My laboratory aims to provide a comprehensive mechanistic understanding of how the immune system drives behavioral changes by directly acting on neural circuits of the brain. We are accomplishing this goal by mapping information flow from the periphery to the central nervous system at each node along the neuroimmune axis with a focus on cytokines. I will describe our effort to unravel the role of interleukin-17a (IL-17a) in shaping social behaviors. 

"Using cross-disciplinary approaches across more than 20 animal phyla, we revealed independent origins of neurons and complex brains from genealogically different cell populations. In descendants of earliest metazoans neural and immune systems are simpler and functionally coupled, enabling making hybrid nerve circuits and even entire chimeric animals. The obtained neurobots and fused animals were able to be autonomous and survive, opening unprecedented opportunities for experimental 4D+ synthetic biology, from the reconstruction of ancient neural architectures to the design of elementary brains and basal cognition." 

Please join us at noon on Tuesday, November 19, in 5602 Beckman to learn about Studying Subcellular Metabolites using label-free Null-Deflection scanning probe Infrared (NDIR) Spectroscopic Imaging presented by Ashwin Bale.

Lunch will be provided to those who register for in-person attendance.  Please register by Thursday, November 14.

Register here!

A-WIS Science Uncorked: A Public Seminar Series 

Friday, November 22nd 6-7 pm 
Speaker TBD
The Literary
122 N Neil St. Champaign, IL 61820

Please join Academic Women in STEAM (A-WIS) as we continue our monthly public seminar series, Science Uncorked. Our next seminar event will be Friday, November 22nd at 6 pm at The Literary in downtown Champaign. 

Interested in presenting in the future? Let us know!
Feel free to forward this to anyone you think would be interested in attending. ALL are welcome to attend! 

Whether you are a new or experienced mentor, we invite you to join our workshop on inclusive mentoring. This session will explore effective mentoring practices tailored to supporting diverse student groups. Additionally, we will offer guidance on setting clear expectations and providing feedback in a way that bolsters cultural sensitivities.

Register at: https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/768925406

Register for the 13th Annual weSTEM Conference! Saturday, February 8th, 2025 at the IHotel. Join the Graduate Society of Women Engineers (GradSWE) at Illinois for weSTEM, an annual conference for graduate women and gender minorities in STEM. STEM leaders in academia, industry, and national labs alike will share their insights on pursuing diverse career paths beginning with a graduate degree. This conference includes panel discussions, networking, and breakout sessions to facilitate one-on-one interactions with speakers and promote the discussion of topics unique to the graduate student experience. Come fuel your inspiration to excel in your field, find motivation to complete your graduate degree, and explore your passion for making an impact on the world. Registration is filling up quickly and will close on November 22nd. So, register today to secure your spot! Please contact Nehal Jain (westemattendees@gmail.com) with any questions. Learn more and register at: https://westem.engine