Sunday, April 29, 2018

BISC Awards 2018

Honors Luncheon Program Pages 1 and 6



Honors Luncheon Program Pages 2 and 5



Honors Luncheon Program Page 3

   13.Program 2018 p.3 by uscbiscgrad on Scribd


Honors Luncheon Program Page 4

   13.Program 2018 p.4 by uscbiscgrad on Scribd

Science & SciLifeLab Prize for Young Scientists Now Accepting Entries

Who will be the next winner of Science and SciLifeLab’s Prize for Young Scientists? 

The Science & SciLifeLab Prize for Young Scientists is now open for entries! This is the sixth year that Science and SciLifeLab will present this award, which offers four recent PhD graduates a life-changing opportunity.

Recent doctoral graduates in the life sciences may submit a 1000-word essay based on their thesis work. Four winners — in the categories of Cell and Molecular Biology,
Ecology and Environment, Genomics and Proteomics and Translational Medicine — will be selected for this international award. Make sure your recent PhD graduate doesn’t miss out on this opportunity!

Application deadline: July 15th, 2018

The winners will:
Have their essay published by Science
Receive up to 30,000 USD in prize money
Be honored in Stockholm, Sweden in December

[Bioinformatics Lunch Series] NGS Data Analysis with Partek Flow, May 4 2018

The USC Libraries Bioinformatics Service is pleased to present a four-workshop series on next generation sequencing (NGS) studies, addressing key issues from experiment design to functional interpretation of NGS results. 

NGS Workshop #2-- “NGS Data Analysis with Partek Flow”

Featuring live-demos of Partek Flow and a primary focus on RNA-Seq workflow, this workshop covers the following topics:
University-wide access of bioinformatics computing for NGS data analysis
Essential guide to RNA-seq workflow
Quick overview of Partek Flow’s other data analysis workflows for:
Single-cell RNA-seq
ChIP-seq
DNA-seq

Time                      Noon - 1 pm, Friday, May 4th
Locations
1. Health Science Campus
West Conference Room, Norris Medical Library
2. University Park Campus (via livestreaming)
Learning Center, Wilson Dental Library (DEN21)

Lunch will be provided at both locations.  Link to the livestreaming for private viewing is also available. 
Sign up is mandatory:
https://uschsl.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_en6WeMXux2BI56J  

Upcoming NGS study workshops:
#3 (May 15th)—Making sense of RNA-Seq data Part 1—Downstream effect analysis (pathways, diseases etc.)
#4 (June 7th)—Making sense of RNA-Seq data Part 2—Upstream regulation analysis (transcription factors etc.)

This workshop is part of the ongoing Bioinformatics Lunch Series, funded by USC Libraries Dean’s Challenge Grant.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

USC Libraries Bioinformatics Service
nmlbio@usc.edu
https://nml.usc.edu/bioinformatics

Sunday, April 22, 2018

2018 INTD 500 Course Announcement

USC Annenberg Graduate Fellowship Research and Creative Project Symposium

Phi Beta Kappa Alumni Awards

The graduate school is delighted to announce that the nomination site for the Phi Beta Kappa Alumni Awards is now open. The scholarship recognizes international students pursuing graduate degrees in the U.S. Recipients of the PBK award must be about to begin the final year of their program and be seeking a degree that is considered “terminal” in their field (i.e. PhD).

Two awards, in the amount of $2,000 will be given to graduate students at USC.

Students should complete the attached Phi Beta Kappa Alumni Awards application and upload it here by Friday, May 4, 2018.

One letter of reference from the student’s faculty advisor should be sent to the graduate school via email at gradfllw@usc.edu by Friday, May 4, 2018.

Please note, to upload PDF files to this site, Google requires that you be signed into Drive. All USC students have access to Google Drive. You can access Google Drive by going to www.usc.edu/googledrive and entering your USC NetID and password. For more information see the ITS website: https://itservices.usc.edu/googledrive/.





