Mud matters:
Understanding the role of ocean sediments in storing carbon

Sara Hutto
Climate Program Coordinator
Greater Farallones Association
Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries

Tuesday February 27,
12:30pm-1:30pm, via zoom
Zoom ID: 856 8738 9244
Passcode: 127835

Abstract:
The sediments of the vast ocean floor represent the world’s largest non-fossil pool of organic carbon, yet they are not well-studied or protected. The carbon in these sediments can remain stored for thousands to millions of years; however, activities such as mining, oil and gas exploration, and bottom-contact fishing can disturb sediment, resuspending it into the water column and potentially remineralizing carbon into aqueous CO2. Current understanding of marine sediment carbon along the US West Coast is limited, constraining meaningful management and protection of these critically important carbon sinks. The Greater Farallones Association, in partnership with NOAA Office for Coastal Management (OCM) and NOAA’s Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries, conducted the first systematic evaluation of marine sedimentary carbon stocks in North-central California. This lecture will discuss the importance of marine sediments in global carbon sequestration and storage, and present the results of this study, including an estimate of the carbon stock within the Sanctuaries’ marine sediments and identification of carbon “hot-spots” on the seafloor based on a novel spatial model of carbon density.

Bio:
Sara Hutto manages the Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries Climate Program as a NOAA affiliate with Greater Farallones Assocaition, focused on integrating climate-smart adaptation into Sanctuary management and provide training for marine protected area managers around the country to undertake climate-smart adaptation planning. Sara’s background is in rocky intertidal ecology, and she holds a Master of Science in Marine Science from Moss Landing Marine Laboratories

Science Lecture Series Spring 2024 in coordination with Women's History Month

BOUND FOR GLORY: 
An Analysis of Osteoarthritis in the Spine as a Consequence of Long-Term Corsetry

Rila Chartier

MSc in Bioarchaeological and Forensic Anthropology
University College London

Tuesday March 26, 2024
12:30-1:30p.m.
via Zoom

Zoom ID: 880 7001 4523
Passcode: 354778

Abstract:

From the 16th century up to the early part of the 20th, the use of corsets from early childhood was a regular form of dress for most females*. Corsets compress the thorax and have been recorded to cause plastic deformation of the ribs. This research is predicated on the idea that trauma can be a secondary cause of osteoarthritis (OA) (Waldron 2009). This dissertation compares OA in the facet joints of the spine of an historical assemblage (SB79 – St. Bride’s Church) to those of a modern one (CEI XXI – 21st century identified skeletal collection). This investigation shows significant differences between collections, particularly in the expression of OA in inferior vs. superior costovertebral (CV) facets. The historical assemblage was found to have a much higher prevalence of OA of the inferior CV facets compared to superior to the modern assemblage, which displayed an even prevalence. Additional observations include vastly more costal cartilage ossification in the historical assemblage. Heterotopic ossification of the soft tissues can be caused by trauma as well. Plastic deformation of the ribs and spinous processes was also noted. The confluence of these skeletal changes appears indicative of corset wear.

*(females – referring to biological sex as regards to the archaeological context as well as the social division in said centuries)

Bio:

Rila Chartier was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She was home-schooled from age 11 until age 16. After completing her high school proficiency exam, Rila was privileged to live in Guatemala for nearly three months to study Spanish. Whilst there she had many adventures - exploring the Maya culture including visiting Tikal and Copán, also attending the first ever Maya Meetings hosted outside of Texas. It was this conference that cemented her choice to become an anthropologist. She attended UCLA for her undergraduate studies in anthropology; there she received a grant for undergraduate archaeology at a field school she attended during the summer, in Cambridge, England – this turned her into an unapologetic anglophile. She was also a research assistant for renowned Linguistic Anthropologist Dr. Elinor Ochs. After a hiatus, but determined to get back to the UK, she decided to attend University College London where she was awarded an MSc in Bioarchaeological and Forensic Anthropology in November 2019. It is the research from this thesis she will be presenting for this lecture. She currently volunteers as website administrator for the Biological Anthropology Women’s Mentoring Network – please check it out!

