Department Activities

Progress Report

The Cell Biology Department has a longstanding weekly Progress Report series in which graduate students and postdocs give talks about their research in front of the whole department. This is a great forum for everyone to hear and learn about the research going on in other labs, and for both graduate students and postdocs to hone their presentation skills. Every Cell Biology student is expected to present a Progress Report talk each year beginning the 3rd year.

Progress Report is held in C429 SHM on Friday from 11 AM to noon during most of the year except in summer. Each speaker has 30 min for the talk and questions. During the summer, Carl Hashimoto (carl.hashimoto@yale.edu) and Jennifer Scopp (jennifer.scopp@yale.edu) will request from each PI the names of lab members to be put on the progress report speakers list for the coming year. Students 3rd year and up are required to give a progress report every year and are automatically scheduled unless a special waiver is requested by the student’s PI. It is the responsibility of the speaker, and ultimately of the speaker’s PI, to find a replacement in case the speaker cannot speak on the assigned date. Each speaker is required to submit the talk title to Jennifer at least a week prior to the scheduled date of the talk.

Refreshments of bagels, muffins, and coffee/tea are served.

Seminars

The Cell Biology Department hosts a weekly seminar series in which scientists from other institutions or from other Yale departments are invited to talk about their research. The seminar is generally held on Wednesday at noon in varying rooms at the medical school, including C429 SHM, 101 Hope, and Brady Auditorium. Coffee/tea and cookies are available 15 minutes before the seminar. It is expected that all students will attend all of the seminars offered by the Cell Biology seminar series, regardless of topic.

Students and postdocs, in addition to faculty, are strongly encouraged to invite and host seminar speakers. Please discuss names of potential speakers with Elisabetta Ullu (elisabetta.ullu@yale.edu), the faculty currently in charge of the seminar series. Alternatively, suggest names to Chris Mader (christopher.mader@yale.edu) or Hanna Chapin (hannah.chapin@yale.edu), the current student representatives on the seminar committee. Jennifer Scopp (jennifer.scopp@yale.edu) is in charge of travel arrangements, seminar announcements, and meeting appointments for seminar speakers. Hosts are responsible for ensuring that their speakers have an enjoyable time while visiting the department.

Students and postdocs are also strongly encouraged to attend the lunch with the seminar speaker held immediately after the seminar, usually in room C225 SHM. In addition to a free lunch, this is a great opportunity to meet the seminar speaker. Please contact Jennifer if interested in having lunch with a particular seminar speaker.

Retreat

Once a year in the fall the whole department goes on a retreat. In 2006, we went for a 1-day retreat to Water’s Edge Resort and Spa in Westbrook, CT, not more than 45 minutes away from New Haven. The retreat provides a relaxed setting for all members of the department to engage in scientific discussions and in social activities. In addition to talks and a poster session, a highlight of the retreat is a skit put on by 2nd year graduate students lampooning the faculty. The PI’s grants cover the cost of attending the retreat for students and postdocs. Contact Jennifer Scopp (jennifer.scopp@yale.edu) for further information about the retreat.

Happy Hour

The department has a happy hour on Friday 5-7 PM, held once a month in BCMM 208. Marc Pypaert (marc.pypaert@yale.edu) is the organizer responsible for the excellent varieties of wine, beer, cheese and other food featured at the happy hour. Each happy hour is hosted by one or two labs, which are responsible for setting up the refreshments and cleanup. A flyer announcing the happy hour should also be created by the hosting labs and emailed to Jennifer Scopp (jennifer.scopp@yale.edu) about a week before the date of the happy hour so that it can be disseminated and posted. A list of the hosting labs is circulated. Admission is free, and all are encouraged to attend!