Faculty who arrived during the pandemic study cell function, genetics and symplectic geometry, among other topics. [4 min read]
The natural sciences faculty across departments welcomed new members who arrived at USC Dornsife during the pandemic lockdown. (Composite: Dennis Lan.)
A new group of natural sciences faculty arrived at the USC Dornsife College of Letters Arts and Sciences in 2020 and didnt let the COVID-19 pandemic stop them from setting up labs, engaging with students and conducting important scientific research.They recently shared their academic work and personal interests.
Xianrui Cheng| Assistant Professor ofBiological Sciences
Academic focus:Im researching how the spatial pattern of a living cell is assembled and how it contributes to cellular functions. We have recently discovered that in a plastic dish, the juice (cytoplasm) from frog eggs can spontaneously re-organize into patterns seen in living cells.
More strikingly, these patterns recapitulate cellular functions; they can repeatedly self-replicate like cells do. My lab is using this egg extract system as a model to study the mechanism of pattern formation within cells.
What do you like to do in your spare time?Gardening and photography.
What inspires you?Nature, people and art.
Peter Chung| Assistant Professor ofPhysics and Astronomy
Academic focus:I study proteins that do not fold into stable structures but rather behave structurally like spaghetti in boiling water (adopting many conformations over time). Using a framework of polymer physics, I aim to understand the physiological function and diseased dysfunction of these proteins. The latter is especially important, as nearly every major neurodegenerative disease is unequivocally linked to these unstructured proteins.
What do you like to do in your spare time?Financially sustaining every nearby food truck within a two-block radius of my apartment.
If you could invite one person to dinner, living or dead, who would you select? What would be on the menu?Robert Oppenheimer lived a fascinating life that spanned theoretical physics and leadership in the Manhattan Project, the government program that led to the deployment of the most terrible weapons to ever exist. As he loved his adopted home state of New Mexico, Im sure wed both enjoy tacos.
What inspires you?The students I see at USC. Theyre full of energy and enthusiasm!
Michael Doc Edge| Assistant Professor ofQuantitative and Computational Biology
Academic focus:I develop and use new ways to analyze genetic data with an eye toward understanding our evolutionary history. People who work in my lab are also interested in ways we can use evolutionary thinking to do other jobs that require genetic data, such as finding disease-associated genetic variants or protecting privacy in forensic genetics.
Where is your favorite place to travel?I didnt realize my feelings about the American Southwest could be embarrassing until I saw them embodied in Will Ferrells character onThe Office. But Ive never had a bad trip anywhere.
If you could invite one person to dinner, living or dead, who would you select? What would be on the menu?I cant narrow it down. I will give you a top three among those who use the first name George: Eliot (aka Mary Ann Evans), Saunders, Clinton (the musician, not the U.S. founding father). They can eat whatever they want.
What food or condiments will we always find in your kitchen?Paprika is my favorite crutch.
Geoffrey Fudenberg| Assistant Professor of Quantitative and Computational Biology
My work aims to connect molecular-scale mechanisms with their genome-wide consequences and uses machine-learning and biophysical modeling approaches to decode connections between 3D genome organization and function.
Cornelius Gati| Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences
Academic focus:Im interested in neurotransmission at the atomic scale. Our group focuses on the structure determination of membrane proteins involved in synaptic transmission using the powerful technique ofcryo-electron microscopy.
What inspires you?I get my best ideas while driving (coincidentally something I spend a lot of time doing).
What do you like to do in your spare time?I like to spend time outdoors; hiking and camping are some of my favorites.
Where is your favorite place to travel?Hawaii.
Kyler Siegel| Assistant Professor of Mathematics
Academic focus:I work in symplectic geometry, a relatively young branch of mathematics that aims to understand the fundamental properties of various geometric structures from theoretical physics. It lies at the crossroads of a number of subfields of mathematics including algebraic geometry, topology and differential geometry and also has interactions with string theory.
What do you like to do in your spare time?Jazz guitar, rock climbing, hiking, tinkering, reading and exploring cities by bike.
Favorite book youve read lately?The Code Breakerby Walter Isaacson
Harold Williams| Assistant Professor ofMathematics
Academic focus:I study geometric and algebraic structures that appear in high energy physics.
What do you like to do in your spare time?I like to play my guitars.
If you could invite one person to dinner, living or dead, who would you select? What would be on the menu?Brian May. Whatever happens to be on the menu at Noma that night.
What inspires you?How interesting the universe is.
Learn about other faculty who joined USC Dornsife during the 202021 academic year >>
See the original post:
A new group of natural sciences professors brings cutting-edge science research and instruction to USC Dornsife > News > USC Dornsife - USC...
