By Amielle Moreno, Neuroscience, ‘12
“Are you going to the banquet tonight,” friends asked each other in laboratory hallways between rushed experiments. There was a hard out on April 18, with all pippetting or imaging coming to a halt, in time for the party. Attendees had arrived that morning with bags holding their fancy dresses or wearing outfits that could easily be transitioned into the cocktail attire of the night. Stragglers need not apply, as RSVPs for the event were submitted weeks ago.
Neuroscience students laugh together in a not so quiet corner of the bar room
Excited students with “where’s the bar” on the tip of their tongues funneled up the hill and stairs to the Druid Hills Golf Club, where three bars split the attendees into lodge style rooms. Unfortunately, outdoor cocktail hour was unavailable this year due to construction.
Students and Faculty alike teased one another about cutting in drink lines and hunting for trays of puff pastries. Director Nael McCarty chatted with students about their recent successes, offering one young lady a letter of recommendation when the time came. The precocious lady replied in thanks and offered to do the same for McCarty.
Microbiology and Molecular Genetics students grab a shot from the photographer.
As diners settled into their salad courses, McCarty checked the make up of his audience by chiding each program to make as much noise as they could, with claps and yells. The results from the cheer-meter are still hotly contested. With speed and respect, McCarty moved through the recipients of the Program Scholar awards. Celebrating the achievements of their colleagues, programs celebrated their friends and award recipients.
Dr. Khaled Machaca was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award. His achievements were touted as he stood on stage with his mentor, Chairman of the Biology Department Dr. Steven L’Hernault. Now a Dean for Research in his own right at Weill Cornell Medicine’s Qatar campus, Dr. Machaca’s laboratory focuses on calcium signaling and potential therapeutic targets for diseases such as cancer and hypertension as well as immune cell activation.
As the night came to a close, attendees collected mini-gift bags quaffed with balloons and crinkling with cellophane. It would be back to the bench tomorrow with the promise of recognition if their scientific or outreach achievements reach the heights of those honored tonight.
Your 2018 GDBBS Award Recipients:
Program Scholars of the Year
BCDB M Edward Quach, Renhao Li, Advisor
CB Emily Summerbell, Adam Marcus, Advisor
GMB Anna Knight, Alicia Smith, Advisor
IMP Kevin Sia, Jyothi Rengarajan, Advisor
MMG Kara Phipps, Anice Lowen, Advisor
MSP Suzanne Mays, Eric Ortlund, Advisor
NS Erica Landis, Machelle Pardue, Advisor
PBEE Brent Allman, Katia Koelle, Advisor
Graduate Career Award
Kendra Quicke, MMG; Mehul Suthar, Advisor
Student Teaching Award
Nick Johnson, PBEE; Karen Conneely, Advisor
Career Teaching Award
Alynda Wood, NS; Sam Sober, Advisor
Student Leadership Award
Sarah Connolly, IMP; Eric Hunter, Advisor
Outreach/Community Service Award
Archana Venkataraman, NS; Brian Dias, Advisor
Student Mentor Award
Anna Knight, GMB; Alicia Smith, Advisor
Faculty Mentor Award
Nicole Gerardo, PBEE
Distinguished Alumnus Award
Khaled Machaca, Ph.D. (CDB Grad, 1996); Steven L’Hernault, PhD Advisor
ENDOWED RESEARCH AWARDS
Graduate Program in Biology Academic and Professional Achievement Award
Kevin Morris, BCDB; Anita Corbett, Advisor
Margaret and Thomas Lew Graduate Award in Biomedical Sciences in Biochemistry
Emily Hunter, BCDB; Win Sale, Advisor
Kevin Morris, BCDB; Anita Corbett, Advisor
Brenda Calderon, BCDB; Graeme Conn, Advisor
Raymond Dingledine Award for Extraordinary Graduate Achievement
Lauren Shapiro, MSP; Shannon Gourley, Advisor
William and Catherine Rice Research Award
Valentina Gonzalez-Pecchi, CB; Haian Fu, Advisor
I’d like to tell you my story about how I found myself on a project dedicated to helping families who have a child diagnosed with 3q29 deletion.