Calendar of events, awards
and opportunities

Every week, we’ll update this list with new meetings, awards, scholarships and events. If you’d like us to feature something you’re offering to the bioscience community, email us with the subject line “For ENGAGE.” ASBMB members’ offerings take priority, and we do not promote products/services. Learn how to advertise in ASBMB Today.

Use this weekly list to get your ducks in a row.

Judges needed for science fair in California in May

The International Science & Engineering Fair needs grand award judges on May 12–13 in Anaheim. Senior graduate students through senior-level scientists/professors are eligible. See details.

Mentors in California needed for hands-on STEM program

Snap the Gap, which provides mentors for 10-to 12-year-olds in California, is seeking STEM professionals willing to be paired with students for up to 20 hours of in-person mentoring. Learn more.

Free sequencing panel for coronavirus researchers

Arbor Biosciences is offering the research community a free myBaits Expert hybridization-based panel for the 2019 coronavirus. A company press release said: "The myBaits Expert 2019-nCoV panel is based on all full and partial genome sequences available in the NCBI database." See the full release and contact info.

Nominate a woman to be featured by C&EN

In observation of Women's History Month, C&EN BrandLab and Pfizer will feature a different woman in chemistry each day during the month of March. Nominate your fabulous colleagues — or your own fabulous self! Learn more.

Feb. 29: Northeast Regional Catalyst Conversations

The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, invite you to Catalyst Conversations for Undergraduate Educators on Feb. 29 at the UMass Amherst campus. Educators will exchange ideas about best teaching practices in biochemistry and molecular biology and engaging undergraduates in research. Participants will have the opportunity to give short chalk talks, share instructional materials, and both offer and solicit ideas about new approaches. Students are encouraged to present posters on their research or science outreach activities. Learn more.

March 3: Student science-writing contest deadline

This one should be of interest to our Student Chapters members and other undergraduates: The New York Times, in partnership with Science News, is running a contest for students. Submit your 500-word explanation of a scientific topic that interests you (and would interest others) by March 3. Learn more.

March 6: Supplemental funds for Alzheimer’s work

The National Institutes of Health last month issued a notice of special interest soliciting applications for supplemental funding to expand existing projects to include Alzheimer’s disease work. The supplements will be for up to $250,000 and one year. Applications are due March 6. See the notice for details.

March 7: North Central Regional Catalyst Conversations

The ASBMB invites you to participate in Catalyst Conversations for Undergraduate Educators on March 7 at the Albion College campus in Michigan. Speakers include Marilee Menore, professor of biology and biochemistry at the University of Michigan–Dearborn, and Todd A. Stanislav, director of the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan. More info.

March 7: Southwest Regional Catalyst Conversations

The ASBMB invites you to participate in Catalyst Conversations for Undergraduate Educators on March 7. Sessions will take place at different campuses, and all participants will connect virtually. Participate in person at the University of San Diego campus in California or the University of Arizona campus in Tucson — or join online. More info.

March 15: Entries for neuromodulation research prize due

Write a 1,500-word article about your research for a chance to win $25,000 and have your essay published in the journal Science. The research must have been conducted in the past three years. Learn more.

March 26–27: Science Talk ’20 conference

The Science Talk conference will be held in March in Portland, Oregon. All aspiring and practicing communicators (broadly defined) are welcome to attend. There will be talks, panel discussions, workshops, networking events and public-engagement activities. Student registration costs $110. Professionals pay $350. More info.

March 31: Entries due for Lasker student essay contest

Medical students, biomedical and public health students, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows are invited to submit 800-word essays about the scientists who inspire them for the Lasker Foundation's annual essay contest. The winner gets a prize of $10,000 and a trip to New York to attend the 2020 Lasker Awards in September. See this year's essay theme and submit.

April 10: Participate in study of science outreach

ASBMB Members Jeanne Garbarino from The Rockefeller University and Niki Woitowich from Northwestern University are teaming up to conduct a large-scale survey study which explores the “science” behind science outreach. This National Science Foundation-sponsored research aims to learn more about how science outreach is valued among scientific researchers, what motivates scientists to participate in science outreach, and will examine how gender and race influence participation. All STEM-based graduate students, postdocs, faculty and staff at two- or four-year colleges or universities are invited to participate. No experience or prior knowledge of science outreach is required to complete the survey. Complete the survey.

June 1: Nominations due for Heinrich Wieland Prize

Researchers who have published outstanding work on “biologically active molecules and systems in the areas of chemistry, biochemistry and physiology” are eligible for the 100,000 euro 2020 Heinrich Wieland Prize. Learn more.

June 1: Enter undergrad design challenge

Two institutes at the National Institutes of Health are teaming up with VentureWell to present the 2020 DEBUT Challenge. (DEBUT is short for "Design by Biomedical Undergraduate Teams.") This contest has lost of prize possibilities, with the biggest at $20,000. See the DEBUT website for details.

July 16–17: Free "train-the-trainers" program

The National Institutes of Health and the Association of American Medical Colleges are presenting their second "Train-the-Trainers" event for advisers, staff members and faculty members who provide guidance to and career-related programming for grad students and postdocs in the life sciences. Advance registration is required, but the program is free. See the agenda.

July 20–29: Free glycobiology training in Brazil

The Institute of Biomedical Sciences at the University of São Paulo will host the São Paulo School of Advanced Science on Glycobiology (SPSAS-GLYC) this summer. The program includes theoretical and practical courses and opportunities for student presentations. The organizers tell us that, of the 72 attendees, 36 will be chosen from applications from Brazil, and the other 36 will be chosen from applications from other countries. All 72 attendees will attend for free, with the SPSAS-GLYC covering their travel and accommodations. Learn more.