More than 100 current and former graduate students gathered on Oct. 3 for the School of Pharmacy’s first “Bridging Past and Future: Highlighting UCSF Graduate Students and Alumni” symposium, a half day event showcasing PhD student research and celebrating alumni who have translated their scientific training into high-impact careers.

The event featured a dynamic mix of short talks from alumni and faculty, flash talk presentations from current graduate students, alumni networking tables, and the announcement of a new endowed professorship in honor of professor emeritus Matt Jacobson, PhD. Attendees also had the opportunity to explore student research during the poster presentations, and to connect across generations of UCSF scientists at networking sessions.

Innovation and impact in biophysics and chemical biology

The symposium began with remarks from Dean Kathy Giacomini, PhD, BSPharm, followed by perspectives on the history and future of the Biophysics/Integrated Program in Quantitative Biology and the Chemistry and Chemical Biology (CCB) program from professors Charles Craik, PhD, and Aashish Manglik, PhD. Faculty members Jim Wells, PhD, Sophie Dumont, PhD, and Klim Verba, PhD, and graduate students Hersh Berghava, Siyi Wang, Dominic Grisingher, Patrick Zager, and Zachary Gale-Day presented their latest scientific advances.

Featured alumni speakers included:

• Sarah Hymowitz, PhD ’98, partner at the Column Group
• Nicholas Hertz, PhD ’13, founder and CEO of Montara Therapeutics, Inc.
• Libusha Kelly, PhD ’07, associate professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine
• Dan Widmaier, PhD ’10, CEO and co-founder of Bolt Threads

“This symposium brought together our amazing alumni and leaders in the Bay Area biotech environment with our incredibly talented current graduate students,” said Tanja Kortemme, PhD, professor of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and vice dean for research. “The talks and posters highlighted scientific innovations, from early discovery to the impactful contributions our alumni make in academia, industry, and venture capital. We hope that this symposium is the first of many.”

Hertz, an alumnus of the CCB program, added: “It was wonderful to be back on campus and reconnect with colleagues from my graduate school days. Hearing about the exciting science from current faculty and students, along with the inspiring career paths of fellow alumni, was truly fantastic.”

Announcing the Matt Jacobson Endowed Professorship

A highlight of the symposium was a tribute to Matt Jacobson, PhD, professor emeritus in the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry. Dean Giacomini announced the new Matt Jacobson Endowed Professorship, which is made possible through the generosity of donor Craig Muir, with plans to increase contributions in the future.

"The pursuit of improving human health through science and discovery is always daunting. I have been fortunate to collaborate with Matt Jacobson for 15 years while helping several companies discover and develop breakthrough medicines,” Muir said. “Additionally, I am very grateful for his inspired mentoring of my son Duncan during his PhD program at UCSF. Matt and I share a common interest in neurodegeneration and scientific challenges; therefore, my family is honored to help establish Matt's professorship so that his examples of perseverance, curiosity, rigor and scientific excellence will inspire young investigators for many years to come."

During the symposium, Muir, Balyn Zaro, PhD, and Jack Taunton, PhD, shared remarks and presentations, honoring Jacobson’s mentorship, scholarship, and lasting influence on both graduate student education and translating scientific innovations into therapeutics.

"Matt is one of the deepest biophysical and quantitative thinkers of his generation, and he brought that thinking to Global Blood Therapeutics and the new sickle cell drugs that they developed,” said Brian Shoichet, PhD, chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry. “Craig Muir spearheaded the foundation of that company and its development as a going concern, and his contribution honors their partnership. The Jacobson Endowed Professorship will be a vehicle to support Matt and Craig's belief in the role of quantitative biophysics in perpetuity; the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry is honored to host it."