagship projects – Games Night, Faculty/Staff-Postdoc Lunch Series and the Core Facility Social. Stay tuned for the Winter newsletter to find out who the new BBE Postdoc Reps are for 2024-2025.
Call for BBE Postdoc Reps
BBE is looking for postdoc representatives for the 2024-25 term. Join the team and work towards building your leadership skills. If you're interested, please reach out to Stefany Nielsen snielsen@caltech.edu
Please contact Stefany Nielsen, Postdoctoral and Visitor Programs Manager, for questions or additional information regarding BBE Postdocs.
BBE Retreat 2024
The 2024 BBE Retreat brought together 300 BBE students, postdocs, research staff, faculty, and their families for science, camaraderie, and fun at the Mandalay Beach Hotel in Oxnard, the same hotel where the first division retreat was held 34 years earlier.
BBE Quiz Bowl II
Last year featured the first-ever BBE Quiz Bowl with the Grad/Student Postdoc Team facing off against the Faculty/Staff Team. The theme of the Quiz Bowl is “getting to know BBE, Caltech, Pasadena, and Southern California”, providing new BBE members with a quickfire introduction to essential folklore, history, and trivia. The result was a seesaw battle that saw the Faculty/Staff Team overtake the Grad Student/Postdoc Team on the final question for the win. After widespread claims of unfinished business from both sides, this year we had BBE Quiz Bowl II.
In the first half of BBE Quiz Bowl II, the Faculty/Staff Team was riding high, rolling to a seemingly insurmountable 215-70 lead.
Sophisticated audio measurements were not needed to discern that the Grad Student/Postdoc Team had won the hearts of the crowd.
Entering the second half, the Grad Student/Postdoc Team needed to just about run the table to have a chance of reeling in the Faculty/Staff Team.
And that is just what they did! Assuring victory with their final answer.
Beach Time
Saturday afternoon was all about quality beach time.
BBE Family Dinner
On Saturday evening, the BBE Family Dinner featured 40s swing by the Jumpin’ Joz, strolling magic by Siegfried Tieber, and balloon art and face painting by Bubblemania.
BBE Retreat Perpetual Trophy Presentation
A key fixture of the BBE Family Dinner is the presentation of the BBE Retreat Perpetual Trophy.
What are the selection criteria for the BBE Retreat Perpetual Trophy? They are known only to the Organizers. They are subject to change.
What are the Terms for the BBE Retreat Perpetual Trophy? Your presence at the BBE Retreat indicates your eligibility to win the Perpetual Trophy. If so honored, you agree: 1) That your name shall be emblazoned on the plinth in perpetuity. 2) That you shall use publicly on the Caltech campus, in good times and in bad, the Perpetual Trophy until the next BBE Retreat. 3) That you shall surrender the Perpetual Trophy to the Organizers in good condition.
Who won the BBE Retreat Perpetual Trophy? Based on the nominations received, the 2024 finalists were:
- The Grad Student/Postdoc and Faculty/Staff BBE Quiz Bowl II Teams. For unbelievable drama for the second year in a row – congratulations to the Grad student/Postdoc Team on an amazing comeback.
- Grad student Sarah Weisflog. For being an outstanding session chair, for running a tight ship and leading with panache, and for the fastest sprint to deliver the microphone to the audience.
- Postdoctoral scholar Dr. OIivia Wan. For two separate nominations: “she wants it” and “she really wants it”.
- Retreat coordinator Tish Cheek. “Need I explain?”, for tremendous work coordinating the retreat, and she really cares.
- Postdoctoral scholar Dr. John Marken. For having the guts to volunteer to give a 0-slide talk, for effective use of a GFP analogy, and “he needs this badly please”.
- Graduate student Salvador Buse, co-captain of the Student/Postdoc Team for BBE Quiz Bowl II. For “Quiz Bowl redemption”, a “very Disney movie”, and “he has a big enough office for it”.
And the BBE Retreat Perpetual Trophy went to? Salvador Buse, “Captain!”.
BBE Retreat Poster Session
On Saturday night, our all-day extravaganza culminated with the BBE Retreat Poster Session, featuring posters from nearly one third of the attendees.
