Events
CEMINAR
The most important community-oriented activity we sponsor is CEMINAR, formerly MicroMorning, a monthly seminar series where students and postdocs in the CEMI program present their work. Usually 2 individuals present 20-25 min talks (+ 5 min questions) to fill the hour, but on rare occasions we invite an outside speaker. CEMINAR is primarily designed to provide CEMI students and postdocs with an opportunity to practice giving a formal talk to a friendly Caltech audience. Numerous collaborations have been sparked between labs at Caltech thanks to creative connections made during these seminars. View past CEMINARS
CEMINAR talks are non-public events and for the Caltech community, the benefactors of CEMI and invited guests of the CEMI director only.CEMINAR
CEMINAR is on the second Wednesday of every month.
UPCOMING
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
4:00-5:00pm Broad 100
5:00-5:30pm Socializing (snacks and drinks will be provided)
"Discovery and characterization of nanobodies with broad anti-viral therapeutic potential"
Jennifer KeeffeBjorkman Lab
SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, continually mutates, producing new variants of concern (VOCs), which reduces the efficiencies of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies. We therefore seek to identify single-domain nanobodies (VHHs) targeting epitopes conserved across VOCs, reasoning that the smaller size of nanobodies compared with conventional two-domain antibodies would facilitate access to occluded, conserved regions. We used a Beacon optofluidic platform to isolate and characterize nanobodies from a llama immunized with a nanoparticle immunogen that elicits broad antibody responses across sarbecoviruses. We identified broad and potent nanobodies that recognize epitopes that are inaccessible to analogous conventional two-domain antibodies.
"Ultra-low biomass sequencing workflow (LBV-Seq) enables de novo metagenomic reconstruction of DNA and RNA viral genomes"
Chris NeimethIsmagilov Lab
Genome-resolved virome analysis remains challenging for many clinically relevant samples because viral nucleic acid recovered after enrichment is often insufficient for de novo genome assembly. Consequently, analyses are frequently limited to sparse read-level detection, restricting viral discovery and interpretation of gene-level variation. We present a workflow that combines low-input viral sample handling with modified primary template-directed amplification and short- or long-read sequencing to enable de novo reconstruction of DNA and RNA viral genomes from sub-femtogram to nanogram inputs. Applied to virus-enriched human duodenal biopsy eluates, LBV-Seq recovered bacteriophage and eukaryotic viral genomes estimated to be present at approximately 10 copies/µL.
Social Events
In addition to CEMINAR, CEMI sponsors social events during the academic year:
Fall Poster Sessions: All CEMI labs present one or more posters on their lab’s research. This helps incoming/current students and postdocs remain up-to-date on that latest research projects going on across the campus. One attractive feature of Caltech is that students admitted in any graduate program are welcome to rotate in any lab (as long as the lab is taking students), so this poster session can open up new interests and areas for exploration. It also can spawn new collaborations between labs.
Spring Lectures and Evening Gala: To celebrate the start of the calendar year, we invite a keynote speaker from outside Caltech to give a seminar, plus a few shorter talks by assistant professors or postdocs at Caltech and other local universities. These “Spring Lectures” are open to anyone interested. As a companion event, we hold a formal gathering for a limited number of CEMI sponsors, faculty, and students and postdocs currently being supported by CEMI grants. The evening’s entertainment is organized by a different CEMI lab each year, and the evening culminates with a presentation of the “CEMI Oscars” (we are close to Hollywood, after all…), roasting CEMI members for notable achievements in the past year, all in good fun. View past lectures
Spring Happy Hour: In recognition of the fact that sometimes the most inspired ideas come when we least expect them, we promote casual conversation between all members of the CEMI community supplemented with drinks and food at the start of the spring term (no posters required!).
CEMI Spring Celebration of Science: This hour-long science program featured short lightning talks from CEMI graduate students and postdocs followed by time to talk with the speakers and socialize with our CEMI colleagues. The inaugural event was held on May 12, 2021.
Workshops
CEMI occasionally supports training courses at Caltech that provide members of the CEMI community with an opportunity for intensive training in a particular area. Any member of the CEMI community is welcome to suggest a topic for a workshop. Please contact the CEMI administrator if you have an idea. View past workshops
