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September 11, 2014 - Gender, War, and Humanitarian Intervention in the 21st Century
History, for faculty, 2014/08/27 09:47:56
The workshop centers on ideologies and practices of humanitarianism as they emerged and developed in the wake of nineteenth and twentieth-century nationalism and the wars it spawned. It will address the specific nature of twentieth-century humanitarianism in relation to both the character of war in this period and the rise of internationalist politics at elite and grassroots levels. It will explore how gender both shaped and was shaped by humanitarian politics, for example in relation to the influence of (trans)national feminist movements on the establishment of human rights and norms. It will also examine redefinitions of masculinity and femininity in international efforts to secure peace, and critically assess the use and abuse of gendered humanitarian ideals in legitimizing war and international military interventions. No registration necessary. For more information see: gwc.web.unc.edu and the below program overview. [PDF]
Erin McKenney Receives Award
Biology, 2014/08/29 14:42:22
The Comparative Nutrition Society gave the Best Oral Presentation Award to Erin McKenney of the Yoder lab. Well done, Erin! [more]
Lutzoni Lab Stands Out at International Mycological Congress
Biology, 2014/08/22 10:43:19
Two members of the Lutzoni Lab were honored at the quadrennial 10th International Mycological Congress, held August 3 to 8 in Bangkok, Thailand. Grad student Ko-Hsuan Chen received a best poster award. Alumna Tami McDonald received the Mason Hale Award from the International Association for Lichenology for the best Ph.D. thesis in lichenology completed in the past 2 years. Congratulations to Koko and Tami!
NIHCD Awards Funds to Baugh Lab
Biology, 2014/08/08 11:15:55
Prof. Ryan Baugh's Lab has received funding from the National Institute of Child Health and Development for exploratory research. The Baugh Lab will develop a forward population genetics approach in the nematode C. elegans for genome-wide identification of genes that influence life-history traits such as growth, reproduction and starvation survival. Congratulations! [more]
Connecting Undergraduates to Biology Research
Biology, 2014/08/22 10:46:14
CUBR is launched! The web-based program allows Biology researchers to post openings for undergraduates interested in research. These can be paid or unpaid, eligible for work-study, suitable for independent thesis research, etc. Undergraduates can enter their particulars and apply for three positions per semester in their areas of interest. Thanks to Sheila Patek for suggesting and creating this new program! Here's to rewarding research experiences all around. [more]
Undergrad Visualizes Wound Healing in Kiehart Lab
Biology, 2014/07/30 14:52:10
Junior Roger Zou received a Dean's Summer Fellowship to develop computational methods that track cells of fruit fly embryos as they develop and heal. "My favorite thing about my research is the ability to learn new things independently," Zou said. Prof. Kiehart "is very good at leading me in the right direction but allowing me to be very independent . . . I’ve been able to learn a lot more and learn from my mistakes." Sounds fruitful for everyone! [more]
Pryer Receives Durham Grit Award!
Biology, 2014/08/22 10:51:01
Kathleen Pryer has received the Durham Grit Award from the Herald-Sun "for her creativity and persistence" in crowd-sourcing research funding. Pryer has sought support for sequencing the genome of Azolla, a fern with great potential for cleaner and cheaper agriculture. Congratulations, Kathleen, and stick to it! [more]
Vilgalys Named Distinguished Mycologist
Biology, 2014/07/17 11:04:58
The Mycological Society of America has given its Distinguished Mycologist Award to Prof. Rytas Vilgalys. This is one of the highest awards bestowed by the MSA and marks a distinguished career. Nominees are evaluated on the quality, originality, and quantity of their published research, and on to the field of mycology. Prof. Vilgalys, whose netid is fungi, shares the award with Charles W. Bacon. [more]
Lomax Boyd Featured in Duke Today
Biology, 2014/07/11 17:25:48
Genetics and Genomics grad student Lomax Boyd was featured in an article published on July 1 about the Center for Documentary Studies. Lomax will receive a Certificate in Documentary Arts from the Center when he graduates later this year. We'll be expecting some exciting science documentaries, Lomax! [more]
Sherwood, Baugh Labs Publish in PLoS Genetics
Biology, 2014/07/08 12:42:40
The Sherwood lab in collaboration with the Baugh group has just published a paper in PLoS Genetics, where they have discovered new developmental checkpoints in C. elegans that reversibly arrest development at specific developmental stages in response to starvation conditions. These checkpoints have the effect of freezing not only development, but slowing the aging process. This work may also have implications in how tumor cells lie dormant and then reawaken during cancer progression. Way to make a sPLoSh! [more, alt.]
