5th International Course in Microbial Ecology, Venice (Italy)

Dear Microbial Ecologist,

We are proud to announce the 5th International Course in Microbial Ecology, this year entitled “Deciphering microbial diversity and function in the environment through Next Generation Sequencing” (October 6-10, 2014), which will take place at the Institute of Marine Science, National Research Council in the old town centre of Venice, Italy.

The course builds on the successes of the four previous courses (former “SItEmicro Course in Microbial Ecology”) and is dedicated to advanced master students, PhD students, post-docs and young researchers interested in aquatic and terrestrial microbial ecology, and in bioinformatics. The course will focus on the use of next generation sequencing datasets for the study of microbial communities, under the guide of experienced international researchers. Participation is limited to 30 applicants.

The course will train microbial ecologists in the analysis of the structure and function of environmental microbial communities by using molecular tools. The techniques covered include sample collection and processing, DNA extraction, PCR of ribosomal genes, quanti­fication/analysis of environmental DNA, amplicon (marker gene) data generation and analysis using different tools (QIIME, Mothur) and metagenomics.

Detailed information is provided in the flyer attached to this email, and at the official webpage of the course: www.microbeco.org. Updates on the registration procedures, the selection of the successful applications, the final program and preliminary materials for the course will be periodically published on the website and on the next numbers of the SM Newsletter.

We look forward in seeing you in Venice.

Sincerely,

The Organizing Committee

Gian Marco Luna

Stefano Amalfitano

Manuela Coci

Gianluca Corno

TAP Information from GSG — Read This to Get Your TAP Card For Next Semester

On-line sign-ups begin on December 30, 2013. Graduate students who have paid the USC Student Activity Fee can opt into the program by paying an $85 co-payment fee, plus a one-time $5 new card fee, through the "public transit" tab of the USC Transportation website (http://usc.edu/parking). On the left side, click on the "Graduate Student Metro TAP Pass" and you will be directed to complete a form. You will receive a confirmation email within 48-72 business hours stating the fee has been processed and where you can pick up your card starting January 7th. Cards are available on a first come, first served basis.

Distribution of cards will start on January 7, 2013 until we are sold out. Once you receive the confirmation email from gsgcamp@usc.edu within 2-3 business days, please come to the Graduate Student Government office in the Tutor Campus Center room 224, Monday-Thursday between 10 am and 4 pm OR M-Th 12 PM-1 PM and F 1:30 PM-2:30 PM on the Health Science Campus in room SRH101A.

The cards become active on the first day of the spring semester, January 13, 2014  and are valid throughout the Spring semester until May 16, 2014. If you have the Fall TAP card, the card ends on January 12th.  The cards become active on the first day of the spring semester, January 13, 2014  and are valid throughout the Spring semester until May 16, 2014. If you have the Fall TAP card, the card ends on January 12th. The cards can be used 7 days a week for unlimited rides on the Metro. This includes the Metro Rapid bus lines and the Red, Blue, Green, Gold and Expo rail lines as well as regular Metro buses traveling (including zones 1 and 2). If you are riding the LADOT Commuter Express, please consult their website, http://store.ladottransit.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=LTS&Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=MP4 to see what their pass price is.  However, it is NOT covered under our program. The pass is not valid on Metrolink, EZ Passes, or the LADOT Commuter Express.

Further Questions? For any questions regarding the cards, please visit our "Frequently Asked Questions" page: http://www.gpssusc.com/committee/campus-affairs/tap-program.html If you have any other questions, please contact the Director of Campus Affairs, Janna Bernstein at gsgcamp@usc.edu. Thank you and Fight On!

University Staff Club announces scholarships for graduate students

Please see the announcement, instructions, and application below regarding the availability of scholarships for graduate students from the University Staff Club.

   University Staff Club 2012 Scholarship Flyer

   Application Instructions for Staff Club Scholarship 2013

   University Staff Club APPLICATION 2013 -Fillable

Covered CA pamphlet

Below please find the Covered CA pamphlet (thanks Helen!)  Copies are available at the Student Health Insurance Office on the lower level of the Engemann Student Health Center.  Also, here is a link to the Affordable Care Act Q-and-A that you might find helpful as well:  http://studentaffairs.usc.edu/2013/11/affordable-care-act-q-and-a/

   Covered CA

Additional Healthcare Reform Info Sessions

The Engemann Student Health Center is offering additional information sessions for students to learn about the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”). Would you please forward the attached flyer to your student mailing lists?

Questions about the information sessions should be directed to Heidi Ried-Gonzaga (riedgonz@engemann.usc.edu). Questions about ACA should be directed to Cathy deFrancesco (defrance@engemann.usc.edu) or Anita Hodge (hodge@usc.edu).

Thank you!

Shayna

Shayna Kessel, Ph.D.

Assistant Dean, Graduate Academic Affairs

The Graduate School

Office of the Provost

University of Southern California

3601 Watt Way, GFS 315

Los Angeles, CA 90089-1695

(213) 740-9033

http://www.usc.edu/schools/GraduateSchool

   Student Information Sessions - Healthcare Reform 2014

BISC-419 Environmental Microbiology

Instructors:  Prof. Katrina Edwards & Assist. Res. Prof. Jason Sylvan

                                    With guest lectures by Dr. Jean-Paul Baquiran

This class will focus on fundamental aspects of microbiology as they apply in an environmental context.  Our principal textbook will use Brock’s Biology of Microorganisms, but we also draw heavily from other resources and the primary literature.  Topics to be covered in the lecture portion of the class (T, Th) include:

• ·         Introduction to and History of Environmental Microbiology
• ·         Methods in Microbial Ecology
• ·         Marine Biogeochemistry and the biogeochemical cycles of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous, and iron

• ·         Carbon fixation mechanisms and pathways
• ·         Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic microbiology
• ·         Food Webs in microbiology
• ·         Applied microbiology and technology
• ·         Terrestrial microbiology
• ·         “observatory” science
• ·         The deep subsurface biosphere
• ·         Extreme environments
• ·         Recent advances

This class will have alternating Laboratory Demonstrations and Discussions on Fridays, which may or may not overlap directly with the lecture topics.  This portion of the course will also include two field trips to nearby locales. 

Please contact Katrina Edwards kje@usc.edu for more information.

BISC-499: From Developmental Biology to Regenerative Medicine

Course description:


This course focuses on general mechanistic principles that underpin development, maintenance and repair of body systems from worms to man. We will discuss critical experimental studies that frame the current view of animal organization, and the application of knowledge-gained to the goals of regenerative medicine. Lectures will be supplemented with a study of groundbreaking papers from the primary literature. 

   BISC 499 (3).pdf