newsletter - American Society for Cell Biology

Transcription

newsletter - American Society for Cell Biology
ASCB
MARCH
2014
NEWSLETTER
VOLUME
The ASCB in 2018
Page 3
Annual Meeting
Highlights
37,
10
Young French Cell Biologists 11
Reproducibility, continued on p.17
MBoC Call for Papers
in Quantitative
Biology
Page 36
Inside
COMPASS Outreach Awards
2
Executive Director’s Column
3
DORA Panel Discussion
9
BSCB Young Cell Biologist
Local Meeting Highlights
12
Upcoming Local Meetings
13
WICB Column
14
Browse MBoC Features
16
Public Policy Briefing
17
International Affairs
19
iBiology Update
21
LSE Table of Contents
23
Seen on the Cell
25
Highlights from MBoC
26
2014 Call for Nominations
27
Grants & Opportunities
28
Dicty Race
28
Meetings Calendar
29
Members in the News
29
New Members
30
Member Gifts 33
Dear Labby
34
2
ASCB Task Force to Explore
Reproducibility of Scientific Data
The apparent irreproducibility of some published scientific
results is an issue of growing concern to industry and to the
scientific community. It has begun to receive attention in the
news media as well, and if one believes the popular press as
much as 80% of scientific research cannot be reproduced. Is
that really true? Does that apply to all research or just some
areas? These are just two of the questions a task force of the
ASCB’s Public Policy Committee (PPC) will attempt to answer
as it conducts an in-depth analysis of the issue.
If reports of widespread difficulty in reproducing published
research results are true, it is a problem that could threaten
the scientific enterprise and undermine the authority of the
scientific community. In his charge to the task force, ASCB
Executive Director Stefano Bertuzzi listed four potential causes
for difficulties in reproducing results:
n A hyper-competitive culture that overemphasizes results
n A bias in favor of positive results
Page 9
NUMBER
Mark Winey
Nominate a Colleague for an ASCB Award! Deadline April 1.
Details on Page 27.
New ASCB Program Promotes Grant
Funding Success of Junior Faculty
at Minority-Serving Institutions
MAC Visiting Professorship Program Continues
The ASCB Minorities Affairs Committee (MAC) is pleased to accept applications for its new
Faculty Research and Education Development (FRED) Program, which offers mentoring to help
junior faculty at minority-serving institutions (MSIs) achieve greater grant funding success.
Mentorship has long been recognized as contributing to the success of young faculty, but
appropriate mentors are not always available in schools that are not research intensive. To address
this issue, the FRED Program, directed by Michael J. Leibowitz of the University of California,
Davis, has been developed by the MAC with funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
This program will match young faculty, primarily from MSIs, with funded mentors in related
research fields at research-intensive universities for a year-long structured mentorship program. The
program will focus on preparation of a national research grant application by the junior faculty
member. Mentors may be nominated by the junior faculty or selected from a pool of volunteers.
MAC, continued on p.8
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S Column
c mpass
ASCB Committee for Postdocs and Students
announces
Outreach Awards
These awards, of up to $1,000, will help ASCB members engage
with local schools, science fairs, and society.
Credit: Ohi labs at Vanderbilt
The first application deadline is April 15, 2014
Please visit
http://www.ascb.org/compass-awards/compass-outreach-awards
The ASCB in 2018: Council Develops
a Strategic Vision
by Stefano Bertuzzi
It’s a funny term, but being an ex officio member
of the ASCB Council and Executive Committee
is one of the most exciting
aspects of my job as ASCB
Executive Director. I get to
work with a phenomenal group
of scientific leaders who put
service to our community very
high on their very long to-do
lists. Councilors and Executive
Committee members put their
valuable time where their hearts
are, promoting and protecting
cell biology, science advocacy,
Stefano Bertuzzi
training, and education.
I am particularly lucky this year to be
working closely with our President, Jennifer
Lippincott-Schwartz. It is a great asset to have a
President whose lab is within walking distance
of the ASCB National Office in Bethesda!
Jennifer and I take full advantage of this unique
opportunity by often having lunch together at
a neighborhood Italian deli. If your travels and
your calendar take you through Bethesda, please
check ahead and see if you can join us for lunch.
It would be on us, as we would love to loop you
into our conversation. We normally have fun!
My role as ASCB Executive Director relies
on an incredible and dedicated professional
staff, without whom nothing at ASCB would
happen. ASCB staff is behind our website, our
daily coverage on the ASCB Post, our effective
advocacy in Washington, our professional
development opportunities, our publishing
operation, and the unbelievably complex
logistics of the ASCB Annual Meeting. It’s really
the ASCB staff who keep up our reputation as
the “overachiever” among scientific societies, as
Past-President Don Cleveland put it.
Tending a Complex Machine
A complex machine like ASCB requires strong
leadership and governance to ensure that it
remains effective, grows, and adapts strategically
to better serve the scientific community.
MARCH 2014 ASCB NEWSLETTER
The American Society
for Cell Biology
8120 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 750
Bethesda, MD 20814-2762, USA
Tel: 301-347-9300
Fax: 301-347-9310
ascbinfo@ascb.org, www.ascb.org
Stefano Bertuzzi
Executive Director
Officers
Leadership and governance are in fact the two
primary mandates of the ASCB Council. The
December 2013 Council meeting at
the Annual Meeting in New Orleans
provides good examples of how
Council fulfills those obligations.
Cleveland, who was at his last
Council meeting as 2013 ASCB
President, summarized the many
activities and significant outcomes
achieved during his presidency.
Two key 2013 objectives had
been to revamp ASCB electronic
communication and to refocus
on creating value for young
investigators. On both fronts, we had
resounding success.
ASCB launched a new website and a
new social media campaign. The flagship of
that effort was the new ASCB Post, a news
aggregator and original content source for
information relevant to our science. Last month,
the ASCB Post along with its blogs and the
hugely popular COMPASS (Committee for
Postdocs and Students) page averaged 3,347
hits per week. In today’s online “click wars,”
that’s an amazing figure for a news site about
cell biology. We’re still hard at work on the
rest of the ASCB website, trying to finalize
new pages for ASCB committees based on
direct input from the committees themselves.
Council strongly encouraged each committee to
designate a volunteer responsible for electronic
communications to look after the committee
page with help from the staff liaison.
The ASCB website and the new electronic
platforms that it hosts are far from complete.
Indeed one of the paradigms of the online
communications revolution is an old one
from biology—change over time through
natural selection, or in this case, through
ASCB member–responsive selection. A central
challenge remains—attracting more traffic to
the website. Historically—and this holds true
for most professional societies—the Society’s
Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz
President
Shirley Tilghman
President-Elect
Don W. Cleveland
Past President
Thoru Pederson
Treasurer
Kathleen J. Green Secretary
Council
Sue Biggins
A. Malcolm Campbell
Martin Chalfie
Benjamin S. Glick
Daniel Kiehart
Ruth Lehmann
Ian Macara
Laura M. Machesky
Tom Misteli
Jodi Nunnari
Mark Peifer
Claire Walczak
The ASCB Newsletter
is published 11 times per year
by The American Society
for Cell Biology.
W. Mark LeaderEditor
Johnny Chang
Production Manager
Kevin Wilson Public Policy Director
John Fleischman Senior Science Writer
Christina Szalinski
Science Writer
Thea Clarke Director, Communications
and Education
Advertising
The deadline for advertising is the first
day of the month preceding the cover
date. For information contact
sales@ascb.org.
