[Opening Slide
Slide with a blue background with Brandeis Seal with music playing in the background. The text on the slide reads:
Brandeis University
Biochemistry
Celebrating the Class of 2020]
[Slide shows Professor Jeff Gelles with a hilly virtual background]
Prof. Jeff Gelles: Welcome, family, friends, and members of the Brandeis University Class of 2020. We are delighted to welcome you to the mini celebration of the Biochemistry Department and the Biochemistry and Biophysics Graduate Program. Although we can't be together in person, we're really glad that we can reconnect to recognize the achievements of the graduating students. Now, this mini-celebration, it's just an interim substitute. We also look forward to welcoming you to campus for an in-person commencement event in the spring of 2021.
My name is Jeff Gelles. I'm a professor in the Biochemistry Department and I'm here to take you through this afternoon's event. So, here's what's on the program. We'll start by hearing from two speakers. The first is Professor Dan Oprian, and next will be our student speaker, Agnele Sewa, 2020 Bachelor of Science graduate and one of our Biochemistry Undergraduate Department Representatives. Following the speakers, we will announce and recognize each of the degree recipients. So, let's get right underway.
I would now like to introduce Daniel Oprian, Professor of Biochemistry and chair of the Brandeis Biochemistry Department, who has some words of welcome for the graduates and their families and friends.
[Woman]: Woo!
[Slide shows Professor Oprian with a Brandeis University virtual background]
Prof. Daniel Oprian: Thanks, Jeff. It is my great pleasure to welcome the parents, friends, and especially the 2020 graduates, to this Biochemistry mini celebration. Actually, I don't like that term. This isn't a mini celebration. This is a grand celebration. It has been a tough year, to say the least, but you persevered, you got through it. We're gonna whoop it up. COVID-19 has presented challenges unlike any of us have seen before in our lives. It presented challenges this past semester to teachers and students alike. Without notice, we all had to leave campus and pivot to remote classes attended in isolation. That was tough. But you got through it; you were up to the challenge. I'm not surprised. I've gotten to know all of you through my advanced enzymology class, and I have said on many occasions that the 2020 Biochemistry class is the strongest, most talented class overall that I have seen in my 33 years of teaching at Brandeis.
So today we celebrate your accomplishments, and they are many. You came to Brandeis four years ago. Six for our PhD graduates. How long ago that seems now, and how far you have come.
I should give a little background for the families and friends. The Biochemistry major at Brandeis is not for the faint of heart. It is a demanding, rigorous program that attracts the brightest and most committed students. Biochemistry is an inherently advanced subject, and we generally don't see our majors for the first time until the fall semester of their junior year, because they are busy taking prerequisites for the major. Two semesters of biology, two semesters of physics, four semesters of chemistry, and that all before their first introductory class in biochemistry. So we don't see them until the first semester of their junior year, but then we see them a lot.
Then their schedule is packed with advanced topics biochemistry classes, statistical thermodynamics, physical chemistry of macromolecules, biochemistry of information transfer, advanced entomology, and more. Many of these classes overlap with the PhD requirements for our Biochemistry and Biophysics Graduate Program so that the students graduating today have had many of the same classes as the students in our graduate program. Many of the students undertake at the same time independent research in our laboratories. They work two, three years on these projects to form the foundation of their honors theses, and many publish their work in the scientific literature. All of the students work very hard and graduate very well trained to take the next step.
So to the students, you have all worked very hard, you've accomplished so much, and you face the world now well-positioned for whatever comes next — medical school, industry, graduate studies, whatever. But that is for tomorrow. Today we party. You've earned that. Class of 2020, we are very proud of you and we expect to hear great things from you in the future. Congratulations. I'd like now to introduce our next speaker, the undergraduate departmental representative for the biochemistry major, Agnele Sewa. Agnele?
