BMB Weekly #19: May 17, 2024

 

"MSU plant science community inspires future scientists at 2024 Science Festival" Featuring Josh Vermaas and Duncan Boren. Read the full article here. "MPS graduate students participate in 2024 EnergyTech competition" Featuring McKay Whiteman, İlayda Korkmaz, Duncan Boren, and Luke Sharpe. Read the full article here.

 

 

 

Registration is now open for the tenth annual symposium of the Plant Biotechnology for Health and Sustainability (PBHS) NIH graduate training program. This is a PBHS trainee organized and run symposium that seeks to address recent research as well as introduce community members to a broad range of career opportunities related to biotechnology. Check out our great lineup of speakers from academic institutions and the industry here.

In this talk we shed light on the evolving range of available tools considering the origin, structure, size, and quality of the data. We look at EDA from a historical perspective focusing on its beginnings under the leadership of the father of data sciences, John Tukey. We also consider it from a modern lens addressing the requirements triggered by the use of data in conjunction with the AI (Artificial Intelligence) development. This seminar is eligible for RECR credit. Learn more and register here.

Developing a statistical analysis plan (SAP) is a critical component of designing and conducting research studies which influences collection, analysis, and interpretation of data.

Learning objectives:

• Understand that the SAP promotes rigor and reproducibility.
• Understand the contents of an SAP (administrative information, background, study level and variable level information, analysis methods, amendments).
• Learn about structured reporting and estimates.

This seminar repeats the topics from the workshop "Developing your own statistical analysis plan" and thus is intended for participants who had not taken the earlier workshop. This seminar is eligible for RECR credit. Learn more and register here.

Mark your calendars for this exciting opportunity for science outreach. GWIS is helping recruit volunteers for the National Science Olympiad Tournament. Come make this competition for middle and high school students interested in STEM from around the country a success! Learn more and register here.

Discussions will be framed around a main presentation given by Dr. Greg Swain, or by other individuals from key units across campus. The purpose for these workshops is to help students better understand the importance of responsible behavior, learn about proper research and creative activity practices, and connect to important regulatory and information offices across the MSU campus. Each topic, as listed below, is paralleled by a CITI lesson such that a student could pair an online module with a discussion session. Learn more and register here.

Here is another writing workshop opportunity offered by Prof. David Lowry, who will be leading a four-week workshop on demystifying the academic job application process this June. The overall goal of the workshop will be to gain a better understanding of how to approach writing all the components of an academic job package. We will read through successful applications and then break down what works well and what does not work well piece by piece. All four workshop meetings will take place on Fridays at 2-3pm Eastern Time. The first meeting of the workshop will be an organizational meeting that will also focus on Cover Letter writing. Please come prepared by reading a few sample cover letters from the repository of application package examples. Learn more here and register at this website. If you have any additional questions, please reach out to David Lowry (dlowry@msu.edu). 

 

The Helen Hay Whitney Foundation supports early postdoctoral research training in all basic biomedical sciences. The goals of the foundation is to increase the number of imaginative, well-trained and dedicated medical scientists. The Foundation grants financial support of sufficient duration to help further the careers of young individuals engaged in biological or medical research. Please note- this opportunity will only accept one application per laboratory during each award cycle. They will accept applications from different laboratories/supervisors at the same institution. Learn more and apply here.

 

If you are looking for workshops on teaching and learning, please consider attending virtual summer workshops offered by MSU’s Colleges’ Online Learning Academy. To see which workshops are offered (and which ones fulfill competencies for the Certification in College Teaching), please follow the link below. Workshops are facilitated by faculty who engage in scholarship and research around digital teaching & learning in MSU’s Enhanced Digital Learning Initiative. Learn more and register here.

Whether students are feeling overwhelmed due to academic, social, or personal pressures or just need to connect, Togetherall is available 24/7 to remind them they are not alone. This free, anonymous, waitlist free, peer-to-peer mental health support community is monitored and moderated 24/7 by licensed clinicians and empowers students to give and receive support for a full range of concerns. Many students do not seek out campus in-person/virtual mental health treatment. Togetherall provides an alternative option for students seeking mental health support, offering an additional resource for students who are looking for an outlet to share and process their emotions. Learn more here.

The MSU Department of Police and Public Safety has released an online Active Violence Incident Awareness Training program that is available for students, faculty, and staff. This training includes a presentation explaining how to respond during an active violence situation. Throughout the training, knowledge checkpoint questions will appear on screen to evaluate participants’ understanding of the content. In addition, a video is in development, which will be included in the training at a later time. Learn more here.

Eligible to undergraduates, graduates, and professional students enrolled in Fall/Spring semester and without a dining plan. Fruits, soups, pasta, rice, protein, cereal, bread, and fresh produce available year-round! To learn more about visiting the MSU Foodbank, or to donate, visit here.

