The tech world has embraced Machine Learning (ML) for its powerful intuitive capabilitiesto increase click-through rates on ads, sell more books, and help you keep in touch with mom. Despite being increasingly common as a classification tool in applications ranging from transcriptomics, metabolomics, and neuronal synaptic activities, ML is still almost absent in the area of bioengineering. Why is that and what can we do to increase ML use in bioengineering? Machine Learning algorithms that date back half a century are now commonly used for pattern-based analysis, including Decision Trees, Nearest Neighbors, Neural Nets, and more recently with significant success Deep Learninga version of Neural Net with more layers and more nodesreceived significant attention when it won against the best human in the ancient Chinese game of Go. Deep Learning has been enabled by access to new powerful computational hardware, in particular the graphical processing units (GPUs) originally developed for the gaming industry. These gaming GPUs allow for massively parallel computations, which is perfect for ML applications. Its comforting to know that Call of Duty brought something of value to this world. In recent years we have seen ML flourishing in a broad range of applications where there is sufficient … Continue reading →

Investors are increasingly convinced that the chemical, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries are close to capitalizing on recent breakthroughs in biology. But their enthusiasm could be tempered by hesitancy on the part of the public and regulators to support what's known as "synthetic biology." Experts at a conference in London told Reuters that synthesizing DNA is now significantly faster and cheaper than in years past, which enables scientists to essentially build new life from scratch. Reuters noted that that the event was held just weeks after the announcement of a synthetic baker's yeast -- an example of how science could assemble relatively complex cells or organisms by manipulating a genetic code "like a programming language." The parallels between the tech world and synthetic biology attracted prominent investors that previously struck it rich with Google, Facebook, PayPal and other tech giants. "Synthetic biology companies are now becoming more like the disruptive, industrial-scale value propositions that define any technology business," tech investor Matt Ocko told Reuters. Scientists' first attempt to deploy synthetic biology on a wide scale aimed to engineer algae to produce oil-free biofuels. Those efforts ran into technical and economic problems, but new start-ups are instead focused on highly specialized markets. … Continue reading →

CONWAY, Ark. (April 11, 2017) Hendrix College students Brandon Cathey 18 and Olivia Sims 17 traveled to Belize last month with biology professor Dr. Jenn Dearolf to troubleshoot a research project for students in Dr. Dearolfs marine biology course. Their trip was funded by the Hendrix Odyssey Program. The project is an investigation of the environmental parameters that encourage growth of elkhorn (Acropora palmata) and staghorn (A. cervicornis) coral on the reef. According to Dr. Dearolf, the students determined how to deploy and collect data from a flow meter to measure current at depth. Light levels were also measured at the top and bottom of elkhorn coral stands at snorkel sites where this type of coral was abundant and scarce. Finally, GPS coordinates of coral stands were identified in order for them to be found in subsequent years. This identification will allow for multiple years of data to be collected from the same coral stands. In addition, the students and Dr. Dearolf were also able to brainstorm with other investigators staying at Belize Marine Tropical Research and Education Center (TREC) and identify other variables that could be measured at the coral stands. They learned about a colorimeter that will allow … Continue reading →

The Los Angeles March for Science will be hosting their first march on Saturday, April 22, in honor of Earth Day. The march comes after President Trumps administration began airing proposals declaring that global warming is made up and that producing birth control is not affordable. Guest speakers include Allison Schroeder, screenwriter of Hidden Figures, Nitin Apte, CEO of Materia Inc., and Brad Sherman, U.S. Representative from Californias 30th Congressional District, among other professionals who specialize in different sciences. In addition, the march will include a science expo. Maria Elena Zavala, a CSUN biology professor, was also invited to speak at the event. Zavala hopes to draw attention to new policies that are being proposed by the current Trump administration, that may affect the underrepresented, poor and less educated. If it threatens one, it threatens all, Zavala said. Science is all around us, we all benefit from the products of science. Zavala said that scientists have never felt so threatened. In the past science was supported by both parties, Zavala said. The new administration seems to be different from past ones. The L.A. March for Science is supposed to be the second largest gathering, making the Washington D.C. March for … Continue reading →

Lucy Gildea Dr. Lucy (Wiley) Gildea, Class of 1994, has been appointed Chief Scientific Officer for Mary Kay, Inc., the beauty brand and direct seller around the world. She will work at the companys global headquarters in Addison, Texas. According to a company press release announcing her appointment, Dr. Gildea will lead the Global Research and Development function, developing innovative products and increasing the number of patents to secure Mary Kays status as one of the top innovators in the direct selling and cosmetics industries. It will be her responsibility to develop and execute Mary Kays Global Product Strategy and Innovation Pipeline,according to the release. Rick Kopp, Professor of Biology at Georgetown College since 1991, remembers Dr. Gildea, then Lucy Wiley, as an undergraduate. It was early in my career, so I remember some of those first students very well, said Kopp. She was an excellent student who was very enthusiastic and involved. It doesnt surprise me that she has been so successful. He also said that he even remembers her joining the Biology Club on a highway cleanup along Route 25. Prior to joining Mary Kay, Dr. Gildea spent 15 years at Procter and Gamble, working in health care, … Continue reading →