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Department of Biological Sciences Newsletter
“from biomolecules to the biosphere”
No. 32
October 10, 2014
Announcements
The Ecology and Evolutionary Biology group had their annual graduate student-faculty retreat the past weekend. They
visited the remarkable Adam’s River Sockeye Salmon spawning migration providing an amazing backdrop for discussing
physiological, behavioural, ecological and evolutionary processes, as well as tips for a successful graduate school experience. Photo Credits-Lawrence Harder.
Many thanks to:
Louise Hahn
John Post
Jon Mee
Sarah Johnson
Scott Seamone
Stephen Hausch
for organizing a great retreat.
Recent Publications
M. Butcher, J. Bertram, D. Syme, J. Hermanson, P. Chase. 2014. Frequency dependence of power and its implications for contractile function of muscle fibers from
the digital flexors of horses. Physiological Reports. 2(10), e12174.
Important Dates
October 15 Research & Scholarship leave applications due
October 15 Input regarding promotion applications due to the Dean
“from biomolecules to the biosphere”
October 16 Edinburgh Vet School Presentation 10-11 am BI 211
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Ulke-Lemee, A., Ishida, H., Chappellaz, M., Vogel, H.J. and MacDonald, J.A. (2014)
“Two domains of the smoothelin-like 1 protein bind apo- and calcium-calmodulin
independently” Biochim. Biophys. Acta – Proteins and Proteomics 1844: 15801590.
Ishida, H., Garcia-Herrera, A., and Vogel, H.J. (2014) “The periplasmic domain of
Escherichia coli outer membrane protein A can undergo a localized temperature dependent structural transition” Biochim. Biophys. Acta – Biomembranes 1838: 3014-3024.
Valenti, P., and Vogel, H.J. (2014) “Lactoferrin, all roads lead to Rome” Biometals 27: 803806.
Arias, M., MacDonald, L., Haney, E.F., Nazmi, K., Bolscher, J.M. and Vogel, H.J. (2014) “Bovine and human lactoferricin peptides: chimeras and new cyclic analogs” Biometals 27:
935-948.
Seminars
Micro 601 seminar - Wednesday at 12h00 in BI 211
Oct 15 - Priyesh Menon - Souring and microbially influenced corrosion in oil reservoirs and pipelines
Graduate Student Affairs
Research Proposals
The M.Sc. Research Proposal for Mathew Frankel entitled “Evaluating the Metal
Tolerance Capacity of Microbial Communities Isolated from the Alberta Oilsands Process Water and their Adherence to Various Carbon Supports for Remediation”, will be held on October 16, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. in Biological Sciences room 312
Ph.D. Candidacy Oral Examination - Candidacy Exams are Closed Exams.
Ilona Ruhl (Supervisor: P. Dunfield), will be holding her Candidacy Examination, in the
area of “Environmental Microbiology” on December 2, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. in BioSciences
room 246. (Neutral Chair: S. Vamosi).
Sabine Scandola (Supervisor: M. Samuel), will be holding her Candidacy Examination, in
the area of “Developmental Biology”, on December 4, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. in BioSciences
room 389. (Neutral Chair: H. Habibi).
Yan Liu (Supervisor: J. Vamosi), will be holding her Candidacy Examination, in the area
of “Evolutionary Biology” on December 5, 2014 at 3:00 p.m. in BioSciences room 312.
(Neutral Chair: D. Hansen)
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Thesis Oral Examinations - Exams are “Open” unless otherwise noted.
Please note: Pre-defense seminars are a degree requirement for all M.Sc. and Ph.D. students in
Biological Sciences. Typically, the seminar will take place immediately preceding the Oral Defense Exam.
Room bookings for Student Meetings - It is the student’s responsibility to book the necessary
com-media equipment with either Carol (403-220-5261 biorecep@ucalgary.ca) or David (403220-8307) for their examination. Please book the equipment as soon as you have the date set
for your exam/proposal meeting. (defense seminars are held one hour before the stated defense
time in BI 211 unless noted otherwise)
Lindsay Clothier (Supervisor: L. Gieg), will be holding her M.Sc. Thesis Oral Examination,
in the area of “Environmental Microbiology”, on November 17, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. in BioSciences room 499. (Neutral Chair: D. Hansen).
Mitra Mojtahedi (Supervisor: G. Chua/S. Huang), will be holding her Ph.D. Thesis Oral Examination, in the area of “Developmental Biology” on November 18, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. in
BioSciences room 389. (Neutral Chair: J. Theodor). Mitra’s exit exam will be held in MLT
215 at Noon.
Stanley Neufeld (Supervisor: J. Cobb), will be holding his Ph.D. Thesis Oral Examination,
in the area of Developmental Biology on December 4, 2014 at 9:30 a.m. in BioSciences
room 312. (Neutral Chair: C. Shemanko).
Dawson Fogen (Supervisor: S.-L. Wong), will be holding his M.Sc. Thesis Oral Examination, in the area of “Molecular Microbiology” on December 10, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. in BioSciences room 389. (Neutral Chair: R. Cartar).
Congratulations to…..
Junyan Ding, who passed her Candidacy Examination, in the area of “Ecology”, on September 29, 2014!
Haley Tunna, who passed her M.Sc. Thesis Oral Examination, in the area of “Evolutionary Biology”, on October 6, 2014!
“from biomolecules to the biosphere”
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“Piled Higher and Deeper” by Jorge Cham
www.phdcomics.com
Positions / Opportunities
Sessional Teaching positions available:
BIOL 313, WINTER 2015 Sessional Lecturer – Biology 313 (Principles of Ecology).
