The Genome Ambassador Program (GAP) kicked off the Spring 2022 semester with a new virtual seminar series “Exploring Topics in Diversity, Advocacy, and Genetics” hosted by students and open to anyone interested in the topic of the week. Martin Kellogg Middle School students will be hosted by GAP members on April 1, 2022 in the ISG/CGI facilities. The 7^th graders will trace traits in “make a monster” and “how picky is your pallet “activities, learn karyotyping, make a DNA necklace, and tour the CGI Next Generation sequencing lab. The GAP membership continues its weekly educational outreach on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter platforms. GAP members inclusive of alumni, faculty, graduates, and undergraduate students encourage you to join them in support of the Program’s mission to advance the genetic and genomic literacy of our community as a public education initiative and advocating for increased diversity of persons who pursue education and careers in the genetic sciences.  

The Cores within the ISG continue to ensure staff follow local, federal, University and CDC guidelines for physical distancing while efficiently meet the needs of those who require our genomics services.

CGI: The CGI has spent the last several months tackling our queue for services. We continue to accept new projects; note that disruptions to supply chains from various vendors impact our workflows. We will make every effort to let PIs know the most accurate timeline for sample processing and when interruptions to service occur. We appreciate your patience as we navigate the supply issues faced by facilities nation-wide.

What does this mean for CGI users who have been approved to return to campus for work in the laboratory?

• Eurofins Sanger submission daily pick up is now available using the dropbox in ESB.  If you prefer sending samples out directly from your lab, you can request shipping labels and/or envelopes from the CGI.
• Sample pick up from UConn Health sites will continue to be offered as needed. Please contact Bo Reese for more information on delivery options.
• In-person training for Illumina MiSeq, located in the Cell and Genome Sciences building at 400 Farmington Avenue, will be offered as needed.  
• Training for and access to CGI lab equipment, including sequencers, located in the Engineering and Science building at Storrs, is suspended until we are afforded increased personnel capacity in the facility, as per university and state guidelines.  If you require the use of one of our pieces of equipment, please contact us to arrange for processing.

In addition to following physical distancing guidelines, CGI staff will only be working in the lab to process samples and maintain critical equipment. Sample drop off for approved research must be coordinated ahead of time to ensure someone is on site and available to receive samples. As a result of these new safety measures and staffing protocols, turnaround time for data delivery of newly submitted samples will be communicated on a user-by-user basis.

Computational Biology Core:  To support the dramatic increase in computational needs among our users, the CBC continues to hold consultations/appointments via Webex or Zoom. In person meetings are available upon request. Please contact cbcsupport@uconn.edu to continue to request software installs, server accounts, consultations, or new projects.

We continue to support your computational needs and provide community support through our Slack channel, which is monitored daily: uconn-cbc.slack.com

The CBC continues to hold data therapy sessions and workshops in a virtual format. We encourage you to reach out to us if you have any questions about future experiments and how best to plan for sample submission and project completion. We would also like to thank you for your support and understanding while we navigate through this unprecedented time.

Warm Regards,
Bo, Rachel and Jill

UConn Established as Center of Excellence for Wastewater-based COVID-19 Surveillance

Watch on NBC Connecticut:
UConn Recognized For Its Work Studying Covid-19 in Wastewater

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE ON DEMAND RECORDING OF THIS LECTURE

The ISG’s newest certificate program is now accepting applications for Spring 2022 enrollment!

Systems Genomics: Clinical Communication and Counseling Online Graduate Certificate is a 12-credit asynchronous online program consisting of four courses designed to provide foundational concepts of counseling and health communication theories. Concepts of counseling are applied in varied formats toward creating effective provider-patient or advocate-consumer communication. 

Skill development will focus on supporting health care discussions and conversations requiring the tactful and effective explanation of genetic and genomic information to patients, their families, and consumers. This certificate program is designed for anyone practicing or working towards practicing in a healthcare field, who wants to improve work performance and/or for professional advancement.

Click here to visit the program’s website.