ASCB Newsletter
ISSN 1060-8982
Volume 37, Number 2
March 2014
© 2014 The American Society for Cell
Biology. Copyright to the articles is held
by the author or, for staff-written articles,
by the ASCB. The content of the ASCB
Newsletter is available to the public under
an Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike
Unported Creative Commons License
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/
by-nc-sa/3.0).
Postmaster: Send change of address to:
ASCB Newsletter
The American Society for Cell Biology
8120 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 750
Bethesda, MD 20814-2762, USA
3
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S Column
Leadership and
governance are…
the two primary
mandates of the
ASCB Council.
website was used in a transactional way.
Members went to the site to register for the
Annual Meeting, to pay membership dues, or
to get information on other internally focused
activities. We now need to let people—ASCB
members, those who should be ASCB members,
and the public—know that www.ascb.org
has much more to offer these days in terms
of science news, information, and insight as
well as serving as a hub for a growing online
community of cell biologists.
The year 2013 was also a landmark for
young scientists in the ASCB community. We
established COMPASS, which quickly became a
force of nature within ASCB. The efforts of this
exceptionally talented new committee, under
the leadership of Ted Ho and Jessica Polka, have
truly made a difference in ASCB activities from
scientific communications, to new initiatives at
the Annual Meeting, to a revived ambassador
program for young scientists.
In the Front Ranks on Policy
Battles
On the policy front, ASCB in 2013 was in
the front ranks in many battles. We organized
several salons/dinners to bring science
journalists together with leading cell scientists
and science policy leaders in Washington
to increase awareness of how budgets and
breakthroughs are rocking research biology.
The gatherings have been very effective, often
resulting in pieces in major scientific and lay
publications. They have also put ASCB on the
public affairs map as a source of information
and an influence in the realm of federal policy
and science politics.
Another policy success came during the
federal government shutdown last October.
While the Washington establishment seemed
paralyzed, the ASCB called a press conference
at the National Press Club timed for the day
after the announcement in Stockholm that the
Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine had been
awarded for advances in cell biology. For the
“shutdown” press conference, Don Cleveland
flew in from San Diego, Carol Greider drove
down from Johns Hopkins, and Becky Burdine
took the train from Princeton to voice their
outrage at the shutdown and point out the
lasting damage that it was already causing to
research. On a day when the National Institutes
of Health (NIH) and the rest of the federal
4
government were shut down, ASCB was pointing
to the benefits of past investments in science,
as witnessed by the just-announced cell biology
Nobel Prizes. Meantime, labs were going into
mothballs and researchers were being sent home.
It was a powerful message and saw significant
press pickup. Our science colleagues in the federal
government were quietly grateful that ASCB was
speaking out for the research community.
Also on the science policy side of things,
ASCB led the pack in the insurrection against
the misuse of journal impact factors. ASCB
spearheaded the San Francisco Declaration on
Research Assessment, known by aficionados
as DORA. DORA caught fire and in less than
nine months acquired over 10,000 individual
signatures and more than 400 organizational
signatures. Council was indeed very proud to see
ASCB in such a strong leadership position, and it
particularly thanked Molecular Biology of the Cell
Editor-in-Chief David Drubin for his leadership.
ASCB also picked up the banner of scientific
leadership on stem cells with the release of a
very influential report by the ASCB Stem Cell
Study Task Force. The group proposed scientific
strategies to build on what has been learned
in stem cell work to date. Coordinated by the
indefatigable Larry Goldstein, the membership
of the task force was a virtual who’s who in stem
cell biology research. Their report was presented
in a public workshop in Bethesda, MD, that was
attended by several NIH program directors. As a
direct result, Goldstein was invited to give a rare
nonmember presentation to the Advisory Council
of the National Institute of General Medical
Sciences (NIGMS), the NIH institute that sees
the greatest opportunities in the areas singled out
by the ASCB task force.
Forming Strategic Partnerships
Participants at the December Council meeting
also heard how ASCB is forming new strategic
partnerships in the corporate world of
commercial bioscience. ASCB’s central mission
of serving basic science and the scientific
community at large remains, but the Society
needs to acknowledge that our discoveries in
basic bioscience have made possible a massive
expansion in bioscience entrepreneurship and the
creation of a whole new biotech industry.
The best example of such a partnership in
2013 was the ASCB/Beckman Coulter Kaluza
Prize for outstanding research work by a graduate
ASCB NEWSLETTER MARCH 2014
student. The first Kaluza Prize was awarded to
Tina Han of the University of California, San
Francisco, for work she did in the laboratory
of Steve McKnight at the University of
Texas Southwestern Medical Center. For
her extraordinary work on RNA granules,
Han received a $5,000 check from President
Cleveland and Mario Koksch, Vice President
and General Manager of Beckman Coulter’s
Flow Cytometry Business Unit.
A Vision for ASCB in 2018
A key component of the Council meeting was
the presentation of a five-year strategic vision for
ASCB. As Executive Director, this task fell on
my shoulders. Before I sketch out that vision,
let me say that Council was enthusiastic about
both the overall plan and the opportunity to
hold a high-level strategic discussion. I was
particularly pleased. The quintessential role
for Council is not to spend time in developing
a plan nor to implement it, but rather to give
New Committee Activities
thoughtful high-level input. Councilors’ central
At the December meeting,
job is to ask tough questions,
Council also heard from
kick the tires, prioritize options,
ASCB committee chairs,
and discard those options that are
[T]he Society
especially about their new
deemed nonessential. After such a
needs to
activities. On this front,
discussion, implementation will be
acknowledge that
the Education Committee
much more effective. Council asked
under the leadership of
for more such discussions in future
our discoveries in
Sue Wick proposed, and
meetings, and the ex officio member
basic bioscience
Council approved, a new
said he would be delighted to make
program that will allow ASCB
it happen.
have made
members who teach to visit
The proposed vision for ASCB
possible a
science classrooms where
in 2018 is articulated around four
new evidence-based teaching
massive expansion core elements:
approaches are being put
n The Society must truly become
in
bioscience
into action. The Women in
an expert on its members. It must
entrepreneurship
Cell Biology Committee,
know what its members need so
in close collaboration with
it can modularize its offerings to
and the creation
the International Affairs
them at the different stages of their
of a whole new
Committee, is planning a
careers, based not on title or age
session at the 2014 Annual
but rather on the needs of each
biotech industry.
Meeting on the role of
individual. In essence, the key
women in science around the
challenge for ASCB is to know
world. The Minorities Affairs
what members need and what they
Committee was proud to announce a new
cannot find elsewhere, and then, and only
National Science Foundation grant, under
then, to think of what ASCB can effectively
the primary direction of Mike Leibowitz and
do for them.
Don Cleveland, that focuses on mentoring
n The Society must ensure its financial vitality
junior faculty at minority-serving institutions
by identifying new sources of revenue.
to help increase their success in obtaining
Currently, the Society depends on three
grants (see p. 1). The Public Policy Committee
main, highly interdependent revenue (PPC) reported that it is tackling the scientific
streams —membership dues, Annual
workforce issues related to immigration
Meeting revenue, and publication income.
reform. PPC is also concerned that Congress
We envision an ASCB that diversifies
understand the importance of travel for
its revenue streams by partnering with
scientists to attend scientific conferences.
industry and other scientific societies and
In addition, PPC is forming a task force to
organizations in key initiatives that will allow
address the topic of data replication in science,
it to best serve its members and its mission
a thorny issue that has generated significant
(see point 1).
concern in the scientific community and in
n The Society must become truly international.
Congress (see p. 1).