A much-needed retreat for all. Until next year…
Image credits: Anthony Vasquez, Jieyu Zheng, Niles Pierce, Mandalay Beach Hotel
Honami Tanaka Named as Quad Fellow
BBE graduate student Honami Tanaka has been named to the 2024 cohort of the Quad Fellowship, an initiative of the governments of Australia, India, Japan, and the United States designed to promote social good and foster intercultural ties through scientific and technological innovation. This year, the cohort also includes students from Southeast Asian countries in addition to the original quad countries.
Tanaka, a PhD student in neurobiology, is one of 50 graduate students selected for the fellowship, which is administered by the Institute of International Education. The award includes a $40,000 scholarship that can be used for academic costs related to graduate studies in the United States. In addition, Tanaka will have opportunities to participate in cross-cultural exchange activities and mentorship programs with global leaders.
Aditya Nair Recognized with Gruber International Research Award
Aditya Nair, a graduate scholar in Caltech's Computation and Neural Systems program, has been selected as the recipient of the 2024 Peter and Patricia Gruber International Research Award from the Society for Neuroscience. The award, supported by The Gruber Foundation and established in 2005, recognizes up to three early career neuroscientists for outstanding research and educational pursuit in an international setting.
Nair, who is also a National Science Scholar of the Agency of Science, Technology and Research in Singapore, conducts research in the Caltech laboratory of David Anderson, the Seymour Benzer Professor of Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, and director and Leadership Chair of the Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute for Neuroscience.
Peiwei Chen Presents an Everhart Lecture on Gravitational Genome Defense
On June 10th, Chen presented an Everhart Lecture about his research in the group of Alexei Aravin, professor of Biology. In his talk, Chen characterized the genome as a "battleground where every bit of DNA has to fight for inheritance and for evolutionary survival." He went on to describe the interplay between "good" genes and "selfish" genes, which act to outcompete other genes, often causing fertility defects or even harming the organism.
Chen discovered an example of this battle between genes on the sex chromosomes of the fruit fly species Drosophila melanogaster. On one side of the fight: a presumably selfish gene on the X chromosome that Chen named "pirate," which may sabotage sperm carrying the Y chromosome and impact fertility. On the other side: a segment on the Y chromosome that Chen named "petrel," which produces short stretches of RNAs called piRNAs that target and silence the pirate gene.
Convocation
Caltech Welcomes Incoming Students and Scholars
On Monday, September 23, Caltech marked the beginning of the academic year with its annual Convocation ceremony held in Beckman Auditorium. The event brought together faculty, staff, and students to welcome the Institute's incoming cohort of 221 undergraduate students, 251 graduate students, and 99 postdoctoral scholars.
Crossing Over: Art and Science at Caltech, 1920–2020
Wednesday–Sunday through December 15th, 11am - 4pm
- In collaboration with Getty's PST ART, Crossing Over features rare books, scientific instruments, molecular models, historical paintings, drawings, photographs, and films on display across three exhibits as well as installations featuring contemporary art throughout various campus locations:
- Bechtel Mall features an installation by sculptor Shana Mabari, a research collaborator of Prof. Shinsuke Shimojo, welcoming visitors to Caltech.
- Linde Laboratory Coelostat Lobby becomes an exhibition gallery, The Infinite Lawn, incorporating the coelostat itself, which projects a live image of the sun, as well as objects from Caltech’s history of observatories and astronomical images.
- Gates Annex Library displays Time Stream, a gallery of art and rare astronomy books from Caltech’s collection by Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, and others.
- Caltech Hall Pond Bridge hosts an installation by artist Lita Albuquerque, who has coated it with fluttering gold leaf in reference to the stellar nucleosynthesis of gold and other elements theorized by Professor William A. Fowler.
- Dabney Lounge features Powers of Ten, a gallery on histories of images in the work of Caltech scientists and engineers in eight specific fields: seismology, genetics, chemistry, particle physics, nuclear weapons, data visualization, rocketry, and planetary science. It also features new work by Professor Hillary Mushkin and by Lia Halloran, who recently published The Warped Side of the Universe with Professor Kip Thorne.