Sunday, April 15, 2018

CBIO Colloquium | 4/16/2018

Haris Vikalo
University of Texas at Austin
Research Profile

Efficient Algorithms for Haplotype Assembly and Viral Quasispecies Reconstruction

Monday April 16
2:00 PM
RRI 101

Abstract: We study two applications of high-throughput DNA sequencing: haplotype assembly and viral quasispecies reconstruction. These NP-hard tasks are rendered challenging by sequencing errors and limited lengths of sequencing reads. We present a framework that casts haplotype assembly as the problem of decomposing a tensor of sequencing reads into a product of two factors -- one that reveals haplotype information and another one that encodes origin of the reads. The performance and convergence properties of a proposed tensor factorization method are analyzed and, in doing so, guarantees on the achievable minimum error correction scores and correct phasing rate are established. We then extend this framework and utilize it to reconstruct viral quasispecies characterized by uneven frequencies of their components. This is accomplished by successively inferring strains in a quasispecies in order from the most to the least abundant one; every time a strain is inferred, sequencing reads generated from that strain are removed from the dataset. Extensive benchmarking studies on synthetic and experimental data demonstrate efficacy of the proposed methods. Finally, after noting a connection between single individual haplotyping and the task of deciphering coded messages in communication systems, we employ information-theoretic tools to study fundamental limits of performance of haplotype assembly algorithms.

NBIO Seminar | 4/16/2018

Sunday, April 8, 2018

AmeriCorps Watershed Stewards Program accepting applications for Year 25

The AmeriCorps Watershed Stewards Program (WSP) is seeking Member applicants for 
Service Year 25 (October 1st, 2018 – August 9th, 2019)!


Application Due: June 29th, 2018.

Join a team of 48 committed individuals throughout California engaged in watershed protection, community outreach and education, and restoration projects! Spend 10 ½ months working alongside natural resource professionals with one of WSP’s 25 Placement Sites.

WSP Program Overview:
For 24 years, the AmeriCorps Watershed Stewards Program (WSP) has been engaged in comprehensive, community-based, watershed restoration and education throughout coastal California. The primary focus of WSP is to assist communities and organizations with habitat restoration for salmonids (Chinook salmon, Coho salmon and Steelhead trout) in order to rehabilitate these threatened and endangered species to healthy and historic populations. Additionally, WSP provides watershed education and outreach in high-needs communities throughout the state, engages WSP Members in volunteer recruitment efforts to increase the capacity and reach of partner organizations, and helps Members develop into the next generation of natural resource professionals.

Each year, WSP places approximately 48 Members with natural resource organization Placement Sites throughout California to work collaboratively for a 10 ½ month service term. Members serve under the guidance and mentorship of resource professionals in collaboration with local landowners, public agencies, and private industry to assess, monitor, and enhance watersheds. WSP’s diverse Placement Sites include federal, state, county, tribal, and non-profit agencies and organizations. Each Placement Site engages between one and two Members in all the service activity areas, while each site's overall strategy, emphasis, effort, and timing of service activities varies. For more specific information about each WSP Placement Site, please refer to the WSP website: www.ccc.ca.gov/watershed-stewards-program/.

WSP fosters inclusion, inspires innovation, and encourages respect by embracing the diverse talents, perspectives, and backgrounds of all applicants. Each of us brings to the table a lifetime of experiences and knowledge. Each of us is different and adds value to the organization because of these differences. WSP seeks applicants that represent the racial, gender, cultural, and socio-economic diversity of American society.


During their service, Members participate in a wide array of activities, including:
Regular watershed recovery and protection work with their Placement Site
Teaching the Wonders of Watersheds (WOW!) curriculum in elementary schools
Engaging their service community in watershed outreach
Creating and implementing their own Watershed Awareness Project (WAP), and recruiting community volunteers
Training and professional development opportunities

Qualifications for Applicants:
21+
High school diploma
25 credits of college-level science OR 6 months of relevant experience in fisheries/habitat restoration, invasive removal, instream structure installation, etc.
Interest and experience in natural resources management and environmental education
Possess or be willing to obtain a California Driver's License
Clean driving record (no more than 2 points)
US Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident Alien

Preferred Skills and Qualities for Members:
Willingness and desire to learn
Effective communication skills
Flexibility
Good basis of relative skills and experiences
Willingness to relocate to Placement Site community