The ASCB must establish a global footprint
and focus strategically on areas where cell
MARCH 2014 ASCB NEWSLETTER
5
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S Column
biology and basic science research are
growing and where new concentrations of
scientists can contribute to the vitality of
our organization.
n The Society has to build and retain a
world-class staff that can lead as well as
support the strategic vision and related
initiatives.
These four core elements can be supported
by five pillars that will translate the vision into
action:
n To develop a science think tank that will
become an epicenter of new thought
and policy for dealing with global issues
in science. This think tank will provide
insight, ideas, and implementation
pathways to lead our field and basic
bioscience forward.
n To increase the value proposition for
ASCB regular members. Currently, the
only concrete benefits that PIs and other
senior scientists draw from ASCB are
discounts on Annual Meeting registration
and on page charges in Molecular Biology
of the Cell. We need to increase the value
proposition for this important membership
segment. One possibility would be to
look for ways to help members with gaps
in research funding to find additional
resources.
n To draw in scientists involved with cell
biology from specialized fields. The
strength of cell biology is its breadth across
wide domains of science. Yet today this
is also cell biology’s greatest vulnerability.
Many scientists who are essentially
studying cell biology outside of the field’s
traditional core areas identify themselves
with other communities even though their
work would benefit greatly from a rich
involvement with those in more traditional
areas of cell biology. The introduction of
the biophysical and medicine “threads”
at the Annual Meeting underscored how
many “non-cell biologists” are in fact
practicing cell biology. Initiatives and
events that extend the big tent of cell
biology and draw in scientists from related
disciplines would be a win–win equation.
Not only would it enable those in other
fields to see their work in a larger context,
it would bring ASCB new blood and
give current members new insights, new
technologies, and new collaborators from
these frontier disciplines.
6
n
n
To expand its global footprint. ASCB
must focus on international events and
activities that will expand its community,
take advantage of different perspectives, and
bring in strengths and traditions from world
science.
To place a strong focus on accelerating the
careers of its members. ASCB can only
thrive if its members are better off because
of opportunities gained through ASCB. The
intensive training course for basic scientists
considering careers in industry that was
put together through ASCB’s wonderful
partnership with the Keck Graduate Institute
and EMD Millipore is a good example of
such an opportunity. The course has received
an astounding number of applications.
We must expand career programs along
these lines into new areas of training and
employment.
A Welcome Message
There was one more highlight of the Council
meeting in New Orleans. Council was honored
by the presence of Jon Lorsch, the new Director
of NIGMS. Lorsch spoke to Council and
later to attendees at the Annual Meeting.
He highlighted his vision for NIH’s most
important institute for basic science, declaring
that his top priority was to sustain the payline
for R01 investigator-initiated grants. (Back in
Washington, Lorsch demonstrated his resolve
by “sunsetting” programs such as the Protein
Structure Initiative to recoup precious dollars
that can be reinvested in investigator-initiated
projects.) In New Orleans, our Councilors
listened politely but one could almost hear
the sighs of relief. After Lorsch finished, praise
flowed from Council members and committee
chairs alike. The ex officio thought for a moment
that they might hoist the NIGMS Director onto
their shoulders and carry him about the room as
they cheered. Cooler heads prevailed.
Instead, the December Council meeting
worked through its long agenda, ending on
time and bidding farewell to the outgoing
Don Cleveland, and welcoming the incoming
President Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz and new
President-Elect Shirley Tilghman. Rose petals
were scattered before the feet of the four new
Council members, Ian Macara, Tom Misteli,
Jodi Nunnari, and Clare Walczak. The ex officio
looks forward to working with them over the
next years and is moved by their volunteering
precious time to serve on Council. n
ASCB NEWSLETTER MARCH 2014
ASCB
Social Media
better
than
is
ever!
Connect with
ASCB on:
facebook.com/ASCBiology
@ASCBiology
Search ASCB
pinterest.com/ASCBiology
MAC, continued from p.1
The structured mentorship program will
include the following supported activities:
n A Career Development Workshop that will
introduce the junior faculty and mentors and
focus on mentorship, grantsmanship, funding
agency policies and opportunities, faculty
survival skills, a mock review panel/study
section, and the opportunity to interact with
program officers from funding agencies. The
first meeting will be July 1–2, 2014, in San
Juan, Puerto Rico.
n A visit by the junior faculty member to the
mentor’s institution, where he or she will
present a seminar.
n A visit by the mentor to the MSI, including
a seminar presentation and meeting with
students.
n A meeting of junior faculty and mentors at the
ASCB Annual Meeting in December, to include
review of grant proposals.
In addition, a curated career resource will be
developed on the ASCB website to disseminate
program results, to serve as a resource for junior
Visiting Professor Teresa Shakespeare and Sandra Murray, Host Scientist
faculty and mentors throughout the United
States, and to promote communication among
FRED participants.
Leibowitz will be assisted by FRED Program
co-directors Franklin A. Carrero-Martínez
of the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez
and Latanya P. Hammonds-Odie of Georgia
Gwinnett College. ASCB Past-President Don
Cleveland is the PI on the NSF grant.
Application forms are available on the ASCB
website at www.ascb.org/mac-fred. The deadline
is April 1, 2014. As part
of the application process,
junior faculty must provide
a one-page summary and a
page describing the specific
aims of their proposed
project.
DORA Becomes Part of the Conversation
Visiting Professorship Awards
Program
The ongoing ASCB MAC Visiting Professorship
Awards Program supports research at primarily
teaching institutions that serve minority
students and scientists. The program, funded by
a grant from the Minorities Access to Research
Careers program of the National Institutes of
Health/National Institute of General Medical
Sciences, will provide research support for
professors at MSIs to work in the laboratories
of ASCB members for an 8- to 10-week period
during the summer of
2014. Application forms
are available at www.ascb.
org/mac-visiting-profawards. The deadline is
March 31, 2014.
If you have questions
about either program,
please contact Deborah McCall at dmccall@
ascb.org. n
—Michael J. Leibowitz, University of
California, Davis, and Deborah McCall, Senior
Manager, Minorities Affairs
ASCB Member Benefit: One-on-One CV Review
Need some help with a cover letter, CV, resume, statement of teaching philosophy, or other document for the next step in your
career? Members of the ASCB are willing to help. Just fill out a short form (www.ascb.org), and we’ll put you in touch with a
reviewer. Then the two of you can decide which digital collaboration tool to use (email, Google Docs, Skype, Wikispaces, etc.).
You must be an ASCB member to take advantage of this service. n
—Thea Clarke
8
ANNUAL MEETING Highlights
ASCB NEWSLETTER MARCH 2014
Bernd Pulverer, Sandra Schmid, Yixian Zheng, and Tom Misteli participated in the DORA panel discussion.
It was New Orleans this time, but one year after
the ad hoc meeting that gave rise to the San
Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment
(DORA), a panel discussion at the 2013 ASCB
Annual Meeting in the Crescent City focused on
the progress made and challenges faced in the
quest for rational ways to evaluate the outputs of
scientific research. David Drubin, Editor-in-Chief
of Molecular Biology of the Cell and moderator
of this year’s panel, recalled how he and Mickey
Marks, co-Editor of Traffic, had become concerned
about the way journal impact factors (JIFs)
were being misused as a proxy for the quality of
scientific research and were unduly influencing
where people submit their work. Members of
the group of editors and publishers who Drubin
and Marks called together in San Francisco to
discuss JIFs posted DORA online (www.ascb.
org/SFdeclaration.html) in May 2013. In seven
months, DORA garnered signatures from more
than 10,000 individuals and from hundreds of
influential organizations.
