organizing committee, Future of Microbial Biotechnology: From Research to Regulation, IGI co-organized a workshop on the topics of microbial engineering, with panelists from government regulatory agencies (USDA, FDA, EPA) and private biotech developers, to foster discussions on the policy frameworks of genetically-engineered microbes in products and research.
iGEM advisor, UC Berkeley iGEM clonebots deletion team advised a team of undergraduate researchers on a synthetic molecular biology project to assemble a one-pot plasmid recombination system
thesis research presentations organizing committee, Dept. of Molecular & Cell Biology organized and hosted biannual thesis research presentations for students graduating from the MCB phd program.
co-organizer, Dept. of Molecular & Cell Biology Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity (JEDI) symposium co-organized and hosted a virtual department-sponsored symposium focusing on justice, equity, diversity, and inclusivity in academia.
admissions equity committee, Dept. of Molecular & Cell Biology phd program reviewed applications from prospective candidates for the MCB phd program as a graduate student representative, worked closely with faculty members to advocate for improving diversity, equity, and inclusivity in the program.
Marian E. Koshland seminar series committee, Dept. of Molecular & Cell Biology co-organized a department-sponsored graduate student-run seminar series.
student co-chair, MCB biochemistry, biophysics, and structural biology retreat 2019 co-organized the annual MCB biochemistry, biophysics, and structural biology (BBS) divisional retreat held in Monterey, CA.
co-organizer, Innovative Genomics Institute journal club started and co-organized a journal club within the Innovative Genomics Institute at UC Berkeley, for topics related to genome-editing research, clinical applications, policy, and societal and ethical implications.
teaching experience
graduate student instructor; biochemistry: pathways, mechanisms, and regulation (spring 2019) Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, UC Berkeley taught and led discussions with 45 upper-class undergraduate students to complement in class lectures in topics related to cellular signaling, metabolic reactions and their mechanisms, and regulation of biochemical pathways in the cell. David Savage, Michael Marletta, and Roberto Zoncu; principal instructors, Depts. of Chemistry and Molecular & Cell Biology
graduate student instructor; biophysical chemistry (fall 2017) Departments of Chemistry and Molecular & Cell Biology, UC Berkeley taught and led discussions with 45 upper-class undergraduate students to complement in class lectures in topics such as protein structure and evolution, thermodynamics and kinetics of biochemical reactions. John Kuriyan and David Savage, principal instructors, Depts. of Chemistry and Molecular & Cell Biology
outreach
MCB follies committee 2019, UC Berkeley co-organized MCB follies, an annual social and community-building event for graduate students, comprising of videos, skits, and activities produced by students. youtube link.
science writer, equilibria blog: http://www.equilibria.blog communicating scientific concepts in non-technical language for the general public. writing regular blog posts with personal perspectives on being a young scientist. sharing current research both within and outside UC Berkeley in an accessible way to engage the public in scientific research.
Arik Shams 