I feel honored and humbled to be selected as a Freeman Hrawbowski Scholar. I am grateful to the trainees who joined my lab to share their determination and creativity, the mentors and colleagues who raised me as a scientist, and my family. Thank you HHMI for the support!
HHMI is proud to announce our inaugural class of Freeman Hrabowski Scholars, outstanding early career faculty in science who have potential to become leaders in their research fields and to create diverse and inclusive lab environments. 1/3
#FHScholars
The NIH is looking for volunteers to quantify undetected cases of the coronavirus. They will send you an at-home blood collection kit and you can send it back to them to see if you have antibodies to the virus. Consider registering
@pak_heidi
Congratulations Heidi and to your family! Strong women raise and lift up other strong women- I certainly see you’re grandmothers fierceness in you as well. I’m excited for the scientists you will life up as a PI in the future.
Every time I write a letter of recommendation for the trainees in my lab, I feel overwhelmed in reflecting on their growth and potential. No one would say being a PI is easy, but wow, what an amazing job to be part of someone’s journey.
Four years ago, I was struggling to set up my lab when Gisela Geoghegan joined as a postdoc. She laid the Simcox lab foundation, establishing critical scientific exploration and molecular biology. Today she leaves for a new position at AstraZeneca and I am so proud and happy.
I recently tried to add ‘humility’ to our graduate programs mission and values statement. The response was overwhelmingly negative from faculty and student -it’s moments like these that I remember I am a stranger in this system.
No one prepares you for the feeling of your first student defending. The sense of pride, awe, and hope are overwhelming. Congratulations Dr.
@raghav_jain1
we’ll be cheering you on as a Simcox lab alum! Thank you for your ideas, enthusiasm, and help building the lab foundation.
The Simcox lab turns 5 years old today! It feels like worlds away from the first day when Judith Kimble walked me through my empty lab. I’m grateful for the trainees, the colleagues, the collaborators, and all of the immeasurable support I’ve received in these 5 years.
Of all the honors this had to be the best, I showed my mom and sister my lab space for the first time. My mom cried and talked about the sacrifices my family made to get me here, how proud my grandpa and great-grandma would be, and then blessed the space ❤️
Congratulations to professor Judi Simcox (
@JudithSimcox
) on receiving a
@AFARorg
2022 Glenn Foundation for Medical Research and AFAR Research Grants for Junior Faculty. Read about Simcox's research:
It has been 1 year since the simcox lab opened its doors. Its very different from the first day Judith Kimble walked me through the empty lab space and I thought I’d share some of the joys and struggles of this years journey
#newPI
#year1
Great to see our labs first research publication in press. Lead author
@raghav_jain1
and second author
@JustWadeAMinute
used quantitative lipidomics on 9 tissues and plasma to computationally identify contributors to the plasma lipid pool for acylcarnitines and ceramides.
Jain et al.'s studies provide an adaptable computational tool to assess tissue contribution to the plasma lipid pool. Their findings have further implications in understanding the function of plasma ACars & ceramides —
@JudithSimcox
@UWBiochem
#lipidomics
Thank you
@ASBMB
! I am honored to be the recipient of the Walter A Shaw Young Investigator Award on Lipid Research. Thank you to my colleague James Ntambi for nominating me,
@AttieLab
and
@RutterLab
for the letters of support.
Please join us in congratulating the winners of the ASBMB annual awards! Colleagues nominated the winners for making significant contributions to biochemistry & molecular biology & training emerging scientists. Recipients will give talks at
#DiscoverBMB
!
My lab is hiring a lab manager, we are interested in exploring the regulation and function of the plasma lipidome in metabolic disease. The Simcox lab is a collaborative, creative, and inclusive environment- come join us!
Proud of
@JustWadeAMinute
an
@uwmadisonipib
grad student from my lab for assembling this review article on lipid transport from the circulatory system to the brown adipose tissue to support thermogenesis.
Excited to have this preprint out on work from
@raghav_jain1
and
@_JessDavidson
in my group.
Current LDL and HDL markers do not predict CVD in Black women. We used LCMS based lipidomics to identify arachodonic acid containing lipids as CVD predictors.
Very proud of Simcox lab student
@_JessDavidson
from
@uwmadisonipib
for being awarded the NSF GRFP!!! Not only is Jess an amazing scientist, she cares deeply about her community, mentors our
#AISES
chapter, and organized the student retreat. Cheers to the future discoveries!
Excited that the first student I get to walk at graduation is
@MTLavarias
. Mitchell was one of the reasons I came to
@UWMadison
, he was bright, engaging, and asked great questions with scientific depth. I knew I wanted to mentor students like him. Congratulations Mitchell!!!
