Visitor of the Week: Fabian Rivera-Chavez

Meet Fabian Rivera-Chavez of Harvard Medical School. The postdoctoral research fellow and John Mekalanos lab member returns to the CSHL campus for his second consecutive Microbial Pathogenesis & Host Response meeting. 

What are your research interests? What are you working on?
I'm interested in understanding how bacterial pathogens use virulence factors to outcompete the resident bacteria in the intestine and transmit to a new host. I am currently studying the bacterial pathogen Vibrio cholerae, the causative agent of cholera. 

Was there something specific about the Microbial Pathogenesis & Host Response meeting that drew you to apply?
This meeting is a great opportunity to hear about the latest cutting-edge research by some of the top scientists in the field. As a smaller-sized meeting, it is also a fantastic networking opportunity. 

What is your key takeaway from the meeting?
Microbial pathogens have very clever strategies for evading (and sometimes even benefiting) from the host immune response. 

How many CSHL meetings have you attended?
This is my second time at the Microbial Pathogenesis & Host Response meeting and I definitely plan to attend this meeting again in the future.

If someone curious in attending a future iteration of Microbial Pathogenesis & Host Response meeting asked you for feedback or advice on it, what would you tell him/her?
This is one of the top meetings in the field of microbial pathogenesis and is a great opportunity to present your research and connect with peers. These meaningful interactions often lead to lasting relationships that are instrumental to the development of your career. Make the most of the meeting and meet as many people as possible!

What do you like most about your time at CSHL?
I really enjoyed being surrounded by an enthusiastic and inspiring group of scientists in the beautiful CSHL campus.  

Thank you to Fabian for being this week's featured visitor. To meet other featured scientists - and discover the wide range of science that takes part in a CSHL meeting or course – go here. 

Visitor of the Week: Jana Dobrovolna

Meet Jana Dobrovolna of the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. A junior investigator in the Laboratory of Genome Integrity headed by Jiri Bartek, Jana is on campus for the 2017 Eukaryotic DNA Replication & Genome Maintenance meeting. 

What are your research interests? What are you working on?
DNA replication and transcription are two essential processes in each living cell; however their simultaneous action in the same region of a genome can lead to DNA damage. My work focuses on uncovering molecular mechanisms that prevent and resolve the interference between DNA replication and transcription. 

Was there something specific about the Eukaryotic DNA Replication & Genome Maintenance meeting that drew you to apply?
The opportunity to discuss my work and get feedback from the best researchers in this field are my main drivers to attend this meeting. Also, before I signed up, I checked the invited speakers list to determine how many of my favorite speakers would be in attendance. 

What is your key takeaway from the meeting?
The formation of RNA:DNA hybrids (referred to as R-loops), and mutual orientation of proceeding DNA replication and transcription at the site of their collision dramatically affect the levels and types of the consequent DNA damage. 

How many CSHL meetings have you attended?
To date, I have attended five CSHL meetings focusing on three different topics. I altered my research interests during my PhD and postdoc studies and then again during my current position, and I have found that the meetings at CSHL are always the best and fastest way to gain an excellent overview of the most up-to-date news in a given topic. 

Have you taken part in a CSHL course? 
No, I unfortunately did not have the chance due to financial reasons. But I have recommended the Proteomics course to a colleague who was very satisfied with the course. He applied a lot of the knowledge gained at the course to further his research.

If someone curious in attending a future iteration of Eukaryotic DNA Replication & Genome Maintenance meeting asked you for feedback or advice on it, what would you tell him/her?
I highly recommend this meeting.

What do you like most about your time at CSHL?
Although the program is packed with many great talks, there is still enough of time for informal discussions. CSHL has a genius loci - I love the spirit of this place.  

Thank you to Jana for being this week's featured visitor. To meet other featured scientists - and discover the wide range of science that takes part in a CSHL meeting or course – go here. 

Visitor of the Week: Liguo Dong

Meet Liguo Dong of the University of Macau (China). The PhD student is studying in the Faculty of Health Sciences and is a member of Chris Wong's lab. On campus for the Mechanisms of Eukaryotic Transcription, this is Liguo's first visit to CSHL and already has plans to attend another Cold Spring Harbor meeting in our Asia campus. 

What are your research interests? What are you working on?
My interest is in gene regulatory network, and my work uses a fungi species, Aspergillus nidulans to construct gene regulatory network.

Was there something specific about the Mechanisms of Eukaryotic Transcription meeting that drew you to attend?
I was most drawn by the topics covered at this meeting and the high-quality of research that were presented at this meeting in previous years.