DORA makes the general recommendation
that JIFs should not be used as a surrogate measure
of the quality of individual research articles, to
assess an individual scientist’s contributions, or
in hiring, promotion, or funding decisions. But
several panelists emphasized that changing the way
research is assessed is really about changing culture.
“We want to change the culture from ‘where’
to ‘what’ [is published],” said ASCB Executive
Director Stefano Bertuzzi. Bernd Pulverer,
Head of Scientific Publications at the European
San Francisco
MARCH 2014 ASCB NEWSLETTER
Molecular Biology
Organization,
noted that there is
a whole ecosystem
of stakeholders
involved in
scientific research
assessment,
Declaration on Research Assessment
including journals
and funders, but
that ultimately it is researchers themselves who do
the assessing. “We all need to start with our own
actions,” agreed Tom Misteli, Editor-in-Chief of the
Journal of Cell Biology.
JIFs have many deficiencies as a tool for research
assessment, explained Mark Patterson, Executive
Director of eLife. For one, since it is computed
as an average of a very skewed population, a
small number of articles can account for a large
percent of a JIF. Moreover, the calculation is not
always reproducible and the data are proprietary.
Something as important, complex, and nuanced
as the research assessment demands data that are
openly available, Patterson said. Sandra Schmid
of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical
Center (UT Southwestern) lamented the time and
money that researchers waste doing incremental
additional experiments to satisfy editors of highimpact-factor journals. Their work could be
published much more quickly elsewhere and then
built on by others, said Schmid.
Do metrics have any role in the assessment
of research? Misteli thinks not. There are many
S a n Fran cis co
D��RA
9
ANNUAL MEETING Highlights
metrics that could be used to assess impact, he
noted, although each has flaws. It might be easy
for researchers to select those that make them
look best. But Yixian Zheng of the Carnegie
Institution of Science noted that even a highly
flawed metric like the JIF has brought a needed
measure of objectivity to research assessment in
China. What may be needed now, Zheng believes,
are better metrics. Pulverer pointed out that nonmetric-based assessment has a high overhead; it
can be hard to get reviewers to invest the time. “It’s
complicated,” concluded Bertuzzi, “like science.”
Schmid recounted her efforts as chair of her
department at UT Southwestern to focus on
research accomplishments of candidates for faculty
positions. Schmid asked candidates for two-page
cover letters in which they explained their most
significant accomplishments as a grad student and
postdoc, their long-term objectives, and what is
unique about their training and abilities that will
help them succeed. Only after reading the cover
ANNUAL MEETING Highlights
letters and letters of recommendation does
she look at candidates’ CVs. Not surprisingly,
Schmid said that some finalists selected through
this process had published papers in highimpact-factor journals, but not all.
What’s next for DORA? Certainly the
number of signers and the engaged audience
in New Orleans underscore that DORA has
become part of the conversation about research
assessment. Pulverer emphasized the importance
of getting funders (who he described as at
“the top of the food chain”) to adopt DORA’s
recommendations. Drubin noted that what
is paramount in science is the content of
publications and other outputs of scientific
research. He said that goals for the DORA
organizers include trying to create guidelines for
best practices in research assessment. n
—W. Mark Leader
BSCB Young Cell Biologist of the Year Finds
Convivial Environment at Annual Meeting
It was an honor to present my work at the 2013 ASCB Annual Meeting. I want to acknowledge the
British Society for Cell Biology (BSCB) for sponsoring me to participate in the meeting as part of its
Young Cell Biologist of the Year award.
My first feeling upon arriving at the meeting was shock. Flying out from London on a particularly
gloomy Friday morning, I found myself in New Orleans on the evening of the same day, where
everything around me was animated. Everywhere I looked, there were streams of passengers coming in
and out of the airport accompanied by smooth jazz music whispering from the walls. Thankfully, it was
not only the airport that was so alive! The organizers brought some of this atmosphere to the Annual
Meeting too, creating a very convivial environment for networking and listening to the latest scientific
Andrei Luchici
discoveries.
One of the most transformative aspects of the meeting was the newly introduced ePoster sessions.
During these sessions, participants gave short oral presentations after their posters were displayed electronically. The quality of all
the work displayed was exceptional. I was especially attracted by the interdisciplinary sessions on cell–cell/cell–matrix interactions
and cell migration. I hope these sessions are indeed a glimpse of what will become a central part of future scientific meetings.
I was also impressed by the special attention given to graduate students, postdocs, and young researchers. The workshops on
scientific writing and communication and on publishing and the open discussions on science policy were truly eye opening for
someone like myself at an early stage of his research career.
Unfortunately, good times rolled very fast, and before I realized it I found myself back at the airport, waiting to board my
flight, listening to the same lively but now distant jazz tune. n
—Andrei Luchici, University College London and King's College London
Note
As the BSCB Young Cell Biologist of the Year, Luchici received travel funds from the BSCB and complimentary meeting
registration from the ASCB.
10
ASCB NEWSLETTER MARCH 2014
Young French Cell Biologists Gain Insights
within and beyond Their Fields at the Annual
Meeting I was very lucky to be granted a travel award by the French Society for Cell Biology (SBCF) to go to the
2013 ASCB Annual Meeting. There I was hoping to learn more about subjects that I am not so familiar
with as well as gain new insights into areas more closely related to my PhD research, such as the actin
cytoskeleton, biophysics, and cell division. Thanks to the variety of subjects at this meeting, I got to do
both.
And what better way to learn about new topics than to be taught by top-level scientists in the field?
The 2013 meeting featured Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine winners James E. Rothman and
Randy W. Schekman, who came to discuss their lifetimes’ findings. It was such an inspiration for young
scientists to have unravelled before our eyes how science is done. Piece by piece, each of these two great
Agathe Chaigne
scientists shared how they discovered the mechanisms of vesicle transport in cells, something that is now
considered textbook knowledge but represents years of work by dozens of researchers!
Another key feature of the 2013 ASCB meeting for me was the interdisciplinary threads. I was especially happy to have a
mixture of sessions on the physical biology of the cell. For example, I was very interested in biophysical approaches to mitosis.
Research subjects are not so narrow anymore, and everybody benefits from conferences that look at subjects from several
perspectives. I truly hope that in the future there will be more opportunities for such fascinating crosstalk. n
—Agathe Chaigne, College de France
The 2013 meeting in New Orleans was the second ASCB Annual Meeting I have attended as a
postdoctoral fellow. There I joined a roundtable discussion chaired by Ron Vale that focused on how
to improve the ways in which the output of scientific research is evaluated. This discussion was based
on the set of recommendations provided in the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment. The
participants shared personal experiences on the influence of impact factors on our career progression and
ended up with proposals on how the peer-review process could be improved, which we submitted to the
ASCB International Affairs Committee.
For me the Annual Meeting was also a great opportunity to network and to set up new
collaborations. I found the poster sessions particularly well organized; they provided enough time for
Véronique Marthiens
stimulating discussions with scientists from, but also beyond, my field of research. This gave me an
up-to-date overview on several aspects of cell biology research. Altogether, attending the New Orleans
Annual Meeting was a fruitful experience that I would recommend to every young scientist. n
—Véronique Marthiens, Institut Curie
Note
Chaigne and Marthiens were awarded travel funds by the French Society for Cell Biology and received complimentary meeting
registration from the ASCB.
Mark Your Calendars for the 2014 ASCB/IFCB
Meeting, December 6–10 in Philadelphia!