Benefits Include:
Opportunity to make a difference in a Californian community
A monthly living stipend: $1,780
An Education Award of approximately $5,920 upon successful completion of the 10 ½ month service term
Hands-on training opportunities
Uniform and field gear provided
Opportunities to see some of the most beautiful places in California
Mentorship from a natural resources professional and networking opportunities
No-cost medical insurance
Student loan forbearance on eligible loans
Valuable work experience for your future

How to Apply to WSP:
Look under the member applicant tab on the WSP website www.ccc.ca.gov/watershed-stewards-program/
Watch the Recruitment Video at https://youtu.be/YXcWPoqF-mU
Send the following to wsp.recruiter@ccc.ca.gov by June 29th, 2018.
o Year 25 WSP Application, available under the MEMBER APPLICANTS tab on the WSP website
o Cover letter
o One-page resume
o Two signed letters of recommendation (can be submitted on your behalf) to email above

Contact Information:
If you have any questions about the AmeriCorps Watershed Stewards Program or how to apply, please contact the WSP Recruiters, wsp.recruiter@ccc.ca.gov Jody Weseman (805) 542-8461 or Greg Poulton (707)725-8601.

[Bioinformatics Lunch Series] Key Considerations for NGS Experimental Design, April 18 2018

The USC Libraries Bioinformatics Service is pleased to present a four-workshop series on next generation sequencing (NGS) studies, addressing key issues from experiment design to functional interpretation of NGS results. 

NGS Workshop #1-- “Key Considerations for NGS Experimental Design” 

With a primary focus on RNA-Seq experiments, this workshop covers the following topics:
Proper number of replicates
Optimal sequencing depth
Appropriate read type and length
Quick points on designing single-cell RNA-Seq, ChIP-Seq, and DNA-Seq experiments
Find the right sequencing service providers

Time                Noon - 1 pm, Wednesday, April 18th
Locations
1. Health Science Campus
West Conference Room, Norris Medical Library
2. University Park Campus (via livestreaming)
Learning Center, Wilson Dental Library (DEN21)

Lunch will be provided at both locations.  Link to the livestreaming for private viewing is also available.  

Sign up is mandatory: https://uschsl.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dd3QgL4sXu5pyYd

Stay tuned for the announcement of upcoming NGS study workshops:
#2 (May 4th)—Analyzing RNA-Seq data with Partek Flow
#3 (May 15th)—Making sense of RNA-Seq data Part 1—Downstream effect analysis (pathways, diseases etc.)
#4 (June 7th)—Making sense of RNA-Seq data Part 2—Upstream regulation analysis (transcription factors etc.)
This workshop is part of the ongoing Bioinformatics Lunch Series, funded by USC Libraries Dean’s Challenge Grant.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

USC Libraries Bioinformatics Service
nmlbio@usc.edu
https://nml.usc.edu/bioinformatics

Volunteers needed (whale, dolphin, african penguin, and shark conservation in South Africa)

   MHC eBrochure by uscbiscgrad on Scribd

Full-time Tenure-track Faculty position in Biology/Marine Biology at University of Hawaii, Kauai

Link to Ad

Note: The position closes on April 12, 2018!

Monday, April 2, 2018

WISH CHARTER SCIENCE FAIR - JUDGE REQUEST

I’m contacting you regarding getting ASBMB members to judge the WISH Science Fair.  We are located in Los Angeles, California.

Here's the information on judging for our science fair.

On the Friday, April 20, 2018 WISH will be hosting the 5th Annual WISH Charter Science Fair.

SCIENCE FAIR JUDGE PARTICIPATION FORM
We are currently securing our judging panel for this event and would be honored if you would participate as one of our judges.  Your participation would be extremely valuable to our students.  It's always exciting for students to meet members of our community and leaders in the field of science so your participation again would mean a lot!

EVENT:
This is our 5th Annual WISH Charter Science Fair; we currently have about 260 students signed up, TK to 8th grade.

JUDGES:
We are honored to have community leaders, faculty and staff, military, and scientists among our judges.  Judging should take about 3 minutes per  project, and most  judges will have just a couple grade levels to review, so a total of 10-20 projects . We will provide a rubric for each grade level, with detailed criteria for scoring each category. This year we are using an online system.

LOGISTICS:
DATE:            Friday, April 20, 2018
TIME:             The event starts at 9am, and should wrap up no later than noon.
A continental breakfast will be provided for judges.
Parking is available on nearby streets.