The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning has shared an exciting FREE professional development program available to all interested UConn employees. The Inclusive STEM Teaching Project, supported by NSF, is hosting a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) from October 13th – November 24^th. The six-week MOOC is designed to advance the awareness, self-efficacy, and ability of STEM faculty, postdocs, graduate students, and staff to cultivate inclusive learning environments for students.

Registration for the course opens Sept 6, 2021 through this link.

What’s in it for you?

Participants engage in deep reflection and discussion around topics of equity and inclusion across a variety of institutional contexts and strengthen capacity to contribute and improve the UConn landscape.

 Benefits to your participation in the MOOC  

• Access to teaching resources at a time where teaching inclusively in multiple modalities (in-person, online, hybrid/hi-flex) is essential
• Flexible learning – edX materials and activities are self-paced
• Opportunities to learn and refine skills in inclusive STEM instruction
• Documentation of participation in professional development (fee for optional  MOOC certificate)

We estimate you will spend 2-3 hours per week engaging in the course which includes review/completion of MOOC course materials.

Can’t attend right now?

Please share with your networks and encourage colleagues to take part in this exciting initiative!

The Cores within the ISG continue to ensure staff follow local, federal, University and CDC guidelines for physical distancing while efficiently meet the needs of those who require our genomics services.

CGI: The CGI has spent the last several months tackling our queue for services. We continue to accept new projects; note that disruptions to supply chains from various vendors impact our workflows. We will make every effort to let PIs know the most accurate timeline for sample processing and when interruptions to service occur. We appreciate your patience as we navigate the supply issues faced by facilities nation-wide.

What does this mean for CGI users who have been approved to return to campus for work in the laboratory?

• Eurofins Sanger submission daily pick up will no longer be available from ESB. You can request shipping labels and/or envelopes directly from Eurofins by emailing:  shipping@eurofins.com
• Protocols for sample pick up from UConn Health will continue under modified conditions. Please contact Bo Reese for more information on delivery options.
• In-person training for all CGI equipment is suspended until we are afforded increased personnel capacity in the facility, as per university and state guidelines. This suspension includes sequencers located in the Engineering and Science building at Storrs and the Cell and Genome Sciences building at 400 Farmington Avenue.
• Self-service access to CGI equipment (Storrs lab) is suspended until we are afforded increased personnel capacity in the facility, as per university and state guidelines. If you require the use of one of our pieces of equipment, please contact us to arrange for processing.

As regulations may change quickly, please contact us about in person training and self-service activities if you have questions.

In addition to following physical distancing guidelines, CGI staff will only be working in the lab to process samples and maintain critical equipment. Sample drop off for approved research must be coordinated ahead of time to ensure someone is on site and available to receive samples. As a result of these new safety measures and staffing protocols, turnaround time for data delivery of newly submitted samples will be communicated on a user-by-user basis.

Computational Biology Core:  To support the dramatic increase in computational needs among our users, the CBC continues to hold consultations/appointments via Webex or Zoom. In person meetings are available upon request. Please contact cbcsupport@uconn.edu to continue to request software installs, server accounts, consultations, or new projects.

We continue to support your computational needs and provide community support through our Slack channel, which is monitored daily: uconn-cbc.slack.com

The CBC continues to hold data therapy sessions and workshops in a virtual format. We encourage you to reach out to us if you have any questions about future experiments and how best to plan for sample submission and project completion. We would also like to thank you for your support and understanding while we navigate through this unprecedented time.

Warm Regards,
Bo, Rachel and Jill

ISG 5095: Diversity and Inclusion in Genetics

Best Lightening Talk: Emma Wentworth Winchester
Affiliated Lab: Dr. Cotney, Genetics and Genome Sciences, UConn Health
Poster Title: Unraveling the role of cell type specific noncoding variation in craniofacial disease

Best Poster: Savannah Hoyt
Affiliated Lab: Dr. R. O’Neill, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, UConn
Poster title: From Telomere to Telomere: characterizing the transcriptional and epigenetic state of repeat elements

Most Creative Poster: Irene Cobo-Simon
Affiliated Lab: Dr. Wegrzyn, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, UConn
Poster title: CartograTree: Cyberinfrastructure to improve forest health and productivity in the context of a changing climate