Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Che Colpitts @colpittsc.bsky.social · Jul 23

Huge congratulations to Dr. Emma LeBlanc on her successful PhD thesis defence yesterday! As my first PhD student, Emma was instrumental in getting my lab up and running, in the midst of a pandemic, while managing to be very productive and do some exciting science along the way! #proudPI

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Che Colpitts @colpittsc.bsky.social · Jul 17

We had a great time at #ASV2025 - thank you to the organizers for putting together an epic week of virology! We are heading home feeling inspired! #LoveVirology

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Che Colpitts @colpittsc.bsky.social · Jul 2

Happy to share that I’ve received tenure and promotion to Associate Professor! I’m grateful for the supportive community of colleagues, mentors, family and friends, and for the talented and hard-working trainees I am lucky to work with. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to my journey!

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Che Colpitts @colpittsc.bsky.social · Jun 19

We have a new Master of virology in our group! Congratulations to Elana on her successful MSc defence this afternoon! 🎉

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Che Colpitts @colpittsc.bsky.social · May 14

Congratulations to our lab’s first PhD student, Emma LeBlanc, who successfully presented her exit seminar this afternoon showcasing some exciting findings (and a lot of hard work) from her PhD. Next up, thesis defence! #proudPI

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Che Colpitts @colpittsc.bsky.social · Apr 2

Congratulations to our lab’s undergraduate student researchers Keya Jani, Rebeca Barkin and Dominic Doiron, who all gave excellent poster presentations today wrapping up their fourth year projects! We will miss them in the lab but wish them all the best in their next steps! #proudPI

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Daniel Hurdiss @danielhurdiss.bsky.social · Dec 27

I’m looking for a postdoc to join my team under a recently funded ERC Starting Grant.

If you’re passionate about structural #virology and have experience in #cryoEM SPA and/or #cryoET, get in touch!

Application deadline: January 19th.

Please share with your networks 🙏

Job link: tiny.cc/7v33001

Postdoctoral Researcher in Structural Virology

This project is focused on deciphering the role of virally encoded AAA+ ATPases in the replication cycles of Enteroviruses and Noroviruses.

tiny.cc

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Che Colpitts @colpittsc.bsky.social · Dec 20

Earlier this week we had our annual lab holiday brunch to wrap up a successful and fun year. Happy holidays from the Colpitts lab!

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Che Colpitts @colpittsc.bsky.social · Dec 11

Happy to share our recent paper in #PLOSPathogens where we looked at the roles of sialic acid in the different entry routes of SARS-CoV-2. A great team effort to get this across the finish line! #proudPI
journals.plos.org/plospathogen...

Cellular sialoglycans are differentially required for endosomal and cell-surface entry of SARS-CoV-2 in lung cell lines

Author summary The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has resulted in over 700 million infections and 7 million deaths so far, demonstrating the threat posed by emerging CoVs. In humans, SARS-Co...

journals.plos.org

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Reposted by Che Colpitts

Helen Branswell 🇨🇦 @helenbranswell.bsky.social · Dec 2

Scientists who have studied #H5N1 #birdflu for years are flummoxed by the lack of severe cases among the 55 human cases the US has confirmed this year. I talked to lots to explore the theories of what's going on. www.statnews.com/2024/12/02/b...

Scientists confront a mystery: Why have U.S. bird flu cases been so mild?

The H5N1 bird flu outbreak in the U.S. has so far been shockingly mild. Researchers have some theories as to why.

www.statnews.com

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Reposted by Che Colpitts

Stuart Neil @tetherin.bsky.social · Nov 27

I am looking for 2 postdoctoral researchers to join my lab to work on the role of HIV-1 accessory proteins in the pathogenesis of HIV/AIDS and viral latency.

Please contact me informally or ‘re-sky’ to anyone you think may be interested. Closing Dec 10th

www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DKV639/p...

Postdoctoral Research Associate at King's College London

Discover an exciting academic career path as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at jobs.ac.uk. Don't miss out on this job opportunity - apply today!

www.jobs.ac.uk

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Che Colpitts @colpittsc.bsky.social · Nov 26

I’d like to be added please! My lab works on UPR and some ISR in the context of RNA virus infection. Thanks!

