Welcome, BMB!
The Annual BMB Retreat has a long tradition in the Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Department. This 2-day getaway to the Rocky Mountains gives departmental members the chance to come together, learn, celebrate, and relax. Join us for seminar updates from each lab, posters on exciting research, and an afternoon to enjoy the beauty of the mountains! It’s a great chance to get to know that person you pass at the ice machine every day, form a new collaboration with a colleague, meet the first-year BMB graduate class, or just nerd out on the latest insights into chromatin!
Use the buttons below to navigate information on this page and in other resources. Look in your e-mail for detailed information about cabin assignments. And please contact Erin Nishimura or Kayla Stewart about any questions, concerns, or inquiries you may have. We’re here to help!
Tuesday August 6th – Wednesday August 7th, 2024
CSU MAIN CAMPUS: NANCY RICHARDSON DESIGN CENTER
Logistics
Schedule
Posters
Getting There & Map
Recreation
Options will be available for social events Tuesday evening and Wednesday afternoon, more details coming soon!
Welcome New Graduate Students
I am Madeleine Coffman (she/her/hers). I am from Kalamazoo Michigan and studied Biochemistry at Kalamazoo College.
In the lab: I am interested in studying a variety of topics especially those related to disease pathways.
Out of the lab: I have a cat named Squid, and I like to spend time outdoors. I love houseplants and am trying to grow my collection and take on more challenging to grow plants.
Looking forward to: I am excited to make new friends, explore Fort Collins, and grow as a scientist. I am also looking forward to 300 sunny days.
Hello! My name is Nandini Das (She/her/hers). I’m from India. After my high school, I did my Bachelor's in Zoology (Hons) from Lady Brabourne College, Kolkata followed by Master's in Biophysics and Molecular Biology from University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India.
In the lab: While I was at Bose Institute, I worked under the mentorship of Prof. Ajit Bikram Datta. Our study aimed to provide a structural and biochemical viewpoint on the ubiquitin conjugating enzyme Ube2T's ubiquitination activity. I became intrigued to research as I was interested in learning how proteins function dynamically and how their regulation and activation vary over time.
Out of the lab: In my leisure time, I enjoy doing workout, socializing with friends, listening to music, and honing my footwork to get better at dancing. Additionally, I enjoy cooking.
Looking forward to: Academically, I’m excited to join the BMB Graduate Program and meet everyone at CSU. Also, I have heard great things about Colorado. Therefore, I would love to explore the mountains, the culture, and most importantly the city FoCo.
My name is Justin Ellis, I am from Cape Coral, Fl. I served in the Marine Corps for 5 years and recently graduated from CSU with Bsc in Biochemistry and Biology.
In the lab: I have been working in Dr. Erin Nishimura’s lab to determine if each individual intestinal cell of the embryonic C. elegans intestine has a distinct transcriptional profile and function. Using single-cell RNA sequencing and fluorescent microscopy techniques, I found evidence that individual cells do sub-functionalize and I have investigated some of those functions.
Out of the lab: I enjoy biking the Spring Creek trail here in Fort Collins and hiking! I also enjoy all forms of games and traveling.
Hi, I’m Becky Lafferty. I’m originally from San Diego, CA but moved to Colorado when I was in middle school. I got my undergraduate degree in Biological Science from CSU.
In the lab: I am interested in studying genomics. I am interested in how chromatin compaction occurs in organisms and chromatin structure.
Out of the lab: I love hanging out with friends playing board games and going to breweries. I love going to concerts and always have the next concert that I’m going to lined up. I just had a baby in February. His name is Cassian and is named after a Star Wars character.
Looking forward to: I’m excited to get to know other people who are also passionate about science. I’m excited to learn and grow as a scientist.
I'm Abigail Proksch (she/they). I am from Lake Orion, Michigan, and I just graduated from Ferris State University with my bachelor's in Biotechnology.
In the lab: I would like to study the mechanisms that make cells work.
Out of the lab: I like to crochet and watch documentaries.
Looking forward to: I'm excited to meet new people and explore the area.
My name is Astrid Quintero and I am from Jacksonville, Florida. I graduated from the University of North Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology and another in Behavioral Neurosciences.
In the lab: My research interests include cellular molecular neuroscience with a concentration in movement disorders and regenerative therapies using stem cells.
Out of the lab: I have a corgi named Frankie, who loves hiking and swimming with me. I also love gardening. Currently, I have 8 orchids, 2 bonsais, and a pomegranate tree.
