Postdoc Practice Job Talk: Khadar Abdi, Ph.D., Department of Cell Biology

On Jan 11 at 9:30 am, Khadar Abdi from the Department of Cell Biology will present his talk on "Discovery of pathways controlling ependymal cell identity and their implications for CNS disease" (abstract below). We encourage postdocs to attend and support Khadar by providing feedback! You don't have to be in the same field of study; presenters receive valuable info from audience members about clarity, communication style, and other 'big picture' issues.

Title and Abstract: Discovery of pathways controlling ependymal cell identity and their implications for CNS disease

My research focuses on the development and stability of a specialized cell type, ependyma, found within the brain's ventricular system. My talk is broken up into two major segments. The first will describe the unique processes and pathways that are utilized to develop ependymal cells from their progenitor sources. The second half of my walk will encompass novel findings regarding the stability of these cells during external insults, and a description of a novel post-translational mechanism for regulating their cellular identity. This work has important implications for disorders such as hydrocephalus and maintaining normal ventricular homeostasis.