LOCATION:
WISH Charter
6550 West 80th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90045
(located on the Orville Wright campus, entrance is on Emerson Avenue)

If you are able to participate, please fill out this quick form for us! 
SCIENCE FAIR JUDGE PARTICIPATION FORM

We would be honored to have you participate!  If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Best,
Angela L. Jones
WISH Charter Parent
Science Fair Chair
Science & Robotics Team

Science & SciLifeLab Prize for Young Scientists Now Accepting Entries

The Science & SciLifeLab Prize for Young Scientists is now open for entries! This is the sixth year that Science and SciLifeLab will present this award, which offers four recent PhD graduates a life-changing opportunity.

Recent doctoral graduates in the life sciences may submit a 1000-word essay based on their thesis work. Four winners — in the categories of Cell and Molecular Biology,
Ecology and Environment, Genomics and Proteomics and Translational Medicine — will be selected for this international award. Make sure your recent PhD graduate doesn’t miss out on this opportunity!

Application deadline: July 15th, 2018

The winners will:
Have their essay published by Science
Receive up to 30,000 USD in prize money
Be honored in Stockholm, Sweden in December

Apply Now

Employment Opportunities in Biotechnology & Life Sciences

Study Director – Pre-Clinical Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases


CrownBio  •  New Iberia, LA  •  BS or MS  •  0-2 years
The Study Director is responsible for managing rodent studies ensuring company standards are implemented and company goals are achieved. The Study Director will provide expertise in areas of design, execution and analysis of in vivo mouse and rat CVMD... Read More

Production Assay Scientist


Counsyl  •  South San Francisco, CA  •  MS or PhD  •  0-5+ years
The Production Assay Scientist is an enthusiastic, self-motivated individual with great communication skills who can support the Manufacturing, Clinical Laboratory, and Service Engineering groups by working to continuously monitor and improve first pass assay yield for all... Read More

Development Scientist


Counsyl  •  South San Francisco, CA  •  PhD
This development scientist role is part of our Translational Development team and is responsible for developing and transferring technologies from R&D to our CLIA laboratory. The role requires a wide breadth of knowledge in wet and dry bench skills and a eagerness to... Read More

Computational Biologist


Counsyl  •  South San Francisco, CA  •  PhD or equivalent
We are seeking a computational biologist—anywhere in the spectrum from the mathematically inclined molecular biologist to the software savant with basic knowledge of genetics—to join us as a research and data scientist... Read More

Field Application Scientist


NanoCellect  •  San Diego, CA  •  PhD.  •  2+ years
If you enjoy bringing new technologies to market, embrace challenge, and are capable of fitting in a flexible and multidisciplinary environment, then this position may be for you. The successful applicant will provide complex applications support, troubleshooting... Read More

Research Associate II, Biology


Sarepta Therapeutics  •  Cambridge, MA.  •  BS or MS  •  0-4 years
Sarepta Therapeutics is seeking a motivated individual with a strong background in Molecular and Cellular Biology to join our drug discovery team. This position will report directly to a PhD Scientist in the Research Biology group. Read More

Manager or Director of Clinical Affairs


Medrobotics  •  Raynham, MA  •  BA/BS+  •  5-10+ years
The Clinical Affairs Manager/Director will lead the efforts to define, develop and execute the Medrobotics clinical strategies. He/she will design and develop formative, simulated use, summative (Human Factors Evaluation), and post marketing... Read More

Mechanical Engineer


Nortech Systems  •  Eden Prairie, MN  •  BS+
Devicix by Nortech is looking for a Mechanical Engineer to design medical devices complying with industry methodologies and standards. Read More

Research Scientists & Medical Technologists


Cambridge Biomedical  •  Boston, MA  •  BS+  •  2+ years
As a research scientist at Cambridge Biomedical, you will be a part of a passionate team of innovative scientists working to advance patient healthcare. You will assist Project Directors and Principal Investigators to develop and... Read More

Account Manager Microscopy (Boston)


Leica Microsystems  •  Boston, MA  •  BA, BS OR MS degree in scientific field  •  3+ years
This Microscopy Account Manager role is critical in managing accounts thru direct and/or dealer relationships in the Life Sciences sector. You will build and maintain customer relationships while driving sales growth with 2 major product lines... Read More

