Moore Foundation: Request for Expressions of Interest: Increasing the Potential of Marine Microeukaryotes as Experimental Model Systems through the Development of Genetic Tools

Got this from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and they said I could post it here.

Request for Expressions of Interest: Increasing the Potential of Marine Microeukaryotes as Experimental Model Systems through the Development of Genetic Tools

Marine Microbiology Initiative Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation November 21, 2014

The Marine Microbiology Initiative (MMI) at the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation aims to enable scientists to uncover the principles that govern the interactions among microbes and that influence nutrient flow in the marine environment. MMI is targeting closing gaps in and supporting the advancement of experimental model systems in microbial oceanography to enable new ways to uncover fundamental biological mechanisms.

We are soliciting expressions of interest (EOIs) for early-stage research projects to develop methods to genetically manipulate marine microeukaryotes as a first step in breaking current bottlenecks in the advancement of experimental model systems. MMI has two primary foci for this expression of interest:

1. Development of genetic tools for diatoms. Diatoms are key players in the world’s oceans, generating ~20% of the world’s organic carbon, and a strong community of researchers is in place suggesting broad use of successfully developed methods. We are specifically interested in projects to develop reverse and/or forward genetics.
   
2. Screening laboratory-scale culture collections for transformable marine microeukaryotes.
   

MMI will also consider projects to develop genetic tools and methods with other microeukaryotes that show promise for expanding the way the field can test hypotheses. If your idea does not fit category 1 or 2 above, please contact us prior to submitting your EOI.

MMI encourages EOIs from “inter-organismal” teams of researchers – i.e., complementary groups that have experience in a well-established model system and with a microeukaryote that is not currently genetically tractable – whose collaborative effort will bring innovative approaches to the field.

MMI invites you to send an expression of interest via email that briefly outlines a research project (one paragraph or less), using the following template:

1. The lead researcher’s name, institution, and expertise.
2. Indication of focus on genetic tools for diatoms (category 1 above) or laboratory culture screening for transformability (category 2 above).
3. For category 1, the name of the organism(s); or, for category 2, the taxonomic group(s) to be screened. 
4. A methodological or technical challenge that is hindering the development of a genetically manipulable marine microeukaryotic system that is ripe for solving and how you would address this challenge (3-5 sentences).
5. The research team that would tackle this challenge, and why each team member’s expertise is relevant (one sentence per team member; please include institutional affiliations).

The opportunities that best align with MMI’s strategies and goals will be invited to submit proposals. MMI has allocated $7–10M to support this effort and anticipates making multiple, 2–3 year awards beginning in mid- 2015.

Please submit your EOI by Tuesday January 6, 2015 to Samantha Forde at samantha.forde@moore.org.

Post-doc w/ me, Jessica Green, Jay Stachowicz, and Jenna Lang on seagrass microbiomes

Postdoctoral Position in Microbial Ecology and Evolution

Jessica Green at the University of Oregon Green (http://pages.uoregon.edu/green/) is currently seeking a postdoctoral researcher to explore fundamental questions in microbial ecology and evolution. Applicants should have a PhD in a biological, computational, mathematical, or statistical field with extensive training using theory and/or modeling to understand the ecology and evolution of complex biological communities, and strong writing skills. Experience developing and applying quantitative phylogenetic ecological methods is highly desirable, but not explicitly required for candidates who have otherwise demonstrated strong quantitative skills.

The successful candidate will play a key role in the Seagrass Microbiome Project (http://seagrassmicrobiome.org) in collaboration among Jonathan Eisen https://phylogenomics.wordpress.com), Jay Stachowicz http://www-eve.ucdavis.edu/stachowicz/stachowicz.shtml, and Jenna Lang (http://jennomics.com/) at the University of California, Davis. The Seagrass Microbiome Project aims to integrate the long interest in seagrass ecology and ecosystem science with more recent work on microbiomes to produce a deeper, more mechanistic understanding of the ecology and evolution of seagrasses and the ecosystems on which they depend. Our studies of the community of microorganisms that live in and on seagrasses – the seagrass “microbiome” – will contribute to a broader understanding of host-microbe systems biology, and will benefit from ongoing University of Oregon research programs including the Microbial Ecology and Theory of Animals Center for Systems Biology (http://meta.uoregon.edu/) and the Biology and Built Environment Center (http://biobe.uoregon.edu/).

The position is available for 1 year with the possibility for renewal depending on performance. The start date is flexible. Please email questions regarding the position to Jessica Green (jlgreen).

