August 2023 Inside the Institute Newsletter

A Message from Rob McCarley
Executive Director, The Fralin Life Sciences Institute

The excitement in the air around the Virginia Tech campus (and Blacksburg) is palpable, and I am confident faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and undergraduate and graduate students share that enthusiasm for new opportunities and challenges, as well as much needed activities that help us recharge and recenter our approaches. 

I recently attended the movie Oppenheimer with Virginia Tech students and community members, and a line from the movie captures how many of us are probably feeling right now.  As we plan for how we will “set the world on fire” in the coming year, our discernment will lead to weighing the positives and the risks we may face, as we continuously energize with cutting-edge scholarly activities that unify our passionate and dedicated students, faculty, research personnel, and staff. 

The Institute is fortunate to be made up of people committed to that vision, as evidenced by samplings of their achievements. It is thrilling to learn about groundbreaking work with low-noise genes, opportunities for secondary school teachers and K-12 students, gifts to ensure impactful outreach across the Commonwealth, new funding focused on the NSF’s Rules of Life initiatives, an unprecedented first-year research experience program, and recognition of the undying commitment of Institute team members to the broader university and community and the students it serves.

While I was tempted to say “to name a few,” nothing could be further from the truth based on the work you all have been pursuing during the supposed “quiet time” of the summer - you all are truly “setting the world on fire.”  

Let’s go Hokies, and let’s go FLSI!