UCSF Benioff Center for Microbiome Medicine

February 2022

sketch of film camera in blue with microbial cells clouds coming out of lens.

Microbiome Video Competition

We are excited to announce our second annual Microbiome Video Competition. We invite all K-12 students to demonstrate their movie-making skills and tell us about the human microbiome through your lens in 60 seconds or less! Winning videos will be chosen on the basis of creativity and the ability to make a compelling short film that leaves the audience better informed about or interested in the human microbiome. Winning videos will be screened at a virtual Microbiome ilm festival on May 19 and published on the BCMM website.

Click below for more guidelines and information.

Deadline for submissions is midnight, April 27, 2022.

See Competition Rules

News

Launch of trainee programming

We've established two programs to support our trainees:

Trainee Travel Awards: The BCMM will provide up to $1,000 to attend a microbiome-focused workshop or other training opportunity. Attendance to both virtual and in-person events will be considered. Next deadline: April 15.

Trainee Proposal Review: The BCMM will facilitate a thorough pre-application review of a grant proposal or job application package by a UCSF faculty member that is not the trainee's primary mentor.

Ariel view of 8 people sitting around a table. In middle of table is word "Training" with other related concepts (skills, learning).

QMAC to purchase GCMS & MALDI

The Quantitative Metabolite Analysis Center was awarded funding from the UCSF Sandler Program for Breakthrough Biomedical Research to purchase a gas chromatography mass spectrometer (GCMS) and a matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight (MALDI) spectrometer. We expect these instruments will be ready for community training and use in early 2023.

Plot of data generated by mass spectrometer.

Connie Ha named Director of Culture Facility

Connie Ha, PhD, has been named Director of the BCMM's Microbial Culture Facility, a role she will take on in addition to her position as Director of Microbial Genomics CoLab Plug-In. In addition, Kyle Spitler has been promoted to Manager to recognize his efforts in establishing this valuable facility. Congratulations to them both!