To apply

A complete application will consist of the following materials:

(1) a brief cover letter explaining your background and career interests

(2) CV (including publications)

(3) names and contact information for three references

Submit materials to ie2jobs. Subject: Posting 14431

To ensure consideration, please submit applications by November 1, 2014, but the position will remain open until filled.

Women and minorities encouraged to apply. We invite applications from qualified candidates who share our commitment to diversity.

The University of Oregon is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the ADA. The University encourages all qualified individuals to apply, and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status, including veteran and disability status.

Repeated, extremely biased ratio of M:F at meetings from SFB 680 "Evolutionary Innovations" group #YAMMM

Well, this is disappointing, to say the least - there is a conference coming up in July 2015 on "Forecasting Evolution":  SFB 680 | Molecular Basis of Evolutionary Innovations at the Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon.

Here is the listed lineup of invited speakers:

1. Andersson (Uppsala University), (NOTE I AM ASSUMING THIS IS DAN ANDERSSON)
2. Trevor Bedford (Hutchinson Cancer Research Center), 
3. Jesse Bloom (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center), 
4. Arup Chakraborty (MIT)
5. Michael Desai (Harvard University), 
6. Michael Doebeli (University of British Columbia), 
7. Marco Gerlinger (Institute of Cancer Research, London, 
8. Michael Hochberg (CRNS, Montpellier), 
9. Christopher Illingworth (Cambridge University), 
10. Roy Kishoni (Harvard University), 
11. Richard Lenski (Michigan State University), 
12. Stanislas Leibler (Rockefeller University), 
13. Marta Luksza (IAS Princeton), 
14. Luke Mahler (University of California, Davis), 
15. Leonid Mirny (MIT), 
16. Richard Neher (MPI Tuebingen), 
17. Julian Parkhill (Sanger Institute), 
18. Colin Russell (University of Cambridge), 
19. Sohrab Shah (University of British Columbia), 
20. Boris Shraiman (UCSB), 
21. Olivier Tenaillon (Inserm Paris).

For a whopping 20:1 ratio of men to women or 4.8% women. And this in a field that is just overflowing with excellent female researchers.

So I dug around a little bit.  Here is another meeting from the same group at the University of Cologne - a group known as SFB 680. SFB 680: Molecular Ecology and Evolution: Cologne Spring Meeting 2012.



Speakers:

1. Ian Thomas Baldwin, MPI Jena
2. Nitin Baliga, ISB Seattle 
3. Andrew Beckerman, University of Sheffield 
4. Joy Bergelson, University of Chicago
5. Michael Boots, University of Sheffield 
6. John Colbourne, Indiana University 
7. David Conway, LSHTM London
8. Santiago Elena, IBMCP Valencia
9. Duncan Greig, MPI Plön 
10. Bryan Grenfell, Princeton University 
11. Eddie Holmes, Pennsylvania State University 
12. Peter Keightley, University of Edinburgh
13. Britt Koskella, University of Oxford
14. Juliette de Meaux, University of Münster 
15. Thomas Mitchell-Olds, Duke University
16. Hélène Morlon, Ecole Polytechnique Paris 
17. Wayne Potts, University of Utah 
18. Michael Purugganan, New York University
19. Andrew Rambaut, University of Edinburgh 
20. Walter Salzburger, University of Basel 
21. Johanna Schmitt, Brown University
22. Ralf Sommer, MPI Tübingen
23. Miltos Tsiantis, University of Oxford 
24. Diethardt Tautz, MPI Plön 
25. Daniel Weinreich, Brown University

Session and Meeting Chairs:

1. Michael Lassig
2. Maarten Koornneef
3. Eric von Elert
4. Thomas Wiehe
5. Jonathan Howard

That would be 25:5 or 16.6% female.

And then there was this: Perspectives in Biophysics in October 2014. 