Sophomore is a "Student Creating Knowledge"
Biology, 2014/07/03 13:27:07
A new series for Duke Today features sophomore Mitchell Lee, a Biology major who is doing research in Prof. Nick Buchler's lab. Lee is studying artificial gene circuits that can switch genes on and off. You can read more about his work and his experience in a Biology lab at the link! [more]
Biomajor Wins Undergrad Poster Award
Biology, 2014/07/03 13:13:40
Shane Daly, a 2014 graduate, received the award for the best undergraduate poster presentation from the American Association of Anatomists. He worked with Prof. Andrea Taylor in the Department of Physical Therapy, and plans to attend medical school. [more]
Sherwood Lab Paper in Nature Communications
Biology, 2014/06/19 15:15:01
The paper (June 13, 2014 issue) describes a new mechanism for basement membrane opening that has been maintained in nematodes for ~350 million years of evolution. Similar mechanisms may play a role in development and cancer, where basement membrane gaps allow the movement and exchange of cells between tissues. Great work by the Sherwood group! [more]
Nowicki Lab Publishes in PLoS One
Biology, 2014/06/16 16:55:03
Rindy Anderson and Casey Klofstad teamed up with two researchers from the Fuqua School to test how a trendy vocal pattern affects job prospects. "Vocal Fry May Undermine the Success of Young Women in the Labor Market" appeared May 28th and has been viewed over 50,000 times. The study has been featured in The Atlantic, The Washington Post, The Telegraph (UK), and on CBS News, as well as a number of blogs. [more]
Honors Student Corley Gibbs Featured by Huff Post
Biology, 2014/06/11 11:23:12
Kathleen Donohue's honors student, Corley Gibbs, has published an article in the Huffington Post. "The Role of Duplicated Genes as Plants Respond to Environment" briefly describes Corley's project and his future plans, and credits Kathleen Donohue and the Donohue Lab with making his research possible. Congratulations to Corley Gibbs and Prof. Donohue for putting Duke Biology in the headlines! [more]
Grad Student Abbe Labella Dives Deep
Biology, 2014/06/05 13:07:21
Abbe LaBella (Cunningham Lab) has been visiting the sea floor courtesy of Alvin, the famous and newly refurbished deep sea submersible from Woods Hole. Alvin is helping Abbe collect mussels, tubeworms and clams from deep sea cold sinks. She and the Cunningham group will study the animals' genetics to learn how they migrate from one cold patch to another. You can read about her adventures at her blog! Just click on the link. [more]
Dave Steinberg and Leal Group Publish in PNAS
Biology, 2014/06/04 15:06:53
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (May 19, 2014) has published grad student Dave Steinberg's paper, "Predation-associated modulation of movement-based signals by a Bahamian lizard." The paper demonstrates signal modulation in response to predation pressure. From the Leal Lab website: "In the case of this study, we had to endure tropical storms, the scorching sun, poisonwood, millions of sand-flies, and hundreds of horse-flies, in order to be prepared for the precise moment when a male Anolis sagrei would display." Congrats to Dave for enduring all and bringing home the prize! [more]
Update on Azolla: Crowdfund Kathleen Pryer's Research!
