Many individuals experience long-lasting cognitive/neurological problems after COVID-19, but the causes are unknown. We find that cerebrovascular Wnt/beta-catenin pathway suppression contributes to neuroinflammation and cognitive deficits in COVID-19/Long COVID mouse models by opening transcellular and paracellular blood-brain permeability. This suggests potential therapeutic strategy.

Michelle Tomaszycki will present and discuss the newly approved qualifying exam procedures. This will be followed by an orientation on the qualifying exam process and a Q&A. Students and faculty are welcome to attend. 

The field of human neuroimaging has recently begun to focus on “precision mapping”--reliably mapping and characterizing the brains of single individuals. Dr. Gordon will discuss his initial work which spurred this conceptual shift, and he will describe how these approaches enabled a reconceptualization of fundamental features of brain organization, including the topography of the primary motor cortex.

Join members of the Beckman community for informal conversation and coffee in the atrium!

Please join us at noon on Tuesday, October 15, in 5602 Beckman to learn about An overview of key technologies that constitute the Stellaris platform, multiphoton microscopy and tunable spectral detection with our DIVE systems, and recent advances in our STED systems presented by Ken Calderone.

Lunch will be provided to those who register for in-person attendance.  Please register by Thursday, October 10.

Register here!

Join members of the Beckman community for coffee and cookies in the Beckman Atrium. The Cookie Collab is scheduled for 3 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month. 

Please join the Beckman DEI committee at INNER VOICES Social Issues Theatre on October 24^th at 5p in room 1005. 

Inner Voices Social Issues Theatre: 'The Importance of Names'

The Counseling Center and Illinois Theatre's Inner Voices Social Issues Theatre will present, "The Importance of Names" at the Beckman Institute. The performers will address critical social issues that impact the college experience and society at large. Registration required. Food will be provided.

Beckman Director Steve Maren will be hosting a weekly Director’s Coffee Hour at 9 a.m. on Fridays at one of the nearby coffee shops (the Daily Byte or Espresso Royale) until the Beckman Café reopens. It's a great opportunity to get to know your new director and for him to get to know you and your research. Steve's buying! 

Please contact Stacy for details on meeting Steve.

This interactive session shares best practices for beginning and sustaining a mentoring relationship in a research context. It will address topics like assessing mentee goals, setting expectations, choosing and assigning work, providing constructive feedback, combating implicit bias, what to do when things go wrong. This session fulfills part of the training requirement for the Graduate College Mentoring Certificate.

No registration required. You can join in person (Graduate College, 507 E. Green St., Champaign) or on Zoom (https://go.grad.illinois.edu/eventspace).  

See the full listing of Graduate College workshops at https://go.grad.illinois.edu/workshops

*If you require any disability-related accommodations to participate in this workshop more fully, please email gradsuccess@illinois.edu

You know that a strong network can help you advance in your career, but actually building that network can feel uncertain and awkward at times. This workshop aims to demystify every step of your networking efforts, by giving you practical tools for identifying people and making first contact to maintaining those connections over time. We will discuss various strategies and resources to help , including how to use LinkedIn, events, and academic conferences to make professional connections.

No registration required. This session will be broadcast online at https://go.grad.illinois.edu/eventspace

*If you require any disability-related accommodations to participate in this workshop more fully, please email gradsuccess@illinois.edu

What are interviews like for jobs in industry and the nonprofit sector? What are interviewers looking for? What questions should YOU ask? In this workshop, you will learn the basics of the interview process, devise a strong strategy for answering questions, and learn some examples of questions to ask your interviewers.

No registration required. This session will be broadcast online at https://go.grad.illinois.edu/eventspace

*If you require any disability-related accommodations to participate in this workshop more fully, please email gradsuccess@illinois.edu

Join us for our interactive, hands-on science experience "World of Genomics: Discover Everyday DNA" featuring multiple stations focused on specific aspects of science!

Visitors will learn about DNA, genetics, agriculture, robotics, microbes—all through family-friendly activities led by researchers from the IGB. See living biobots in action, interact with our ant and bee hives, explore the structure of DNA, score yourself on the Veggie Meter, and much more!

Lunch with the Core, Speaker TBA

Susan Leggett, PhD
Department of Bioengineering; University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

"Cancer-On-a-Chip: Reconstructing Breast and Ovarian Tumor Microenvironments to Uncover Dynamics of Cancer Spread"

"Assessing the Impact of Paraben on Uterine Collagen Architecture: An Integrated Approach Using SHG, AFM, and Nanoindentation" - Mahmuda Arshee, Graduate Teaching Assistant - Mechanical Science & Engineering

Date: Friday, October 18, 2024

Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. CST/ 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm EST

Get energized, focused, and calm! Join our mindfulness instructor extraordinaire, Kristina Reese, in a six-week virtual Mindfulness and Movement series. These live video classes combine mindfulness-based meditation instruction with easy-to-do “desk yoga” type exercises. Contact us at wellbeing@illinois.edu to register for the class.

Our Dare to Dream program offers a unique approach to life planning; this six-week program meets virtually at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays starting September 24. Participants actively visualize and creatively strategize how to move toward realizing their dreams. Group support, honest introspection, and creative expression are encouraged.  To learn more or to register, reach out to us at wellbeing@illinois.edu.

Join us at noon on Wednesdays for yoga with a view! All sessions are free and will be held in Beckman's fifth-floor tower room. All are welcome to bring their own mat!