1. Konstantin Doubrovinski
2. Tobias Bollenbach
3. Stefano Pagliara
4. Damien Faivre
5. Ingmar Schön
6. Kurt Schmoller
7. Max Ulbrich
8. Florian Rehfeld
9. Steffen Sahl
10. Timo Betz
11. Alexandre Persat

And this Evolutionary Genomics 2011

1. Rubén Alcázar (MPI for Plant Breeding Research, Cologne)
2. John Baines (Christian-Albrechts-University, Kiel)
3. Thomas Bataillon (University of Aarhus)
4. Frank Chan (MPI for Evolutionary Biology, Plön)
5. George Coupland (MPI for Plant Breeding Research, Cologne)
6. Susanne Foitzik (Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz)
7. Isabel Gordo (Instituto Gulbenkian, Lisbon)
8. Oskar Hallatschek (MPI for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Göttingen
9. Jonathan Howard (University of Cologne)
10. JinYong Hu (MPI for Plant Breeding Research, Cologne)
11. Jeffrey Jensen (University of Massachusetts, Medical School, Worchester)
12. Michael Lässig (University of Cologne)
13. Dirk Metzler (Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich)
14. Ville Mustonen (Welcome Trust Sanger Institute)
15. John Parsch (Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich)
16. Frank Rosenzweig (University of Montana, Missoula)
17. Christian Schlötterer (University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna)
18. Shamil Sunyaev (Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School) 
19. Karl Schmid (University of Hohenheim)
20. Ana Sousa (Instituto Gulbenkian, Lisbon)
21. Diethard Tautz (MPI for Evolutionary Biology, Plön)
22. Xavier Vekemans (University of Lille)

Session and Meeting Chairs

• Wolfgang Stephan
• Michael Lässig
• Berenike Maier
• Wolfgang Stephan
• Peter Pfaffelhuber
• Juliette de Meaux

For a 19:3 ratio or 13.6 % women for the speakers and if you include session chairs it comes to 23:5 or 18 % female total.

And Evolutionary Innovations in 2010. 

Invited speakers:

1. R. Bundschuh (Ohio State University), 
2. C. Callan (Princeton University),
3. A. Clark (Cornell University), 
4. J. Colbourne (Indiana University),
5. E. Dekel (Weizmann Institute),
6. L. Hurst (University of Bath), 
7. S. Elena (Universidad Polytecnica de Valencia), 
8. E. Koonin (National Center for Biotechnology Information), 
9. M. Kreitman (University of Chicago),
10. S. Leibler (Rockefeller University, New York and Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton),
11. T. Lengauer (Max Planck Institute for Informatics), 
12. S. Maerkl (Ecole Polytechnique de Lausanne), 
13. C. Marx (Harvard University), 
14. L. Mirny (Massachusetts Intitute of Technology), 
15. V. Mustonen (Sanger Institute), 
16. C. Pal (Biological Research Center, Szeged),
17. D. Petrov (Stanford University), 
18. B. Shraiman (Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, Santa Barbara),
19. S. Sunyaev (Harvard University), 
20. D. Tautz (Max-Planck-Institute for Evolutionary Biology)

Plus session chairs 

1. Johannes Berg
2. Siegfried Roth
3. Wolfgang Werr
4. Martin Lercher

And addition speakers not listed on their invited speakers page:

1. Michael Lassig
2. Ruben Alcazar
3. Juliette de Meaux
4. Joachim Krug

For a whopping ratio of 27:1 or 3.6 %

The only meeting from them I could find with a decent / non massively skewed ratio was the following very small one: Evolution of Development

1. Cassandra Extavour
2. Angela Hay
3. Felicity Jones
4. Nicolas Gompe
5. Kristen Panfillio
6. Christiane Kiefer

This is a nice case.  But it really seems like an exception in a long list of meetings with a much smaller representation of female speakers than one would expect based on the researchers in the fields.   I think the SFB680 seriously need to consider what is causing these biases and they should do something about it.

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See this page for other posts of mine on this and related topics.

Way too many pictures of me and my dogs

Last month my sweet, sweet Gracie and Cooper turned nine whole years old, and we had a veritable little party for them, complete with a doggie cake, party hats, presents, and lots of pictures. I had been thinking a couple months ago about how incredibly special it would be to me to have professional photos that capture the bond I have with these dogs… they aren't getting younger, and all that. To some it may seem silly, but allow me to try and explain.

Gracie and Cooper have been in my life for nearly a decade now. I watched them, along with their full litter of nine pups, BE BORN, and named them, and took care of my little Gracie when she was sick and almost died of Parvovirus. The full story of these two is right over here, if you ever have a spare minute or two to read it. Long story short, it's practically a miracle how these babies are even together and in my life, and over the years, they have been with me through 5 homes, two boyfriends (one that became a husband), college, a career change, life changes, deaths in the family - you name it, we've been through it together.