Cheers my graduate student
@LainyVonBank
for her receipt of the
@NSF
Graduate Research Fellowship! Well deserved for your creativity, brilliance, and hard work Lainy!
@CMB_UWMadison
Sometimes I’m in awe that I get to work with such wonderful scientists and kind people. When I put out the call in our department to give lab tours for Tribal college and high school students, 25 of my colleagues in
@UWBiochem
offered their time and talents.
#DiversityinSTEM
Proud of my
@uwmadisonipib
graduate students
@raghav_jain1
for his first author pre-print from my lab, and
@JustWadeAMinute
for her first manuscript! This work explores tissue contribution to the plasma lipid pool through unbiased computational analysis.
Very proud of Simcox lab member
@ThomKizzar
for being awarded a T32 through the Biotechnology Training Program! Cheers to the science you will explore in the lab and through an internship!
My heart is full after getting to lead middle and high school students through assays to measure lipids, proteins, and sugars. Thanks to
#NACHP
for organizing the Indigenous Health and Wellness Day! And thanks to
@lmclesterdavis
for being session co-lead!
When I was a grad student I failed the first attempt at my prelim exam. Only by being open did I find out that 8 other people in my class had failed their prelims too. The point of grad school is to grow which requires vulnerability to say ‘I don’t know’ and ‘I need help’.
"Setbacks are an inevitable part of grad school, but too often we try to hide them."
For two
#PhD
students, revealing their shortcomings and insecurities paved the way to a strong relationship. Read their story in this week's
#SciMagWorkingLife
:
Such a proud moment. Two of the undergrads in my lab celebrated their graduation. I don’t know how to describe the magic of watching these Indigenous researchers express their curiosity through science while staying true to their community. You carry our dreams
Best part about
#EB2022
? Seeing my trainees present! Ayren spoke at 4:30pm on the last day and wonderfully described her work on SCD1 regulation of insulin signaling thank you
@JustWadeAMinute
for all your mentorship of Ayren in the lab and to
@ASBMB
for the opportunity!
Thanks for hosting me
@PaulTitchenell
! It was a wonderful to learn and get advice from some of the great minds in Metabolism and to drink coffee with Ben Franklin.
A full circle story of my journey in science. It was an honor to share about my family and mentors who have encouraged my scientific passion. But the most rewarding was the highlight of my talented trainees including
@_JessDavidson
and new postdoc
@lmclesterdavisz
Proud of the undergrad in my lab Michael Gilpin who just had his research abstract accepted for
@AISES
2019. Michael is my first undergrad as a PI, and is an engineering student
@UWMadison
He is co-President of Wunk Sheek and from the Dakota Sioux and Potawatomi Nations
As a mentor I always love graduation time. Congratulations to
@raghav_jain1
PhD, Michael Williams JD, and Mariaya Jackson BS! It has been an honor to cheer you all on in your journey.
Last week was a big week for the Simcox lab. After her preliminary exam
@LainyVonBank
has emerged a PhD candidate!
@JustWadeAMinute
completed her first committee meeting. Cheers to the next year of growth, learning, and research 🔬 🧫
Very proud of my student
@raghav_jain1
for his presentation at the UW-Madison Diabetes day. Cheers to a well deserved award for Best Grad Student Talk!
Simcox lab pumpkin carving and chili cook off 2022 left us full and filled ❤️🎃❤️ Its hard to pick a top pumpkin but the Batman beacon emerged as the winning carving.
It always makes my day when a student I mentored drops by to tell me that they got into grad school. Cheers to the scientists of 2022, struggling through the last 2 years to achieve their dreams
#mentorshipmatters
What words can possibly describe the absolute pleasure of co-mentoring Eddie with
@Pagliarini_Lab
. Eddie brought a critical eye for molecular biology, precision in experimentation, and an invincible grit. Cheers to your future work in the Vander Heiden Lab!
I am excited that I will be starting my (formal) postdoc in Matt Vander Heiden's lab
@MIT
! 10 years ago, I decided to become a biochemist because I had too many questions about how biomolecules could literally manifest life. Looking forward to this next phase!
I am excited to start my lab at the birthplace of modern Biochemistry. It seems too wonderful to be true! I feel humbled for all of the help that got me here and grateful for this opportunity!
Exited to have this
@CellCellPress
preview out from Gisela Geoghegan an
@UWBiochem
postdoc. It explores the impact of light exposure on glucose uptake in the brown adipose tissue.
