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
Monday, July 27, 2026, 1:30 pm
Special ChE Seminar
1:30 pm
Spalding Lab 106
Faculty host: Sujit Datta
"The Mechanical Strategies of Bacterial Pathogens"
Alex Persat (EPFL)Abstract: Bacterial pathogens inhabit a complex physical world in which surfaces, tissues, fluids, and host defenses impose mechanical challenges that shape microbial behavior. While the molecular basis of pathogenesis has been extensively investigated, we are only beginning to understand how bacteria exploit these physical cues to colonize, persist, and cause disease. In this seminar, I will show how mechanical interactions govern bacterial behavior across scales, linking the ability of individual cells to sense their environment with the emergence of collective behaviors and, ultimately, the adaptation of pathogens to host tissues. By integrating advanced microscopy, tissue-engineered organoids, and structural biology, we are uncovering physical mechanisms of infection that remain hidden in conventional experimental systems. I will conclude by discussing how these discoveries are opening new opportunities for antimicrobial discovery and the development of anti-infective therapies.
Biography: Alex Persat is an Associate Professor at EPFL. He earned his BS from École Polytechnique and his MS and PhD from Stanford University, followed by postdoctoral training at Princeton University. His interdisciplinary research combines microbiology, engineering, and biophysics to investigate the physical mechanisms underlying bacterial pathogenesis.
For information contact Irina Meininger, [email protected]
This event is open to the Caltech community members only. No recording except by permission of the organizer
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
