Lehigh Valley Local Section

February 16th Section Meeting is at Lafayette College Visualizing α-Synuclein in Neurodegeneration: From all-atom simulations to in vivo imaging ABSTRACT: Fibrillar aggregates of the neuronal protein α-synuclein are a hallmark of Parkinson's disease and related neurodegenerative disorders.  However, a causative role for α-synuclein aggregation in these diseases has not been clearly identified. In order to understand the aggregation process, our laboratory uses a multidisciplinary approach, including computational approaches combining molecular simulations and machine learning models, synthesis of α-synuclein bearing post-translational modifications and photochemical probes, single molecule biophysics, structural biology, cellular and animal models for microscopy and proteomics, and development of positron emission tomography (PET) probes for clinical imaging.  Several projects will be discussed, highlighting the value of a multi-faceted and collaborative approach. Speaker: James Petersson, U. Penn James Petersson completed his undergraduate education at Dartmouth College and his graduate study under Dennis Dougherty at the California Institute of Technology. After receiving his Ph.D. in 2005, he was an NIH Postdoctoral Fellow at Yale University with Alanna Schepartz. He joined the Department of Chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania in 2008 and the Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics Graduate Group in the Perelman School of Medicine in 2013. His research has been recognized by several awards, including the Searle Scholar, an NSF CAREER award, and a Sloan Fellowship. Program: Social Hour:  5:30 pm – 6:00 pm; Dinner:  6:00 pm – 7:00 pm          Marquis Hall, Clay Ketchum Room Meeting:  7:00 pm – 8:30 pm                  Acopian Engineering Center, Room 511 Menu/Cost:  $25 professionals, $15 students  RESERVATIONS [by February 10th]: Deborah Bastinelli, 610-330-5213, bastined@lafayette.edu PARKING: Markle Parking Deck DIRECTIONS: Campus Map CONTACT: Mike Bertucci, bertuccm@lafayette.edu ... View more

January Section Meeting - Moravian University Thursday, January 19th, 5:30-8:30pm Workshop: Bringing Computational Chemistry into the Classroom Priscilla Payne Hurd Academic Complex 1130 Monocacy St, Bethlehem, PA 18018 Speakers: Heidi Hendrickson, Lafayette College Carl Salter, Moravian University Lorena Tribe, PSU/Berks 5:30 Social; 6:00 Dinner; 7:00 Workshop Dinner Cost : $30/member, $15/student Reservations: June Thompson, 610-861-1425,  thompsonj03@moravian.edu Driving Directions/Parking: https://lnkd.in/eM5hWJwn CONTACT: Carl Salter,  csalter@moravian.edu ... View more

The newly-elected LVACS Officers for 2023 are: Philip Elias, chair-elect, Sherman Cox, treasurer and Nigel Sanders, secretary. Philip, who graduated from Muhlenberg College last spring and now works at Evonik in Allentown, has been very active in community outreach events. Sherman, just retiring in December from a long career at Minerals Technologies Inc. in Hanover Township, has been LVACS treasurer before (in the 1990s!) and brings a wealth of experience in many areas of chemistry and chemical engineering. They join Steve Boyer, chair, Lindsey Welch, past chair, Jeanne Berk and Kelley Caflin, councilors and Mike Bertucci and Ned Corcoran, alternate councilors. Come out to our meetings in 2023 and meet your LVACS governance team in person! Check us out on: www.lvacs.org ... View more