Upgrade to a chip-embedded University ID

For students, faculty, and staff who have not had the opportunity to get a chip-embedded University ID card, now is a great time to do so. Chip ID cards can be used for access to tap-style card readers currently being installed. If you have a hole punched in your University ID card now, it is the old-style card; new chip-embedded cards cannot have holes and come with a friction gripper. There is no charge for the upgrade.

Visit one of the University ID Offices to get your upgraded ID card:

• Public Safety Headquarters ID Office: Open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call (585) 275-3437 for more information.
• Susan B. Anthony Halls ID Office, Room 114A: Open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call (585) 275-3975 for more information.
• Medical Center ID Office, Room G-7009: Open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call (585) 273-2000 for more information.

@Rochester holiday break

We’re planning to put @Rochester on a brief hiatus at the end of the year. The last issue of 2023 is planned for Friday, December 22, and publication will resume on Thursday, January 4.

We will include a listing of holiday hours for non-clinical offices and services around the University in the Thursday, December 21, issue of @Rochester; clinical offices should follow their standard policies for holidays. If you have an update you’d like to share, please send details to at-rochester@rochester.edu by noon on Tuesday, December 19, to be included.

Emojis to the rescue? More are needed to address the biodiversity crisis, scientists say

Los Angeles Times, December 12

Propagating new emojis is no small feat, as Andrew White, an associate professor of chemical engineering, discovered when he attempted to get a representation of a protein added to the official roster. “Much of the discussion of the pandemic (e.g., the infamous ‘spike protein’) and the latest drug discovery advances (e.g., CRISPR gene editing, biologic drugs) are based on proteins, but we have no emoji for them,” says White. “Emojis also help in English, where words like protein can mean the macronutrient from food or the concept from microbiology.”

Mindful moments for a refreshing study break

Take a meaningful and intentional break with the Mindful University Project during the reading period. Reduce stress and improve your academic performance with daily, drop-in guided meditation sessions hosted by Mindful University Project student committee members. The two daily sessions will be held in Rush Rhees Library from today, December 14, to Sunday, December 17, at 5 and 5:30 p.m. Thursday sessions will take place in the Evans Lam Square Treasure Room, and the sessions held Friday through Sunday will be located in the Welles-Brown Room.

Educational IT Innovation Grants for 2024

The Educational IT Committee, a part of the University’s IT Governance structure,  promotes the use of technologies to support instructional innovation throughout the University. By encouraging and supporting faculty and staff efforts in this area, the committee hopes to enhance learner experiences and outcomes and seeks opportunities that lead to the broad applicability of educational IT innovations across multiple schools to maximize the potential impact. The committee’s Innovation Grant program provides funding available through a proposal process to support faculty and staff in adopting new technologies to their teaching. The program will also include mentorship, support, and connection to existing resources in the institution through the committee. Find details here.

Care for seniors

Whether you’re looking for care for an elderly family member or just help running errands, eligible employees can find caregivers for seniors locally and across the country using their free Care.com premium membership. Visit the Family Care web page for eligibility criteria and to enroll.

Conversation with School of Nursing Dean Lisa Kitko

Join School of Nursing Dean Lisa Kitko and Tener Veenema ’92N (MS), ’99M (MPH), ’01M (PhD), a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and a senior scientist in the Department of Environmental Health and Engineering at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, for a discussion on how nurses can be actively involved in improving health outcomes during disasters and public health emergencies. Veenema will expand on her more than 35 years of expertise in public health preparedness. The virtual event takes place today, December 14, at noon. Register here.

MS in Data Science information session

An MS in data science information session will be held virtually today, December 14, at noon. Lisa Altman, education program coordinator for the Goergen Institute for Data Science, will discuss the program, with a special focus on the new genomics track program and the Genomic Intensive Data Science Research, Education, and Mentorship fellowship. Learn how the curriculum is structured, and find answers to frequently asked questions about expenses and applying. Register here to attend.

Participate in an HIV vaccine research study

Looking for a way to contribute to important medical research? If you are HIV-negative, healthy, and between the ages of 18 and 55, you may be eligible to take part in an HIV vaccine research study at the Medical Center. Being in a study is like donating blood on a regular basis, and it is impossible to get HIV from study vaccines. Volunteers receive an average of $750 for participation. Call the Rochester Victory Alliance at (585) 756-2329 or send an email for more information.