Various Population of Mitochondria & Their Role in Disease

Byourak Shabane
PhD Candidate, UCLA Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology (MCIP)

Tuesday April 30, 2024
12:30-1:30 p.m.
CS 177

Abstract:

Peri-droplet mitochondria (PDM) are attached to lipid droplets (LD) in a variety of cells. In contrast to cytosolic mitochondria, PDM utilize pyruvate rather than fatty acids to produce ATP needed for fatty acid esterification and triglyceride synthesis. For this purpose, PDM maintain a unique metabolic and proteomic signature including dense cristae, increased respiratory capacity, and increased rates of ATP and NAD(P)H synthesis. However, the mechanisms regulating PDM attachment and detachment are not fully understood. In order to study regulators of PDM formation, we aimed to establish a cellular system containing a defined amount of PDM that are functionally similar to PDM in brown adipocytes. For our study purposes islet beta (INS1) cells were selected for PDM analysis. The lipid droplet protein perilipin 5 (PLIN5) is known to mediate mitochondria-lipid droplet interaction in various tissues, including brown adipose tissue (BAT). Here we explored whether PLIN5 overexpression would induce PDM formation and metabolic/proteomic shifts in PDM. The establishment of PLIN5-overexpressing INS1 cells as model for PDM formation enabled us to identify pharmacological modulators that could be used as future therapeutics against viral infections, metabolic disorders and certain types of cancer.

Bio:

Byourak Shabane attended Glendale Community College from 2013-2016. During her time at GCC, she was the Senator of Campus Activities at ASGCC and the President of Biochem club. She then transferred to UCLA and obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry in 2018. While at UCLA, she did both clinical and non-clinical volunteering before applying for med/grad schools. For almost 5 years, she worked as a research assistant and consultant in the lab of Dr. Shirihai at UCLA. The Shirihai lab focuses on mitochondrial biology and heterogeneity. They discovered that in brown adipocytes two types of mitochondria co-exist within a single cell and have different localizations and functions. While working in the lab, she also collaborated with biotech companies such as CapacityBio, Inc and EnspireBio, Inc. She is a published author who published in Nature Communications and EMBO journals. She is currently a PhD student in the department of Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology (MCIP) and is the student representative for her department in the Biological Sciences Council.

12:30-1:30 p.m.
CS 177

Healthcare Professions Internship:
A Collaboration Between GCC & Glendale Memorial Hospital

Speakers

Rev. Cassie McCarty
Director of Mission Integration and Spiritual Care Services at Glendale Memorial Hospital

Jim Zolnowski
Chief Nursing Officer at Glendale Memorial Hospital

Dr. Anna Grygoruk
Assistant Professor of Biology, GCC

Dr. Karoline Rostamiani
Assistant Professor of Biology, GCC

Abstract: The Healthcare Professions Internship program at Dignity Health Glendale Memorial Hospital is a yearlong on-site four-hours a week internship program granting selected GCC students opportunities to experience direct observation and shadowing of various hospital staff (including physicians, nurses, physical therapists, respiratory physiologists, etc.) in various departments (surgery, emergency room, NICU, labor and delivery, etc.). Over the last three years, 34 GCC students have gained experience and exposure to healthcare professions at Dignity Health Glendale Memorial Hospital as a result of this internship.

Bios:

• Jim Zolnowski is the Chief Nursing Officer at Dignity Health Glendale Memorial Hospital. He began his nursing career almost 20 years ago in Buffalo, NY as a critical care nurse. He holds a Master of Science in Nursing degree and is a board-certified nurse executive. His career has allowed him to live in many cities throughout the country: as a staff nurse, travel nurse, and progressive nursing leadership roles. As Chief Nursing Officer, he is responsible for nursing services, and the patient experience, ensuring patients receive the highest quality of care.
  