[Slide shows Agnele Sewa, student representative of Undergraduate Biochemistry department wearing the graduation scarf]
Agnele Sewa: Thank you, Dan. Good afternoon, Class of 2020, parents, grandparents, family, friends and faculty. To be honest, this all feels surreal. A few days ago, I left Brandeis the same way I came, via the 1,125-miles car ride. As I sit here on my living room couch, it is hard to grasp all that has happened these past four years, and the reality we now face. It was not too long ago that we all stumbled upon the Rabb steps to take our first general chemistry quiz, but here we are tuning in from all over the world, staring into our electronic devices ready to flip over the page and into a new chapter.
Four years ago, when we left our comfort for the opportunity to grow, we did not know what will come of it. I never thought I would be able to derive the Gibbs free energy equation, or the ideal gas law. I didn't even know they existed, nor did I see myself sleighing down library's hill on a mattress while holding onto my best friends, Caylee and Milan.
To pick my favorite experience at Brandeis will be an injustice. There are so many. To me, the experiences themselves and the events that conspired were less memorable. However, in all these moments, the kindness, strength and generosity of the people and how they made me feel remains. These qualities can be found in some other places, but only at Brandeis have I seen them displayed in moments of sadness and anger in addition to moments of joy. No matter the situation, people here generally attempt to treat each other with respect and understanding that should be granted to any person. As my grandmother used to say, "the jewel lies in the small details." It comes to me as no surprise that we are gathered here with the shared fascination for molecules we can't see with our naked eye. Molecules that smell like oranges yet are extremely flammable, as Professor Oprian has shown us. It is hard to imagine that such small things are so dynamic, but yet they make a literal world of difference.
I am honored to have been part of a class that takes the challenges of understanding the large impacts of small actions beyond the classroom. To be surrounded by people who care as much about their community as they do their education and lab research is a privilege. In a way, this is what we came to Brandeis for, to become a better version of ourselves through the accumulation of simple acts that add up to extraordinary results.
To the Class of 2020, my sincere congratulations. We've pulled, tugged, and shifted this campus for the better. Although it feels like all you've worked for might be lost, I promise you it is not forgotten. All that you have achieved before the pandemic is not erased because the circumstances have changed. Rather, your resilience as you pursue your degree while adjusting to the changing times will be remembered. We've walked across the Brandeis campus on rainy, snowy, and even sometimes sunny days. We've all stopped at top of the hill near the library to catch our breath, only to bump into a friendly face and have a refreshing conversation. We've all stood outside of G-Zang 121 screening through our flashcards and master sheets one last time before walking in to be examined. It is here that we found real friends, those who support us, inspire us and accept us wholeheartedly as we are while nurturing the person we hope to become. Friends who make the hike to the C-store with us as we try to beat the 2:00 a.m. closing time.
I've always felt college was supposed to teach us how to leverage our resources and identities to better contribute to our communities. My interactions with the people on this campus have shown me ways to do this without sacrificing or hiding a piece of myself. It has led me on a path where I feel no need to limit myself to fit into a particular box. I would take this with me as I transition into the real world [with her fingers she gestures quotation marks]. And although I know nothing about the real world, I will share this with you. Do not let other people's doubt exhaust you. They're not deserving of the energy you use trying to explain yourself to them. Rather, focus that energy to turn your hopes and dreams into active goals. You owe it to no one but yourself to become everything you ever dreamed of being. But don't forget to appreciate any and everyone who helped you along the way. Most importantly, give a helping hand when you are able.
Although things are clearly uncertain, I would encourage you to take a breath, be persistent, be confident, and be genuine. So, when you look back, regardless of the results, you will lift your head high knowing you've held on to your own standards and morals. Congratulations, Class of 2020. This journey was certainly not easy, but look at the gem it has created. Remember the moments, cherish your stories and celebrate your accomplishments. Our vision is 20/20 clear and our mind races as we prepare for a better tomorrow for we know a beautiful horizon is ahead. Thank you.
