Nationally Acclaimed CSUF Economists: Economy Is Comfortably Numb

Press ReleasesLeave a comment

Pictured from left to right are Dean Sridhar Sundaram, Dr. Mira Farka, Dr. Anil Puri, president of Farmers & Merchants Bank, and title sponsor, Kevin Tiber, and OCBC President and CEO Jeff Ball. The sold out 30th annual OCBC/CSUF Economic Forecast Conference also marks release of report The sold-out OCBC/CSUF 30th Annual Economic Forecast Conference also marks release of report IRVINE, CA (October 25, 2024) — California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) economists Dr. Anil Puri and Dr. Mira Farka described the economy—locally and nationally—as maintaining, but sticky due to inflation—at the 30th Annual Economic Forecast Conference on October 24 in Irvine. A collaboration of CSUF and Orange County Business Council (OCBC), the conference also marked the release of the 2025 CSUF Economic Forecast Report. This year’s theme, “The ‘Vibes’ Economy: Outlook for Growth and Inflation Amidst Election Uncertainty,” had economists Dr. Puri and Dr. Farka explaining the disconnect between hard data and sentiment, or the vibe that consumers are feeling where the majority are not doing so well. While labor market data is showing good signs, and the overall economy is maintaining, the disconnect is due to two things being squeezed: housing costs and wages. The CSUF economists presented to a sold-out audience of 500 attendees. Dr. Anil Puri is the Director of the Woods Center for Economic Analysis and Forecasting at CSUF and Dr. Mira Farka, a Professor of Economics, serves as the Co-Director of the Woods Center for Economic Analysis and Forecasting at CSUF. Puri served as dean of the College of Business and Economics at CSUF. Farka has been published in leading academic journals and is a nationally recognized economist in business and economic forecasting. Title sponsor of the 30th Annual Economic Forecast Conference was Farmers & Merchants Bank. About Orange County Business CouncilFor nearly 30 years, Orange County Business Council (OCBC) has been representing and promoting the region’s business community together with government and academia to enhance the economic development of Orange County, California. The Council’s core initiatives include developing pro-business solutions that lead to economic growth, education development that leads to a competitive workforce, advocating for a range of housing, and advocating for adequate investment in regional and statewide infrastructure for the nation’s sixth most populous county. Member organizations include businesses and local organizations representing a diverse cross section of industries including biomedical, construction, education, financial services, health care, manufacturing, municipalities, nonprofit, real estate, technology, tourism, transportation, real estate and utilities. For more information, visit ocbc.org. Media Contact:Lizz Mishreki, APRVice President of CommunicationsOrange County Business [email protected]

CSUF receives $1.5 million grant to prepare students for careers in genomics

NewsletterLeave a comment

Image courtesy of California State University, Fullerton Mar182024 October 28, 2024 Related Bristol one step closer to final Santa Ana city council approval for mixed-use project Cal State Fullerton has been awarded a $1.5 million National Institutes of Health grant to create a program designed to help students dive into the world of genomics and build diversity in the field. The grant funds “Project EAGER: Enabling Access to Genomics Experience and Research,” which allows undergraduate students to work on cutting-edge research in genomics and related fields like computational biology and bioinformatics, said Nikolas Nikolaidis, project director and professor of biological science. Genomics is a branch of science that explores genes and how they influence health, disease and even individual traits. The project partners with renowned genomics researchers at UC Berkeley, where CSUF students will conduct summer research. “Students will participate in research projects ranging from analyzing large genomic datasets to studying the evolutionary history of genes across species,” said Nikolaidis, an expert in bioinformatics and molecular evolutionary biology, which are critical components of genomics research. “This hands-on experience will allow students to apply their classroom knowledge to real-world scientific problems.” The program begins this fall to recruit diverse and underrepresented students majoring in biological science, mathematics, computer science and public health interested in genomics and computational biology. Eight students will be selected each year and receive a stipend of $7,200 to cover housing and food at UC Berkeley, as well as paid travel expenses to attend an NIH research conference. Students will enroll in preparatory coursework at CSUF this academic year and begin research experiences at UC Berkeley next summer. The project is funded through the NIH National Human Genome Research Institute’s Genome Research Experiences to Attract Talented Undergraduates into Genomic Fields to Enhance Diversity. The university is receiving $236,349 in first-year funding for the five-year grant. Co-directing the project are CSUF’s Joshua Der, associate professor of biological science, an expert in population genetics and evolutionary genomics; Sam Behseta, professor of mathematics and 2022 Outstanding Professor; and Jessica Jaynes, associate professor of mathematics and director of the Center for Computational and Applied Mathematics. Behseta and Jaynes are experts in statistics and data science. Through Project EAGER, students will have the chance to acquire fundamental knowledge and skills required for entering the workforce, with a focus on evolution, genomics and data science, Jaynes said. “Data science and computational knowledge are indispensable for managing, analyzing and extracting meaningful insights from genomic data, which is fundamental to advancing research and applications in genomics,” she added. John Huelsenbeck and Doris Bachtrog, professors of integrative biology at UC Berkeley, also are co-leading the project. Huelsenbeck has developed models and computational tools that allow researchers to understand the processes driving genetic diversity. Bachtrog, an evolutionary geneticist, has made fundamental contributions to understanding the evolution of sex chromosomes. Students participating in the project will gain a foundational understanding of genetics and DNA, which are the building blocks of genomics. While genetics focuses on studying individual genes and their roles in inheritance, genomics is broader. Nikolaidis explained that the discipline examines the entirety of an organism’s genome, including how genes interact with each other and the environment. “Students will gain valuable skills, experience and knowledge, including how personal genomes can lead to personalized medicine,” Nikolaidis said. “In today’s world, understanding DNA — the blueprint of life — can lead to breakthroughs in personalized medicine, where treatments are tailored to an individual’s genetic makeup.” Project EAGER also aims to prepare students for advanced degrees and careers in science and medicine that could change the future of health care. “By encouraging students from diverse backgrounds to explore genomics and its applications, Project EAGER promotes diversity in science, leading to more inclusive and innovative solutions for health care and beyond,” Nikolaidis said. For more information or to participate in Project EAGER, contact Jaynes at [email protected].