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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260623T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260623T110000
DTSTAMP:20260623T080110
CREATED:20260527T134020Z
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SUMMARY:Crafting Data Visuals to Tell a Scientific Story: CommLab Drop-In Hours
DESCRIPTION:Looking to illustrate your data? Join the CommLab Data Visualization Drop-In sessions Tuesdays from 10-11am on Zoom to discuss strategies or receive feedback on your data visualization process.
URL:https://coe.northeastern.edu/event/crafting-data-visuals-to-tell-a-scientific-story-commlab-drop-in-hours-2/2026-06-23/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260624T123000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260624T133000
DTSTAMP:20260623T080110
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SUMMARY:ChE PhD Dissertation Defense: Natesan Mani
DESCRIPTION:Name:\nNatesan Mani \nTitle:\nA Tale of Two Fcs: Investigating Furin cleavage in the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein and Glycan Effects in IgG Fcs \nDate:\n06/24/2026 \nTime:\n12:30:00 PM \nCommittee Members:\nProf. Srirupa Chakraborty (Advisor)\nProf. Francisco Hung\nProf. Sunny Zhou\nDr. Alla Polozova \nLocation:\n409 Robinson Hall \nAbstract:\nThis dissertation examines critical structural dynamics in viral infection and antibody-mediated immune response using Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations. We investigated two distinct but fundamentally related systems: the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein with emphasis on Furin cleavage (the antigen Fc)\, and the IgG1 Fc-CD16a receptor interaction with varying glycosylation profiles (the antibody Fc). \nAntigen Study: The SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein’s furin cleavage site (FCS) is a defining feature that distinguishes it from its predecessor SARS-CoV and is critical to viral infectivity. While extensive vaccine research has utilized stabilized Spike constructs with mutated or deleted FCS\, physiologically\, the cleavage occurs during viral particle formation. Using large-scale atomistic MD simulations of both Furin Cleaved and Uncleaved Spike proteins in the receptor-binding domain (RBD) Open and Closed conformations\, we demonstrate that furin cleavage fundamentally alters the Spike protein’s conformational dynamics. We observe increased correlated motions between the RBD and N-terminal domain (NTD) in the Furin Cleaved systems\, enhanced RBD sampling of exposed conformations favorable for ACE2 binding and altered glycan clustering patterns on key N-linked glycans. These observations provide quantitative evidence that cleavage primes the Spike protein for membrane fusion and enhances receptor accessibility. These findings provide a mechanistic foundation for designing immunogens and therapeutics targeting not only SARS-CoV-2 but also emerging Sarbecoviruses and related viral families. \nAntibody Study: IgG1 is the predominant antibody subclass used in therapeutic applications\, with its Fc region mediating critical effector functions including antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) through CD16a receptor engagement on natural killer cells. The glycosylation profiles of both the IgG1 Fc and CD16a receptor play essential roles in determining binding affinity and immune response magnitude. Using MD simulations of 22 distinct glycoform combinations\, we systematically examine how variations in core fucosylation and terminal galactosylation affect Fc-CD16a complex formation and stability. We evaluate the structural impact of asymmetric binding between the two Fc arms and the receptor\, calculate binding affinities and correlate structural observations with binding energetics. Our results validate known trends (afucosylation enhancement) while revealing nuanced effects of galactosylation and chain-specific glycan positioning. Together\, these findings and the accompanying mechanistic framework provide a foundation for the glycan-informed rational design of next-generation antibody therapeutics with enhanced immune potency \nTogether\, these studies demonstrate how atomistic molecular dynamics can bridge gaps between structural biology and functional outcomes\, providing quantitative frameworks for designing improved viral vaccines and enhanced therapeutic antibodies. The methodologies and insights presented here have broad applicability to understanding glycoprotein-receptor interactions across biological systems. \n\nNatesan Mani is a PhD candidate in Chemical Engineering at Northeastern University\, where he expects to defend in June 2026. He completed his M.S. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Houston in 2020 and earned his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Osmania University in India in 2019. His doctoral research in the SimBioSys Lab at Northeastern University focuses on developing physics-informed computational tools that combine molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and machine learning to predict molecular properties and guide the design of high-affinity antibodies\, work conducted in direct collaboration with Amgen’s Pivotal Attribute Sciences team. Natesan has gained significant industry experience through internships at Amgen\, where he modeled antibody-receptor interfaces and developed GPU-accelerated simulation pipelines\, and at Prescient Design (Genentech)\, where he built multi-modal biological data frameworks to inform therapeutic design decisions. He has authored one first-author manuscript in Protein Science\, has two manuscripts under review\, and has presented his research at over five national conferences\, including BPS\, AIChE\, and ACS. He is also the creator of F.A.D.E (Fully Agentic Drug Engine)\, a prize-winning integrated modelling framework recognized at the Broad Institute ML Symposium and selected for presentation at ACS SciMix and ACS COMP. Beyond his research\, Natesan is an active leader in his academic community. He founded the Northeastern Biophysical Society student chapter and served as its President in 2025. He also served as a Treasurer of the ChemE Graduate Student Council. He has been recognized with numerous honours\, including the LEADERs Fellowship\, NSF ACCESS Award\, multiple travel grants and recognition from both the Department of Chemical Engineering and the University.