[Slide shows Prof. Gelles with a hilly virtual background]
Prof. Gelles: Thank you very much, Agnele, and thank you, Dan. So, now it is time to celebrate the achievements of each graduate. Even in an ordinary year, the professors are always kind of excited about commencement, and this year we have multiple faculty members who really wanted to join into the festivities. So what we're going to do is, the different professors are going each take turns recognizing some of the graduates. So joining me are Professors Niels Bradshaw, Julia Kardin, Dan Oprian, Tom Pochapsky and Douglas Theobald. The graduating students who are working with their video off, I'd like to encourage you to turn it on for this part of the program. And I want to encourage all of the students to join in celebrating your classmates as their names are read by clapping or waving, or holding up signs. I've got mine here. Oh, it doesn't show up in the background though. And throwing confetti or whatever else you want to do. So, we will start the program today with the students who have earned the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the field of Biochemistry and Biophysics.
[Slide with a blue background with Brandeis Seal. The text on the slide reads:
Brandeis University
Class of 2020
Biochemistry and Biophysics
Doctor of Philosophy]
[As each name is read, a slide shows the name of the Ph.D. graduate from the Biochemistry and Biophysics department with an image of a graduation cap. In the background, professors speak a few words about each graduate]
[Slide shows an image of a mortarboard cap]
Prof. Douglas Theobald: Brian Clifford Beckett. Dissertation with Douglas Theobald, that's me, entitled Biophysical Properties of Ancestrally Resurrected Proteins are Unbiased.
[Slide shows an image of a mortarboard cap]
Prof Oprian: Jason Matos. Dissertation with Daniel Oprian, that would be me, titled Mechanistic Insight into Terpene Synthases and their Useful Applications.
[Slide shows an image of a mortarboard cap]
William Schiff. Dissertation with Daniel Oprian, that would also be me, titled Mutational Analysis of the Active Site of -Limonene Synthase.
Prof. Gelles: Congratulations to the Ph.D. recipients. Next, we will acknowledge those graduating with a Biochemistry and Biophysics Master of Science degree.
[Slide with a blue background with Brandeis Seal. The text on the slide reads:
Brandeis University
Class of 2020
Biochemistry and Biophysics
Master of Science]
[As each name is read, a slide shows the name of the graduate from the Biochemistry and Biophysics department with an image of a mortarboard cap or a collage of photos. In the background, professors speak a few words about the achievements of each graduating student]
[Slide shows an image of a mortarboard cap]
Prof. Niels Bradshaw: Liuyu Chen. Her thesis was with Dorothy Kern, titled Dissecting the Conformational Equilibrium of Src Kinase Using Single-Molecule FRET.
[Slide shows pictures of Ruoxuan Sun include an outdoor campus shot from 2018, a shot in the science quad in 2019, and Ruoxuan giving a peace sign in 2020. Her slide also says "Happy Graduation".]
Prof. Bradshaw: Ruoxuan Sun. Her thesis was with Maria-Eirini Pandelia, titled Finding Clues About how the [Fe-S] Cofactor Modulates Activity of the Tumor-Associated DNA Helicase FANCJ.
[Slide with a blue background with Brandeis Seal. The text on the slide reads:
Brandeis University
Class of 2020
Biochemistry
Dual Bachelor of Science and Master of Science]
Prof. Gelles: Congratulations to the Masters in Biochemistry and Biophysics students. So we'll now come to the Dual Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Biochemistry. These students have fulfilled the requirements for both the Bachelor and Master of Science Degrees in their four years at Brandeis.
[Slides for each graduate showing the student's name and, in most cases, a collage of pictures and sometimes a message. Those without pictures have the image of a graduation cap. On the upper right of the screen is the student listening as the professor's voice is heard saying a few words about the achievements of each student]
[Slide shows a collage of photos of Klarissa Hollander with family and friends and includes the statement "Thank you to my friends and family for your continuous support throughout these four years".]
Prof. Bradshaw: Klarissa Hollander. Master of Science in Biochemistry, Bachelor of Science, summa cum laude, with a major in biochemistry with highest honors. Winner of the Molly W. and Charles K. Schiff Memorial Award in Science. Elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Thesis with Dorothy Kern, titled Determining the Interplay Between Myristoylation and Activating Elements in Abl Kinase Regulation.