Account Manager Microscopy (NYC)


Leica Microsystems  •  New York, NY  •  BA, BS OR MS degree in scientific field  •  3+ years
This Microscopy Account Manager, Life Sciences role is critical in managing accounts thru direct and/or dealer relationships in the Life Sciences sector. You will build and maintain customer relationships while driving sales growth with 2 major... Read More

Conofocal Specialist


Leica Microsystems  •  Baltimore, MD  •  BA, BS OR MS degree in scientific field  •  4+ years
The Sales Specialist Confocal Microscopy is a key member of the Life Science Division’s sales team. You will work in the Life Sciences sector to promote and execute sales of the Confocal product line to Life Science Researches. You will build and maintain... Read More

Advanced Workflow Specialist – Confocal (Boston)


Leica Microsystems  •  Boston, MA  •  BA/BS+  •  2+ years
The Advanced Workflow Specialist is a key member providing technical sales support and overall product service and troubleshooting to the Life Science Division’s sales team. You will be the go-to expert for advanced equipment working closely with... Read More

Account Manager Microscopy (Philadelphia)


Leica Microsystems  •  Philadelphia, PA  •  BA, BS OR MS degree in scientific field  •  3+ years
This Account Manager – Life Sciences role is critical in managing accounts thru direct and/or dealer relationships in the Life Sciences. You will build and maintain customer relationships while driving sales growth with 2 major product lines. You will... Read More

Scientist – Discovery Biology


Elanco  •  Greenfield, IN  •  BS or MS  •  0-3 years
The Scientist will use their skills and knowledge in Molecular Biology, Virology, Bacteriology, and Biochemistry to discover and optimize new vaccines, antivirals, and antibiotic alternatives. The incumbent may also participate in biotherapeutic molecule discovery... Read More

Director of IV Manufacturing/Development


SIGA Technologies  •  Corvallis, OR  •  BS+  •  6+ years
The successful candidate will oversee the technical and administrative activities related to parenteral drug manufacturing and manufacturing process development. As a leader of this functional area, the Director of IV Manufacturing/Development will shape... Read More

External Manufacturing Manager


SIGA Technologies  •  Corvallis, OR  •  BS+  •  5+ years
The successful candidate will be responsible for the day-to-day management of an expanding Contract Manufacturing Organization (CMO) supply chain and therefore must have experience with external vendor management. The External Manufacturing Manager will provide “Man-in-plant”... Read More

Sr. Associate Scientist, Biology - Immunology & Inflammation


Celgene  •  Cambridge, MA  •  MS or PhD  •  2+ years
We are currently seeking an innovative scientist with expertise in immunology, inflammation, and autoimmune diseases to join our Immunology & Inflammation Discovery Biology group in Cambridge, MA. He/she will be expected to contribute ideas for new drug discovery... Read More

Formulation Scientist


Ei Solutioworks  •  Kannopolis, NC  •  BS  •  3+ years
This position is responsible for working on all aspects of product development for topical cosmetic and drug products including but not limited to formulation development, sourcing raw materials, and scale up though launch. Read More

Physician with Clinical Research Experience


eStudySite  •  San Francisco, CA  •  MD or DO
Immediate opening for a Physician with Clinical Research Experience for clinical trial studies at our San Francisco location. This Physician Research Investigator position will play a pivotal role in overseeing the quality and scientific integrity of the... Read More


Primate Behavior and Conservation Field Courses in Costa Rica 2018

DANTA Tropical Biology Field Courses 2018

Do you have an interest in wildlife, tropical ecology and/or conservation?

Are you looking to gain valuable field experience?

Would you like to learn about other cultures?

Would you like to learn more about yourself?

Danta is pleased to announce our 2018 field courses in tropical biology. Our course are intended for undergraduates or early graduate level students who have a keen interest in tropical ecosystems and conservation, but have little or no experience of working in a tropical environment. Participants may enroll on either a credit or non-credit basis.

DANTA operates on a cooperative and collaborative teaching model with multiple international instructors on each course. Co-instruction allows for more individualized instruction, and the sharing and appreciation of different ideas. Visiting scholars are often incorporated into the curriculum to broaden student experience.

