Recent Happenings in the Department of VCAPP

NEW to and DEPARTING from VCAPP

Pam Colbert retired from VCAPP the last day of April 2008 (see photos).  Heather Cochran, who assumed Pam's duties as Neuroscience Academic Coordinator, will continue the tradition of assisting graduate and undergraduate students navigate their neuroscience degree requirements. Welcome, Heather!

Lissette Jimenez left the department of VCAPP to attend medical school in June.

Mark Urza left the department in early July to attend dental school.

Travis Brown assumed duties as a postdoctoral fellow on July 1, 2008 in the lab of Yan Dong.  Congratulations to Travis on completing his PhD requirements!  Travis successfully defended his thesis Thursday, June 12.  His major professor is Dr. Barb Sorg.

As of July 1, the Wegner Vivarium officially moved to the direction of the Department of VCAPP.  The three employees of the vivarium were transferred to VCAPP at that time.  They include Dori Gabelmann, Jon Lindholm and Donna Sienkiewicz.

Derrick Phillips moved to a Research Associate position on July 1st, continuing with Dr. Dave Rector.  Although he has been working in a timeslip capacity, the move will make him a permanent part of the Rector lab.

Fernanda Monjaraz-Fuentes became a Research Associate in the lab of David Rector on July 16.

Congratulations (and welcome) to Amy McNeal who was selected to serve as the departmental compliance officer.  She began her appointment at VCAPP on Monday, July 21.  Welcome, Amy!

Jessica Jahn's last day with Anita Vasavada's lab was August 15.  Also, Rachael Wood's last day with the Rector lab was August 15.

Jennifer Walker began her Research Associate appointment with the Rector lab August 11.

Than Huston moved to a Research Associate position on August 1.

Maria Prieto Pablos (Mayte) from Spain joined the lab of Ruth Newberry on September 1.

Rafal Bukowski is a new Research Associate from Poland.  He began working in the Robert Ritter lab on September 1.

Vitaly Ryu became a new Postdoctoral Fellow with Czaja Krzysztof on September 1.  Vitaly is from the Republic of Korea.

Yonghong Zhang arrived on September 1, 2008, to work with Yan Dong (as a visiting research associate).

Ravi Gollapudi left Wenji Dong's lab in September; Qiang Xu leaves Yan Dong's lab the end of September.

Larry Jensen will be joining the research team of Ruth Newberry in early October.

EVENTS OF NOTE

Pam Colbert Retirement (photos)

Myofilament Modeling Conference a success
The recent Student-Centered Myofilament-Modeling Conference, arranged by Dr. Kenneth Campbell of VCAPP, was deemed a success by all who attended the 2-day event. Participants (below) posed for a photo during a break at the informative and educational schedule.  VCAPP participants included Dr. Campbell, Chair Bryan Slinker, Dr. Wen-Ji Dong, Murali Chandra and his student, Steven Ford.

Celebration of Excellence at CVM
Dean Warwick Bayly invited all members of the Department of VCAPP and CVM to join in a celebration of excellence, Friday evening, May 16 at the Best Western-University Inn, Moscow, ID.  The evening, which featured a catered dinner, showcased CVM faculty and staff accomplishments throughout the past year.

Babies
Fan Lia gave birth to a wonderful baby boy, Isaac (Dawei in Chinese, which means "great or big behavior") on May 5, 2008.  He had lots of hair and mom reports everyone is doing well.

Bobbi Sauer's daughter made her a proud first-time grandma on Saturday, September 6.  Brynn Marie Zeller was born at 4:30 a.m. Saturday morning.  She was 6 pounds 11 ounces and was 19-1/2 inches long.  Brynn's mother, Sara, is Bobbi's oldest daughter.

Sandi Brabb became a granny for the FIRST time on September 11.  Son Stephen and his wife Zaneta became parents of baby son, Lucas VanSantovoortd Ludka 3 weeks ahead of schedule, but baby weighed in at 5 pounds 10 ounces, 19 inches long, and appears to be doing great.  New grandmother, however, is disappointed she won't be able to visit her new grandson, who lives in Florida, until November.

BIRTHDAYS TO CELEBRATE

October:
5-Michael Sardinia
8-Travis Brown
9-Alex Carvajal
13-Manuel Rojas
22-Neal Burke, Mark McNabb
25-Steward Bohnet
27-Vanessa Wakeling, Xiling Wu
30-Thu Dinh

November:
1-Cesar Zamora
3-John Bradley Rudolph
5-Heiko Jansen
9-Dallas Kinch
11-Tricia Duffy
13-Patrick Wilson
16-Jianmei Zhang
22-Paul Whitney
24-Jeanne Jensen
25-Sally Blank
26-Caroline Benoist
28-Ruth Newberry
29-Pete Meighan, Zoltan Peterfi
30-Ken Campbell