Molecular Biology

Molecular Biology Seminars

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As an important part of your professional education, Molecular Biology majors are expected to attend department seminars. Note that attending seminars and writing questions are required for graduation (see "Senior Capstone" in the Major's Handbook). Molecular Biology seminars are scientific presentations given by faculty or guest speakers. See the professor in charge of seminar scheduling for arrangements if you have suggestions for speakers. Once you have declared a Molecular Biology major, you will be notified by email of upcoming seminars on campus that are relevant for Biology majors. It is in your best interest to declare a Biology major before your junior year, in order to receive this information.

  • The list of seminars below is preliminary and will be updated as additional seminars are confirmed, so check back for updates. Flyers for each seminar will also be posted in and around the Molecular Biology Office, 4th floor Olin Hall.
  • If you enter after the start of the seminar, please try to enter as quietly as possible and avoid walking in front of the slide projector.
  • Questions are encouraged at the end of each seminar.
  • Seminars are free and open to the public.

If you have any questions regarding seminars, or if you have a suggestion for a possible speaker, contact Assistant Professor Spencer Gang.

2025–2026 Molecular Biology Seminars

"Resistance, Resilience, and the Evolution of Genetic Novelty in an Animal"
Thursday, September 4th, 2025, 12:15pm, Olin 481
Dr. David Mark Welch, Marine Biological Laboratory

"My Science Journey and Studying Genetics of Nicotine Metabolism within American Indians from the Strong Heart Study"
Tuesday, October 7th, 2025, 12:15pm, Olin 481
Carissa Sherman, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

"Opportunities in Molecular Biology: Research, Theses, and Professional Pathways"
Tuesday, October 28th, 2025, 12:15pm, Olin 481
Molecular Biology Faculty

"Going Turbo: Identifying the interactions and activation of EgI, BicD, and Dynein with Biotin Labeling"
Thursday, November 20th, 2025, 12:15pm, Olin 481
Dr. Frederick Baker, Colorado College Molecular Biology Department

"Spatial organization and variation of the fruit fly microbiome"
Wednesday, February 25th, 2026, 12:15pm, Olin 481
Dr. Eric Jones, University of Colorado - Colorado Springs

Molecular Biology Day
Friday, April 10th, 2026, 12:15pm, South Hall Commons
Keynote Speaker, Dr. Jacob A. Hoffman '14, MIT-Novo Nordisk

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2024–2025 Molecular Biology Seminars

"Characterizing novel genetic regulators of the Intracellular Pathogen Response in Caenorhabditis nematodes"
Monday, September 9th, 2024, 12:15pm, Olin 481
Dr. Spencer Gang, Colorado College Department of Molecular Biology

"Undergrad to CEO, launching a Biotech company in 5 (not so easy) steps."
Monday, October 7th, 2024, 12:15pm, Olin 481
Co-founder and CEO of Catena Biosciences, Marco J. Lobba

"The thermosensory specializations of soil-transmitted parasitic nematodes"
Monday, February 3rd, 2025, 12:15pm, Olin 481
Dr. Astra Bryant, University of Washington Department of Neurobiology and Biophysics

"Commonly Elicited Antibodies against the Base of the HIV-1 Env Trimer Guide the Population-Level Evolution of a Structure-Regulating Region in gp41"
Friday, February 28th, 2025, 12:15pm, Gates Commons
Dr. R. Anthony Rojas Chavez, National Jewish Health

"Inspired by the Diaphragm: Development, Birth Defects, and Evolution of an Essential Mammalian Muscle"
Wednesday, April 2nd, 2025, 12:15pm, Olin 481
Dr. Gabrielle Kardon, University of Utah Department of Human Genetics

"VACCINES AND IMMUNIZATIONS IN A TIME OF GLOBAL BOILING AND ANTI-SCIENCE"
Sponsored by the Harold D. and Rhoda N. Roberts Memorial Lecture in the Natural Sciences
Wednesday, April 29th, 2025, 4:00pm, Celeste Theatre
Peter Hotez, M.D., Ph.D., DSc (honorary), Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine, Professor of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology & Microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine, and Co-director of the Texas Children's Center for Vaccine Development

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2023–2024 Molecular Biology Seminars

"Exploring the role of E-cadherin loss in early Invasive Lobular Carcinoma of the breast"
Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, 12:15 pm, Olin 481
Dr. Maggie Musick

“Interactions between immune cells and neural cells during viral infection of the brain”
Monday, December 11, 2023, 12:15 pm, Olin 481
Dr. Veronica Davé - Washington University School of Medicine

"Mechanisms of Increased Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Veterans with PTSD"
Wednesday, February 7, 2024, 12:15 pm, Olin 481
Dr.  Cortnie Hartwig

"How a mobile genetic element spreads by stealing viral proteins"
Friday, MARCH 1, 2024, 12:15 pm, South Commons
Dr. Caroline Boyd - University of California, Berkeley

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2022–2023 Molecular Biology Seminars

"Understanding caudal hindbrain organization and development in the early zebrafish using single-cell RNA-sequencing technology"
Thursday, October 27, 2022, 3:15 pm, ZOOM
Dr. Jessica Warns - University of Colorado - Anschutz

"Mechanisms of Mitochondrial DNA Replication in Human Health and Disease”
Friday, December 2, 2022, Olin #481
Dr. Margaret Gustafson - NIEHS Science

"A genetic ON/OFF switch regulates multi-tissue immunity in the nematode C. elegans"
Tuesday, December 6, 2022, 12:15 pm, Olin #481
Dr. Spencer Gang - University of California, San Diego

"Single-stranded DNA binding proteins in DNA replication: One size doesn't fit all"
Friday, December 9, 2022, 12:15 pm, Olin #481
Dr. Alexandra Pike - Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

"The PD-L1 interactome in head and neck cancer"
Wednesday, February 15, 2023, 12:15 pm, ZOOM
Dr. Cera Nieto - University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus

"The aging landscape of mouse and human ovaries"
Friday, March 17, 2023, 12:15 pm, South Commons
Dr. Mariko Foecke

"Mechanisms of the m6A RNA modification in meditating cell state switches, from breast cancer to pathogenic yeast"
April 6, 2023, 12:15 pm, Olin #481
Dr. Allison Swain - University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus
"Isolation and analysis of rereplicated DNA by Rerep-Seq"
April 18, 2023, 12:15 pm, Olin #481
Dr. Johannes Menzel - University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus

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Report an issue - Last updated: 07/01/2026