  
• Rev. Cassie McCarty serves as Director of Mission Integration at Dignity Health Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center. In this role, Cassie oversees a number of areas, including spiritual care services, bioethics, community health, human trafficking response, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. She oversees the Healthcare Professions Internship program and was a part of the original committee of hospital leaders and physicians who designed and created this program three years ago. Cassie is a healthcare chaplain and board certified by the Association of Professional Chaplains.
  
  
• Anna Grygoruk received her B.S. at University of Florida and her Ph.D. at UCLA. Her graduate and post-doctoral research focused on different factors that regulate aminergic neurotransmission in Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly). While she truly enjoyed conducting scientific research, what she enjoyed most during her time at UCLA was mentoring, training and teaching numerous undergraduate and graduate students in the lab. Inspired to become a full-time instructor, Anna began teaching Human Anatomy at the community college level in the Spring of 2014 and joined the GCC community in Spring 2016. She teaches Human Anatomy (Biol 120), Human Physiology (Biol 121) , and Biol 49 where she serves as an instructor and mentor to Glendale Memorial Hospital Interns. She considers herself incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to help students learn about the remarkable wonders of biology and the amazing complexity of the human body.
  
  
• Karoline Rostamiani received her BS and MS in Genetics Cell and Molecular Biology from California State University Northridge identifying the gene responsible for dyskeratosis congenita, and her PhD from USC Medical School studying role of Calpain in learning and memory, epilepsy, and Parkinson’s disease. Her postdoctoral work was in regenerative medicine using stem cells to study Keratoconus at Cedar Sinai Medical Center. She has taught classes at CSUN, USC, College of Canyons, and joined GCC in Fall of 2016. She teaches microbiology, anatomy, and mentors biology 49 internship students at GCC.

Special Science Lecture
Wednesday Sept. 18
12:30pm-1:30pm, TG 111

Tuesday Science Lecture
Tuesday Sept. 24
12:30pm-1:30pm, CS 177

Age-related decline in progenitor differentiation potential may reduce skeletal muscle regeneration

GCC alumna Alis Balayan who is currently pursuing the MD-PhD program at UC San Diego will speak about her area of study.

Abstract: Age-related decline in human skeletal muscle (SkM) regeneration represents a significant global health challenge, with around 1.7 billion people worldwide affected by various musculoskeletal conditions. Poor SkM regeneration, particularly in the elderly, is caused by reduced proliferation and engraftment of satellite cells (SCs), which differentiate into myofibers post-injury, and of fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs), which remodel extracellular matrix (ECM) and secrete regeneration modulating factors. Here, we investigate how these stem cell/progenitor pools are affected by age. Human SkM samples were obtained from surgical remnants from ACL reconstruction surgeries with hamstring autografts or hip replacement surgeries from four age groups: adolescents (10-18 years), young adults (21-33 years), older adults (35-50 years), and the elderly (>65 years). SCs and FAPs were isolated using dispase/collagenase digestion followed by flow cytometry and then expanded in culture. Our results indicate that the SC pool in SkM declined with age at a rate of 0.22% per year (n=50, Pearson correlation -0.667, p<0.001), while the FAP pool remained unchanged. The expansion potential and proliferation of SCs and FAPs from older adults were significantly lower than those of younger patients. SCs from older individuals demonstrated decreased myogenic differentiation potential, reducing the fusion index with increasing age. Additionally, histone acetylation and methylation markers identified global epigenetic changes in both SCs and FAPs across the different age groups. The age-related decline in SC expansion, proliferation and differentiation potentially contributes to the smaller SC pool and diminished muscle regeneration in older individuals. Further exploration of specific epigenomic changes in SCs and FAPs from different age groups will help unveil the mechanisms underlying these age-related changes.