- Chen Institute hosts an optical lens sculpture by Helen Pashgian, who was an artist-in-residence at Caltech from 1969 to 1971.
Caltech Divisions Publication - Campuswide Exhibition Bridges Art and Science at Caltech
Crossing Over is a part of the Getty Foundation’s major initiative PST Art: Art & Science Collide, along with JPL’s The Stars Are Calling, CaltechLive performances, and about 50 other exhibitions at Southern California art museums and other institutions.
The exhibition is a project of Caltech Library. It is directed by University Archivist Peter Collopy, curated by independent curator Claudia Bohn-Spector, and designed by architect and ArtCenter professor Tim Durfee.
First Aid / AED / CPR Training
Caltech's Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) courses are designed for individuals that would like to obtain or renew a certificate in First Aid and CPR/AED. Red Cross certification is provided to participants upon satisfactory completion of the course requirements.
All Basic Life Support (BLS) procedures are demonstrated in these courses and adhere to the most recent American Red Cross® and American Heart Association/ILCOR Guidelines. They are intended to provide the student with the cognitive skills needed to administer CPR and First Aid in the event of an actual emergency.
2024 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report
Caltech Security is committed to ensuring the safety and security of its community. This 2024 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report not only provides crime and fire statistics for calendar year 2023, but also details Caltech's crime-prevention and safety-related services and programs, as well as the resources Caltech has developed to educate and empower current and prospective students and employees.
Fisher Scientific End-of-Year Promotions
Explore Fisher Scientific's exclusive end-of-the-year promotions from our trusted partners! They have gathered some of the best deals to support your work as the year wraps up. If you don’t see what you're looking for, or need products from other manufacturers, feel free to contact BBE's Sales Rep, Sonita Akhavan - Sonita.Akhavan@ThermoFisher.com
Library News
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Neurology Resource Available
The Library recently subscribed to McGraw Hill's AccessNeurology database, which includes popular neuroscience textbooks like Kandel's "Principles of Neuroscience," as well as quick reference, case studies, and drug information resources. Check it out!
Kristin Briney specializes in helping scientists navigate information resources and in managing research data. You may contact her at briney@caltech.edu.
Join the monthly BBE Library Newsletter to learn more about Library news, events, and resources.
Joe Parker Named MacArthur Fellow
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation has selected Joe Parker, Assistant Professor of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chen Scholar, and director of Caltech's Center for Evolutionary Science, as a 2024 MacArthur Fellow. The MacArthur Fellowship is an $800,000, "no strings attached" grant awarded to individuals in a variety of fields who have shown "exceptional originality in and dedication to their creative pursuits."
Parker is an evolutionary biologist and entomologist whose work focuses on understanding the origins of symbiotic relationships between different species of organisms, with a specific focus on insects. He has pioneered the study of tiny insects called rove beetles in order to illuminate fundamental questions regarding the evolution of interspecies interactions.
Viviana Gradinaru and André Hoelz Named Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators
Viviana Gradinaru is the Lois and Victor Troendle Professor of Neuroscience and Biological Engineering. She is also the Allen V. C. Davis and Lenabelle Davis Leadership Chair and director of the Richard N. Merkin Institute for Translational Research as well as director of the Center for Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience. André Hoelz is the Mary and Charles Ferkel Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
The new investigators, selected from a pool of nearly 1,000 applicants, represent some of the nation's top scientific and biomedical researchers and will receive flexible funding with the idea that "the most exciting and innovative breakthroughs come when exceptional individuals are given the freedom to pursue their boldest ideas."
According to a release issued by HHMI, each of the new investigators will receive roughly $11 million in support over a seven-year term, which is renewable indefinitely pending a successful scientific review.
"HHMI is committed to supporting visionary scientists who are pursuing discoveries that will change our world for the better," said Leslie Vosshall, HHMI vice president and chief scientific officer, in the organization's release.