I wasn't always as close to my dogs as I am now. I don't remember feeling the same way about them when they were younger as I do today. They used to be kind of terrible - destructive, badly behaved, and just not as bonded to me as they are now. Time and age does that to you, or at least you hope it will (soften your edges, calm you down some, strengthen your bonds with the people you love).  But today, and I don't think it's my imagination, but today we are as close as humans and animals can be. In tune with each other, and able to communicate actual love and companionship. These dogs, and interestingly, Cooper in particular (the black and white one), have the purest, most selfless souls. I really think he is the closest thing to an angel I've ever felt in my life. Maybe someone, somewhere, knew how much I would need his sweet little spirit.

Anyway, I could never really express how much I love my babies. I can't imagine my life without them one day… it's something that I shed tears over on a fairly regular basis. (As I wrote in another post, it's the cruelest joke of all that man's best friend doesn't live nearly as long as man.)  But these photos. These photos! They will live forever. I asked my dear friend Shalyn of Love, The Nelsons (amazing wedding photographer, y'all!!) if she would be so kind as to capture some sweet images for me, and she blew me away with a beautiful gallery that truly bottled up the love I feel for these little ones. I will cherish these forever.

Here's just a few of my favorites (OK, more than just a few)… thanks for stopping by. :)

Really cool: 3D printed microbes for the visually impaired

Image from Nanowerk story.

This is one of the most interesting things I have seen relating to microbiology recently:  3D printed giant germs help visually impaired see the world of microorganisms reported by Nanowork News on October 31.  This work has done by researchers from the BBSRC (the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council in the UK) who hosted an event called "Giant Germs" for the blind and visually impaired.  In discussing various microbes (alas, the story implies that all they discussed were pathogens), they had accompanying tactile sessions to feel the structures of the microbes.  Just a really brilliant, important idea.

Job Announcement: Moore Foundation Program Associate

This seems like a potentially interesting job.  I note - I love the Moore Foundation - and just about everything they are doing in science.  Below is the email I recieved from the Project Lead Jon Kaye:

We have opened a search for a Program Associate. Details at the link below and attached. Please share with Bachelor’s and Master’s level individuals who may be interested. http://www.moore.org/about/careers?gnk=job&gni=8a8725d0494f97e601495deb88ba30cb We will also be opening a search for a PhD-level Program Officer position soon—stay tuned for details.

Full text of the announcement is below:

Program Associate, Marine Microbiology Initiative   Marine Microbiology Initiative The Marine Microbiology Initiative (MMI) seeks to gain a comprehensive understanding of marine microbial communities, including their genetic diversity, composition and function; their ecological role in the oceans; and their contribution to ocean health and productivity.   More information about MMI can be found at: http://www.moore.org/programs/science/marine-microbiology-initiative   The Position The Program Associate will provide programmatic support to the Marine Microbiology Initiative. The primary responsibility is to ensure that the systems to manage grants and strategic workflows are implemented efficiently by the MMI team through effective coordination of team processes and activities.   Key Responsibilities Facilitate coordination of overall Initiative grantmaking processes and strategic planning efforts. Employ project and grant management tools to manage information on the grant pipeline, including grant requirements, preparing reporting templates for grantees and tracking payments. Support timely programmatic decisions through tracking and analyzing the Initiative budget allocation, including funding and grantmaking projections. Assist with analysis of current and prospective grantees’ legal and financial status. Analyze grantee financial reports. Develop, solicit and manage website content. Analyze and report on media, news outlets, and scientific journals and share relevant information with the team. Collect and organize scientific publications, including compiling citations using bibliographic software. Help organize and schedule conferences, workshops and meetings with members of the MMI community, including arranging travel (meals, lodging, etc.) for meeting participants as needed, managing event expenses and participant reimbursements, etc. Develop and give presentations for internal and external audiences regarding the Initiative’s activities. Apply knowledge of MMI and the Science Program when addressing inquiries from the MMI community. Actively participate in Science Program and Foundation meetings, trainings, and other activities. Communicate directly with grantees and prospective grantees regarding grantmaking procedures. Support team by helping manage review process for grant proposals, as needed. Coordinate MMI team activities, organize team meetings and calendars, manage documents, and carry out other administrative duties as requested. Maintain meeting agendas, create and distribute meeting notes and synthesis documents, maintain action items for the team.   Experience and Education The ideal candidate will have: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a relevant field. Demonstrated work experience in administration and/or project management. Interest in scientific research (such as biology, environmental microbiology, oceanography, ecology, earth sciences, chemistry, physics, etc.) demonstrated through work, extracurricular activities, and/or volunteer programs.   Competencies and Attributes The ideal candidate will also have: Strong attention to detail and organizational skills. Excellent project management and analytical skills. A strong team orientation, positive attitude, integrity, self-motivation, discipline, and reliability. Ability to work independently, self-manage priorities and goals for projects, meet deadlines, and multi-task while working well under pressure. Work proactively and take initiative while consulting with Program Director and Program Officers as appropriate. Ability to think critically and exercise judgment within defined procedures and practices to determine appropriate courses of action. Interest and ability to synthesize knowledge in a variety of scientific fields. Willingness to ask for help and identify appropriate resources to accomplish tasks, when necessary. Strong written, oral, graphic, and inter-personal communication skills (e.g. phone inquiries, webpages, PowerPoint presentations, correspondence, and research summaries). Proficiency with office productivity software (e.g. Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).   Desired Behavioral Characteristics The ideal candidate will also demonstrate the following behaviors, which are the hallmarks of our culture and characterize how we strive to do our work with each other and our partners:  Practice courageous conversations  Build trusted relationships  Move with speed  Build high-performing teams  Focus on what matters  Take smart risks  Plan outcomes, learn and adapt       Compensation and Benefits Compensation includes a competitive base salary and an excellent package of health, retirement savings and other benefits.   Application Process Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.  Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the ordinance.   The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. All correspondence will remain confidential.

