E-Nouncements - March 2026

Dr. Saeedeh Vavoudi, Dr. Christopher S Henry, Dr. Christopher S Miller, and Dr. Farnoush Banaei-Kashani published an article in Bioinformatics Advances titled, "EC-Bench: a benchmark for enzyme commission number prediction"

Enzymes are proteinsthat catalyze specific biochemical reactions in cells. Enzyme Commission (EC) numbers are used to annotate enzymes in a four-level hierarchy that classifies enzymes based on the specific chemical reactions they catalyze. Accurate EC number prediction is essential for understanding enzyme functions. Despite the availability of numerous methods for predicting EC numbers from protein sequences, there is no unified framework for evaluating and studying such methods systematically. This gap limits the ability of the community to identify the most effective approaches for enzyme annotation.

From the Northern Rocky Mountains, to the Northern Sierras and Cascades, whitebark pine trees grow in some of the harshest and most spectacular mountain ecosystems of North America. These long-lived trees are impressive in many ways, but what's most remarkable is that their entire existence depends on an ancient relationship with the bird that plants their seeds-- the Clark's Nutcracker. Conceived as a visitor's center film for Yellowstone National Park, The Bird and The Tree tells the story of one of nature's great duos and how two very different organisms have co-evolved to lead intertwined lives that support a diversity of life in some of North America's most cherished landscapes..

Last week the office celebrated Mike and Paul on their awards for research and teaching. Thank you to all who visited the second floor for cupcakes and lemonade! 

Wednesday, Mar 4, 4:30 p.m.-7 p.m.Free

Gather together with us in the Emmanuel Gallery to learn and sing a Chappell Roan medley in rich, layered harmonies with a ton of other students. Go home feeling uplifted, hopeful, and more connected to others in your community. Learn more here . (Please register at the link  below!)

No experience needed!. From shower singers to stage performers, come tap into the power of music, community, and FUN!

Free Pizza: 4:30pm-5:00pm

Jam Sesh: 5:00pm-7:00pm

Wednesday, Mar 11, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.FREE

You won’t want to miss one of our most popular events! Adopt a plant and decorate its pot at Plant Party! There will be food, drinks, and other plant themed activities.  North Classroom Atrium - 1200 larimer Street

Saturday, Mar 14, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.$22

Summit your first winter peak with OA! This is a fairly steep trail with about 1600 ft of elevation gain over 4 miles. Be prepared: this hike travels to 13,000+ ft meaning the hike will feel more difficult than at lower elevations. If you have never been to this elevation before, please consider your fitness level before committing to this hike. Must be available to attend the pre-trip meeting before the trip.

Location: Loveland Pass, CO

Date & Time: Sat, Mar 14th | 8am – 4pm

Price: $22

Pre-trip Meeting: Mar 12th, 5pm | Zoom

Registration CLOSES: Mar 11th | 11:59pm

Monday, Mar 23-Friday, Mar 27 2026$380

Date: Mar 23rd- 27th

Location: Moab, UT

Price: $380

We depart for this trip on Monday, March 27th, driving from Denver to Moab. Day 1 is all about setting up camp, hanging out, and cooking together. Days 2-4 are our big activity days where we will bike, hike, and rappel from an arch! We will also have some time to explore downtown Moab. Then we have one more sleep under the stars and return to Denver on the 27th.

Requirements: Participants must be able to bike and hike over varriable terrain. Some mountain biking experience helpful, but not required. All participants must attend the mandatory pre-trip meeting where we will discuss important details regarding the trip.

Trip Dates:March 23rd- March 27th

Registration Deadline: March 9th, 2026

Price: $150 down payment due by 3/9/2026 | Full $380 due before the date of the trip

Pre-trip Meeting: Thursday, March 19th | 5pm | Wellness Center Seminar Room

Please note: this is a camping trip where we will be outside the entire time! Please contact noelle.harrington@ucdenver.edu for more information or questions.