Richard Andersen Receives Prize for Outstanding Achievements in Neurological Research
Richard Andersen, the James G. Boswell Professor of Neuroscience and director and Leadership Chair of the Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Brain-Machine Interface Center at Caltech, has been awarded the 2024 International Prize for Translational Neuroscience of the Gertrud Reemtsma Foundation. The Gertrud Reemtsma Foundation supports and recognizes outstanding achievements in basic neurological research. Andersen shares the prize with Karl Friston of the Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging in London.
Andersen joined the Caltech faculty in 1993. The focus of his research is exploring the neural mechanisms of sight, hearing, balance, touch, and action. He then uses the insights gained from these investigations to inform the development of neural prosthetics. His approach has enabled paralyzed patients to control robotics and computers that allow them to drink a beverage, play a computer piano, use programs like Adobe Photoshop, and feel the sensation of touch in hands and arms previously been rendered insensate from spinal cord injury.
Meyerowitz Becomes Wolf Prize Laureate in Agriculture
Elliot Meyerowitz, George W. Beadle Professor of Biology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, has been named a Wolf Prize Laureate in Agriculture for 2024 for his "many outstanding and seminal contributions to the field of genetics and our understanding of the molecular basis of plant growth and development." He shares the prize with two other laureates, Joanne Chory of The Salk Institute for Biological Studies and Venkatesan Sundaresan of the UC Davis.
For over four decades, Meyerowitz's research has focused on understanding the mechanisms underlying plant development. He is perhaps best known for pioneering the use of Arabidopsis thaliana as a model plant for research. This small flowering plant in the mustard family, generally regarded as a weed, is now used in thousands of laboratories around the world to understand plant biology and behavior.
"Certainly half, maybe more, of what we know about plant genes, growth, and development now comes from the study of this organism," Meyerowitz says. Indeed, a 2018 article in Genetics, "Biology in Bloom: A Primer on the Arabidopsis thaliana Model System," states "Arabidopsis has become the most widely studied plant in modern biology despite its absence from the dinner table."
Welcome Trevor Nolan
Trevor Nolan joined Caltech as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Biology and Biological Engineering in August. The Nolan Lab focuses on plant roots to explore how cells transition from proliferation to differentiation and how growth is coordinated across tissues. Leveraging cutting-edge techniques like single-cell RNA sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, and in vivo CRISPR screening, the lab seeks to uncover the regulatory mechanisms governing these processes. This research aims to enhance plant growth and resilience, contributing to sustainability in agriculture. Trevor earned his Ph.D. in Genetics and Genomics from Iowa State University and completed his NSF Plant Genome Research Program postdoctoral fellowship at Duke University and HHMI.
Trevor is located in Chen 341, stop by and introduce yourself!
BBE Welcomes Andrew McMahon
Andrew McMahon joined BBE on October 1st, as a research professor. He was a postdoctoral fellow in Eric Davidson’s laboratory studying gene regulation in the sea urchin embryo from 1981-1984, a training that shaped his career in many ways. "I have a special fondness and regard for Caltech". This move from USC where he directed the Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and established and chaired the department of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine will enable him to develop existing collaborations with BBE faculty and initiate new lines of collaborative research targeted on generating functional kidney cell types to model and treat kidney disease.
"Our kidneys regulate the environment for all our organ systems. Consequently, the loss of kidney function has a body-wide impact. Much of our research over the last decade has focused on how the kidney is built, maintained and repaired shifting from a focus on mouse model systems to the human kidney. Our kidneys develop from four progenitor cell types. The interplay amongst these gives rise to the second more complex organ system in the body. Two of these progenitor types, nephron progenitors and ureteric progenitors, generate the functional tubular network of the kidney comprising one million nephrons connected to a highly arborised ureteric progenitor derived collecting system. Nephron progenitors generate over 20 distinct cell types each mediating a specific renal function while ureteric progenitors give rise to another 8 cell types of the collecting epithelium."
His USC collaborators have developed methods to generate and expand human nephron and ureteric progenitors starting from pluripotent human cell lines. Research at Caltech focuses on unlocking the potential of each progenitor cell type to generate the full complexity of functional kidney cell types. The absence of functional human kidney systems precludes an understanding of human organ action and a reliance on animal model systems with significant caveats. Extensive collaborations will be essential to realize their goals. "The deep expertise of Caltech colleagues in single cell technologies, predictive modeling, synthetic biology and cell engineering, and the outstanding infrastructure of support facilities, will be central to the success of this ambitious project".