Two things that make my heart celebrate in: 1)
@JustWadeAMinute
from the Simcox lab receiving a service award and 2) there are four Indigenous scientists in this photo ❤️
Congratulations to
@_biancachavez
and
@tommy_anderson2
, who received awards for excellence in teaching and mentoring this year! Congrats also to the recipients of the
#GLDC
Exceptional Service Awards! Read more:
A break from writing to release the labs monarch butterfly that enclosed today. Thanks
@JustWadeAMinute
for letting me help raise Odyssey from an egg, happy migration with a good start outside
@UWBiochem
.
Ann is a brilliant enzymologist & virologist, a fierce advocate for
#WomenInSTEM
, and wonderful colleague. This last year was a tough one for me, but Ann was there after mammograms, biopsies and a lumpectomy- offering strength, rides, and candy. Cheers to Ann!
Congratulations to Professor Ann Palmenberg, who retires this week after more than 40 years
@UWBiochem
&
@MadisonVirology
!
Palmenberg built her lab & career around unveiling the enzymes & mechanisms responsible for controlling viruses. Her research established the foundation ➡️
Nothing raises my anxiety level as much as the need to come up with a title. I’m still learning the art of being succinct, honest, and inspiring all at the same time.
A warm (especially after this chilly week!) Wisconsin welcome to our newest faculty member
@JudithSimcox
! Her metabolism research focuses on how organs communicate through lipid signaling to respond to the energy demands of cold exposure. More on Judi -->
If you’re at
#DiscoverBMB
make sure to make sure to stop by a talk by Simcox lab member
@JustWadeAMinute
. Besides a killer sweater game, Gina will dazzle you with her work on plasma ceramides at 3:15pm in the spotlight session on chemical biology of natural products 602.
@ASBMB
Enjoyed working with my grad student
@_JessDavidson
on this Lipid News write up for
@ASBMB
. We talk about the regulation of insulin resistance by acylcarnitines and why this might be beneficial in exercise or cold exposure great work Jess!
Our department is hiring! I am so grateful to have started my lab in a supportive environment that nurtured my research program. Feel free to reach out to me with questions, I am on the search committee, or better yet contact the co-chair
@vatsanraman
Congrats to the IPiB students who received poster awards at the IPiB Retreat!
Roma Broadberry (Grant Lab)
Jess Davidson (Simcox Lab)
Kyle Flickinger (Cantor Lab)
Evelyn Okal (Raman Lab)
Phoenix Shepherd (Kirchdoerfer Lab)
More photos from the day:
It was great speaking and meeting everyone at the Great Lakes Native American Elders Association
#GLNAEA
. But the best part was watching
@lmclesterdavis
discuss the importance of Indigenous led health initiatives.
Her preliminary data got the Simcox lab it’s first R01, her prolific training has bettered every scientist in the lab, and she taught me how to be a mentor. And she taught us all how to properly use PPE
It was a week of celebration for the Simcox lab. Cheers to
@raghav_jain1
who gave an outstanding defense of his preliminary and is now the labs first PhD candidate. And to Lucas O’Neill from the Ntambi lab who is a newly minted PhD.
I’m very proud of our postbac Autumn Chevalier who presented her research at the UW-PREP Symposium. A special shout out to
@EdreesRashan
, Isabella James, and
@lmclesterdavis
for mentoring Autumn in the lab.
Excited and proud that our
@UWMadison
AISES Chapter received a grant from
@AISES
National to support our science outreach projects. It’s an honor to co-mentor these students with Dr. Bret Benally-Thompson.
Great job to Simcox lab undergrad
@HurtadoMae
for winning the first place poster competition for Great Minds in Science! Special thanks to
@LainyVonBank
for being an excellent lab mentor and to
#NASA
#Boeing
#AirForce
for sponsoring the award.
In such a difficult year, the greatest source of joy for me has come from mentoring the next generation of talented scientists. Here are a few I’ve been lucky to mentor this year, keep an eye out for these researchers as they apply to grad school:
The
#DEUEL
conference has always been my favorite for community and shared ideas. But this one will go on the record books for me because my graduate student
@raghav_jain1
gave a phenomenal talk on his work to identify uncharacterized spectral features in
#lipidomics
Great job to
@LainyVonBank
a graduate student in the Simcox lab who wrote a
@Cell_Metabolism
preview on recent work from the
@KajimuraLab
. We discuss the impact of a novel function for brown adipocytes in BCAA processing for glucose regulation.
Being a new PI is such a fun humbling experience. I never expected a year ago, with the new grad student rotations, that I would be overwhelmed with pride watching my trainees in the lab as they tackle challenges.