An instructor is required to teach 50% of this half course, which will be offered during
the Winter 2015 session. This is an introductory Ecology course for majors. Preferred
qualifications include a Ph.D. in one of the Biological Sciences, and previous teaching
experience, ideally in this course. The base salary is $3025. Interested persons should apply to Dr. Heather Addy, Associate Head (Undergraduate Programs), Dept. of Biological
Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4 (email:
biosci@ucalgary.ca). The deadline for submission of an application letter and CV is October 17, 2015.
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“from biomolecules to the biosphere”
Join us at Bamfield for PEEC 2015!
The 36th annual Pacific Ecology and Evolution Conference (PEEC) (February 27 to March
1, 2015 in Bamfield BC) provides ecology and
evolution students an opportunity to meet with
peers to present research, make contacts, obtain feedback, and exchange ideas. PEEC is held
at the Bamfield Marine Science Centre, an ideal place for undergraduate students, graduate students, post-doctoral students or individuals somewhere between these to exchange ideas and partake in evening festivities (e.g. dance and costume party). This conference is organized each year by students from either Simon Fraser University (SFU),
the University of British Columbia (UBC), or the University of Victoria (UVic). This year,
PEEC 2015 is organized by a committee at UBC. Researchers from the Pacific Northwest,
or elsewhere, are welcome. http://www.peec.ca/
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“from biomolecules to the biosphere”
THE MICHAEL SMITH LABS PRESENT OUR
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY WORKSHOP
2015 Spring Session University of British Columbia,Vancouver, Canada.
ONE WEEK VERSION - MOLECULAR BIOLOGY WORKSHOP
February 16th to 20th, 2015 (CAN$1400)
DESCRIPTION:This intense 5 day workshop will focus on a myriad of different techniques used in the molecular manipulation of DNA, RNA and protein, as well as inclusion of lectures of high throughput genomic techniques. Primarily aimed
at researchers who are new to the area, familiar but require a quick updating, or would like more practical bench training.
Hands on techniques covered include: :EVMSYWRYGPIMGEGMHTYVM½GEXMSRQIXLSHSPSKMIWWMPMGEFIEHSVKERMGERHSVT-FEWIH
VIWXVMGXMSRHMKIWXWPMKEXMSRWHITLSWTLSV]PEXMSREWWE]WEKEVSWIKIPIPIGXVSTLSVIWMWXVERWJSVQEXMSRMRGPYHMRKIPIGXVSTSVEXMSR4'6
VIZIVWIXVERWGVMTXEWIEWWE]VIEPXMQIU4'67(74%+);IWXIVRFPSXEREP]WMW-WSIPIGXVMGJSGYWMRKWXVMTWERH(TVSXIMRKIPW0IG
XYVIWSRRI\XKIRWIUYIRGMRK724WQMGVSEVVE]WFMSMRJSVQEXMGXSSPW4VMQIV
To register or inquire about the workshop, please contact Dr. David Ng at db@mail.ubc.ca or 604-822-6264. More information can be found at bioteach.ubc.ca
REVIEWS FROM PREVIOUS SESSIONS:
“This workshop is perfect for both scientists who are new to molecular biology, as well as scientists who want a refresher. Dave has a unique ability
to explain every method in a logical way. The atmosphere is absolutely amazing in the workshop. I strongly recommend this course.”
7 W7OSZW 4SWXHSGXSVEP*IPPS[(ITEVXQIRXSJ'IPPYPEVERH4L]WMSPSKMGEP7GMIRGIW9RMZIVWMX]SJ&VMXMWL'SPYQFME
“An excellent course that came highly recommended. David is a highly engaging teacher who has taken the time and effort to use all of those teaching engagement techniques that we know are good practice, but are rarely able to accommodate. It is a high intensity course, but I was engaged for
the entire length!”
%RXLSR]*EMVFEROW4VSJIWWSVERH,IEH(ITEVXQIRXSJ'LIQMWXV]9RMZIVWMX]SJ'ERXIVFYV]2>
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Are you interested in
northern studies with
field experience in
the North?
If you are:
• a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
enrolled at the University of Calgary; and
• a graduate student; or
• a senior undergraduate student whose northern field
work research is tied to their thesis.
you are eligible for funding from:
the Northern Scientific Training Program (NSTP).
The NSTP will help you pay for transportation and living costs while you obtain
practical fieldwork experience in the North. You will have the opportunity to
develop interest and expertise on northern issues, and improve your research
skills.
For more information, contact:
Northern Studies Committee
Northern Scientific Training Program
Arctic Institute of North America
2500 University Drive NW, ES-1040
Calgary, AB T2N 1N4
Telephone:
(403) 220-7515
Email:
arctic@ucalgary.ca
http://arctic.ucalgary.ca/northern-scientific-training-program
www.polarcom.gc.ca/principal/eng/content/northern-scientific-training-program
Closing date for applications is October 31, 2014
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“from biomolecules to the biosphere”
Chief, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
CUMMING SCHOOL OF MEDICINE The 2014 Drummond Memorial Lecture in Biochemistry presents Molecular Regula?on of Stem Cell Quiescence and Ac?va?on Thomas Rando, MD, PhD Dr. Thomas Rando is Professor of Neurology and
Neurological Sciences at Stanford University. He is the
Director of the Glenn Laboratories for the Biology of
Aging, and the Director of the Rehabilitation Research
& Development Center of Excellence at VA Palo Alto
Health Care System.
He is the Chief of Service in Neurology Services at the
Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Palo Alto, CA and
the Deputy Director of Stanford Centre on Longevity
(SCL).
Thursday, October 16, 2014 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Theatre 4 Health Sciences Centre Recep%on to follow in HRIC Atrium “from biomolecules to the biosphere”
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