Mayday! How to Activate a Cell's Emergency Response Procedures - Chan, Chakrabarty, Yang, Chen ("The HRI branch of the integrated stress response selectively triggers mitophagy", Molecular Cell, March 21)
Autism Research Via Smartphone - Adolphs, Kim, Wu, Turner, Paul (Smartphone-based gaze estimation for in-home autism research, Autism Research, April 23)
Genetic Foundations of Regeneration Remain Elusive - Pachter, Goentoro, Olsman ("A Novel Approach to Comparative RNA-Seq Does Not Support a Conserved Set of Orthologs Underlying Animal Regeneration" Genome Biology and Evolution, June 24)
New Technology Images Microbes in 3D - Zhang, Alcalde, Newman, Yang, Zhou, Yin("Investigating 3D microbial community dynamics of the rhizosphere using quantitative phase and fluorescence microscopy." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, July 1)
Neural Network Learns to Build Maps Using Minecraft - Thomson ("Automated construction of cognitive maps with visual predictive coding", Nature Machine Intelligence, July 18)
New genetic-editing technique to alter the traits and fates of wild populations - Hay, Johnson, ("Altering traits and fates of wild populations with Mendelian DNA sequence modifying Allele Sails", August 13)
Multipurpose Vaccine Shows New Promise in the Presence of Pre-Existing Immunity - Björkman, Cohen, Keeffe ("Mosaic sarbecovirus nanoparticles elicit cross-reactive responses in pre-vaccinated animals", Cell, October 3)
Center for Evolutionary Science (CES)
Please mark your calendars for upcoming EVOxZANKOU seminars featuring talks by professors, postdocs and students on evolution-related research they are working on. Lunch by our seminar sponsor, Zankou Chicken, will be served. The next two seminars will be November 14th with Jan Stundl and Hannah Way, December 12th with John McCutcheon of ASU. There are many more interesting talks coming up in 2025! All events will be held from 12-1pm in Chen 130. If you would like to give a talk at an upcoming EVOxZANKOU Seminar, please sign up HERE!
CES Winter Symposium
CES’s Winter Symposium, "Evolution of Organismal Systems", will be held on Wednesday, February 12, 2025. This symposium will feature talks by Jasmine Nirody of the University of Chicago, Matthew Fuxjager of Brown University and Natasha Mhatre of the University of Western Ontario. Time and Location TBD.
The best way to stay informed on CES events and activities is to subscribe to our email newsletter! Subscribe HERE.
You can also visit the CES website, which has up-to-date information on all CES happenings.
Please contact Leah Bieltvedt, Evolution Center Program Administrator, for additional CES information; lbieltve@caltech.edu, ext. 2684
KML Update
KML has nearly wrapped up its exterior construction project. Contractors have been hard at work all Spring and Summer of 2024. KML will be finishing up a full exterior concrete renovation in October, a first in its near 100-year history. Balconies, columns, and walls were rebuilt and the whole facility received a new coat of paint!
KML continues to improve internal elements as well with new lighting and plumbing repairs throughout. The seawater filtration system also received a major upgrade with the implementation of a fully automated drum filter. They have constructed a new filtration room that now houses this new drum filter, bag filters, and UV sterilization to provide high quality seawater to all the labs.
KML Beach Cleanup
KML hosted its first beach cleanup event on 9/21 (National Coastal Cleanup Day). They had over 50 participants join to clean both the beach and underwater in China Cove. Participants sifted through the sand to remove micro-plastics and SCUBA divers searched the depths for garbage that has accumulated over the years.
KML partnered with both the Newport-Balboa Rotary Club and Newport Beach Fire Department who cooked burgers for participants. Over 100lbs of garbage was collected and they left China Cove cleaner than ever before! KML looks forward to making this a regular activity.
If you would like to receive the latest news from KML, please join the mailing list by emailing kml-info@caltech.edu to sign up.