[Slide shows an image of a mortarboard cap]
Michael Hsiao. Master of Science in Biochemistry, Bachelor of Science, summa cum laude with majors in biochemistry, with highest honors, and biology. His thesis was with Leslie Griffith, titled Sleep is Necessary for Appetitive Operant Y-Maze Learning in Drosophila Melanogaster.
[Slide shows a photo of Zhenyu Li pointing to an old sign on a building that reads "Esser Bros. Correct Dress for Women Millinery Ready to Wear Garments" and a photo of Zhenyu and a friend taking a selfie in the mirror at a clothing shop.]
Zhenyu Li, Master of Science in Biochemistry, Bachelor of Science, summa cum laude, with majors in biochemistry with highest honors, and biology. Winner of the Nathan O. Kaplan Prize in Biochemistry. Thesis with Tijana Ivanovic, titled Reduction in Viral Surface Hemagglutinin Incorporation by Co-expressing HA-targeting ER-retained scFV.
[Slide shows an image of Hannah Lloyd, an image of the ocean with the sun reflecting off of it, and an image of an outdoor decorated tree lit up at night in front of ornate buildings, and includes the statement “To the next adventure” and the quote “shoot for the moon and if you miss you will still be among the stars” by Les Brown]
Prof. Tom Pochapsky: Hannah Lloyd, Master of Science in Biochemistry, Bachelor of Science, summa cum laude, with majors in biochemistry, with high honors and chemistry. Winner of the Professor Dagmar Ringe Biochemistry Award, elected to Phi Beta Kappa. And her thesis was with Tom Pochapsky, that's me, titled Searching for Novel Terpene-specific Cytochromes P450 in soil bacteria.
[Slide shows photo collage of My Anh Nguyen with various people including eating a meal outside, posing in front of the lampposts at the Rose Art Museum, and sitting on the stairway]
Prof. Bradshaw: My Anh Nguyen. Master of Science in Biochemistry, Bachelor of Science, summa cum laude with a major in biochemistry with highest honors and a minor in theater arts. Winner of the William P. Jenks Award in Biochemistry. Thesis with Timothy Street, titled Mechanism of BiP and Grp94 Coordination by a J-protein Co-chaperone.
[Slide shows a photo collage including a selfie with people sitting on a sofa, and a selfie with a friend and a snowman, along with the statement “Thank you to all my friends and family for making this time at Brandeis so wonderful. And thanks to the Theobald Lab and Doug for welcoming me to the lab and the great opportunity!]
Prof. Theobald: Nora Perlmutter. Master of Science in Biochemistry, Bachelor of Science, summa cum laude with majors in biochemistry with high honors, and chemistry. She did her thesis with Douglas Theobald, me, titled Mechanistic and Structural Evolution of Novel Enzyme Specificity in Hydrolases and Dehydrogenases.
[Slide shows one image in a heart of Shira Rosenberg with three other people among the lampposts at the Rose Art Museum, one image of Shira sitting among the lampposts, and another image in a heart of Shira with friends sitting among the lampposts]
Shira Rosenberg. Master of Science in Biochemistry, Bachelor of Science, summa cum laude, with a major in biochemistry with highest honors. She did her thesis with Benjamin Rogers, entitled Multiple Oligonucleotide Hybridization to Nucleic Acid Secondary Structures.
[Slide with a blue background with Brandeis Seal. The text on the slide reads:
Brandeis University
Class of 2020
Biochemistry
Bachelor of Science]
[Slides for each graduate showing the student's name and, in most cases, a collage of pictures and sometimes a message. Those without pictures have the image of a graduation cap. On the upper right of the screen is the student listening as the professor's voice is heard saying a few words about the achievements of each student]
Prof. Gelles: Congratulations to all of the BSMS students. Next, we have the students receiving a Bachelor of Science degree.