As much of our advertising is done by word-of-mouth, we encourage you to spread the word by forwarding this information to students or friends who may be interested in our programs.

For more information, please visit our website at www.DANTA.info and/or email conservation@danta.email or conservation@danta.info. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter. For an alumni perspective on our programs, please see our new blog DANTAisms http://dantablog.wordpress.com/.

Hope to see you in Costa Rica!

Methods in Primate Behavior and Conservation

Dates: July 13–July 28, 2018
Program Fee: $2600
Application deadline: Summer Session: June 1, 2018

Course Description
This course is designed to provide students with field experience in primate behavior, ecology, and conservation. This course will be held at Osa Conservation’s Piro Reseach Station in Costa Rica’s spectacular Osa peninsula. As the one of the largest tracts of rain forest north of the Amazon (roughly 400,000 acres in the Osa Conservation Area), it is renowned for high species diversity. It is one of only a few places in Costa Rica that has jaguar, puma, sea turtles and four species of monkey (mantled howler monkey, black-handed spider monkey, white-faced capuchin and squirrel monkey).

The learning experiences for the course fall into four main categories: field exercises, seminars, lectures, and applied conservation. The field exercises and seminars provide instruction and experience in: (1) methods of measuring environmental variables, including assessment of resource availability, (2) methods of collecting and analyzing the behavior of free-ranging primates, (3) assessments of biodiversity and (4) techniques for estimating population size. Lecture topics will cover the behavior and ecology of Old and New World primates from an evolutionary perspective. Selected lecture topics include primate sociality, feeding ecology, taxonomy, rain forest ecosystems and conservation. Service learning is a large component of all our programs. Students will gain experience in applied conservation through participation in Osa Conservation’s reforestation, sustainable agriculture and wildlife monitoring programs (big cat and sea turtle).

During the course participants will visit a wildlife rehabilitation center, sustainable chocolate plantation, and take a boat tour of the Golfo Dulce for dolphin viewing and snorkeling. We overnight on the Boruca Indigenous Reserve where we will learn about the community and their traditional lifeways, and help with needed projects. All within country travel is in cooperation with Planet Conservation, our sustainable travel partner. Every effort is made to implement eco-friendly and socially responsible practices into our day-to-day operations, field courses and overall mission.

Enrollment is limited to 15 students. The course is open to both credit and non-credit seeking students. University credit can be arranged through your home institution.

Primate Behavior and Conservation

Dates: June 15-July 11, 2018
Program Fee: $3500
Application deadline: June 1, 2018
Guest Speaker: Dr. Eckhard Heymann

Course Description
This course is designed to provide students with field experience in primate behavior, ecology, and conservation. The course will be conducted at Osa Conservation‘s Piro Research Station in Costa Rica’s spectacular Osa peninsula. As the one of the largest tracts of rain forest north of the Amazon (roughly 400,000 acres in the Osa Conservation Area), it is renowned for high species diversity. It is one of only a few sites in Costa Rica that contain 4 species of primate (mantled howler monkey, black-handed spider monkey, white-faced capuchin and squirrel monkey). Four species of sea turtle also nest along its beaches. Please help us protect this unique region which is of international conservation concern.

The learning experiences for the course fall into five main categories: field exercises, independent research, discussions, lectures and applied conservation. The first half of the courses is devoted to learning ecological field techniques, while in the second half students develop, carry out and present data from their independent research projects. Many of our participants have gone on to present their work at national and regional conferences. The field exercises and seminars provide instruction and experience in:(1) methods of measuring environmental variables, including assessment of resource availability, (2) methods of collecting and analyzing the behavior of free-ranging primates, (3) assessments of biodiversity and (4) techniques for estimating population size. Lecture topics will cover the behavior and ecology of Old and New World primates from an evolutionary perspective. Selected lecture topics include primate sociality, feeding ecology, taxonomy, rain forest ecosystems, conservation, climate change and sustainability. Participants gain experience in applied conservation through participation in Osa Conservation’s reforestation,and sea turtle breeding and monitoring programs.

