The CMGM postdoc association aims to foster community and support professional growth. Photo by Anna Kovilakath
The Department of Cellular, Molecular, and Genetic Medicine, VCU, School of Medicine, has recently established the CMGM Postdoc Association, a new initiative taken by Dr. Lauren Cowart aimed at supporting the professional and personal development of postdoctoral fellows. This association is designed to foster a sense of community, advocate for postdoc rights, and promote interdisciplinary collaboration.
The organizational structure of the CMGM Postdoc Association includes an executive committee with roles such as President, Vice President/Secretary, Treasurer, and Social Chair. To appoint the executive committee members, elections were held, and Usha Mahawar, PhD, was elected as the president, Alexandra Gonsiewski, PhD, as vice president, Anna Kovilakath, PhD, as social Chair, and Surya Chandra Rao Thumu, PhD, as Treasurer. Recently, elections were conducted to elect the CMGM postdoc association mentor, and Dr. Tomasz Kordula, professor in the department of CMGM, won the polls by a majority vote. Congratulations, Dr. Kordula, CMGM postdoc association looks forward to your mentorship.
The CMGM Postdoc Association has outlined several key objectives. These include supporting the professional development of postdocs through workshops on grant writing and research methodology. Additionally, the association aims to foster a sense of community by organizing regular social events, such as coffee meetups and holiday parties, to encourage postdocs to meet and share experiences. Advocacy for postdoc rights is also a priority, with a committee established to monitor and address issues such as work-life balance. The association also promotes collaboration and interdisciplinary research by encouraging postdocs from different departments to collaborate on research projects and providing platforms for multidisciplinary seminars. This new association is a significant step towards enhancing the postdoctoral experience in the Department of CMGM at VCU School of Medicine.
Monthly Post-doc Meetings
This past week, our monthly postdoc meetup brought together early-career researchers eager to share their work and connect. Two postdoctoral researchers, Maryam and Juhi, presented their exciting research projects, sparking vibrant discussions and generating collaborative ideas.
Maryam talked about her research on uncovering the novel role of Serine palmitoyltransferase isoform 3 (SPTLC3) in liver mitochondrial dysfunction and Hepatocellular Carcinoma. SPTLC3 isoform is a part of the catalytic core serine palmitoyl transferase (SPT) enzyme complex. SPT is the first and rate-limiting enzyme in the de novo sphingolipid biosynthesis pathway. She amazed the audience with her presentation.
Juhi, on the other hand, is delving into the realm of Prostate cancer. Insights from Juhi on Her Research: Prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in American men. Our results indicated that neuropilin-2 (NRP2) is highly expressed in NEPC (highly aggressive PCa) and regulates their secretory function. We found that NEPC cells from patient tumors or cell line models preferentially enhance various neuronal pathways related to neuronal differentiation, neurotransmitter release, cell-cell adhesion, and exocytosis. Earlier reports indicate that neuroendocrine cancers from other origins can induce peripheral nerve innervation within the tumor microenvironments to establish a heterotypic communication. Such crosstalk between nerve and cancer cells could promote cancer cell proliferation, therapy resistance, and lead to an immune-suppressive tumor microenvironment. She further adds that we are exploring the underlying mechanisms behind direct and indirect communications.
Both Maryam and Juhi emphasized the importance of community and support in navigating the challenges of postdoctoral research. Their presentations not only highlighted their contributions but also showcased the strength of shared knowledge within our scientific community. As we wrapped up the event, it was clear that these meetups served as a vital platform for fostering collaboration and inspiring innovation. We’re already looking forward to next month’s gathering, where more talented researchers will share their work, further enriching our academic environment.
By Usha Mahawar
Department of CMGM
Email: ushasaraswat.mahawar@vcuhealth.org
Date: 1 August 2025