[Slide shows a collage of album covers, book covers and personal photos of Arturo Castillo, among other images]
Prof. Theobald: Arturo Emilio Castillo. Bachelor of Science with a major in biochemistry.
[Slide shows an image of four people in a field by a hillside and includes the statement “Dear family and friends, Thank you for your presence and support! And for joining this celebration at 5 AM J Stay safe and well everyone, Joon]
Joon Cha. Bachelor of Science, magna cum laude, with a major in biochemistry.
[Slide shows a collage of photos, including one where five people spell TRACK with sparklers]
Aaron Corin. Bachelor of Science, magna cum laude, with majors in biochemistry and biology, and a minor in chemistry. He was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.
[Slide shows an image of Devon Crittenden smiling and holding three daffodils]
Devon Enid McKinnon Crittenden. Bachelor of Science cum laude, with majors in biochemistry and chemistry.
Devon Crittenden: [looks away from the camera and says to someone not seen] I didn't know I was cum laude.
[Man]: What's that mean?
[Slide shows an image of Qi Hua sitting next to a gray cat, whose paw is touching her cheek]
[long silence]
Prof. Gelles: Oh, Dan, I think you're muted.
Prof. Oprian: Many apologies. Thanks, Jeff.
Qi Hua. Bachelor of Science, summa cum laude, with a major in biochemistry with highest honors. Elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Thesis with Daniel Oprian, titled Light-sensitive Variants of RhoGC for Fast Optogenetic Control of cGMP Signaling.
[Slide shows a background of clouds in the sky with stars and planets drawn in, and an image of four people standing facing away from the camera waving, an image of three people smiling at the camera for a selfie, and an image of Yichen standing in front of a grassy area with a small body of water]
Prof. Theobald: Yichen Huang. Bachelor of Science, magna cum laude, with majors in biochemistry and mathematics.
[Slide shows an image of a mortarboard cap]
Grayson Hullinger. Bachelor of Science, with majors in biochemistry and biology.
[Slide shows 5 separate collages each with multiple photos such as Ricki Levitus posing with a research poster, smiling among friends, with the Brandeis Judge mascot, and at the Louis Brandeis statue on campus]
Ricki Pearl Levitus. Bachelor of Science, magna cum laude, with a major in biochemistry and a minor in Near Eastern and Judaic studies.
[Slide shows an image of Irene Li and a mortarboard cap and includes the statement “Many thanks to Professor Jeff Gelles and all lab members, as well as faculty members in the Biochemistry department. A special thanks to my parents and friends who are always so supportive.]
Prof. Gelles: Irene Li. Bachelor of Science summa cum laude, with a major in biochemistry with high honors. Thesis with Jeff Gelles, titled Quantitative Characterization of eDHFR/TMP Labeling System for Single-molecule Fluorescence Experiments.
[Slide shows an image of a mortarboard cap]
Prof. Julia Kardon: Dennis Zhouheng Li. Bachelor of Science, with majors in biochemistry and computer science.
[Slide shows an image of a mortarboard cap]
Viking Mayor. Bachelor of Science, with majors in biochemistry and philosophy.
[Slide shows an image of Meghan Melberg smiling in an orange shirt]
Meghan Melberg. Bachelor of Science, magna cum laude, with majors in biochemistry and biology.
Viking Mayor: [in the small video thumbnail, claps and cheers] Oh my God, Daniel.
Prof. Kardon: and health science society and policy. Elected to Phi Beta Kappa.
[Slide shows a collage of photos, the Brandeis University seal and logo, the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine seal and logo, and includes the statement “I would like to thank God and my support system (my family, friends, mentors, advisors, professors and the POSSE Foundation) for your encouragement, love and confidence in me these past four of years. This is by far the most challenging yet rewarding thing I have ever done. I have grown so much during my time here at Brandeis University and have truly come to appreciate the phrase, “Diamonds form under pressure”. This process has been more about the journey and discovering myself and my capabilities, than the destination. I am grateful for the opportunity to have studied at Brandeis University as a biochemistry student and look forward to becoming a student of the University of Miami in the Fall!]