Biology, 2014/06/02 14:41:26
Kathleen Pryer and her lab group have posted their Azolla genome project on the "Experiment.com" website for crowd-funding! You can participate by going to the website and searching for Azolla, or clicking on "read more" at the end of this post. Come one come all! [more]
Pryer Promotes Study of Azolla Fern to the Public
Biology, 2014/05/30 17:01:23
The Globe and Mail newspaper of Toronto, Ontario, has published Prof. Kathleen Pryer's Op-Ed extolling the nitrogen-fixing virtue of the "lowly fern" azolla. It offers enormous potential for replacing the destructive and expensive use of industrial fertilizers. [more]
Nowicki and Reynolds to lead new HHMI education grant
Biology, 2014/05/29 13:23:34
Biology Profs. Steve Nowicki and Julie Reynolds are the PI's on a $1.5 million grant from Howard Hughes Medical Institute to improve undergraduate science education. The award will fund work on "Student Learning and Faculty Development Communities," which aims to improve student engagement, faculty mentoring skills, and interaction between students and faculty. [more]
ASPB Recognizes Jim Siedow
Biology, 2014/05/27 12:13:08
The American Society for Plant Biologists has granted its oldest award, the Charles Reid Barnes Lifetime Membership Award, to Prof. Jim Siedow. The award is given "for both his stellar research in plant biochemistry, and his service to the plant biology community." Siedow's research "helped found the field of mitochondrial bioenergetics", and he served as the ASPB's President in 1994-1995. Congratulations, Jim! [more]
Yoder to be Next President of Society of Systematic Biologists
Biology, 2014/05/20 11:45:16
Prof. Anne Yoder has been chosen President of the Society of Systematic Biologists for a 3-year term beginning in 2015. The Society was founded in 1950 and publishes the journal Systematic Biology. Congratulations, Anne! [more]
Biology Faculty Honored with Named Chairs
Biology, 2014/05/05 10:50:53
Two Biology professors have been awarded distinguished chairs, the highest honor given to faculty. Prof. Fred Nijhout has been named the John Franklin Crowell Professor of Biology, and Prof. Tom Mitchell-Olds has been named the Newman Ivey White Professor of Biology. Well done (and richly deserved)!
AAAS Elects Susan Alberts!
Biology, 2014/04/23 11:35:03
Prof. Susan Alberts has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. The Academy was founded in 1790 and has about 4600 Fellows and 600 foreign honorary members. The 2014 class of Fellows honors 204 distinguished scholars, writers, artists, civic leaders and philanthropists. Congratulations, Susan! [more]
Huff Post Features Broverman's WISER Project
Biology, 2014/04/18 10:52:47
This week the Huffington Post featured an article about the WISER girls' education project in Kenya founded by Sherryl Broverman. Written by Duke student Sofia Stafford, the article describes WISER's success in moving girls in Muhuru Bay through primary and secondary education. In the past 30 years only one girl from the community has gone to university; this year all 28 WISER graduates will attend! Well-deserved recognition for Biology's own Prof. Broverman. [more]
Kier to Deliver Schmidt-Nielsen Lecture Today
Biology, 2014/04/17 12:02:59
The Schmidt-Nielsen Memorial Seminar takes place today at 6:30 pm in Room 2231 French Family Science Center. William Kier, Professor of Biology at UNC-Chapel Hill, will speak on "How Squid Grow Fast Muscle." The event honors former Prof. Kurt Schmidt-Nielsen, who taught animal physiology at Duke for many years. Sponsored by the BioMajors Union and the Department of Biology.
Dan Skelly gets NRSA Postdoc Fellowship
Biology, 2014/04/15 17:19:47
The title says it all. The National Institutes of Health have awarded an NRSA postdoctoral fellowship to Dan Skelly, a postdoc in the Magwene Lab. The title of Dan's project is "Functional variation in a conserved pathway influencing cellular differentiation." Congratulations!
Dave Sherwood Lab Publishes in JCB
Biology, 2014/04/10 16:51:08
Laura Kelley and Elliott Hagedorn have published a paper in the March 31 issue of the Journal of Cell Biology. Their study reveals how the actin regulatory protein cofilin coordinates dynamic F-actin turnover and membrane delivery to make functional invadopodia--specialized subcellular "drill bits" used by invasive cells to penetrate other tissues. As an added feature, this research is featured in a JCB "biobytes" podcast (March 31 edition)! Congrats to all involved. [more]
Biograds Win NSF Pre-Docs!