During the course participants will visit a wildlife rehabilitation center, sustainable chocolate plantation, and take a boat tour of the Golfo Dulce for dolphin viewing and snorkeling. We overnight on the Boruca Indigenous Reserve where we will learn about the community and their traditional lifeways, and help with needed projects. All within country travel is in cooperation with Planet Conservation, our sustainable travel partner. Every effort is made to implement eco-friendly and socially responsible practices into our day-to-day operations, field courses and overall mission.

Enrollment is limited to 15 students. The course is open to both credit and non-credit seeking students. University credit can be arranged through your home institution.

Wildlife Conservation and Sustainability

Dates: July 13-28, 2018
Program fee: $2600
Application deadline: June 1, 2018

Course Description
The proximate and ultimate causes of declines of rain forest habitats and biodiversity will be examined through a combination of direct observations in the field, lectures, and critical reviews of the literature. Topics will include the role of hunting, logging, agriculture, disease, predation, expanding human populations and their consumption of natural resources as they affect forest and biodiversity conservation. Emphasis will be on sustainable solutions and how today’s human societies can endure in the face of climate change, ecosystem degradation and resource limitations.

The majority of the course will be conducted at Osa Conservation‘s Piro Research Station in Costa Rica’s spectacular Osa Peninsula. As one of the largest tracts of rain forest north of the Amazon (roughly 400,000 acres in the Osa Conservation Area), it is renowned for high species diversity. It is one of only a few sites in Costa Rica that contain 4 species of primate (mantled howler monkey, black-handed spider monkey, white-faced capuchin and the Central American squirrel monkey). Four species of sea turtle also nest along its beaches. Students gain hands-on experience through participation in Osa Conservation’s sustainable agriculture, wildlife monitoring and reforestation programs. Problems of various land-use activities will be evaluated with side trips to an oil palm plantation, a coffee plantation, and small-scale agricultural plots.

During the course participants will visit a wildlife rehabilitation center, sustainable chocolate plantation, and take a boat tour of the Golfo Dulce for dolphin viewing and snorkeling. We overnight on the Boruca Indigenous Reserve where we will learn about the community and their traditional lifeways, and help with needed projects. All within country travel is in cooperation with Planet Conservation, our sustainable travel partner. Every effort is made to implement eco-friendly and socially responsible practices into our day-to-day operations, field courses and overall mission.

Enrollment is limited to 15 students. The course is open to both credit and non-credit seeking students. University credit can be arranged through your home institution.

Molecular Biology Seminar

Vicki Lundblad
Salk Institute for Biological Studies
Profile

A new model for telomerase:  replication fork collapse drives telomere length homeostasis

Friday, April 6
12:00 PM
RRI 101

Abstract: Telomeres, the natural ends of linear chromosomes, must be replenished by the enzyme telomerase to ensure continuous proliferation of cells.  The prevailing model in the field assumes that telomerase elongates chromosome termini only after DNA replication is complete.  Dr. Lundblad will propose that the major substrate for telomerase is instead generated by errors that occur during replication of duplex telomeric DNA..

Host: Oscar Aparicio

Computational Biology Colloquium

Pulin Li
California Institute of Technology
Research Profile

Understanding the Genetic Basis for Biological Patterning from the Bottom Up

Thursday April 5, 2018
2:00 pm
RRI 101

Abstract: How genes, operating in individual cells, generate coordinated multicellular behavior is a fundamental question in biology. In every cell, a set of genes interact with one another to control specific cellular functions, and combinations of these functions create population-level behavior, ranging from biological patterns to physiological rhythms. Applying a bottom-up approach, we quantitatively analyzed how tissue patterning dynamics and precision arise from the underlying genetic interactions. Morphogens, forming concentration gradients in space, set the blueprint for tissue patterning. By reconstituting morphogen gradients in vitro, re-wiring genetic interactions, and using quantitative time-lapse imaging and mathematical modeling, we revealed the design principles of a key morphogen pathway, Sonic Hedgehog. Its unique architectural features, including double-negative regulatory logic and an evolutionarily conserved negative feedback loop, together accelerate gradient formation and improve patterning robustness. The ability to isolate morphogen-mediated patterning from concurrent developmental processes and to compare the behavior of alternative pathway architectures offers a new way to uncover developmental design principles and engineer multicellular patterning.

Host: Michael Waterman