March Bulletin

Issue 66

Community Notices

(Left to Right) Dr. Chayanon Ngambenjawong and Dr. Gregory Ekchian.

March Research Seminar.

Next (internal) Marble Center seminar is on Monday March 28th, 4-5pm at the KI Luria Auditorium with a research update by Dr. Chayanon Ngambenjawong of the Bhatia Lab on “Conditional antimicrobial peptide therapeutics.” The research update will be followed by a hot topic discussion on translating academic research by Dr. Gregory Ekchian, Co-Founder and CEO at Stratagen Bio.

For those who prefer to join remotely, the Zoom link will be provided in a reminder email through our distribution list. Following the seminar, please join us for a social with food and soft drinks (starting at 5:00pm).

Cancer’s New Normal

Missed last month’s Hot Topic discussion? Here is a link to Dr. Joelle Straehla’s excellent discussion on how cancer patients still face pandemic-related challenges. Her presentation is based on a recent perspective article published in Nature Cancer by Elie Dolgin as well as the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)’s report on the Impact of COVID-19 on Cancer Research and Patient Care.

In the News

Poster symposiums at the Koch Institute

The joint MIT Jameel Clinic and Koch Institute Poster Session will be held on Tuesday, April 5th from 1-3pm in the Luria Auditorium at the Koch Institute. This will be an in-person only event. All Jameel Clinic and Koch Institute Community members are welcome to present a poster at this event. Friendly reminder to register here by 10am on Friday, March 25th .
***SAVE THE DATE*** The Marble Center for Cancer Nanomedicine Poster Symposium will be held on Tuesday May 3, 2022 (3:30-5:30 pm) at the Koch Institute galleries and Luria Auditorium. The Marble Center invites members of the Koch Institute community and collaborators working in nanoscale and precision medicines to participate in the poster session and network over food with other researchers, faculty, as well as industry members from our newly launched industry program. Top 3 posters will receive prizes! Registration will open soon.

Meet the amazing women of chemistry.

Chemical & Engineering News has compiled a collection of interviews, profiles, and career snapshots of women in the molecular sciences. This collection features profiles from many members of our MIT community, including Professors Angela Belcher and Paula Hammond.

STAT names Prof. Sangeeta N. Bhatia to their list of trailblazing researchers working in the life sciences.

STAT has named Noubar Afeyan ’87, Cornelia Bargmann PhD ’87, Prof. Regina Barzilay and Prof. Sangeeta N. Bhatia to their list of trailblazing researchers working in the life sciences. “Many of the STATUS List are well-known as change makers; others are largely unheralded heroes. But all have compelling stories to tell,” writes STAT. Read more…

Moderna co-founder Robert Langer: ‘I wanted to use my chemical engineering to help people’

(The Guardian) The chemical engineer Robert Langer co-founded Covid-19 vaccine maker Moderna, and his innovations have helped create more than 100 products from artificial skin to messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines. The 73-year-old has a mountain of research papers and patents to his name, on top of which he has started more than 40 companies and won more than 200 awards, including the Queen Elizabeth prize, which has been called the “Nobel for engineering”. Langer’s biomedical engineering lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he holds a professorship, employs more than 100 researchers. He spoke to the Observer to mark Unesco World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development, held earlier this month. Read more…

Jobs

mRNA - Scientist, Delivery & Formulation Development, Sanofi.

Sanofi is looking for a candidate to develop novel lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulations for mRNA delivery. In this role, the candidate will lead formulation development of mRNA drug targets entailing LNP formulations for in vitro/in vivo studies; evaluate novel ideas for formulation optimization and increasing stability of formulations; develop novel formulations and explore new processes for formulation design; work closely and build relationships with select CROs with focus on in vivo studies, drug carrier design/development, assay development; prepare technical reports and presentations for clear communication of scientific findings across interdisciplinary teams; promote innovation, state of the art technologies and propose strategies using publications to improve the products; and make scientific presentations and report project progress within mRNA CoE Formulation teams and with partners and in international forums. Learn more…

Associate or Senior Editor, Nature Materials.

The successful applicant will work within a close-knit multidisciplinary team of editors on all aspects of the editorial process, including manuscript selection, the overseeing of peer review, the generation and discussion of ideas for new content, the commissioning and editing of reviews and comments, and writing. Editors play an important role in determining the representation of their subjects in the journal and the position also requires attendance of international scientific conferences and liaising regularly with researchers via conference calls and on-site visits. The position will be based in our London, Berlin, New York or Shanghai offices. This is a demanding and intellectually stimulating position. Broad scientific expertise, the ability to absorb new knowledge, and a keen interest in the communication of science are prerequisites. We seek candidates who are resourceful, open-minded, decisive and diligent. The role involves constant learning, and offers flexibility in self-management and a sensible balance of independence and collaborative teamwork. Learn more…