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Canadian Society for Virology @cansocvirol.bsky.social · Nov 20

REMINDER: The CSV Early Career Researcher Virtual Seminar Series is this Friday, Nov 22 @ 10:30 AM PST / 1:30 PM EST!
Featuring talks from @brycewarner1 and @M_Goncheva.
A Zoom link has been sent to CSV members! Don't miss out and come support your fellow Canadian virologists!
#Virology #ECR #CSV

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Reposted by Che Colpitts

Robert de Vries @rpdevrieslab.bsky.social · Nov 18

First post here... let's check it out... last days to apply for a PhD position in my lab! Looking for glyco and viro enthusiasts. #glycotime #lovevirology @eakarlsson.bsky.social www.uu.nl/en/organisat...

PhD Position in H5Nx Virus Evolution and Host Interactions

Dive into the captivating world of virus-host interactions and help us redefine how to assess/predict zoonotic influenza outbreaks.

www.uu.nl

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Reposted by Che Colpitts

Hensley Lab @scottehensley.bsky.social · Nov 16

The preliminary sequence from the H5N1 human case in British Columbia has been posted and it is not good news. The virus potentially has a quasispecies at HA residue 226 (H3 numbering). This is bad news because we know that mutations at residue 226 can increase binding to human receptors. 1/

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Che Colpitts @colpittsc.bsky.social · Nov 13

A fun (and ambitious) journal club this afternoon discussing the next 50 years of virology research! 🦠

A group of enthusiastic virology trainees sitting around a table discussing a journal article recently published in Cell titled “Virology - The next 50 years”

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Reposted by Che Colpitts

Jesse Erasmus @jesseerasmus.bsky.social · Nov 10

Couldn’t find a virology starter pack so here’s one to get the ball rolling. Repost/reply if you are a virologist so I can find and add you to the list!

go.bsky.app/SinqoJU

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Che Colpitts @colpittsc.bsky.social · Oct 31

Some nice birthday surprises from the lab today (including some exciting new data at lab meeting!)…although I dropped the ball by not wearing my usual plaid shirt! Feeling lucky to work with such a great group - they are the best!

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Che Colpitts @colpittsc.bsky.social · Oct 1

We had a fantastic time at #HCVFlavi2024 in Oxford - thanks to the organizers for putting together an excellent conference, and to all our colleagues for sharing their exciting science! We are returning home feeling inspired! 👩‍🔬🦠

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Reposted by Che Colpitts

Canadian Society for Virology @cansocvirol.bsky.social · Apr 25

Only 5 days left!! Come join us at @cansocvirol.bsky.social - we are seeking members interested in serving on the CSV Governing Council from 2024-2026! Positions include Vice President, Treasurer/Secretary, 3 Directors, and a trainee representative!
For more info: www.csv-scv.ca/en/job-offers

Job offers

www.csv-scv.ca

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Che Colpitts @colpittsc.bsky.social · Dec 5

Excellent door-decorating effort by the lab to get us into the holiday spirit!

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Reposted by Che Colpitts

Eric Topol @erictopol.bsky.social · Nov 1

A new, very good review on Long Covid
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

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Che Colpitts @colpittsc.bsky.social · Oct 27

A new group photo for a new academic year, and a slightly belated welcome to our new graduate and undergraduate trainees! Good times ahead!

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Reposted by Che Colpitts

Tom Peacock @peacockflu.bsky.social · Oct 17

Really excited to see our perspective piece on the different ways Omicron lineages have evolved over the last 1.5 years is out now! Really nice collaboration between variant trackers and academics (including a lot of the Pango team).

SARS-CoV-2 evolution in the Omicron era - Nature Microbiology

Evolution of Omicron lineages and future evolutionary trajectories of SARS-CoV-2 are discussed.

www.nature.com

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Che Colpitts @colpittsc.bsky.social · Oct 13

Thanks, Craig! Trinity started in the lab just in time to help us tackle the revisions. Fingers crossed for your manuscript!

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