Some findings suggest that representations of the world in the brain are not fixed, however, these results remain controversial. We used a multisensory virtual reality system to control for changes in behavior and sensory experience and found that hippocampal representations of space do indeed drift over time. We will discuss problems my lab is tackling to better understand drift and its consequences.

Neurons use viral-like particles to communicate remotely. However, the underlying biochemistry is unclear. To address this challenge, we combined quantitative imaging with cell biology to study how protein-lipid interaction facilitates the biogenesis and trafficking of Arc capsids in neurons. Results provide insights into trafficking mechanism shared by structurally resembled capsid proteins. 

Catherine Dulac, the Samuel W. Morris University Professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Harvard University, will give the annual Beckman-Brown Lecture on Interdisciplinary Science at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 10, in the Beckman Auditorium.

The lecture honors Arnold O. Beckman, the founder of the institute, and Theodore "Ted" Brown, the founding director. The series is funded by a gift from the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation.

The day will be a celebration of Brown. Before the lecture at 1:15 p.m., the institute will host a ribbon cutting at Ted's Café on its first floor, which is named in Brown's honor. Brown will attend.

A reception will follow both the lecture and ribbon cutting at 3 p.m. in the Beckman Atrium. Please RSVP by Sept. 3.

Professor Dulac's talk abstract: Neurobiology of Sickness and Social Behavior
Social interactions are essential for animals to survive, reproduce, raise their young. Over the years, my lab has attempted to decipher the unique characteristics of social recognition: what are the unique cues that trigger distinct social behaviors, what is the nature and identity of social behavior circuits, how is the function of these circuits different in males and females and how are they modulated by the animal physiological status? In this lecture, I will describe our recent progress in understanding how specific brain circuits and cell types direct adaptive changes in behavior during sickness episodes in mice. Finally, I will describe our recent work uncovering how different parts of the brain as well as discrete, molecularly defined neuronal populations participate in the positive and negative control of the drive for social interactions when animals are isolated or part of a group, providing a new framework to understand the regulation of social behaviors in health and disease. 

Research Topics
Learning and Memory, Neurobiology, Imaging, Computational Neuroscience, Spatial Cognition, Spatial Navigation. 

Research Description
The evolution of neural firing over the lifetime of memory.
Our laboratory is interested in the neural underpinnings of memory. While neuroscientists broadly agree that changes at synapses are responsible for the acquisition of memory, we are just starting to understand what governs these changes and how they lead to changes in neural firing patterns. In particular, little is known about the neurobiological events that underlie forgetting, a complex process whose normal operation is critical for daily function. I believe there is a critical relationship between forgetting and continual learning, and that we can observe signatures of this using novel behavioral tasks and by recording neurons as memories develop and are forgotten.

We investigate how neurons fire as animals learn and how this activity evolves over the lifetime of spatial memories stored in the hippocampus. We use calcium and neurotransmitter imaging to examine neural activity and use computational approaches to understand the content of the messages being received and sent by neurons. These techniques let us understand memory at multiple scales: from populations and networks of neurons down to the input-output function of individual neurons. By combining these approaches with virtual reality tasks, we will better understand the neurobiological events that underlie memories and, ultimately, how memories are forgotten.

Join A-WIS for our monthly seminar series, Science Uncorked. Our events this semester will be at 6 p.m.at The Literary in downtown Champaign on the following Thursdays:

• September 11
• October 9
• November 13
• December 11

All are welcome! Interested in presenting in the future? Contact a-wis@illinois.edu.

Going on the academic job market? You'll likely need a teaching statement, and you may also need a diversity statement and/or service statements. In this informative workshop, you will learn what goes in each of these documents, how they should be formatted, and how to use them effectively in your job search.

No registration required. This session will take place on Zoom at 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

The Graduate Research Plan is one of two required statements for the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF-GRF) application. In this workshop, students will learn the basic rules of proposal writing, the components of an effective proposal, and how to apply that knowledge to the specific requirements of the NSF-GRF Graduate Research Plan Statement. Participants will leave with a template that can be adapted for other prestigious university, national, and international funding competitions. 

This workshop is part of our series "NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Fundamentals." Interested students should first complete the corresponding self-guided Canvas course, and should also plan to attend our workshop on Writing an Effective NSF-GRF Personal Statement.

Register in advance for the link to this online workshop. 

See more Graduate College Workshops.

The Personal, Relevant Background, and Future Goals Statement is one of two required statements for the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF-GRF) application. In this workshop, students will learn how to interpret the statement prompt and a three-step process to draft a concise, concrete, and compelling narrative. Participants will leave with an understanding of the qualities of an effective personal statement and a writing process that can be adapted for other prestigious university, national, and international funding competitions. 

This workshop is part of our series "NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Fundamentals." Interested students should first complete the corresponding self-guided Canvas course, and should also plan to attend our workshop, Writing an Effective NSF-GRF Graduate Research Plan (see dates and register through the Grad College calendar).

Register in advance for the link to this online workshop. 

See more Graduate College Workshops.

The ability to craft an effective funding proposal is a skill that can reap a lifetime of rewards. As a graduate student, now is the time to hone your grantwriting proficiency. In this workshop, designed for students in STEM fields, you will learn how to identify funding opportunities, strategize the components of an effective proposal, and think like a grantwriter. Come with questions about this mysterious genre, leave with a template that you can adapt to become a competitive applicant for prestigious university, national, and international funding competitions. 

Register in advance for the link to this online workshop. 

See more Graduate College Workshops.

Join Mindfulness & Movement to experience an expertly led program, intentionally created to guide participants through mindfulness meditations and easy stretching exercises in a relaxing, virtual atmosphere! This six-week series takes place every Wednesday from 12:15pm-12:45pm, starting on September 3, 2025.  Registration closes on Wednesday, August 27 or when the class is full.

The Beckman Institute will celebrate Beckman Founding Director Ted Brown the afternoon of Wednesday, Sept. 10. Ted has generously named Ted's Café, the completely remodeled gathering space within the Beckman Atrium.

Events
1:15 p.m.
Ribbon cutting with remarks from Illinois and Beckman leaders in the new café

2 p.m.
Beckman-Brown Lecture on Interdisciplinary Science, featuring Catherine Dulac, a molecular biologist and neuroscientist from Harvard University, in the Beckman Auditorium

3 p.m.
A reception celebrating Dulac, Ted Brown and Ted's Café, in the Beckman Atrium

Please RSVP by Wednesday, Sept. 3.

Employees experiencing mental health challenges may show signs such as changes in performance, attendance, appearance, or behavior.  This seminar helps participants recognize these indicators, document job-related concerns, approach sensitive conversations in a supportive and constructive way, and connect employees with appropriate resources.