Postdoc Research Blitz launches collaborations

What do the following have in common: near-real-time Earth satellite photography, therapeutic applications of virus-derived anti-inflammatory proteins and peptides, isotopic landscapes, and bio-engineered body parts?

They are all the foci of Arizona-based postdocs looking for collaborators.

To help them and others, the Postdoctoral Affairs Office launched their inaugural Postdoc Research Blitz on June 20, 2018. Five postdocs were each given five minutes to present an overview of their research. They were asked to close their talk with a statement of need, which is like a wish list for the kind of person, or team, they are looking for.

Presenting at the Blitz were:

Dr. Megan Behringer, from the Biodesign Center for Mechanisms of Evolution, presented her development of an artificial bladder for the evolutionary study of urinary tract infection. She is looking for collaborators to help create a microaerophilic environment, and she needs technical help with automation of her raspberry pi controlled mechanical bladder.

Dr. Tanya Harrison, from the NewSpace Initiative, presented on the emerging role of the commercial sector in earth remote sensing science. Dr. Harrison is looking for collaborators who can propose innovative uses for the Planet.com earth photography technology, a near-real-time satellite photography technology she has developed.

Dr. Beth Scaffidi, from the School of Human Evolution and Social Change, presented on isotopic landscapes: understanding the impact of drought/flood cycles on subsistence, migrations, disease, and culture change. Scaffidi seeks partners who can help with mathematical modeling, cloud-based geospatial database development, as well as ecologists and health researchers who have interest in isotopic variability.

Dr. Michael McPhail, from the Mayo Clinic’s Head and Neck Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, presented on his work in on a bioengineered larynx. He is looking for expertise in 3D printing, “bio-inks” and materials science and tissue engineering.

Dr. Jordon Yaron, from the Center for Personalized Diagnostics at the Biodesign Institute, presented his research on therapeutic applications of virus-derived anti-inflammatory proteins and peptides. He is looking for collaborators to test new biomedical applications, develop new platforms, and identify other therapeutic protein sources.

Dr. Harrison said she enjoyed the other presentations as much as she enjoyed presenting. “Even when there’s not an opportunity to collaborate, it’s still so cool to hear what other people are doing,” Harrison said. “Hearing about someone who uses viruses to fight diseases…I want to learn more about that.”

Dr. Michael McPhail, a postdoc at Mayo Clinic, agreed, “This is just a no-brainer for us. We are always looking for ways to work with ASU,” explained McPhail. “ASU has so many disciplines that we don’t have at Mayo, this is a great opportunity.”

If you are interested in collaborating on any of these projects, please contact the Postdoc Affairs Office’s program manager Wiley Larsen at wiley.larsen@asu.edu.

Follow @ASUGradCollege and @ASUpostdocs for more information on the September Research Blitz.