What’s Happening Around the Lab?
Leo praying for good NGS data
December 22, 2019
As the lab continues to use next-generation sequencing more and more, we’re starting to become regulars in the Columbia sequencing core facility. Here, Leo just loaded a flow cell onto the NextSeq and is hoping for the best before the holiday break!
Sternberg Lab holiday partY
December 20, 2019
Just like last year’s party, we continued the tradition of a lively white elephant gift exchange. Here, Sanne has just unwrapped a… cat statue?! We again celebrated with our friends and colleagues from the Medical Center campus, including the late-night special arrival of Ruben Gonzalez (Sam’s undergrad advisor, in Chemistry) along with members from his lab.
Special visit from NYC-area STEM students
December 3, 2019
The lab hosted a visit from NYC-area students that are part of a STEM program called TKS. Sam gave a general presentation on CRISPR and genetics, including what life is like pursuing a career in academic research, and then the students toured the lab and met some PhD students. Thanks to Hayley Caddes for organizing!
Sanne passes her qualifying exam!
November 26, 2019
The lab celebrates another qualified PhD candidate, after Sanne passes her exam with flying colors. We’ve adopted a tradition from the Doudna Lab, wherein the last student to pass organizes the party for the next. Leo organized Sanne’s party, so who will Sanne organize the next party for…?
Joe Peters visits
October 18, 2019
We were thrilled to welcome Dr. Joe Peters (Cornell University) to the lab during his visit to present a seminar in the department. Joe is THE expert on Tn7 transposons, so we had a great time chatting about science and getting to know each other. Joe will host Sam for a seminar at Cornell sometime next year.
Satisfying our sweet tooth
October 8, 2019
Sometimes everyone wins when lab members have interesting hobbies outside of work. In this case, Leslie harnessed his formal training as a pastry chef to bake a seven-layer pistachio cake and treat the lab to an amazing dessert!
Sternberg Lab-warming party #2
October 4, 2019
The lab hosts yet a second lab warming party after moving into new space on the 7th floor of Hammer. We had a fantastic turnout and enjoyed celebrating together with our neighbors, Drs. Laura Landweber and Laura Johnston, and their laboratories.
Tyler’s manuscript is accepted!
September 17, 2019
Tyler doles out champagne in celebration of his manuscript being accepted at Nature, which described cryoEM structures of the TniQ-Cascade complex. We couldn’t have done it without the expert involvement of our friend, colleague, and cryoEM guru, Dr. Israel Fernández.
End-of-summer goodbyes
August 30, 2019
We say goodbye to Florian Hoffmann, a visiting student from University College London, who spent the summer working closely with Dr. Leslie Beh. Thanks for all your hard work!
Getting our move on
Date: Aug 21, 2019
Finally! After spending over a year and a half occupying temporary lab space, the Sternberg Lab moves into its permanent space on the 7th floor of Hammer. It was a huge effort, but one made much easier with the help of our new Lab Manager, Nora Jaber. Perks of the new space include: our own cold room and tissue culture room, a coffee nook decked out with an espresso machine and more, huge windows with a beautiful cityscape of Washington Heights, and plenty of desk and bench space!
Sanne and Sam present at CRISPR 2019
June 17, 2019
Sanne gets mobbed at her poster presentation, hot on the heels of her CRISPR-transposon article being published online at Nature. She attended the CRISPR 2019 meeting in Québec City, Canada, together with co-authors Leo, Tyler, and Sam. Besides the science and socializing, a highlight of the meeting (for Sam) was late-night poutine with friends!
The 2019 summer crew
June 13, 2019
Our lab keeps growing – we have a full house for the summer!
Leo passes his qualifying exam!
June 03, 2019
Another creative flyer, this time compliments of Tyler. Leo is the lab’s first Ph.D. student to be officially qualified - congrats!!
Sanne’s manuscript is accepted!
May 10, 2019
Sanne prepares to pop the cork of a champagne bottle, after her manuscript is accepted (in principle) at Nature. A wonderful achievement for her and the lab.
Visit from Jersey City high school students
May 09, 2019
We were happy to host students from the M.E.T.S. Charter School in Jersey City, NJ, for a lab visit. Sam gave a general presentation on CRISPR and genetics, including what life is like pursuing a career in academic research, and then the students toured the lab and met some Ph.D. students. Thanks to Ana Mendes for organizing!
Jennifer Doudna visits
April 30, 2019
We were happy to welcome Dr. Jennifer Doudna (University of California, Berkeley) to the lab during her visit to Columbia! She was here to present on “CRISPR Biology and Technology” as the distinguished invitee for the 41st Bampton Lectures, which included a science-focused talk at the Medical Center campus, followed by a lay talk on the ethics of genome editing at the Morningside campus, with a response from Hank Greely (Stanford University).
Sternberg Lab ski trip in VT
March 18, 2019
What a great way to unwind after manuscript submission! The lab spent three days in Vermont near Mount Snow, with a bit of science discussion but mostly just fun. Highlights included skiing (with some learning for the first time), cooking meals together in the cabin, hot-tubbing, and game and movie night. Can’t wait for next year’s retreat.
Lab’s first manuscript is submitted!
March 15, 2019
Sam, Leo, Tyler, and Sanne breathe a sigh of relief after months of intense work culminating in submission of a manuscript describing the discovery of CRISPR RNA-guided transposases. (Check it out under the “Publications” page.) Can you tell that we’re recovering from an all-nighter? ;)