Bio: Alis Balayan began her academic journey at Glendale Community College from 2014-2016 before transferring to UCLA where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry in 2018. During her undergraduate years, she developed an interest in regenerative medicine and joined Dr. Sophie Deng’s lab at UCLA, where she contributed to the development of mesenchymal stem cell-based therapies for corneal scars. In 2020, Alis joined the Medical Scientist Training Program (MD-PhD) at UC San Diego, where currently her PhD thesis focuses on understanding the impact of aging on skeletal muscle regeneration.

My Non-traditional Pathway Into Medicine: from post-civil war El Salvador to Glendale Community College to medical school.

Tuesday October 22
12:30 -1:30 p.m.
CS 177

Francisco Reyes
Northeast Ohio Medical University
GCC Alumnus

Abstract and Bio:
The lecture will outline Francisco Reyes’s non-traditional pathway into medicine. He was born and raised in Santa Ana, El Salvador in a single-parent household. Francisco grew up in post-civil war environment and never gave up on his childhood dream to become a doctor. He is currently a medical student at Northeast Ohio Medical University, class of 2026.

Mathematics in Antiquity: The Art of Calculation in the Ancient World.
Dr. Ashot Djrbashian
GCC Mathematics Professor

Wednesday, November 27, 2024
12:30pm-1:30pm
BV 101

Abstract
In his lecture, Dr. Djrbashian will explore the calculation techniques employed by different ancient civilizations. Despite the considerable differences from modern methods, these early techniques allowed for impressive accomplishments that remain noteworthy even by today’s advanced standards.

Science Lecture Series Spring 2025

with Eva Janečková, PhD, GCC Biology Professor

U.S. Mendel School at GCC Announces the Mendel Contest: How do I see Mendel?

Submission Deadline: Thursday, March 20, 2025

Winner(s) Announced: Thursday March 27, 2025

Submission Categories

Category I: Through Arts

Category II: Through Science

Category III: Something Unique

For Questions Contact: usmendelschool@glendale.edu

Science Lecture Series Spring 2025

In Collaboration with Women's History Month

What causes severe morning sickness: using genetics to solve an unmet need in women’s health

Thursday March 27, 2025
12:30-1:30pm
via zoom
Meeting ID: 850 9717 5342
Passcode: 911328

Marlena Fejzo, PhD
Assistant Professor, Center for Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California
2024 TIME Woman of the Year and TIME 100 Health Honoree

Abstract:
Most pregnancies are affected by morning sickness and the most severe form, Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG), can be life-threatening. HG is the 2nd leading cause of hospitalization in pregnancy. It is associated with significant maternal, fetal, and child morbidity such as increased risk for postpartum depression, preterm birth, smaller brains, and autism spectrum disorder. There are no FDA-approved medications for HG and current treatment is largely inadequate resulting in prolonged undernutrition in pregnancy. A genetic approach to discovering the etiology has elucidated a role for the nausea and vomiting hormone GDF15. This finding has exciting clinical implications for both prevention and treatment.

Bio:
Marlena Fejzo is a women’s health scientist who has published peer-reviewed articles on many diseases of women including ovarian and breast cancer, multiple sclerosis, and discovered the first genes for uterine fibroids, nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP), and hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). Fejzo is an Assistant Professor at the University of Southern California, Chief Scientific Officer of Harmonia Healthcare, Research Director and Board Member of the HER Foundation, Board Member of the Foundation for Women’s Health, and an advisor for NGMBio. In 2024 Fejzo was a Time Woman of the Year and Time 100 Health Honoree, received the National Organization of Women Victoria Mastrobuono Award in Women’s Health, Forbes 50 Over 50 award in Innovation, and was a finalist for Falling Walls Breakthrough of the Year.

From GCC to Colorectal Surgery

Armen Christopher Gregorian, MD

Join us for the April Science Lecture on Tuesday April 29, 2025, from 12:30-1:30pm, BV 101. 

GCC Alumnus to speak about his journey from a community college student to a specialist in colorectal surgery. One of the few colorectal surgeons, using the Da Vinci Robotic Surgical Systems.

