□ Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science & Technology (DGIST; President Kunwoo Lee) will host the Distinguished Lecture Series featuring Professor Thomas C. Südhof, the 2013 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine, at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 23, in Room L29, DGIST E7 (Consilience Hall).
□ This lecture series, titled “Toward an Understanding of the Molecular Logic of Neural Circuits,” will feature Professor Südhof discussing the latest research trends in synaptic biology and the formation of neuronal circuits based on his research findings on how signaling between neurons is precisely regulated in the human brain at the molecular level.
□ Professor Südhof is currently the Avram Goldstein Professor[1] in the Department of Molecular & Cellular Physiology at Stanford University School of Medicine, and he has been an investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute since 1986.
□ He is renowned for his paradigm-shifting research in neuroscience, particularly for uncovering key principles of neuronal signaling, such as the mechanisms by which neurotransmitters are released rapidly and accurately at the presynaptic active zone[2]. Professor Südhof has received many of the world’s most prestigious academic awards for his achievements, including the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (2013), the Kavli Prize in Neuroscience (2010), and the Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award (2013).
□ He is also internationally recognized for his academic contributions, having been elected to many of the world’s most prestigious educational organizations, including the U.S. National Academy of Sciences (NAS), the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AAAS), the Royal Society of London, and the Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina.
□ “This lecture by Professor Südhof, one of the world’s most renowned academics, will serve as a great inspiration for students and researchers at DGIST, as well as a valuable opportunity to gain insights into and learn about the latest trends in brain sciences,” said DGIST President Kunwoo Lee. “DGIST will continue to serve as the center for interdisciplinary research and innovative education through ongoing knowledge exchange with global scholars,” he added.
□ Meanwhile, through this Distinguished Lecture Series, DGIST aims to promote academic exchange among researchers in brain and life sciences both in Korea and internationally, foster the next generation of interdisciplinary talent, and strengthen research competitiveness in the basic sciences.
[1] Avram Goldstein Professor is an emeritus professor position established by Stanford University to commemorate the academic achievements of neuroscientist Avram Goldstein. It represents a significant academic privilege and honor.
[2] The presynaptic active zone refers to a structure at the end of a nerve cell where neurotransmitters are released. When an electrical signal arrives, neurotransmitters are rapidly released from vesicles to transmit signals to the next nerve cell.
