BMB Weekly #3: January 17, 2025

 

Three BMB professors recognized at 2024 NatSci Awards Featuring Ben Orlando, Robert Last, and Robert Hausinger. Read the full article here.

 

 

Juan Vanegas from Oregon State University will be presenting "Mechanical activation of membrane proteins and ion channels by tension".

To join us on Zoom, click this link. Password: bmbseminar

The Spring BMB Seminar Series will run through April 24, 2025. The complete schedule is available on the BMB Spring Seminar Series website. If you are interested in meeting with any of these speakers please email Leslie Williams, glady@msu.edu. Many speakers are planning to visit in-person. A Zoom option will continue to be offered for all seminars.

 

This workshop will introduce attendees to developing blended and hybrid/flexible (hyflex) courses.

This workshop will:

1. Outline the impacts of blended teaching and learning as a means of enhancing students' access to classes.
2. Explore methods for integrating online and in-person students through activities and discussions.
3. Offer practical insights into structuring and facilitating hyflex classes across various classrooms and technologies.

Learn more and register here.

Join MSU Associate Professor of History Lashawn Harris for an engaging discussion on the contributions, challenges, and legacy of black women in civil rights, equity, and social justice. Moderated by Vice Provost Pero G. Dagbovie, this event also highlights the importance of mentorship and networking for women of color in academia. Learn more and register here.

The MSU AGEP Learning Community is an informal environment where students from varying disciplines can gather, share their research in a 10-minute presentation, or discover that their graduate toils are not unusual. Those in attendance are privy to information regarding fellowships, career opportunities, even summer internships, pertaining to the group. Learn more and register here.

This Pre-Health Essentials session is designed for undergraduate students who intend to pursue, or want to explore, a career in Medicine and become a Physician. This group advising session will provide essential information needed to get started on the path to this health career. Attendees will learn the basics of building a strong application including recommended prerequisite coursework, co-curricular activities, application timeline, and helpful campus resources. Learn more and register here.

Registration for the BITSS Research Transparency and Reproducibility Training (RT2) 2025 is now open! Next year's RT2 will be held in Berkeley, CA from May 21-23, 2025. Participants will receive hands-on training on open science tools and methodologies, including pre-specification and data management. Participants are expected to come prepared to present their own research project and to provide a statement on how RT2 will benefit their current research. Learn more and register here.

The Office of Bioscience Postdoctoral Affairs at UCLA invites you to apply to UCLA Bio-Launch, a recruitment initiative for bioscience researchers. This program includes professional development workshops, networking opportunities, and a faculty matching service. Learn more and apply here.

The COGS 17th Annual Graduate Academic Conference (GAC)  is a unique forum for graduate & professional students to gain experience communicating their research to a non-specialized audience. As a presenter, you will benefit from constructive feedback from our judges (MSU Alums from wide ranging backgrounds), helping you fine tune your communication skills. Network with your peers across disciplines as well as with your audience of judges and other interested professionals attending the conference! Learn more and submit an abstract here.

 

 

This award is named in honor of Arthur C. Neish (1916-1973). In the 1950’s and 1960’s, Dr. Neish was a pioneer in the synthesis and use of radiolabeled precursors and was one of the major contributors to knowledge of plant natural product biosynthetic pathways (Romeo, J.T. 2000. Forward. Recent Advances in Phytochemistry 34:viii.). He was a dedicated mentor of young scientists and has been recognized by having the young investigator award named after him. The Neish Young Investigator Awards were first bestowed in 1999 at the PSNA meeting in Montreal, Canada.

The Neish awards support young investigators as featured speakers at annual meetings, providing an important professional and career development opportunity for young investigators. It also enriches diverse participation in the PSNA, while supporting a diversity of topics. There is no application or self-nomination procedure, as this award is by nomination only. We encourage nominations of people from diverse backgrounds. Learn more and submit a nomination here.

The Plant Journal (TPJ)-PSNA Early Career Award recognizes research excellence by outstanding postdoctoral researchers and research scientists in academic, research and government institutions with a preference for early career individuals who are ready to start an independent position and can engage with PSNA for the advancement of phytochemical research field. We encourage applications from people from diverse backgrounds. Learn more and submit an application here.

The Plant Resilience Institute (PRI) is excited to announce the launch of its 2025 PRI Seed Grant Program, a funding opportunity designed to support innovative research projects that advance plant resilience. This program is open to all graduate students and postdoctoral researchers at Michigan State University, providing up to $10,000 in funding for projects spanning 18 months.

Building on the success of prior initiatives, the PRI Seed Grant Program aims to foster high-risk, high-reward research that promotes collaboration across laboratories. Key Information for Applicants:

• Deadline: Proposals must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. ET on March 1, 2025.
• Funding Amount: Applicants can request up to $10,000.
• Review Process and Notifications: Applications will be evaluated by the Seed Grant Committee. Decisions will be communicated by the end of March 2025.

A list of previously funded projects here, and full details about the program and application process are available here. For questions about the application process, please contact Gaëlle Cassin-Ross (cassin@msu.edu).