Looking forward to: I look forward to working with Dr. Soham Chanda finding novel insight to Neuroligins and their structure and function. I also look forward to making career-long connections with my fellow peers.
I’m Shashmeera Shriganeshan (she/ her) from Sri Lanka. I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at the University of Colombo and worked as a demonstrator in the Department of Chemistry, UOC.
In the lab: In my undergraduate research, I studied the effects of CRISPR/Cas9 mediated gene silencing in MCF-7 cells. Moreover, I’m passionate about understanding the cellular processes and biochemical pathways through genetic, epigenetic and molecular investigations.
Out of the lab: I enjoy music and singing, watching mystery movie recaps, reading blogs & books and travelling.
Looking forward to: I’m excited to explore Fort Collins, enjoy hiking and biking, make new friends, and gain good academic exposure and research experience!
My name is Colby Williams (he/him) and I’m from Kansas City, Missouri. I received my bachelor's degree in Biochemistry from the University of Missouri.
In the lab: My interests in science include gene regulation, structural biochemistry, and RNA biochemistry. My goal after grad school is to continue with my research while also working in education.
Out of the lab: I like to go hiking, biking, walking my dogs, and playing video games with friends.
Looking forward to: I’m looking forward to working in a new lab, meeting new people, and living in a state that’s not Missouri.
Welcome New Department Members (coming soon!)
Instructions for Oral Presenters
Timing: Please prepare a talk that is 15 minutes long with 5 minutes for questions. We will strictly adhere to the schedule.
Format: We want as few laptop switches as possible. If you are the first person in a block of speakers, please bring your laptop. Or, if you feel strongly about presenting from your own computer, that’s fine – bring your laptop. Everyone else, please bring your presentation on a jump drive and load your presentation onto the designated laptop prior to the start of your session. Powerpoint, Keynote, and pdf formats are encouraged. If you have a keynote presentation, you can bring a laptop just in case. We will have internet, but the speed/quality is not reliable so please don’t rely on streaming any content.
Image Quality: Please note that the image quality of the projector is not ideal for detailed microscopy images. Please turn up the brightness and adjust the contrast.
Rotation availability: During the retreat, many first-year students are trying to decide which lab they will rotate through. If you are seeking a rotation student, this is a great opportunity to advertise! Consider including a few slides explaining a potential rotation project.
Content: You have the freedom to present what you like. Consider your audience and goal – what would you like to get out of the presentation? For graduate students and post-docs, this will likely be sharing your research accomplishments. For PIs, this may be illustrating potential areas of collaboration or soliciting feedback. And for those seeking rotation students, it may involve a basic overview of your lab’s research program.
Word of caution: Overall, I’d recommend against cramming too much content into your talk. It’s a very short window of time and there are many talks each day. The more streamlined, focused, and paced your message, the better chance you’ll have of being memorable.
Instructions for Poster Presenters
Poster Printing: You should print your poster at the standard 36 in x48 in.
Graduate Students and Post Docs can utilize the new printer in the Student Services Building. Book an appointment using this link https://col.st/yDhq6. Graduate Students get one free poster each year. Reach out to Kayla if you need help with department funds for poster printing.
Undergraduates in the College of Natural Sciences can use the Biology Department poster printer for free, no appointment necessary.
Additionally, there are several off campus printing options. FedEx, Staples, and UPS all cost around $50-$75 and can usually do same-day printing. If you use one of these options, submit your receipt to the main office for reimbursement ASAP.
Day of Presentation: Plan to arrive a few minutes early to set up and stay with your poster throughout the session. If your lab is recruiting new grad students or undergrads, consider mentioning that to your audience. If you are in the first poster session, it would be very cool of you to arrive a few minutes early to help set up stands. Conversely, if you’re in the last poster session it would be very cool of you to stay a few extra minutes to help take stands down.
Be ready for lots of questions from a wide variety of angles, but don’t feel pressured to know everything you’re asked. This is a very casual setting where the idea is to practice presenting, learn what your peers are up to, and get ideas and input from the department. So just relax and have fun, everyone is excited to see what you’ve been working on!
Thank you
The BMB Retreat is made possible by funding from the Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Department. Thank you to the organizational team: Dr. Laurie Stargell, Kristen Cantowine, Kayla Stewart, Erin Nishimura, and Adam Timmerman.