Doug Rees, a seasoned procurement and supply chain executive, has joined URochester as associate vice president of procurement, effective October 6. Read more.

There are still group hikes to join this month through Well-U and ROC Personal Training. All group hikes are Saturday mornings at 9 a.m., with the last hike on Saturday, October 25. Explore all group hiking dates and locations and learn more about the program.

Review the latest Blackboard newsletter for updates from the October release, as well as tips for making the most of Blackboard discussions.

“Seeds for Collaboration” is a faculty and postdoc mixer sponsored by the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience and the School of Medicine and Dentistry dean’s office. Attend the next session on Tuesday, October 21, at 4:30 p.m. in LeChase Assembly Room (G-9576) at the School of Medicine and Dentistry.

Join River Campus Libraries in the Department of Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation on Thursday, October 16, from noon to 3 p.m. for spooky board games, ghastly puzzles, and haunted coloring. Students, faculty, and staff are invited to attend.

Join UR Ventures, URochester’s technology transfer office, for a morning seminar with Kirk Macolini of InteliSpark to learn how the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs work, who is eligible, and what resources are available to support competitive proposals. Register to attend on Monday, October 20, at 9:30 a.m. virtually or in person in the Center for Experiential Learning, Room 2-7520. A Zoom link will be sent after registration.

At Translational Science Day’s Shark Tank-inspired event on October 29, you and your team will identify a research barrier and propose a solution. Students, staff, and faculty are encouraged to sign up. You do not need to organize a team to participate, as they will be assigned on the day of the competition.

The Medical Center’s 29th annual Asthma, Allergy, and Pulmonary Update is a one-day educational event that aims to update health care professionals on the latest in asthma management. The event takes place at Hotel Canandaigua on Thursday, November 20. Learn more and register to attend.

Students on the River Campus, at the Eastman School of Music, and at the School of Medicine and Dentistry can schedule flu vaccine appointments through UHS Connect for upcoming clinics. Find clinic times, locations, and details here.

Students from any program can join URochester’s International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) team and spend the summer designing and building their own engineered biological system. Learn more at an informational session on Friday, October 17, at noon in Goergen Hall, Room 108. Email Anne S. Meyer for more information.

The Science Coalition, of which URochester is a member, is once again hosting the Alyse Gray Parker Memorial Student Video Challenge. From October 1 through November 15, undergraduate and graduate students at member institutions are invited to submit short videos about why science—and scientific research—matter to them and the nation’s future. Find details on the challenge.