I am extremely proud of
@EdreesRashan
for the story he has uncovered, his growth, and how great of a mentor he is to his postbac trainee. Join us for his thesis defense in one week to celebrate his work! And to come see what is sure to be a stylish departure
It was fun to have a joint Simcox/Ntambi lab celebration for Ayren’s last day. In her time as a postbac, Ayren showed she was fearless in taking on challenges and scientific questions. Cheers to your new job at PPD!
Congrats to
@pagonzalez24
who just published her first author paper from her postbac in my lab! And to
@LainyVonBank
and
@JustWadeAMinute
who mentored Paula on this project. The paper looks at lipid signatures of chronic pain in adolescents.
Today I feel especially lucky to be in
@UWBiochem
. When I told my colleague and friend
@AttieLab
that I missed visiting home in Montana, he made me a print from his last visit. He also has a moving gallery show of portraits on his photography website
Got to share morning coffee with
@UWBiochem
emeritus colleague Bill Reznikoff- a leader in the field of structure and regulation of DNA in bacteria and viruses. We share a passion for research and diversity in STEM, we both served as mentors for UW-Madison
@AISES
Chapter.
How to know you started a lab in the Midwest…not wanting to be rude and take the last of a treat, people cut it in half to leave some for others. How many more subdivisions can we go?
I am excited to celebrate the defense of
@raghav_jain1
next Monday! Raghav has been a leader in the lab setting up several of our targeted LC/MS methods, and his preliminary data was foundational to the HHMI FHS grant application. Join us for his defense!
Incredible time at the
@EpiLipidNET
meeting over the past few days! So grateful for the opportunity to present my research, meet so many wonderful people from all over the world, and chat about exciting science over beers!
There are times being a PI takes you’re breath away, tonight will certainly go into the memory banks for the fun science and the surreal nature of sharing dinner with
@kaelin_lab
@JasonRCantor
@scientistamy
@CellRaiser_
Bill shared his top pieces of wisdom for new PIs:
The bright spot of 2020 for the Simcox lab has been recognition of the trainees through awards. Congratulation to lab member Gisela Geoghegan who received a UW-Madison Comprehensive Diabetes Center Core Services Pilot Award!
Other trainee grants this year include...
Proud to be part of the
@UWBiochem
department with such a strong Land Acknowledgment. It discusses the injustice of the land-grant, the intellectual contributions of the Ho-chunk and other Tribal Nations in society, and how we strive toward change.
I’m excited to see my colleague in
@UWBiochem
James Ntambi was selected as an ASBMB fellow! Beyond exciting science on lipid signaling, James has worked tirelessly to open access to science through founding the Uganda Program. Cheers to a great mentor, colleague, and friend.
Join us in extending congratulations to the 2023 class of
#ASBMBfellows
! We are grateful for their outstanding commitment to the ASBMB & celebrate their accomplishments in research, education, diversity & inclusion, & service to the scientific community.
Simcox lab undergrad
@HurtadoMae
and Eli Fox Baker a student I mentor for UW-Madison
@AISES
led Indigenous High School students through experiments measuring sugars, proteins, and lipids in food. We talked about good food and the impact on our bodies.
@AISES_Region_05
Excited to announce that the Simcox lab has a new dissertator. Congratulations
@JustWadeAMinute
for passing your preliminary! Besides being excellent at science Gina is also a deadly ax thrower- but she sadly wasn’t asked to defend this skill for her prelim.
Starting as a new PI is hard, but what really helps is wonderful colleagues in
@UWBiochem
. My office is looking brighter with plants gifted from Rick Amasino and gifts sent from former trainees
#UWMadison
#MidwestHospitality
The best part of being a mentor is watching your trainees achieve their dreams. Diwas was a high school student I mentored
@UofUBiochem
. His family came to the USA as refugees when he was in middle school, and now he going to be an MD serving his community ❤️
Diwas Gautam was in our very first cohort of
@PathMaker_HCI
Scholars. Now he is in his first week of medical school at
@uofumedicine
! Congratulations!! We love seeing our PathMaker students soar!
Had a great time meeting with this Indigenous Computer Sciences Major
@sacnas
#1on1Mentoring
Workshop
#NDiSTEM2021
.
@Kschrock6
is aiming for graduate programs- definitely a rising star to watch- he has a passion for helping Native communities and coding.
Come out to Madison to hear our latest work on identifying markers of metabolic disease in African Americans using mass spec based lipidomics and samples from the Midlife in the US
#MIDUS
population study. I’m looking forward to meeting the AGE community.
The 49th Annual AGE meeting will feature a talk by Dr. Judith Simcox, Assistant Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison!
@JudithSimcox