Check out KML's latest NEWSLETTER
Please contact Stephen Ranson with questions regarding KML. sranson@caltech.edu, Ph. (949) 675-2159
Office of Environmental, Health, and Safety
Important Onboarding Procedures for New Graduate Students
New graduate students have arrived on Campus, and all new students must be adequately onboarded in all aspects of working at Caltech, including the unique hazards associated with laboratories.
Before students can begin any work in a laboratory, please ensure that you review all laboratory-specific emergency procedures with them, including utilizing Caltech’s emergency number ext. 5000 (from Caltech landline) or 626-395-5000 (from cell phone) in the event of an emergency, injury, or exposure on campus.
Take time to introduce them to all hazards (chemical, biological, radiation, laser, physical, etc.) that may be present in your laboratory. Here are helpful resources for onboarding:
- Faculty Guide on Laboratory Safety Practices: This guide outlines the onboarding process for new researchers
- Caltech’s Research Safety Programs: The Chemical Hygiene Plan, Biosafety Manual, Laser Safety Manual, X-Ray Safety Manual, and the Radiation Safety Manual are all resources to help inform and educate researchers on mitigating these risks in the lab
- Assist new students in identifying all EH&S administered safety trainings that they may need to complete
- Provide them with laboratory-specific training on the tasks they will conduct
- Document and maintain accessible records of laboratory-specific training provided for review by EH&S
For any questions, please reach out to: safety@caltech.edu or ext. 6727
BBE is on X!
Follow BBE on X for the latest news in the division. @CaltechBBE
Green Labs Update
Green Labs has three exciting new adventures this quarter!
Firstly, they have a new Instagram, so please follow them! Their most recent posts have focused on their Styrofoam Pilot Program, because… STYROFOAM CAN NOW BE RECYCLED!
During this short-term pilot, on the first Wednesday of the next few months, you can now drop off clean Styrofoam at the locations indicated on the pilot programs website. Green Labs will arrange for the Styrofoam to be picked up and sent to a waste recycler that will transform the Styrofoam into picture frames! During the rest of the month, please hold on to your Styrofoam and drop it off only during the drop off dates. If you'd like to get involved, volunteer by filling out this form, OR click here to sign the Styrofoam reduction petition.
Secondly, from September through to December, Green Labs is running a Fall Composting Competition for the eight Lomi composters currently on campus – the group that produces the largest volume of dirt wins a free lunch! They have a leaderboard posted on their website that will be updated periodically. May the Lomi-est group win!
Also make sure to check out the Sustainable Events Resources, which have tips and tricks for making lab events more sustainable and include living documents such as a Sustainable Restaurant Guide.
Thirdly, in addition to several ongoing pilot programs, studies, and monthly meetings, they are challenging labs to get Green Labs Certified! Green Labs Certification takes less than 30 minutes, but there are huge benefits. Your lab will even be awarded a brag-worthy plaque to post outside your lab, and your lab will gain access to special deals and events, along with free energy-efficiency stickers for lab equipment, recycling bins, lab recycling signage, and exclusive educational tools.
Certify your lab today! If your lab is certified before November 29th, you'll be invited to a fun social event to celebrate Certified labs!
Green Labs is a volunteer driven group working towards making labs more sustainable. If you are interested in volunteering, or if you have any questions, please email greenlabsinfo@caltech.edu, or sign up for meetings and/or mailing list!
Chen Institute Annual Kick Off - October 25, 5:00-6:30pm (Please RSVP) - Chen Sunken Garden
Moore Scholar Seminar, Ron Diskin - November 12, 12:00-1:00pm - Chen 100
Caltech Bioscience Industry Day - November 14, 12:00-3:00pm - Chen Breezeway
BBE Holiday Brunch - December 13, 10:00am - 12:00pm, Bechtel Mall
All upcoming events can be found on the BBE Calendar (login required)
This quarterly newsletter is intended to be a valuable resource for the Division of BBE that is distributed via the division mailing list. Please email your feedback and ideas to bbenewsletter@caltech.edu.
If you are not a member of the BBE division and wish to be added to the Newsletter mailing list, please contact bbenewsletter@caltech.edu.
Additional Photo Credits: Caltech, Green Labs, Katie Fisher