 

A post-doctoral research associate position is available in the laboratory of Dr. Tim Zacharewski at Michigan State University. The Zacharewski lab examines the role of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activation in the development and progression of fatty liver disease and other complex metabolic disorders. In vivo and in vitro mouse models, as well as primary human hepatocytes and/or inducible pluripotent stem cells will be used to study the effects of TCDD and related AhR ligands on hepatic gene expression, metabolic flux, oxidative stress, and immune surveillance. The selected candidate will be expected to conduct research as part of a larger team, supervise/train undergraduate and graduate students, prepare research manuscripts, and present their results at scientific meetings. Learn more about this MSU Careers posting and apply at this link.

The Rhee Lab is seeking applications from talented college graduates for a 2-3 year research support position. This position is ideal for post-bachelor degree recipients who want to enter a career in research. The Rhee Lab’s aim is to uncover the molecular mechanisms of plant adaptation to environmental stresses. Our studies are diverse, ranging from computational modeling of metabolic networks to characterization of novel plant genes with no similarity to any known genes. We work with several organisms (including grasses, cover crops, and desert plants), but much of the lab’s work centers around the model Arabidopsis thaliana. The Rhee Lab recently embarked on characterizing novel proteins and understanding the process of seed dehydration and rehydration, in which the successful applicant would be a key member. Learn more about this MSU Careers posting and apply at this link.

The Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology (IPMB), Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan invites applications for tenure-track faculty positions at the Assistant Research Fellow level (equivalent to Assistant Professor) in the research areas of plants and plant-related microbes. Successful candidates should have research records complementary to the current IPMB research capacities or have the potential to launch a new research direction. Preference will be given, but not limited to applicants with research experience in computational biology or sustainability. Learn more and apply here. Contact Dr. Chih-Horng Kuo for additional information.

Dr. Xiaosa (Jack) Xu Lab in the Department of Plant Biology at the University of California, Davis is seeking a highly motivated and independent individual who is interested in pursuing an academic career in plant developmental genetics and single-cell genomics research. The postdoctoral scholar who secures this position will use cutting-edge single-cell genomics, spatial transcriptomics, and genome editing approaches to identify and characterize key genes in plant development and evolution, and inform crop improvement. The successful applicant will be responsible for conducting single-cell genomics and spatial transcriptomics experiments and data analysis, followed by genome editing validation. The applicant will work closely with a team in the Xu lab, as well as with collaborators at UC Davis and other institutions. They will have the opportunity to mentor graduate and undergraduate students, participate in the preparation and writing of manuscripts and grants. The candidate will also have opportunities to attend workshops/courses as required by ongoing and future research projects, such as the Frontiers and Techniques in Plant Science course at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Contact Dr. Xiaosa Xu for further information. Learn more about this listing by following this link.

 

Blanco-Gonzalez, A., Manathunga, M., Yang, X., & Olivucci, M. (2024). Comparative quantum-classical dynamics of natural and synthetic molecular rotors show how vibrational synchronization modulates the photoisomerization quantum efficiency. Nature communications, 15(1), 3499. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-47477-0

Delmer, D., Dixon, R. A., Keegstra, K., & Mohnen, D. (2024). The plant cell wall-dynamic, strong, and adaptable-is a natural shapeshifter. The Plant cell, 36(5), 1257–1311. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad325

Gasperini, D., & Howe, G. A. (2024). Phytohormones in a universe of regulatory metabolites: lessons from jasmonate. Plant physiology, 195(1), 135–154. https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiae045

Li, Y., Grotewold, E., & Dudareva, N. (2024). Enough is enough: feedback control of specialized metabolism. Trends in plant science, 29(5), 514–523. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2023.07.012

Marathe, S., Grotewold, E., & Otegui, M. S. (2024). Should I stay or should I go? Trafficking of plant extra-nuclear transcription factors. The Plant cell, 36(5), 1524–1539. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koad277

O'Malley, A., Sankaran, S., Carriuolo, A., Khatri, K., Kowal, K., & Chruszcz, M. (2024). Structural homology of mite profilins to plant profilins is not indicative of allergic cross-reactivity. Biological chemistry, 10.1515/hsz-2023-0366. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1515/hsz-2023-0366

Raju, A. S., Kramer, D. M., & Versaw, W. K. (2024). Genetically manipulated chloroplast stromal phosphate levels alter photosynthetic efficiency. Plant physiology, kiae241. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiae241

Sharkey T. D. (2024). The end game(s) of photosynthetic carbon metabolism. Plant physiology, 195(1), 67–78. https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiad601

Song, Z., Wang, K. W., Hagar, H. C., Chen, H. R., Kuan, C. Y., Zhang, K., & Kuo, M. H. (2024). Hyperphosphorylated Tau Inflicts Intracellular Stress Responses that Are Mitigated by Apomorphine. Molecular neurobiology, 61(5), 2653–2671. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-023-03689-x

 

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College of Natural Science | BMB Weekly | Vol. 57, No.19