Susan Forsburg, professor of biological sciences at USC College, has received the 2011 Roche Diagnostics Alice C. Evans Award from the American Society for Microbiology for contributions to the advancement of women in science.

The honor celebrates society members who have demonstrated a commitment to women in science through mentorship and advocacy, while setting an example through scientific and professional achievement.

The organization lauded Forsburg for her research at USC College, as well as work on the advisory board of USC’s Women in Science and Engineering, which is committed to increasing the success of women in science.

Forsburg also runs womenbio.net, a website she started in 1997. The site provides women in biology with online resources ranging from educational opportunities to job openings.

At USC College since 2004, Forsburg studies how fission yeast cells maintain genome stability, particularly during DNA replication. She is one of five professors in the Department of Biological Sciences to receive exceptionally high priority grant scores from the National Institutes of Health this past year, which will translate to generous funding for her study on how meiosis react to DNA damage.

James Tyler Memorial at Alfred Newman Recital Hall

USC faculty and staff are invited to attend a musical program in memory of James Tyler, the director of the Early Music Performance Program from 1986-2006.

The program, which is slated to include images, recordings and video clips of events that Tyler regarded as highlights of his career as a musician, director, arranger, author and educator, will be held Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at Alfred Newman Recital Hall.

Former students who are now professional musicians in the field of early music are scheduled to perform a few of the pieces that Tyler loved to play.

5K Keck School Fundraiser Set for April 13

The USC University Hospital Guild will host its fifth annual Darlene Dafau Reid Walk the 5k for Keck on April 13 to raise money for scholarships for Keck School of Medicine of USC students and medical research.

The group invites students, staff, faculty and friends to participate in the event, which will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Harry and Celesta Pappas Quad on the Health Sciences campus. Entry costs $10 for students and $20 for staff, faculty and friends. All participants will receive a T-shirt, snacks, water and lunch.

For more information or to register, e-mail Candy Duncan at cdadsc@aol.com or call (310) 545-2239. Online registration is available at keck.usc.edu/Guild5k and donations may be made at keck.usc.edu/Guild5kDonate

Aranda Elected to Institute of Medicine Committee

The Institute of Medicine has appointed Maria Aranda, associate professor at the USC School of Social Work, to its Committee on the Mental Health Workforce for Geriatric Populations.

The committee’s goal is to determine the mental and behavioral health care needs of Americans over 65 years of age and to make policy and research recommendations for meeting those needs.

Aranda’s research addresses the study of psychosocial care of adult and late-life psychiatric disorders, ethnic and racial diversity in the delivery of mental health services and sociocultural adaptations to evidence-based social work practice.

She leads the school’s older adult sub-concentration and is chair of the USC Edward R. Roybal Institute on Aging’s scientific governing board. She also is editor of the Home Health Care Services Quarterly.

Local Group Salutes USC Engineer

Melvin A. Breuer, the Charles Lee Powell Professor of Computer
Engineering and Electrical Engineering at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, has won the Engineer of the Year award from the Sherman Oaks chapter of the Engineers’ Council.

Breuer was presented with the award during the council’s 56th annual banquet on Feb. 26.

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