- Silicon Biosystems to Present Single-Circulating Tumor Cell Molecular Characterization at the Fourth World CTC Summit [Last Updated On: April 26th, 2012] [Originally Added On: April 26th, 2012]
- Protein could be key for drugs that promote bone growth [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2012]
- Study sheds light on genetic 'clock' in embryonic cells [Last Updated On: November 14th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 14th, 2012]
- Study involving twin sisters provides clues for battling aggressive cancers [Last Updated On: February 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: February 9th, 2014]
- Clues for battling aggressive cancers from twin sisters study [Last Updated On: February 11th, 2014] [Originally Added On: February 11th, 2014]
- Genetic cause found for premature ovarian failure [Last Updated On: March 6th, 2014] [Originally Added On: March 6th, 2014]
- Rutgers' Human Genetics Institute Wins $19 Million Federal Contract [Last Updated On: May 15th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 15th, 2014]
- Elsevier Publishes Four New Books in Microbiology Portfolio [Last Updated On: November 13th, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 13th, 2014]
- Disease, Evolution, Neurology, and Drugs: Fruit Fly Research Continues to Teach Us About Human Biology [Last Updated On: February 28th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 28th, 2015]
- "Big Brain" Gene Allowed for Evolutionary Expansion of Human Neocortex [Last Updated On: March 8th, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 8th, 2015]
- Director Molecular Genetics jobs in Rtp at LabCorp [Last Updated On: June 1st, 2015] [Originally Added On: June 1st, 2015]
- Molecular Genetics definition of Molecular Genetics in the ... [Last Updated On: June 4th, 2015] [Originally Added On: June 4th, 2015]
- molecular and human genetics | Momentum - The Baylor ... [Last Updated On: June 19th, 2015] [Originally Added On: June 19th, 2015]
- Molecular evolution - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: July 16th, 2015] [Originally Added On: July 16th, 2015]
- The Rockefeller University Laboratory of Molecular Genetics [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2015] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2015]
- Microbiology & Molecular Genetics - Rutgers New Jersey ... [Last Updated On: September 5th, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 5th, 2015]
- Clinical Genetics Congress | Clinical Genetics 2016 ... [Last Updated On: September 28th, 2016] [Originally Added On: September 28th, 2016]
- Molecular genetics - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: September 28th, 2016] [Originally Added On: September 28th, 2016]
- Molecular Genetics - DNA, RNA, & Protein [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2016]
- MCW: Microbiology and Molecular Genetics Department [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2016]
- Newcastle Hospitals - Molecular Genetics [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2016]
- Molecular evolution - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: October 23rd, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 23rd, 2016]
- Molecular Genetics (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy) [Last Updated On: October 30th, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 30th, 2016]
- Molecular Genetics - mmrl.edu [Last Updated On: November 12th, 2016] [Originally Added On: November 12th, 2016]
- Molecular biology - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: November 12th, 2016] [Originally Added On: November 12th, 2016]
- Human Molecular Genetics - amazon.com [Last Updated On: November 12th, 2016] [Originally Added On: November 12th, 2016]
- Molecular Genetics Service - Great Ormond Street Hospital ... [Last Updated On: November 16th, 2016] [Originally Added On: November 16th, 2016]
- The Passions of Nazneen Rahman - San Francisco Classical Voice [Last Updated On: July 2nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 2nd, 2017]
- Genetic Testing for the Healthy - Harvard Medical School (registration) [Last Updated On: July 2nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 2nd, 2017]
- Fundraising page set up in memory of Nottingham's Maid Marian - Nottingham Post [Last Updated On: July 2nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 2nd, 2017]
- Dogs have their day at conference - Otago Daily Times [Last Updated On: July 2nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 2nd, 2017]
- GGC Graduates Two from Medical Genetics Training Program - Index-Journal [Last Updated On: July 2nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 2nd, 2017]
- Irvine-based CombiMatrix in $33 million merger deal with Bay Area genetics firm - OCRegister [Last Updated On: August 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 7th, 2017]
- First of 10 expected BJC Investigators named - Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis [Last Updated On: August 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 7th, 2017]
- Madhuri Hegde, PhD is Elected to the Board of the ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine - Markets Insider [Last Updated On: August 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 7th, 2017]
- Getting the word out: Seminar, walk put spotlight on Sickle Cell disease - Dothan Eagle [Last Updated On: August 31st, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 31st, 2017]
- Out of a fish gut study, researchers open new doors in intestinal health - Durham Herald Sun [Last Updated On: August 31st, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 31st, 2017]
- Gene-Silencing Finding May Lead to Better Understanding of Some ... - Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News [Last Updated On: August 31st, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 31st, 2017]
- Molecular Genetics and Genomics Program - Wake Forest ... [Last Updated On: October 1st, 2017] [Originally Added On: October 1st, 2017]
- Genetics and Molecular Biology | Peer Reviewed Journal [Last Updated On: June 30th, 2018] [Originally Added On: June 30th, 2018]