Abstract:
Dr. Gregorian will speak about his journey from Glendale Community College to becoming an expert in his field of colorectal surgery. He will share his knowledge and expertise regarding innovative approaches and treatments of various colorectal conditions.

Bio: Armen Gregorian, MD, is a board-certified general and colorectal surgeon renowned as one of the best colorectal doctors in Los Angeles and Glendale. He completed a subspecialty fellowship in colon and rectal surgery at Brown University. Since 2011, Dr. Gregorian has practiced general and colorectal surgery at PIH Health Southern California Hospital, with excellent patient care as his focus and priority. Over the last ten years, Dr. Gregorian has become a PIH Health leader. His accomplishments include being the Chief of the Department of Surgery and now the Chair of Surgery at PIH Health Physicians. He has been recognized as a top physician, including being named one of the top colorectal surgeons by Los Angeles Magazine in Southern California. In addition, Dr. Gregorian is committed to providing surgical care outside the United States and participating in annual surgical charity missions. He constantly strives to provide the highest level of care with compassion and dedication. Dr. Gregorian was a local Glendale student, attending Hoover High, Glendale High School and transferring to UCLA. He attended Chicago Medical School. 

His specialty areas include:
Diverticulitis, J Pouch Surgery, Rectal Prolapse, Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn’s Disease, Hemorrhoids, Anal Fistula Fecal Incontinence, Pilonidal Cyst, Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision, Rectal Cancer, Colon Cancer, Transanal Minimally Invasive Surgery

Science Lecture Series Spring 2025

Warming boosts the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in soil bacteria: A case study and synthesis

Melanie Hacopian
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UC Irvine

Thursday May 29, 2025, 12:30pm-1:30pm, CS 177

Abstract:
The effect of warming on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes in the environment has critical implications for public health but is little studied. AMR mechanisms may be favored at warmer temperatures as heat, desiccation stress, and antimicrobial compounds sometimes impose similar consequences on bacterial cells. We collected published soil bacterial genomes from the BV-BRC database and tested the relationship between reported optimal growth temperature and the number of encoded AMR genes. Furthermore, we tested the relationship between temperature and AMR gene transcription in a natural ecosystem by analyzing soil transcriptomes from a warming manipulation experiment in an Alaskan boreal forest. We hypothesized that there is a positive relationship between warming and AMR prevalence in gene content in bacterial genomes and transcriptomic sequences, and that this effect would vary by drug class. Regarding the bacterial genomes, we found a positive relationship between the fraction of encoded AMR genes and the reported optimal temperature of soil bacteria. The drug classes tetracycline and lincosamide/macrolide/streptogramin had the strongest positive relationship with reported optimal temperature. For the case study in a natural ecosystem, we found 61 significantly upregulated AMR gene-associated transcripts spanning eight drug classes in warmed plots. In the Alaskan soil samples, we found that warming elicited the strongest positive effect on transcripts targeting lincosamide/streptogramin, beta-lactam, and phenicol/quinolone antibiotics. Overall, higher temperatures were linked to AMR gene prevalence.

Bio: Melanie Hacopian graduated from Glendale High School then went to Pasadena City College, where she joined her first research lab under the mentorship of Dr. Jared Ashcroft. Melanie transferred to California State University, Long Beach where she first learned about the field of environmental microbiology in Dr. Renaud Berlemont's bioinformatics lab. During the last year of her undergraduate education, she applied to Ph.D. programs and was accepted to UC Irvine in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Working in Dr. Kathleen Treseder's global change lab, Melanie has the opportunity to study the response of soil microbial communities to warming and drying in natural settings.

Public Health Unpacked: My Path, Its Power, and Your Potential

Special Date: Wednesday March 25, 2026
BV 101
12:30-1:30 p.m.

Discover how public health shapes communities, explore career pathways in the field, and learn how to play a role in improving population health

Pamela Flores
Manager of Community Health and Volunteer Services at Dignity Health Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center (GMHHC)

GCC Alumna