Nicole Constance O'Dell. Bachelor of Science, with a major in biochemistry.
[Slide shows a collage of photos including Sebastian Oliver sitting with friends on a rocky ledge in front of the ocean, standing in front of an airplane with goggles on, and sitting with a dog]
Sebastian Oliver. Bachelor of Science, with a major in biochemistry and a minor in economics.
[Slide shows an image of a mortarboard cap]
Rhoeun Park. Bachelor of Science magna cum laude, with a major in biochemistry.
[Slide shows a college of photos including Agnele Sewa in a colorful outfit standing in front of drum, hugging two friends, and at a Posse celebration, and includes the statement “Approach situations with your full heart and energy! Special thanks to SSSP, Brandeis Atlanta Posse 6, Paradis Lab, Milan, Caylee, Myles, and my parents]
Agnele Sylvia Sewa. Bachelor of Science, summa cum laude, with a major in biochemistry with honors. Elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Thesis with Suzanne Paradis, titled Testing the Function of Rem2 in the STFP and CTA Circuit.
[Slide shows an image of a mortarboard cap]
Xinrui Song. Bachelor of Science, with majors in biochemistry with high honors and computer science. Thesis with Judith Herzfeld, titled Elements of Transferable Potentials for Semi-classical Valence Electron Pairs in Sub-atomistic Force Fields.
[Slide shows an image of a mortarboard cap]
Xiyue Wang. Bachelor of Science cum laude, with a major in biochemistry.
[Slide shows an image of a mortarboard cap]
Prof. Pochapsky: Yue Zhang. Bachelor of Science, with majors in biochemistry with honors and biology, and a minor in chemistry. She did her thesis with Dr. Joseph Schwab at Mass General and was advised by me, Tom Pochapsky. Her thesis was titled Vascular Injury in Anterior Lumbar Surgery: Incidents, Perioperative Implications, and Postoperative Complications.
[Slide shows an image of a mortarboard cap]
Prof. Gelles: Okay, so is there anybody who we forgot to give a degree to? Excellent, okay. Congratulations to all of the graduates on their remarkable accomplishments. I'm delighted to welcome the Class of 2020 into the ranks of our biochemistry alumni. We really hope that you will be able to re-celebrate your graduation live and in-person on the Brandeis campus in the spring of 2021. Thank you for participating in this mini celebration, and best wishes as you move into the future. After the conclusion of our program today, the faculty would like you to join us in some informal Zoom after-parties. The students have links to these parties. We would be delighted if you would stop by and say hello, and we would be delighted if you would bring along your family and friends to introduce us. We will now end the program with a video of the Brandeis chamber singers singing the Alma Mater. Congratulations to the graduates. Thank you, everyone, for coming. Please watch out for yourselves, and stay healthy and safe.
[Slide with a blue background and Brandeis Seal. The text reads:
Brandeis University
Brandeis Alma Mater performed by the Brandeis Chamber Singers
Dr. Robert Duff, Conductor]
[Slide shows pictures of the Brandeis Chamber singers in the background singing the Alma Mater song]
♪ To thee, Alma Mater ♪ ♪ We'll always be true ♪ ♪ All hail to thy standard ♪ ♪ The white and the blue ♪ ♪ Proclaiming thy future ♪ ♪ Recalling thy past ♪ ♪ Our hopes spring from mem'ries eternally cast ♪ ♪ With sorrows we'll leave thee ♪ ♪ New worlds to create ♪ ♪ May deeds of thy children ♪ ♪ Make thee forever great ♪ ♪ May deeds of thy children ♪ ♪ Make thee forever great ♪
[Slide with a blue background and Brandeis Seal
The text on the slide reads:
Brandeis University
Congratulations!!
Class of 2020]
[Ending slide with a black background and written in white reads:
Produced by
Brandeis Media Technology Services
Aerial Drone footage provided by Ian Roy, Tim Herbert
Brandeis Research Technology and Innovation]