- Leeds Genetics Laboratory - Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust [Last Updated On: July 17th, 2018] [Originally Added On: July 17th, 2018]
- Genetics and Molecular Biology Research - iMedPub [Last Updated On: August 2nd, 2018] [Originally Added On: August 2nd, 2018]
- Molecular Genetics | ARUP Laboratories [Last Updated On: August 7th, 2018] [Originally Added On: August 7th, 2018]
- Molecular Genetics - The Ohio State University [Last Updated On: August 21st, 2018] [Originally Added On: August 21st, 2018]
- Peer Reviewed Genetics and Molecular Biology Journals ... [Last Updated On: September 5th, 2018] [Originally Added On: September 5th, 2018]
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2018] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2018]
- Molecular Genetics Jobs, Employment | Indeed.com [Last Updated On: October 10th, 2018] [Originally Added On: October 10th, 2018]
- Genomic Career: Molecular Geneticist ($35,620-$101,030) [Last Updated On: October 10th, 2018] [Originally Added On: October 10th, 2018]
- Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry & Microbiology [Last Updated On: October 10th, 2018] [Originally Added On: October 10th, 2018]
- Molecular Genetics | Department of Pediatrics [Last Updated On: December 1st, 2018] [Originally Added On: December 1st, 2018]
- Graduate Molecular Genetics - University of Toronto [Last Updated On: January 25th, 2019] [Originally Added On: January 25th, 2019]
- Molecular Genetics - OCME - nyc.gov [Last Updated On: February 19th, 2019] [Originally Added On: February 19th, 2019]
- Molecular Genetics - University of Toronto [Last Updated On: March 6th, 2019] [Originally Added On: March 6th, 2019]
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics [Last Updated On: March 13th, 2019] [Originally Added On: March 13th, 2019]
- Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology [Last Updated On: May 4th, 2019] [Originally Added On: May 4th, 2019]
- Molecular Reproduction, Development and Genetics at IISc [Last Updated On: May 18th, 2019] [Originally Added On: May 18th, 2019]
- Molecular genetics | biology | Britannica.com [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2019]
- BCH N of 1 Trial Yields Approved Therapy for Single Rare Disease Patient - Clinical OMICs News [Last Updated On: October 13th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 13th, 2019]
- 5 habits of highly successful entrepreneurs revealed - GrowthBusiness.co.uk [Last Updated On: October 13th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 13th, 2019]
- Leading by example: how AquaBounty, Oxford Biomedica, and Berkeley Lights have successfully brought products to market - SynBioBeta [Last Updated On: October 13th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 13th, 2019]
- Blue Devil of the Week: Searching for Answers in the Genetic Code - Duke Today [Last Updated On: October 13th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 13th, 2019]
- New Viruses Found in Farmed and Wild Salmon - Hakai Magazine [Last Updated On: October 13th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 13th, 2019]
- Veterinary Molecular Diagnostics Market to Reach at a CAGR of 8.48% by 2026 With NEOGEN CORPORATION , Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Virbac, General... [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2019]
- Quantabio to Showcase Industry's Fastest qPCR-based NGS Library Quantification Kit and HiFi PCR Mix at American Society of Human Genetics Annual... [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2019]
- Top Researchers to Present Discoveries Made Possible by Bionanos Saphyr System for Genome Imaging Technology at the ASHG 2019 Annual Meeting - Yahoo... [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2019]
- Bionano Genomics Announces Adoption of Its Saphyr System by Clinical Cytogenetics Groups in Academia and Industry to Replace Traditional Methods for... [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2019]
- Racial Disparities In NIH R01 Funding May Be Partly Caused By Topic Choice : Shots - Health News - NPR [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2019]
- Denison presents: 'Christianity, Race, and the Haunting of the Biomedical Sciences' - The Newark Advocate [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2019]
- This image shows the aftermath of two galaxies colliding - CTV News [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2019]
- Meet The Cast of Charmed Season 2 - TVOvermind [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2019]
- Inherited Learning? It Happens, but How Is Uncertain - Quanta Magazine [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2019]
- Where do Canada's federal parties stand on research funding? - Varsity [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2019]
- The double bind faced by black research applicants - University World News [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2019]
- Excessive Brain Activity Linked to Shorter Life Span - PsychCentral.com [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2019]
- World Renowned Experts Appointed to Skyhawk Therapeutics Scientific Advisory Board - PRNewswire [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2019]
- Lupus Study Illustrates the Importance of Diversity in Genetic Research - Nature World News [Last Updated On: October 30th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 30th, 2019]
- Interpace to Present Data at the ATA Annual Meeting - GlobeNewswire [Last Updated On: October 30th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 30th, 2019]
- Pacific subspecies of fin whales has been revealed by new genetic study - Oceanographic - Oceanographic Magazine [Last Updated On: October 30th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 30th, 2019]
- Genetic Study: Shared Molecular Pathway Might Influence Susceptibility to Lack of Oxygen Caused by Sleep-disordered Breathing and Other Lung Illnesses... [Last Updated On: October 30th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 30th, 2019]
- ERT to Treat Pompe May Work Better in Combo with Blood Pressure Medication, Study Says - Pompe Disease News [Last Updated On: October 30th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 30th, 2019]