CAM Research in Progress, Seminar & Journal Club

The SB AoC is unique in having a combined Research in Progress and Journal Club, every Friday at noon. This way all faculty and students equally attend and present all seminars. Each student in the AoC will be scheduled for one journal club and one research in progress presentation per year (for the first year, it’s only Journal Club).

Guidelines on journal club meetings:

  • To get an A grade, students should actively participate in all Friday meetings (both Journal Club and Research in Progress). Excuses related to scientific meetings, exams, or illness will be allowed. If you have a special case let the course director know ahead of time. Active participation means asking questions during ort after the seminar.
  • Papers can be selected within or outside your expertise. The presenter will benefit from good Q/A stimulated by a joint exploration of a topic. A good paper addresses an important topic while proposing possible solutions (that may have strengths and weaknesses). Flawed papers are sometimes good for critique and constructive discussion.

Guidelines on presentations (journal club and research in progress):

  • First 5-10 minutes – background material that frames the significance of the questions being addressed.
  • The beginning should be engaging to solicit questions or comments from the audience and set the tone for the discussion.
  • Use the high-resolution figures from the website of the journal.
  • Discuss strengths and weaknesses, future plans!
  • CCAM tradition is to interrupt a speaker with questions during the presentation (not waiting till the end of the discussion).
  • The SB AoC is unique in having a combined Research in Progress and Journal Club, every Friday at noon. This way all faculty and students equally attend and present all seminars. Each student in the AoC will be scheduled for one journal club and one research in progress presentation per year (for the first year, it’s only Journal Club).

Guidelines on journal club meetings:

  • To get an A grade, students should actively participate in all Friday meetings (both Journal Club and Research in Progress). Excuses related to scientific meetings, exams, or illness will be allowed. If you have a special case let the course director know ahead of time. Active participation means asking questions during ort after the seminar.
  • Papers can be selected within or outside your expertise. The presenter will benefit from good Q/A stimulated by a joint exploration of a topic. A good paper addresses an important topic while proposing possible solutions (that may have strengths and weaknesses). Flawed papers are sometimes good for critique and constructive discussion.

Guidelines on presentations (journal club and research in progress):

  • First 5-10 minutes – background material that frames the significance of the questions being addressed.
  • The beginning should be engaging to solicit questions or comments from the audience and set the tone for the discussion.
  • Use the high-resolution figures from the website of the journal.
  • Discuss strengths and weaknesses, future plans!
  • CCAM tradition is to interrupt a speaker with questions during the presentation (not waiting till the end of the discussion).

Systems Biology Seminar Series

The Center for Cell Analysis and Modeling (CCAM) conducts an invited seminar series, meeting on Thursdays at 4pm during the academic year (https://health.uconn.edu/cell-analysis-modeling/ccam-events/) . Each SB AoC student is required to attend the seminars. Often, students and PostDocs (no faculty) will host the speaker for lunch, with time for informal discussions. Students may also be invited for a dinner with the speaker and other hosting faculty.