Speakers
Virology
Assistant Professor of Chemistry — Williams College
Bob Rawle is currently an assistant professor of chemistry at Williams College. Originally from a small town in Utah, Bob earned his BA in chemistry at Pomona College and later his PhD in biophysical chemistry from Stanford University, where he studied fundamental biophysics questions relating to membrane fusion, the molecular process which underlies synaptic transmission, sperm-egg fertilization, and enveloped viral infection. Bob then worked as a postdoctoral research scientist at the University of Virginia School of Medicine and as a visiting scholar at Stanford University, where he studied the membrane binding and fusion of influenza and Zika viruses. At Williams College, Bob's research lab studies the biophysical chemistry of viral infection using both wet lab and computational techniques. Outside of his work, Bob is the happy (and tired) co-parent of three young children, and not infrequently transforms himself into a terrifying ice dragon named Ice Fang to engage them in battle.
Vaccines
Associate Professor of Microbiology & Director of PreMed Advising — University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Dr. Webley is currently a tenured Associate Professor of Microbiology and the Director of Pre-Med/Pre-Health Advising at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Webley earned the MS and Ph.D. in Microbiology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, with expertise in Immunology, Infectious Disease, Host-pathogen interaction and a concentration in vaccine development. Among many other awards and honors, he is a Fulbright Scholar, a recipient of the Manning Prize for Excellence in Teaching, and serves on the editorial boards of the International Journal of Vaccines & Immunization, the Journal of Medical Microbiology & Diagnosis, and Microbiology & Experimentation. His research focuses on infectious disease mechanisms and the role of individual infections in chronic diseases. Specifically, the Webley Lab is pioneering work in Chlamydia vaccine development and the role of pathogenic microbes in asthma initiation and exacerbation.
Maker Panel
Nancy Maier
Knockout Designs, designs and manufactures custom hardware, using 3D printing to make plastic and metal custom hardware and tap handles and laser engraving is used to customize wood tap handles. When bars and restaurants closed in March, breweries stopped requesting custom tap handles. Knockout Designs immediately started using their plastic 3D printers to create the plastic holders for clear face shields. They sourced medical grade clear plastic for the shields and used their laser engraver to cut the clear plastic shields to fit into the 3D printed plastic holder. During March, April and May 2020 they supplied face shields to local health providers and essential businesses in the Northern Berkshires, MA. They also supplied face shields to towns throughout Massachusetts to assist with local elections and town meetings.
Dennis Spencer
3D Print Services Supervisor, University Libraries Digital Media Lab — University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Dennis was integral to the Libraries' creation of the Digital Media Lab and has been supervising operations since its inception. As a public university library, the 3D printing services are open to the public beyond the campus community on a cost-reimbursement basis - but the majority of their work revolves around education, from introducing individuals to the oft-intimidating 3D design basics, to integration into classes as professors adopt 3D printing as an aid to visualization and interactive learning. In March as the university moved to remote instruction and staff adapted to working from home save for essential personnel, Dennis joined the campus community of makers creating personal protective equipment (PPE) for local hospitals.
Rebecca Meehan
Assistant Director — Woburn Public Library
Rebecca Meehan has been working in libraries long enough to realize that change is the beating heart of any vital organization, and is beyond excited to see how libraries will evolve in today's world. Building resilient humans is a special interest, and she embraces any technology that brings her closer to that goal. Her favorite piece of advice? Jump first and grow wings on the way down. Founding member of #teamHUMAN.
John Walsh
Assistant Director for Innovation and Technology — Woburn Public Library
Innovative and accomplished Technology Librarian/System Administrator with 20+ years experience in libraries including academic, corporate and public. Experienced in training diverse groups of students and adults on technology across the globe ranging from Cambridge to London to Dubai.
Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Director of IRB Operations — University of Massachusetts Medical School
For the past four years, Allison Blodgett, PhD, has served as the Director of IRB Operations at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. She is a certified IRB professional and holds a faculty appointment in the Graduate School of Nursing. Prior to joining UMMS, Dr. Blodgett served as a member of the University of Maryland College Park IRB.
Director of Research Integrity Services — University of New Hampshire
Julie Simpson, Ph.D., is the Director of Research Integrity Services (RIS) at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) and an Affiliate Assistant Professor of College Teaching and of Education. She has worked at UNH for 28 years. Her office administers UNH’s human subjects protections, humane care and use of animals, and responsible conduct of research and scholarly activity (RCR) programs, as well as UNH’s financial conflict of interest in research and HIPAA programs. She is a member of UNH’s IRB, IACUC, RCR Committee and UNH’s Radiation Safety Committee. She is UNH’s Research Integrity Officer (RIO). She co-developed and co-teaches UNH’s GRAD 930: Ethics in Research and Scholarship, a cross-disciplinary graduate seminar that has been offered since 2005. She was the UNH project director for an Office of Research Integrity (ORI) grant to develop web based RCR training materials. She is an IRB member at two other New England educational institutions. She has presented on research integrity issues nationally and regularly presents in UNH classes on a variety of research integrity topics.