This December, ASCB will be back in Philadelphia for a joint meeting with the International Federation for Cell Biology (IFCB)!
Three threads, continued from the previous ASCB Annual Meetings, will unite programs throughout the meeting: Biophysics,
Medicine, and Professional Development. Of course the core areas that have traditionally been part of the ASCB Annual Meeting
will be featured as well.
Philadelphia is centrally located in the East Coast research science corridor and is easily accessible by plane, train, and car.
More information will be available this May! Check the ASCB Newsletter and www.ascb.org. n
MARCH 2014 ASCB NEWSLETTER
11
LOCAL MEETING Highlights
A Local Meeting in West Virginia
ASCB Underwrites Locally Organized Sessions
throughout the World
The Kanawha River cuts through Charleston,
WV, on its way north to join the Ohio. On
one brilliant October morning, the sun was
quickly burning off the fog filling the river
bottoms and setting the golden dome on
the state capitol ablaze. It was the perfect
fall Saturday for tossing a football or raking
leaves. And yet 70 grad students, postdocs,
and biology faculty turned up at the West
Virginia University (WVU) Robert C. Byrd
Health Sciences Center to hear and talk
about cell biology. Galactosyltransferases in
Arabidopsis, focal adhesion kinases, myosin
II isoforms, and cardiac calcium channel
expression in mice with disrupted genes for
heart-specific growth hormone receptor were
some of the topics on poster easels at the
second Appalachian Regional Cell Conference
(ARCC). Organized by grad students and
postdocs from four regional universities,
ARCC was supported by a local meeting grant
from the ASCB.
ARCC was one of 18 local meetings partly
underwritten in 2013 by ASCB, including
11 in the United States, four in Canada, and
one each in South Korea, Jamaica, and India.
Charleston was picked as a central location
for the four institutions taking part in ARCC.
There is no basic research facility here at Byrd
12
Center, which is run by WVU as
an adjunct to the local hospital.
The main WVU campus is 159
miles away to the northeast
in Morgantown. Marshall
University is 52 miles northwest
in Huntington, WV. Athens,
home of Ohio University (OU),
is 93 miles north across the Ohio
River, while the University of
Kentucky (UK) in Lexington
is the farthest away, 177 miles
to the west. Before ARCC,
everyone agrees, the four
institutions seemed to have little
in common but geography.
This was ARCC’s second
outing. It got its start last year when ASCB
member and WVU biochemist William
Wonderlin spotted the call for local meeting
proposals in the ASCB Newsletter. He
convinced grad student Danielle Shepherd
to volunteer for the role of chief organizer,
and she reached out to grad students at OU
and Marshall. This year it was OU’s turn to
apply for the ASCB grant, make location
arrangements, and line up a keynote speaker.
ASCB member Maria Muccioli was the main
organizer at OU, and she worked with coorganizers ASCB member Bridget Hindman
at WVU and Miranda Carper at Marshall. For
the first time this year, UK sent a contingent,
led by ASCB member and postdoc Aaron K.
Holley.
Local meetings reflect local needs, and
ARCC is as much about regional connections
as it is about cell biology. Before the ARCC
meetings, basic research students and faculty
were isolated on their own campuses, the
organizers say. For many of the grad students,
the ARCC was the first time they had ever
presented their work outside a home campus
“research day.” Many spoke of the experience
as a warm-up for a national meeting.
ARCC kicked off in the cavernous Byrd
Center Auditorium, with four grad students
braving the perils of PowerPoint and the
ASCB NEWSLETTER MARCH 2014
pressure of having strangers from other schools
pay very close attention to their talks. Then there
were questions. Afterwards, John J. Kopchick, a
molecular biologist at OU, followed up with a
keynote that retold the inspirational story of how
his basic science discovery—the isolation of a
classic antagonist of the human growth hormone
receptor—made it through the translational
jungle of clinical trials, patent law, and
commercial licensing to become pegvisomant
(Somavert), a highly effective treatment for the
genetic growth disorder acromegaly.
Then came the buffet lunch on paper plates
outside the fourth-floor conference room that
would serve as the poster hall. As lunch wound
down, there was the last-minute straightening
of sagging posters and the issuing of clipboards
to the visiting PIs who would pick the top two
posters in each of the four categories. The first
group of presenters took up their positions, and
within minutes the room was throbbing with
the unmistakable sound of poster alley buzz—
questions vs. answers, hypothesis vs. data. That
day it was in West Virginia. In subsequent weeks
and months, ASCB local meetings will take place
from Baltimore to Glasgow to Bayamon, Puerto
Rico. Even in the age of global information, the
process of science is local. n
—John Fleischman
Upcoming Local Meetings
ASCB is pleased to provide funds for young scientists (graduate students and postdocs) to organize one-day local meetings. Such
meetings involve two or more institutions (within the United States or international), and topics can range from basic science to
career development as long as there is clear relevance to the broadly defined field of cell biology.
The next deadline to apply for funds is April 1, 2014. Applicants must be or become members of the ASCB. For more
information visit www.ascb.org and click on “Meetings.”
Navigating Lipid Research in Baltimore: Cell to System
Carnegie Institution for Science (Baltimore, MD)
April 11, 2014
Visualizing Cancer: Microscopy and Beyond
CR-UK Beatson Institute (Glasglow, United Kingdom)
September 2014
Cell Biology across the Bay
Santa Clara University (Santa Clara, CA)
May 3, 2014
Triangle Cytoskeleton Dynamics and Regulation Meeting
The Research Triangle Park (Durham, NC)
September 2014
Three-Dimensional Cell Cultures
Center of Microelectronics in Provence (Gardanne, France)
July 25, 2014
First Puerto Rico Cancer Research Meeting
Universidad Central del Caribe (Bayamon, Puerto Rico)
October 3, 2014
Are You Getting ASCB Pathways?
You should now be regularly receiving our monthly email update, ASCB Pathways—alerting you to the latest ASCB happenings
and Annual Meeting updates. If you aren’t seeing the e-newsletter in your inbox, please check your spam filter, and/or contact
your system administrator to whitelist *ascb.org. n
Got Questions?
Labby has answers. ASCB’s popular columnist will select career-related questions for publication and thoughtful response in the
ASCB Newsletter. Confidentiality guaranteed if requested. Write us at labby@ascb.org. n
MARCH 2014 ASCB NEWSLETTER
13
WOMEN in Cell Biology
Understand What They Want
The Job Interview: Understanding Its
Rules and Roles
Car eer A d vi c e f o r
Wo m e n a n d M e n
14
Interviews are a matchmaking process in which
Understand What You Want
both the interviewer and the applicant assess
Before the interview, candidates should be
whether the applicant is a good “fit” for the
able to enumerate the characteristics of their
job in question. During the earliest stages
ideal job, which obviously depend upon the
of filling a position, potential employers use
nature of the position. Postdoctoral candidates
written applications to select candidates who
are typically motivated to study a particular
have, at least on paper, the necessary skills and
problem or to learn techniques that they can
training. The purpose of interviews is typically
use as they become independent
to rank the candidates who
investigators. People pursuing their
have these characteristics in
first tenure-track position are usually
terms of their suitability to
looking for resources to establish
the particular task and to the
themselves, and they probably have
work environment. Often the
ideas about the optimal balance
final choice of one candidate
between research, teaching, and other
over another comes down
duties. Defining these ideal traits
to things that cannot easily
is clearly helpful not only because
be represented on a written
candidates should use them to guide
application—motivation,
discussion, but also because potential
creativity, personality—and a
employers will almost always ask
good interview will focus on
about the candidate’s goals as a way
Mary Dasso
these attributes.
