January 26, 2018 - The iHuman Institute held “iHuman Science Day” at Ren Building. Given the rapid and strong growth of the institute, the special Science Day was created to increase communication across the institute and showcase all its incredible scientific results. Highlights for 2017 and 2018 included the structure determination of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor, the GLP-1 receptor published in the journal of Nature, the 5-HT2C receptor published in the journal of Cell, the APJ receptor, Smoothen receptor in Structure and Nature Communication, and the successful recruitment of faculty in imaging areas including super resolution imaging, animal imaging, electron microscopy, and MRI.
During Science Day activities, Profs Fei Xu and Guisheng Zhong delivered opening remarks. Professor Zhi-Jie Liu and Guisheng Zhong delivered wonderful talks regarding The Next Big iHuman Project – Imaging Across Scales. Prof. Ray Stevens gave an inspired talk about the iHuman International Review Results and Analysis. Twelve students/postdocs from each lab gave rapid-fire talks about their exciting research. iHuman research cores and the admin team relayed how they can help iHuman family members to do great science. Xianjun Zhang and Jing Yu, two student leaders from iHuman Institute, convened a successful discussion on how to make iHuman greater and better.
Panel discussions led by faculty, staff, and students were held to continually evolve iHuman Culture. Numerous excellent new ideas emerged ranging from a new student-led lecture series to better ways to communicate the common goal of imaging across scales. Students raised proposals and ideas with the greatest concerns relating to improving their lives in academia as well as career development.
Qikai Qin, Meng Yang Xu and Yan Lu, students from the Stevens Lab, Liu Lab and Shui Lab, respectively, received The Most Popular Student Awards. This awards is aimed at rewarding the most proactive and impressive students who are willing to communicate and discuss with iHuman faculty.
At 4pm, all members of the iHuman Family congregated at the atrium of the Ren Building for a cheerful house warming. The house warming celebrated the relocation of the iHuman Institute to the new campus of STU. Sister Institute SIAIS and the Jing Medicine Co. also participated in the house warming. In an atmosphere of joy and excitement, iHuman Family members watched a video of the evolution of the iHuman Institute. The Founding Director Ray Stevens and the Executive Director Zhi-Jie Liu wished everyone success in their scientific research and a happy life in the iHuman Institute in the coming Chinese New Year.