 

A variety of exciting and educational opportunities will be offered to the MSU community in celebration of the legacy of Dr. King and historical events that took place in our nation and on our campus. MLK questions can be directed to Leah Ball. Contacts for individual events are also listed in the calendar. Learn more here.

Stay active this winter with the free Blue Cross Winter Warm Up 5K Training Program. Starting January 20, this eight-week program includes two weekly sessions led by certified Good Form Running and Walking coaches from the Playmakers Fitness Foundation at sites throughout Greater Lansing. MSU students, faculty, and staff can join University Health and Wellbeing’s campus session Mondays and Wednesdays, 5–6 PM located in Bessey Hall, Room 108. Each session includes stretches, warmups, and scenic routes like the River Trail. Weekly tips on training and nutrition keep you on track. The program culminates in the celebratory 5K Walk/Run at Hawk Island on March 15. Learn more and register here.

Nominations are now open for the North American Arabidopsis Steering Committee’s Arabidopsis Community Awards! Nominate your colleagues, trainees, or yourself to recognize excellence in the Arabidopsis community in three award categories:

1. P. N. Benfey Arabidopsis Community Lifetime Achievement
2. Dissemination of Arabidopsis Knowledge (early & later career awards)
3. Excellence in Supporting Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging in the Arabidopsis Community (early & later career awards)

Learn more and submit a nomination here.

The MSU Student Food Bank is a resource available to students and scholars who may be experiencing food insecurity. The Food Bank provides free food and other essential items to those in need within our MSU community. Learn more here.

 

The Department of Biology at UW-River Falls seeks a biologist with a background in Botany to support our Biological Sciences program Including Ecology & Organismal and General Biology curricula. Teaching responsibilities will include lecture and laboratory courses in Botany, Identification of Plants, and General Biology. Additional courses could include, Evolution, Plant Physiology, Ecology, or other courses depending upon the candidate’s experience. The successful candidate will be expected to develop additional upper-level courses in his/her discipline and to integrate authentic research into courses. The successful candidate will be committed to teaching in a primarily undergraduate institution and demonstrate potential for excellence in teaching, advising, and research. Opportunities exist for optional summer employment through teaching, research grants, internship supervision, and other funding sources. Learn more and apply here.

The Department of Biology at University of Wisconsin – River Falls seeks a biologist with a background in genetics to support our Biological Sciences program including Biomedical and Health Science, Ecology & Organismal Biology, and General Biology curricula. Teaching responsibilities will include lecture and laboratory courses in Genetics, Epigenetics, Molecular Biology, and General Biology. Additional courses could include existing courses such as Cellular and Molecular Biology or Fundamentals of Biological Evolution, or the successful candidate may have opportunities to develop additional upper-level courses in subjects such as genomics/bioinformatics or others according to his/her expertise and will be encouraged to integrate inquiry/research into courses. The successful candidate will be committed to teaching in a primarily undergraduate institution and demonstrate potential for excellence in teaching, advising, and research. Opportunities for optional summer employment through teaching, research grants, and other funding sources may be available. Learn more and apply here.

This is a temporary or an on-call position. Provides professional support. Responsibilities may include general business, science, medical, agricultural or other professional support functions.

Unit Position Summary:

• Investigate plant gene expression regulation 
• Order supplies, assist in general lab organization, prepare media and solutions, perform experiments following lab protocols, document the results
• Develop research maturity and independence while actively collaborating and communicating with other members of the lab
• Participate in lab meetings and other lab activities

Learn more about this MSU Careers posting here.

 

Ellison, E. L., Zhou, P., Chu, Y. H., Hermanson, P., Gomez-Cano, L., Myers, Z. A., Abnave, A., Gray, J., Hirsch, C. N., Grotewold, E., & Springer, N. M. (2025). Transcriptome profiling of maize transcription factor mutants to probe gene regulatory network predictions. G3 (Bethesda, Md.), 15(1), jkae274. https://doi.org/10.1093/g3journal/jkae274

Hawkins, C., Xue, B., Yasmin, F., Wyatt, G., Zerbe, P., & Rhee, S. Y. (2025). Plant Metabolic Network 16: expansion of underrepresented plant groups and experimentally supported enzyme data. Nucleic acids research, 53(D1), D1606–D1613. https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkae991

Won, T. H., Arifuzzaman, M., Parkhurst, C. N., Miranda, I. C., Zhang, B., Hu, E., Kashyap, S., Letourneau, J., Jin, W. B., Fu, Y., Guzior, D. V., JRI Live Cell Bank, Quinn, R. A., Guo, C. J., David, L. A., Artis, D., & Schroeder, F. C. (2025). Host metabolism balances microbial regulation of bile acid signalling. Nature, 10.1038/s41586-024-08379-9. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-08379-9

Ying S. (2025). Get the Ball Rolling: Update and Perspective on the Role of Chloroplast Plastoglobule-associated Protein under Abiotic Stress. Journal of experimental botany, eraf011. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/eraf011

 

To provide feedback or submit content, please email bmb.web@msu.edu. Don't forget to follow us on social media!

College of Natural Science | BMB Weekly | Vol. 58, No.3