of understanding whether his or her
As in any matchmaking
goals are in sync with those of the group or
endeavor, the road to post-interview happiness
department.
can be a bumpy one. Good communication
An equally large number of intangibles need
during the process allows each party to
to be considered during an interview. These
understand the needs, expectations, and
factors are no less important and can frequently
perspective of the other. Things become
make the difference between a job that’s a joy
awkward if one party has not
and one that’s dreadful. You should
defined its own goals or is
think about the kind of work
insensitive to the requirements
Before the
environment that you enjoy—
of the other. At the 2013 ASCB
intense versus laid back, solitary
interview,
Annual Meeting, the WICB
versus closely collaborative, and
candidates
Mentoring Theater presentation
so forth. Postdoctoral candidates
“Interviewing: The Good, The
should particularly decide what
should be
Bad, and The Ugly” highlighted
kind of interactions they prefer
able to
some potential interview pitfalls
with their supervisor. During the
through skits and discussion,
interview, it is possible to draw
enumerate the
while offering ideas for how
out information regarding the
characteristics
to smooth the interview
environment with relatively openexperience. This article describes
of their ideal
ended questions. For example:
some of those ideas, with a
“What is your style as a supervisor,
job….
few additional pointers for
and how frequently do you
candidates seeking postdoctoral
expect to meet with each of your
or tenure-track positions. I also
postdocs?” or “How are interactions facilitated
recommend a number of other sources where
between different members of the department?”
job candidates can obtain more detailed advice
The answers should help to assess whether the
regarding interview strategies.1–5
particulars of the job align well with your own
values and preferences.
ASCB NEWSLETTER MARCH 2014
The chance to choose the people on the
Be prepared to discuss how you could contribute schedule is a huge opportunity and should
not be missed if you are asked for input. For
to the group or department that would hire
example, you should always ask to speak with
you. As a postdoctoral candidate, you should
people who currently occupy positions similar
have a working knowledge of articles from the
to the one that you would fill (e.g., other
host laboratory and major landmarks within its
field, and you should note important projects to postdocs in the same lab, or junior faculty
in the same department). These are the best
which you could contribute.
people to talk with about the pros and cons
As a tenure-track candidate, you should
of that position. Similarly, you should always
use departmental websites to understand
ask to speak with people whose interests might
the institution that you would join, and you
align with yours, either as collaborators or
should tailor your presentations and approach
senior colleagues, since they can
to meet the needs of the
provide important support, as
position. For example, your
discussed above. Be aware that
talk should highlight not
The chance to
all discussions throughout the
just your achievements but
choose
the
people
day are “on the record,” from the
also the thought processes
breakfast meeting to dinner with
and technical skills that you
on the [interview]
members of the department. All
would bring. For positions
schedule
is
a
comments will likely be reported
with a teaching component,
back to the search committee as
huge opportunity
you should be ready to discuss
they evaluate your characteristics
extensively your teaching
and should not be
4,5
as a potential colleague.3
experience and philosophy.
missed if you are
The interview process should
Finally, you should be aware
be
purely professional, and
of investigators at the hiring
asked for input.
interviewers are not legally
institution whose work may
allowed to ask questions about
benefit from a new colleague
your personal life (e.g., about
with your background. It
your partner/spouse, kids, health, religion,
is certainly worth the effort to seek out such
individuals, since they can provide an important etc.). Discussion after the WICB Theater
gave ample evidence, however, that they
source of support for both your application and
nevertheless broach personal topics frequently.
for the initial stages of your work as a junior
In some cases, the interviewer might genuinely
investigator.
wish to be helpful, e.g., by highlighting
opportunities for spousal accommodation or
Understand the Process
childcare, but such a discussion may put you
The person who is overseeing the interview, a
in an uncomfortable position. While you are
potential supervisor or the head of the search
not obligated to answer, you should certainly
committee, will usually provide a schedule for
anticipate such questions and think about
your visit. You can and should ask questions
potential responses in advance, to avoid being
if any part of the agenda is unclear, regarding
blindsided and to have a strategy for gracefully
the format of your presentation, for example,
moving the interview back to more appropriate
or whether it is for a general audience or for
professional topics.
specialists.
The schedule will typically provide names
of people with whom you will be talking. You
should obtain at least a cursory knowledge of
those people and their work, especially those
who are members of the search committee.
(You can even prime your memory with their
faces and names by looking at their websites.)
This preparation not only facilitates rewarding
discussions but also avoids awkward situations,
such as failing to attribute key discoveries to
people close at hand or giving a superficial
explanation of some phenomenon to an
acknowledged expert on that topic.
MARCH 2014 ASCB NEWSLETTER
Optimize Your Chalk Talk
Chalk talks are notoriously difficult, and
there is no single format used by every search
committee. However, you can do several things
to optimize your performance within a chalk
talk. First, clarify in advance with the search
committee chair about the chalk talk format
and the expectations of the committee (e.g.,
do they want a PowerPoint presentation or will
it be “chalk” on a board? Are there particular
points that should be covered?). Prepare and
practice accordingly.
15
Second, unless otherwise instructed, plan to
Ultimately, a successful interview will assure
discuss roughly three specific aims that could
not only a match and a honeymoon, but also
realistically be achieved within four to six years
be the basis for a long and productive working
or within the scope of your first R01 grant.
relationship. n
You should include not only the
—Mary Dasso
technical details of each aim, but
References
also alternative approaches and
1
UCSF Office of Career and Professional
how the aims work synergistically
Development (2013). Interviewing for
[P]lan to discuss academic jobs. https://career.ucsf.edu/
toward larger, long-term goals.
Frame your proposal within a
grad-students-postdocs/career-planning/
roughly three
academic-jobs/interviewing.
major biological question, so that
specific
aims
2
it becomes clear how you will
Howard Hughes Medical Institute,
Burroughs Wellcome Fund (2006).
make significant contributions to
that could
Making the Right Moves: A Practical
the field.
realistically
be
Guide to Scientific Management for
Finally, be conscious of
Postdocs and New Faculty, Second
achieved within
how you guide the discussion
Edition. www.hhmi.org/educationaland avoid getting frustrated or
four to six years materials/lab-management/for-earlysidetracked: answer questions
career-scientists.
or within the
from the committee completely
3
Spiliotis ET, Kwiatkowski AV (2013).
and cheerfully, but quickly return
The search for a faculty job revisited
scope of your
the focus to your own proposal
with the benefit of hindsight. ASCB
first R01 grant.
Newsletter 36(6), 12–13.
and research interests. Interplay
4
with the committee during your
Wolyniak MJ, Roecklein-Canfield JA
chalk talk is often used to assess
(2014). Packaging yourself as a teacher.
ASCB Newsletter 37(1), 12–13.
whether you are enthusiastic,
5
think clearly, and can deal with unexpected
American Society for Cell Biology (1996). How to Get
challenges without losing your cool.
a Research Job in Academia and Industry. www.ascb.org/
newsfiles/research.pdf.
Interviewing provides a critical opportunity
for candidates to present themselves and to learn
more about the opportunities that a particular
position may offer, and it is well worth a
significant amount of careful preparation.
Browse MBoC Features
Reproducibility, continued from p.1
n Limited
space in journals for describing
methods
n Poor training of scientists in statistics and
experiment design
The task force, led by Public Policy
Committee member Mark Winey, together
with Public Policy Director Kevin Wilson,
will provide recommendations and propose
initiatives to enhance rigor in conducting basic
research. The task force is also being asked to
examine what the ASCB can do as a publisher to
improve transparency and accountability of the
findings published in its scholarly journals.
