Rutgers Research: Cloning Thousands of Genes for Massive Protein Libraries Discovering the function of a gene requires cloning a DNA sequence and expressing it. Until now, this was performed on a one-gene-at-a-time basis, causing a bottleneck. Scientists at Rutgers University-New Brunswick in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University and Harvard Medical School have invented a technology to clone thousands of genes simultaneously and create massive libraries of proteins from DNA samples, potentially ushering in a new era of functional genomics.
Princeton University’s Annual Giving Campaign Raises Record-Setting $74.9 Million
Princeton University’s 2016-17 Annual Giving campaign raised $74,912,035, with 56.8 percent of undergraduate alumni participating. This historic achievement – Princeton’s first-ever Annual Giving campaign in excess of $70 million – represents strong performances across all of Princeton’s constituencies: undergraduate alumni, graduate alumni, parents and friends. “This year’s Annual Giving results are truly extraordinary,” said President Christopher L. Eisgruber.
Morning Consult Poll Respondents Appreciate Innovation’s Economic and Social Benefits, and Call for More Protections Mark Grayson, deputy vice president of public affairs at the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), posts on the association’s blog, The Catalyst, that economists and international organizations are recognizing innovation as one of the most important drivers of economic and social progress and stability. In fact, a report released earlier this year from the Global Intellectual Property Center declared a robust innovation environment as “essential to the success of any 21st century economy.”
NJIT and Lebanese American University Sign a Memorandum of Understanding for Research Collaboration The Lebanese American University (LAU) and New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that establishes research collaboration between the two institutions. LAU President Dr. Joseph Jabbra and Dr. Fadi Deek, NJIT provost and senior executive vice president, signed the MOU June 20, 2017 on LAU’s Byblos campus. Graduates from the Lebanese American University with a master’s degree will be able to apply for admission in Ph.D. programs offered at NJIT, and after admission by NJIT, will be able to be co-advised jointly in dissertation research by faculty from both participating institutions.
AAAS CEO Rush Holt Urges U.S. Secretary of State to Name New Science & Technology Adviser Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson must act swiftly to appoint a respected scientist or engineer as his science and technology adviser upon the departure Vaughan Turekian, who has effectively presented the views of the global scientific community and helped incorporate scientific findings into foreign policy considerations, said Rush Holt, the CEO of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), in a statement issued July 13.
Governor Christie Swears in Kimberley Harrington as State Education Commissioner Governor Chris Christie on July 12 presided over the swearing in of Kimberley Harrington as New Jersey Department of Education Commissioner. Harrington had been Acting Commissioner for the past nine months. Her nomination as commissioner was approved by the State Senate in June. “Kimberley’s body of experience and deep devotion to providing New Jersey students with the highest quality education make her a perfect choice to lead the Department of Education as Commissioner,” said Governor Christie. “I am pleased to have her as part of my cabinet and working to strengthen educational opportunities for all New Jersey students.”
Former VP Biden to Keynote Stockton University’s 2017 Hughes Center Honors; Six New Jersey Leaders to Be Recognized November 9 Former Vice President Joe Biden will be the keynote speaker when Ambassador William J. Hughes receives the Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award at the Hughes Center Honors on Nov. 9, 2017. The Hughes Center Honors are awarded for professional excellence and a commitment to public service, civility and bipartisanship, which reflect the life and career of Ambassador Hughes. He served as U.S. ambassador to Panama and as a U.S. congressman for 20 years. The event, which is open to the public, will start at 5:30 at the Stockton Seaview Hotel & Golf Club.
Stevens-Developed Emergency Communications Technology Receives Key Federal Public Safety Grant Spectronn, a New Jersey wireless startup created to commercialize Stevens Institute of Technology-developed cognitive radio-technology, has been awarded a $650,000 accelerator public safety grant by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in collaboration with the Brookline, Massachusetts Police Department. The project, “Heterogeneous Fog Communications and Computing for Resilience,” was one of just 33 selected for funding from among 162 applicants.
Upcoming Events
NJ Tech Council Mid-Summer Acceleration Cruise
When: Wed, Aug. 9, 6 pm – 9:30 pm
Where: Jersey City
NJ Health Care Talent Network’s 2017 ‘Health IT Summit’
When: Mon, Aug. 21, 9:30 am – 3 pm
Where: Rutgers College Avenue Student Center in New Brunswick
2017 ManufactureNJ Industry Summit — Save the Date!
When: Wed, Aug. 23, 2017
Where: NJIT, Newark