What is your key takeaway from the meeting?
I gained exposure on the background and latest developments around transcription regulation. This was my purpose for attending this meeting and I plan to apply what I have learned here to my research.

How many CSHL meetings have you attended?
This is the first meeting at CSHL I have attended and would like to attend the  2018 Chromatin, Epigenetics & Transcription meting at CSH Asia.

If someone curious in attending the Mechanisms of Eukaryotic Transcription asked you for feedback or advice on it, what would you tell him/her?
This meeting is a high-quality gathering of the field's leading researchers. You hear and discuss the latest findings and ideas, and have numerous opportunities to meet others in your field.  

What do you like most about your time at CSHL?
I most enjoyed listening to and learning of the speakers' work. 

Thank you to Liguo for being this week's featured visitor. To meet other featured scientists - and discover the wide range of science that takes part in a CSHL meeting or course – go here.

Visitor of the Week: Gamage Mauli Aruggoda

Meet Gamage Mauli Aruggoda of Hunter College - The City University of New York. Gamage is a PhD student and a member of Frida Kleiman's lab within the Chemistry Department. She returned to campus to attend the 2017 Eukaryotic mRNA Processing meeting where she presented a poster titled "HuR ubiquitination by BRCA1/BARD1 and its role in controlling gene expression during DMA damage response".  

What are your research interests? What are you working on?
I am interested in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression by RNA binding proteins. I am working on how ubiquitination of the RNA binding protein HuR by the tumor suppressors BRCA1/BARD1 regulates gene expression during the progression of the DNA damage response

Was there something specific about the Eukaryotic mRNA Processing meeting that drew you to attend?
For me, this meeting is an amazing opportunity to meet the leaders in the field and peers working in diverse areas of RNA processing. I was eager to share my work in a poster presentation with colleagues; and I received productive criticism that will allow me to improve my research project.  

What is your key takeaway from the meeting?
I am gaining a lot from this meeting. Besides learning of the latest findings in research, technical advances, thought-provoking novel ideas, and massive amount of knowledge generated by large-scale studies in different fields, I am also getting to know peers working on the same research areas. 

How many CSHL meetings have you attended?
To date, I have attended two CSHL meetings (Eukaryotic mRNA Processing, 2016 Translational Control) and hope to attend the Regulatory & Non-Coding RNAs meeting in 2018.

If someone curious in attending your meeting asked you for feedback or advice on it, what would you tell him/her?
You spend a few days with people who not only share your interests but also want to engage into conversation. These discussions enrich your thinking and provide you with different perspectives on your work. In general, I think it is an inspiring opportunity and attending this meeting is a wonderful professional and personal experience. 

What do you like most about your time at CSHL?
The meeting is set in a beautiful and relaxing environment – an ideal space to spend with my colleagues.

Thank you to Gamage for being this week's featured visitor. To meet other featured scientists - and discover the wide range of science that takes part in a CSHL meeting or course – go here.

Visitor of the Week: Mateus Milani

Meet Mateus Milani of the University of Liverpool (UK). The PhD student is a member of Shankar Varadarajan's lab in the Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine with the Institute of Translational Medicine. Mateus made his first visit to CSHL to attend the 2017 Cell Death meeting.

What are your research interests? What are you working on?
Our lab is interested in studying the mechanisms by which cells can undergo apoptosis (a programmed form of cell death). We want to understand how key proteins that control apoptosis can be exploited as targets for cancer therapy. Currently, I am working on how to optimally target these proteins in several kinds of cancer and determining the cellular consequences of targeting them for cancer therapy, such as changes in mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum.

Was there something specific about the Cell Death meeting that drew you to apply?
The caliber of the speakers and research from by the community made for an excellent motive to attend the meeting.

What is your key takeaway from the meeting?
In order to provide an ideal treatment for cancer patients, we still have a lot to do and understand about cell death. We have to put our efforts together in a collaborative way so as to greatly improve people's life and make good science.

If someone curious in attending a future Cell Death meeting asked you for feedback or advice on it, what would you tell him/her?
Be prepared to be amazed: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is based in an astonishing location surrounded by nature and beautiful views. On top of that, the meeting gathers the very best in the field who present their most advanced discoveries. The combination cannot go wrong: having good ideas and feedback in a beautiful place is all a researcher can ask for.

What do you like most about your time at CSHL?
The Laboratory is a natural spectacle and walking around it is just so calming and beautiful. The gardens and art scattered throughout campus are delightful, and the beach is an added bonus. 

Thank you to Mateus for being this week's featured visitor. To meet other featured scientists - and discover the wide range of science that takes part in a CSHL meeting or course – go here.