College of Integrative Sciences

The CIS Lecture Series (CIS221) is held Fridays, 1:20pm-2:40pm, Shanklin 201.

The Spring schedule will be available soon.

This Fall's recent lectures:

CIS Lecture: Alex Kruckman, Mathematics
Friday, September 29, 1:20-2:40pm, 201 Shanklin Labs

Natural logic and complexity

Abstract: Since the work of Church, Gödel, Turing, and others in the first half of the 20^thcentury, it has been known that many problems in mathematics are undecidable. For example, it is known to be impossible to write a computer program that can correctly answer any mathematical question about arithmetic on the natural numbers. However, most everyday (non-mathematical) reasoning has a very simple logical structure that often can be carried out by computers. In this talk, I will outline some recent work on systems of “natural logic” (so called because they are inspired by features of reasoning in natural language) and the computational complexity of decision problems in these systems. This is joint work with Larry Moss at Indiana University.

CIS Lecture: Brian Stewart, Physics
Friday, October 6, 1:20-2:40pm, 201 Shanklin Labs

The Complex Nature of Simple Systems

Abstract: Causal dynamical ystems are found everywhere in nature.  The behavior of such systems can be modeled as flows between system elements.   In particular, Newton’s laws can be written as a network of coupled system elements with flows between them governed by the prescriptions of physics.  This talk will begin with a discussion of the properties of simple linear and nonlinear dynamical systems with some examples from several different fields. It will then situate the molecular collision work carried out at Wesleyan in the context of system theory, with examples drawn from current work.

CIS Lecture: Colin Smith, Chemistry
Friday, October 13, 1:20-2:40pm, 201 Shanklin Labs

Characterizing aberrant energy landscapes in computationally designed and naturally occurring protein

Abstract: Proteins are in constant motion and interconvert between different conformational states. The function of proteins often depends on them folding to very particular structures and avoiding aberrant conformations which may have deleterious or toxic effects. Several projects addressing this critical issue in protein biophysics will be highlighted including work to optimize the function of computationally designed fluorescent proteins and understand the maturation of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) related protein SOD1: 1) The recent creation of mini Fluorescence Activating Proteins (mFAPs) capable of binding to and activating the florescence of a small-molecule chromophore is a prime example of the power of de novo protein design. The primary hypothesis for how these proteins function is that they keep the chromophore ligand in a planar conformation long enough to fluoresce. We have developed a computational protocol to predict mFAP rigidity/fluorescence and are developing methods for optimizing rigidity through rational design. We are also using this as a model system to understand how proteins stabilize small molecules in particular conformations, an essential aspect of enzyme catalysis. 2) ALS, otherwise known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, affects approximately 6 people in 100,000 annually. It affects motor neurons, gradually leading to a loss of muscle control and often death. While SOD1 was the earliest protein linked to the disease nearly 30 years ago, the mechanism by which it causes ALS is still unknown. An emerging hypothesis is that non-native interactions involving immature forms of the protein are disease-causing. We are using alchemical free energy simulations to study how several ALS-associated mutations affect SOD1 maturation. This enables the calculation of how mutation perturbs the SOD1 free energy landscape, with the goal of helping to uncover the disease mechanism and eventually develop treatments.

CIS Lecture: Michael Calter, Chemistry
Friday, October 27, 1:20-2:40pm, 201 Shanklin Labs

An Interdisciplinary Approach to Developing an Anti-Cancer Drug

Abstract: Cancer is a very complicated disease, as different cancer cell lines arise from different mutations and are sensitive to the inhibition or depletion of different proteins. Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a stage III cancer associated with lack of sensitivity to hormone ablation, increased metastasis, and poor prognoses. In the course of a synthetic project in the Calter group we found a compound that appears to inhibit the growth and metathesis of TNBC cells. The compound appears to inhibit the translation of glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1), a protein that protects focal adhesion kinase (FAK) from being damaged by the oxidative stress present in TNBC cells. Properly functioning FAK promotes the adhesion necessary for migration/metastasis, so knocking down GPX1 leads to damaged FAK and impaired metastasis. We are currently testing this hypothesis for the mode of action with molecular-biological experiments in collaboration with Prof. O’Neil’s group. We are also using molecular modeling to understand the interactions that lead to GPX1 knockdown in hopes of designing a better compound.

CIS Lecture: Gloster Aaron, Biology, NS&B
Friday, November 3, 1:20-2:40pm, 201 Shanklin Labs

Studying the role of adult neurogenesis in a brain area responsible for learned vocalizations in songbirds

Abstract:  With the exception of just a few species, most animal vocalizations are innate, meaning that they don’t need to learn them.  One way of demonstrating this in mice, for example, is that a deaf mouse will have virtually the same vocal behavior as a non-deaf mouse.  This is not the case for learned vocalizations, such as human speech, where the human child needs to learn that speech from other humans.  Songbirds, like humans, learn their songs from other birds, such that, if raised in isolation from those songs or if deafened, the sounds they produce sound nothing like the songs of their conspecifics.  In this sense, songbirds serve as a model for learned vocalizations (i.e., speech) in humans.  My talk will discuss neuroanatomical parallels between the songbird brain and the human brain with regards to learned vocalizations, and I will also discuss interesting findings that implicate roles for adult-born neurons in these song producing circuits.

CIS Lecture: Iris Yoon, Mathematics
Friday, November 10, 1:20-2:40pm, 201 Shanklin Labs

How Topology Reveals Structure in Neuroscience Data

Abstract: We live in an exciting time where new data is generated at an exponential rate. Such data explosion necessitates the development of novel methods for studying large, noisy, and complicated data. One interesting aspect of data is its shape and structure. In this talk, we’ll discuss what it means to study the shape of data using tools from a field of mathematics called topology. We’ll discuss various situations in which the shape of data provides valuable insights, specifically in neuroscience.

NSM Departmental Seminar Series

• Astronomy Colloquia
• Biology and MB&B Seminar Series
• Chemistry Colloquia
• Physics Colloquia

Workshops are held Wednesdays, 5:30-6:30pm in Hall-Atwater 66 unless otherwise noted.

To sign-up, please RSVP to Kelly Thayer (kthayer@wesleyan.edu) by each prior Friday.

January 31: Molecular Visualization with PyMol and VMD

February 7: Introduction to Machine Learning I: Overview

February 14: Introduction to Machine Learning II: Regressors

February 21: Introduction to Machine Learning III: Deep Neural Nets

February 28: Hidden Markov Models

March 6: Markov State Models

TBD: Working with Raspberry Pi (these workshops will be held by appointment in small groups)

Please visit our Faculty and Student calendars to find appropriate events across the sciences. If you have an event to share with the CIS, please contact Anika (adane@wesleyan.edu).