Winey will be joined by other members of
the PPC, including chair Connie Lee, Bertuzzi,
Carol Greider, Doug Koshland, and Paul
Mungai. The task force is expected to ask experts
to join or consult with it. n
—Kevin M. Wilson
Science Champion Calls It Quits
Rush Holt
There is more to Molecular Biology of the Cell (MBoC)
than just reports of important research findings. MBoC
also offers compelling, provocative, and downright
helpful Features articles: Perspectives on science, policy,
and careers; ASCB Awards Essays; ASCB Meeting
Highlights; and much more.
Now you can easily browse the Features Collection
from a new drop-down menu at the top of each page. Or
if you prefer you can use the static list of types of Features
located on the lower right side of each page. Either way,
visit www.molbiolcell.org and check out this rich source
of ideas, insights, recollections, and advice. n
16
PUBLIC POLICY Briefing
ASCB NEWSLETTER MARCH 2014
Physicist-turned-Congressman Rush Holt (DNJ) has decided not to run for re-election in
2014. Holt is one of 34 members of the House
of Representatives who have so far decided not
to run for another term of office.
During his eight terms in office, Holt, a
physicist by training, has become a leading
advocate for scientific research in Congress. His
support for science is not limited to the physical
sciences, however. For many years, he has served
as a co-chair of the Congressional Biomedical
Research Caucus (CBRC), a nonpartisan
group of members of Congress whose aim
is to highlight the advances being made in
biomedical research. The CBRC is operated
by the Coalition for the Life Sciences, which
the ASCB founded and of which it remains
a member. Holt has been a regular and vocal
MARCH 2014 ASCB NEWSLETTER
participant in the caucus presentations.
Holt may be more popularly known as a
five-time Jeopardy winner who went on to beat
Watson, an IBM computer matched against
several members of the House of Representatives
during a celebrity edition of the show.
Although he did not cite a reason for his
decision to retire, Holt did say in an email,
“There is no hidden motive for my decision. As
friends who have worked with me know, I have
never thought that the primary purpose of my
work was re-election and I have never intended
to make service in the House my entire
career. For a variety of reasons, personal and
professional, all of them positive and optimistic,
the end of this year seems to me to be the right
time to step aside and ask the voters to select the
next representative.” n
—Kevin M. Wilson
17
INTERNATIONAL Affairs
2013 will always be known as the year of
sequestration. The inability of Congress to do
its job resulted in almost $2 billion in combined
cuts to the budgets of the National Institutes
of Health (NIH) and the National Science
Foundation (NSF). A 16-day shutdown of
the federal government, and the bad press it
generated for Congress, forced Congress to do
something it had not done in several years—pass
a budget for the federal government.
That FY14 budget included a $1 billion
budget increase for the NIH and an almost $300
million increase for the NSF. With a limited
amount of money for Congress to spend, both
increases were respectable steps toward undoing
sequestration.
So when President Obama released his
FY15 budget request in early March, it felt like
we were taking a giant step backwards. The
proposed budget includes modest 1% increases
for both the NIH and the NSF. But the real
steps forward for research that those increases
would enable, including 650 new grants for the
NIH and over 1,000 NSF grants highlighted by
the President and his advisors, are not part of
the FY15 budget. Instead, they are part of the
Opportunity, Growth, and Security Initiative, a
$56 billion program that is highly unlikely to be
passed by Congress.
Attention now turns to Congress, which
typically like to rework the President’s budget,
reminding him that Congress holds the purse
strings. n
—Kevin M. Wilson
nationa
r
e
t
fai
l Af rs
Science on the Banks of the Nile:
Cell Biology in Sudan
President Proposes Limited
Increases for NIH, NSF
In
PUBLIC POLICY Briefing
Job hunting? Hiring?
Job Hunting?Job
Hiring?
hunting? Hiring?
Job hunting? Hiring?
Find the perfect match at…
Find the perfect match at
cellbiologyjobs.org
from ASCB
The science of life, the life of science
18
The University of Khartoum is the leader in
scientific research and postgraduate training
in Sudan. This single university comprises 21
colleges located on four campuses with 1,300
academic staff members, who received training
from all over the world. The Central Campus
is located along the Nile in central Khartoum
*ASCB members receive a 50%
discount when posting jobs.
Find the perfect match at…
cellbiologyJobs.org
from ASCB
Sudan, officially the Republic of the Sudan,
is a large and diverse country. Its capital city,
Khartoum, lies where the White Nile from
Kenya joins the Blue Nile from Ethiopia to
form the Nile. Ancient Sudan was the first
region of the world to domesticate sorghum and
to cast gold and iron.
Sudan’s current policies focus on
strengthening higher education and basic
research with the aim of training its people
and developing its economy. Traditionally,
Sudan has invested in free education from
elementary school to university, but recently
lack of sufficient funding has tended to lower
the quality of higher education. In this article,
we focus on the University of Khartoum, the
oldest, largest, and most prestigious university
in the country, and talk about cell biology
research in the Department of Botany.
The University of Khartoum and
Scientific Research
cellbiologyJobs.org
THE AMERICAN SOCIETY
FOR CELL BIOLOGY
University of Khartoum botany students on a field trip to the Red Sea Hills in eastern Sudan
Find the perfect match at…
cellbiologyJobs.org
MARCH 2014 ASCB NEWSLETTER
ASCB NEWSLETTER MARCH 2014
from ASCB
and is one of the most beautiful campuses
in the world. The other campuses include
the Medical and Health Sciences Campus in
downtown Khartoum, the Shambat Campus
(agriculture, veterinary medicine, forestry,
and animal production), and the Education
Campus. The University of Khartoum also
includes 14 interdisciplinary institutes and
centers. This large public university conducts
basic and applied research. More than
2,000 postgraduate students are currently
registered and are pursuing PhDs (155),
masters degrees (1,611), and postgraduate
diplomas (412) in basic and applied sciences,
art, and social sciences.
The faculties and institutions of the
University of Khartoum are keen to establish
links with corresponding faculties and
institutions around the world. Currently
166 scientific agreements and memoranda
of understanding exist between institutions
in Sudan and those in 63 countries and six
international organizations, but most of
these agreements are inactive for political
or logistical reasons. The University
of Khartoum is seeking to revive these
agreements or to generate new ones to
facilitate a wide range of joint international
projects and foster multilateral professional
contacts.
19
Cell Biology in the Department
of Botany
The Faculty of Science is the leading research
center in Sudan. This Faculty comprises five
Departments (Botany, Chemistry, Geology,
Physics, and Zoology). Cell biology is now
housed in the Departments of Botany and
Zoology. Historically, the Department of
Botany was the first to include cell biology in
its curriculum. This is the strongest botany
department among Sudan’s universities,
with 26 full-time PhD faculty members and
other supporting staff for instruction and
research. The missions of the department are
to promote basic and applied research, to
publish in the world’s peer-reviewed journals,
and to generate patents for industry. Three
specialized units include the Molecular and
Cell Biology Lab, Plant Tissue Culture and
Genetic Transformation Lab, and Phytoand Biochemistry Lab. Although sometimes
inadequately equipped, these laboratories
support excellent research in molecular
biology, plant transformation, cell biology,
microbial biotechnology, natural products,
and drug discovery.
With the ultimate goals of developing
effective agricultural tools to improve the
yield, quality, and utilization of Sudan’s
rich natural flora, the Department of
Botany undertakes cell biological research
on cereal and vegetable crops of economic
importance as well as medicinal plants.