Biology, 2014/04/08 11:15:14
Biology graduate students Aspen Reese (Wright lab), Peter Tonner (Schmid lab), and Ariana Eily (Haase lab) have been awarded NSF pre-doctoral fellowships. The fellowship provides 3 years of full support, including a stipend, institutional allowance and [drumroll, please] access to XSEDE supercomputing resources. Congratulations Aspen, Peter and Ariana! [more]
Koelle and Rasmussen Publish Nature: News and Views
Biology, 2014/03/25 17:27:33
Grad Student David Rasmussen and Prof. Katia Koelle published a short review in the March 6 issue of Nature. It addresses a paper in the same issue which describes a model for predicting the mutation of the flu virus (Nature 507:57-61). [more]
Stacy Scholle Receives Honorable Mention
Biology, 2014/03/25 17:10:27
Graduate student Stacy Scholle received one of three Honorable Mentions awarded by The American Naturalist for the 2013 Student Paper of the Year. The honorable mention was for her 2013 paper entitled "Viral substitution rate variation can arise from the interplay between within-host and epidemiological dynamics." Her coauthors were Rolf Ypma, Alun Lloyd, Katia Koelle. [more]
Laurie Stevison Wins John Maynard Smith Prize!
Biology, 2014/03/20 13:05:43
Laurie Stevison, a 2007 graduate of the Noor Lab, has won the John Maynard Smith Prize from the European Society for Evolutionary Biology. The prize, which includes a monetary award and a 3-month fellowship at the Institute of Advanced Study in Berlin, is given annually to an outstanding young evolutionary biologist. Congratulations to Laurie! [more]
Carrie Wessinger wins prestigious fellowship.
Biology, 2014/03/13 16:02:16
Recent Rausher lab graduate Carrie Wessinger has been awarded a Ruth Kirchstein National Research Service fellowship by the NIH. Following up on her doctoral research on the genetics of parallel evolution of flower color in hummingbird-pollinated Penstemon, she will be exploring the genetic basis of floral pollinator syndrome evolution in the laboratory of Lena Hileman at the University of Kansas. Congratulations, Carrie!
Ryan Baugh Paper Featured by Cell
Biology, 2014/02/04 12:36:24
Cell features Ryan Baugh et al.'s paper "Pol II Docking and Pausing at Growth and Stress Genes in C. elegans" (10.1016/j.celrep.2014.01.008) with a podcast interview and blog mention! Baugh and colleagues show that RNA polymerase II pauses and backtracks during early elongation in C. elegans. Check it out at the link! [more]
Congratulations to Irene Liu!
Biology, 2014/02/04 11:49:42
Irene Liu,a graduate student in the Nowicki Lab, has received the Dean's Award for Excellence in Mentoring. This award is given annually to two or three graduate students who have been nominated from across the whole university. The award includes a $2000 prize. Great work, Irene! [more]
Volkan Lab Publishes in Current Biology
Biology, 2014/01/22 17:15:02
The Volkan Lab has published "Combinatorial Rules of Precursor Specification Underlying Olfactory Neuron Diversity" in the Dec. 16 issue of Current Biology. The paper describes how transcription factors combine to create a diversity of olfactory receptors. Watch a video of cells turning into a receptor at the link! [more]
Five Biograds win Sigma Xi Grants!
Biology, 2014/01/09 12:08:26
Laura Bagge, Eleanor Caves, Brenna Forester (SoE), Katie Thomas, and T. Viehman (DUML)have been awarded Sigma Xi Grants-in-Aid of Research. The program receives approximately 2,000 applications per year and awards grants of up to $1,000 to students from all areas of the sciences and engineering. [more]
Erin McKenney to Attend Global Young Scientists Summit
Biology, 2014/01/09 11:55:04
Grad student Erin McKenney will attend the Global Young Scientists Summit in Singapore from Jan. 19 to 25. The theme of the meeting is "Advancing Science, Creating Technologies for a Better World." [more]