College to Host Week of Science Career Events

Johnson & Johnson Global Head of Infectious Diseases to Present Keynote

PHILADELPHIA, PA – Chestnut Hill College will host a week-long series of science career events beginning Monday, October 19, through Friday, October 23, on the College campus. Funding for Science Career Week was provided through a grant from the Delaware Valley Innovation Network. 

Science Career Week, a week of creative and inspirational science guest speakers and panels, will culminate with the keynote speech by Roger J. Pomerantz, M.D., F.A.C.P., global head of infectious diseases at Johnson & Johnson on Thursday, October 22, at 2 p.m., in the East Parlor, St. Joseph Hall. The topic of his lecture, “Curing HIV,” will provide an overview of strategies that could lead to a complete eradication of HIV in people currently infected with the AIDS virus.

Dr. Roger J. Pomerantz has published more than 300 peer-reviewed articles in scientific literature and presented more than 200 invited lectures, nationally and internationally, concentrating on the clinical research, molecular pathogenesis and latency of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other pathogenic human viruses. Dr. Pomerantz has been the recipient of countless National Institutes of Health (N.I.H.) grants and was continuously funded by the N.I.H. over several decades.

Dr. Pomerantz has served as an invited full-time member and as the Chairman of the Antiviral Advisory Panel for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (F.D.A.) and on numerous invited N.I.H. advisory commissions, panels and committees. His awards and honors have included election as a Fellow to the American Association of Physicians (F.A.A.P.), the American Society of Clinical Investigation (F.A.S.C.I.), the American College of Physicians (F.A.C.P.), and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (F.I.D.S.A.).

Dr. Pomerantz joined Johnson & Johnson, Inc. in 2005 as the president of Tibotec Pharmaceuticals, Inc, the virology and infectious diseases research and development company within Johnson & Johnson. In 2009, he was promoted to Global Head of Infectious Diseases for Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceuticals, with the responsiblity for all anti-infective agents world-wide (including virology, tuberculosis, anti-bacterial agents, and diagnostics).

Science Career Week Events
Monday, October 19, 2009
 

• The art exposition, “The Craft of Science and Scientist” will be on display in the Dwight V. Dowley Gallery, 5th Floor, St. Joseph Hall from 4-5 p.m. The exhibition will feature posters of famous scientists with a short biography of their life and discoveries as well as discipline-specific posters that overview disease topics such as cancer, AIDS and influenza, and some artistic works using lab materials to represent a science theme. 
• Lecture: Robert Ramos, Ph.D., assistant professor of physics at Drexel University, will present “Really Cool Science: Artificial Atoms Cooled to Near Absolute Zero Temperatures” at 5:30 p.m. in the physics lab located on the ground floor of St. Joseph Hall. In his talk, Dr. Ramos will describe how to build and manipulate artificial atoms similar to hydrogen atoms when cooled to near absolute zero temperatures. In this lecture, he will describe how we can probe the energy levels of this "atom" with the same radiofrequency waves emitted from cell phones and microwave ovens. His lecture will also describe how this type of atom can be used to form the building block of computers that can solve some problems exponentially faster than commercial processors. The lecture will include a demonstration.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

• Lecture: Lakshmi Atchison, Ph.D., professor of biology at Chestnut Hill College will present “Stand Up to Cancer: Fight, Conquer and Live Healthy” at 4:30 p.m. in the East Parlor, St. Joseph Hall. Dr. Atchison’s presentation will focus on three major strategies for cancer prevention, and how one should be proactive in combating the disease. Her lecture will deliver strong take home message about cancer awareness, early detection and prevention, and how this can make a difference in everyone’s life. At the College, Dr. Atchison teaches undergraduate students about the importance of understanding cancer, a ravaging disease that affects the global population. She is also the coauthor of the text, “Cell Biology with Cancer Applications,” published by McGraw-Hill in 2009. 
• Lecture: Robert Meyer, Ph.D., professor of biology, will present the lecture “Troubled Waters” at 5 p.m. in the East Parlor, St. Joseph Hall. In his lecture, Dr. Meyer will discuss the problems, which include flooding issues, associated with the current configuration of the Wissahickon watershed adjacent to the Chestnut Hill College campus. His talk will review physical plans and strategies that are aimed at solving the persistent problems of bed erosion and flooding of this section of the Wissahickon.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

• Keynote “Curing HIV” by Dr. Roger Pomerantz, M.D., F.A.C.P., global head of infectious diseases, Johnson & Johnson, Inc., at 2 p.m. in the East Parlor, St. Joseph Hall.
• Panel Discussion - “Professions in the Sciences” at 4:30 p.m. in the East Parlor, St. Joseph Hall. Professionals from six various career paths will briefly speak about each of their areas of expertise, the dynamic of their career and how a science major might enter that specific career. Panel members will discuss careers in the armed services, medicine, genetic counseling, veterinary science, basic and clinical research, auxiliary health profession sciences and careers involving chemical and diagnostic analysis. Panel Members include personnel from the University of Pennsylvania, Thomas Jefferson University, The United States Army, Abington Hospital, Temple University, and the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). 

Friday, October 23, 2009

• Panel Discussion: “Getting Started With a Science Degree” at 11 a.m. in the East Parlor, St. Joseph Hall. A panel of recent Chestnut Hill College graduates and students discuss their employment opportunities after graduating with a degree in the sciences as well as the admissions process in order to earn an advanced degree in a science or health profession. A light lunch will be provided.

All Science Career Week events are free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Joseph Kulkosky, Ph.D., associate professor of biology at 215.248.7157 or kulkoskyj@chc.edu.