URL:https://coe.northeastern.edu/event/che-phd-dissertation-defense-natesan-mani/
LOCATION:409 Robinson Hall\, 360 Huntington Ave\, 409 RB\, Boston\, MA\, 02115\, United States
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260629T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260629T100000
DTSTAMP:20260623T080110
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SUMMARY:Engineering Business Certificate | Galante Info Session
DESCRIPTION:Learn more about the Galante Engineering Business Program\, a graduate certificate that complements engineering degrees with business and leadership skills. Designed for engineering PlusOne\, MS\, and PhD students interested in startups\, entrepreneurship\, consulting\, finance\, management\, MBA pathways\, and more. \nRegister for an info session: https://forms.office.com/r/EmQSWMbUfGQuestions? galante@northeastern.edu \n\nAbout the Engineering Business Certificate\nThe engineering business certificate through the Galante Engineering Business Program at Northeastern University integrates engineering and business skills for students pursuing MS\, PhD\, or PlusOne degrees in the COE. The program builds business acumen in areas such as strategy\, finance\, operations\, and decision-making alongside a technical graduate education. \nThe program is based on Northeastern’s Boston campus and is delivered through in-person\, cohort-based learning. Students join a community of motivated peers and gain access to a network of 150+ alumni working across engineering\, business\, and technical leadership roles. \nThis graduate certificate is designed for students who want to complement their engineering education with applied business knowledge. Eligibility includes PlusOne and MS students in select programs\, as well as PhD students in any College of Engineering doctoral program. Students must also have at least two semesters remaining at Northeastern. \nThe program supports interests in consulting\, finance\, startups\, entrepreneurship\, and product management—careers that connect technical and business functions. It also provides a foundation for students considering MBA programs or additional business education. \nAt the info session\, attendees will receive an overview of program requirements\, course structure\, and eligibility\, as well as how the certificate fits within different engineering disciplines and academic plans. \nParticipants will have the opportunity to ask questions and learn how the Galante Engineering Business Program helps students apply business concepts in technical contexts and broaden their career options. \nThe engineering business certificate is designed to help students build a practical understanding of how engineering and business intersect in real-world industries. It provides structured exposure to business concepts that support technical career paths and interdisciplinary problem-solving.
URL:https://coe.northeastern.edu/event/engineering-business-certificate-galante-info-session/2026-06-29/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:use the department, audience, and topic lists
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260630T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260630T110000
DTSTAMP:20260623T080110
CREATED:20260527T134021Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260527T134021Z
UID:56643-1782813600-1782817200@coe.northeastern.edu
SUMMARY:Crafting Data Visuals to Tell a Scientific Story: CommLab Drop-In Hours
DESCRIPTION:Looking to illustrate your data? Join the CommLab Data Visualization Drop-In sessions Tuesdays from 10-11am on Zoom to discuss strategies or receive feedback on your data visualization process.
URL:https://coe.northeastern.edu/event/crafting-data-visuals-to-tell-a-scientific-story-commlab-drop-in-hours-2/2026-06-30/
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