Crosspost from #microBEnet: More scary than Halloween: this month in germophobia microbophobia

Crossposting this from the microBEnet blog where I originally posted it 10/31/14:

It seems that any time a holiday comes around in the US, the press starts to ramp up the writing of stories about evil microbes that are lurking all around us. And Halloween appears to be no exception. I am now planning on referring to this attitude as "microbophobia" rather than "germophobia" because to some "germ" implies pathogen and many of these stories fan the flames of fear about any kind of microbe not just pathogens. I note - the term microbophobia comes from some searches I did recently of Google books.

I was thinking of writing up yet another post trying to counter this excessive microbophobia but decided instead to just provide a collection of links to stories over the last month that have a distinctive microbophobia flavor.  Mind you - there are real reasons to be afraid of some of the microbes circulating around these days.  But the links below seem to me to be serious overkill.

• KFOX 10/31/14: Special Assignment: How dirty is your cellphone?
• KENS 10/31/14: The most germ-laden thing in your home
• KFVS 10/30/14: Dirty candy: Trick-or-treating for candy or germs?
• KCCI Des Moines 10/30/14 Grinnell Regional Medical Center is using a robot to help fight infectious diseases like Ebola.
• Headlines and Global News 10/29/14: Germ-Free Homes: It's Possible, Even in the Wintertime 
• Fox17 10/29/14 What part of your home is crawling with the most germs? 
• Your Houston News 10/29/14: HAPPY HANDYMAN: Killing germs, bacteria much faster with Quick Clean Disinfectant
• Fox2Now 10/28/14: Blues bacterial infections, Halloween germs
• Cars.Com 10/28/14: With Flu Season Nearing Keep Germs at Bay in Car
• The Daily Telegraph: 10/28/14 Our filthy hospitals
• Bellingham Herald 10/27/14 Q&A: There are germs among us, and you can't be too safe 
• Dothan Eagle 10/26/114 Scrubs will combat spread of germs
• Lifehacker 10/25/14: The Most Germ-Infested Item in the Office Might Be the Coffee Pot 
• Shape Magazine 10/24/14: Confessions of A Germophobe
• Huffington Post: 10/17/14: This Terrifying Video Shows How Quickly Toilet Germs Spread To Your Mouth
• Daily Mail 10/14/14:  How to Stay as Germ Free as Possible in the Toilets
• KLTV 10/10/14: Halloween Costume Shopping Brings Concern for Germs
• PSFK: Protective Transit Jacket for Germ-Free Commuting
• Wall Street Journal 10/1/14 Germs at the Office Are Often Found on Keyboards and at Coffee Stations

These are but a few of the many examples of microbophobia being pushed by the press. Again, there are certainly things to worry about in terms of pathogens in our immediate environment.  Flu season is coming.  Enterovirus might be on the upswing.  Antibiotic resistance is a massive and troubling problem.  And so on.  But please let us not go completely over the top because the more we promote the idea that we should be killing all microbes, the more trouble we are likely to cause, rather than prevent.