Marker-assisted selection (MAS) is applied
to desirable characteristics such as tolerance
to biotic and abiotic stresses. As a result, we will
be releasing, in collaboration with Agricultural
Research Corporation, our new cultivar of Strigaresistant sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) lines, which
will be cultivated in the next season on millions of
hectares of irrigated and rain-fed land. Similarly we
produce transgenic crops like Bt cotton, droughttolerant wheat, drought-tolerant sunflower,
and fungus-resistant tomato. Two years ago, we
developed a transgenic tomato expressing the
defensin (antifungal) gene. Currently the group is
using MAS to develop white-seeded sesame lines,
a characteristic highly desired in industry. We are
also assessing genetic diversity in our local wheat,
sorghum, onion, and sesame lines to invigorate
national breeding programs.
Our Microbiology Lab is exploring exploitation
of microorganisms as bioreactors for the production
of biofertilizers, citric acid, bioethanol, xanthan
gum, and alginate. Other research projects include
the use of microorganisms for bioremediation of
pesticide-polluted soils and for gold and copper
bioleaching from low-quality ores found in many
areas in Sudan. We are also engaged in drug
discovery from natural products, an area of national
and international research interest. Our goal is to
identify and discover bioactive compounds from
traditional Sudanese medicinal plants (e.g., Hydnora
johannis, Aloe sinkatana, Geigeria alat, and Citrullus
lanatus) and from microbes (e.g., Streptomyces
spp.). Research projects in this area focus on
screening for bioactivity of secondary metabolites
as antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and
antioxidant agents. Projects aiming at development
of methods for bioremediation for petroleum
hydrocarbons and toxic industrial wastes by means
of enzymatic degradation are also ongoing.
These ambitious programs can benefit from
collaborations with research groups around the
world, including the United States. Plans for a
new life sciences building that will house proposed
departments in Genetics and Cellular Biology,
Microbiology and Parasitology, and Environmental
Studies are ongoing. It is our hope that avenues for
international cooperation will soon generate mutual
benefits. n
—Adil Ali El Hussein, Marmar A/Rahman El
Siddig, Sakina M.A. Yagi, and A/Azim Ali Ahmed,
University of Khartoum
iBiology UPDATE
iBiology Hangouts: Live Q&A Sessions with Scientists
Most of our learning experiences come from trying something and not being completely successful, and then learning from
that how to do better the next time.
—Bruce Alberts, iBiology Live Q&A, February 7, 2014
One of iBiology’s missions is to provide access to leaders in the field of biology. Last November, the project started hosting
Live Question and Answer (Q&A) sessions with scientists on topics related to iBiology talks they have recorded. Anyone with
Internet access and a computer can ask questions of the speaker, watch the live broadcast, or later view a recording on the
iBiology site.
In February, iBiology held a Live Q&A with Bruce Alberts entitled the “Future Challenges for Science and Science
Education,” which followed up on his iBioMagazine talk “Learning from Failure.” “My talk on the importance of failure
really stresses the fact that we all have to learn throughout life how to deal with the incredible complexities of the real world,”
said Alberts in response to a viewer’s question. Alberts, who is the former Editor-in-Chief of Science, also discussed issues
with traditional teaching approaches, which typically promote passive memorization of science facts over active learning and
problem solving. In his Live Q&A, Alberts urged the scientific community to get involved at all levels of the education system
to help bring research experiences into the classroom.
The iBiology Live Q&As have also helped voice concerns over the limited academic opportunities for postdocs in
the life sciences. In his iBioMagazine talk and December Live Q&A Gregory Petsko suggested an economic model that
involved doubling postdoc salaries to decrease the number of positions available and encourage graduate students to turn to
nonacademic careers before the postdoctoral stage. In his March talk and Live Q&A, Keith Yamamoto countered that instead
of doubling postdoc salaries, institutions be responsible for exposing graduate students to the array of career options available
for a science PhD by providing programs and internship opportunities in nonacademic careers. He argued that allowing
students to explore careers during graduate school should ultimately decrease the number of postdoctoral scholars while
providing students with worthwhile and important options.
Kristala Jones Prather gave an iBioSeminar on Synthetic Biology
Arthur Horwich talked about chaperone-assisted protein folding
The main entrance of the Central Campus, University of Khartoum
20
ASCB NEWSLETTER MARCH 2014
MARCH 2014 ASCB NEWSLETTER
21
Published by
CBE
Life Sciences
Volume 13, Spring 2014
ascb
the american society for cell biology
Editorial Partner
CBE
Life Sciences
Education
www.lifescied.org
Education
Education
Volume 13CBE—Life
MarchSciences
2014
www.lifescied.org
Volume 13
March 2014
Table of Contents
Undergraduate Research Experiences:
Approaches and Assessments
Letters to the Editor
Bruce Alberts and Ron Vale had a discussion about Science Education on
iBiology Hangouts
Keith Yamamoto took questions about graduate training and mentorship
The next two iBiology Hangouts will take place in April and May. On April 10, Lydia Villa-Komaroff, Chief Scientific
Officer at Cytonome/ST and co-founder of the Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science, will
be answering questions about her experiences in academia, industry, and science outreach in her Live Q&A
“Composing a Life in Science.” Then, on May 7, iBiology will be hosting Jon Lorsch, the Director of the
National Institute of General Medical Sciences.
All of the iBiology Live Q&As are available on the iBiology.org website at www.ibiology.org/hangout-witha-scientist.html.
Vision and Change through the Genome Consortium for Active Teaching Using Next-Generation
Sequencing (GCAT-SEEK)
Vincent Buonaccorsi, Mark Peterson, Gina Lamendella, Jeff Newman, Nancy Trun, Tammy Tobin,
Andres Aguilar, Arthur Hunt, Craig Praul, Deborah Grove, Jim Roney, and Wade Roberts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–2
Re: Misconceptions Are “So Yesterday!”
Gregory J. Crowther and Rebecca M. Price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–5
FEATURES
Approaches to Biology Teaching and Learning
Considering the Role of Affect in Learning: Monitoring Students’ Self-Efficacy, Sense of Belonging,
and Science Identity
Gloriana Trujillo and Kimberly D. Tanner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–15
From the National Science Foundation
Vision and Change in the Biology Community: Snapshots of Change
Helen L. Vasaly, Jason Feser, Matthew D. Lettrich, Kevin Correa, and Katherine J. Denniston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16–20
New iBioSeminars
Three new iBioSeminars are available in Cell Biology and Synthetic Biology. Arthur Horwich, who in a recent iBioMagazine talk
shared his story of discovering chaperone-assisted protein folding, gave an in-depth iBioSeminars research talk about chaperones,
their mechanisms of action, and their role in disease. In his talk, Robert Goldman gave an overview of intermediate filament
properties and focused on nuclear lamins, which are a family of intermediate filaments found in the nucleus. Kristala Jones
Prather introduced synthetic biology, which involves the application of engineering principles to biological systems to build
“biological machines” and explained how her lab used design principles to engineer Escherichia coli to produce glucaric acid,
which is not typically found in the organism, from glucose.
WWW.Life Sciences Education
Engaging with Molecular Form to Understand Function
Nicola C. Barber and Louisa A. Stark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21–24
Current Insights
Recent Research in Science Teaching and Learning
Deborah Allen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25–28
Meeting Report
New Tools for Educators
Recently, Nobel Laureate Elizabeth Blackburn’s talk on the discovery of telomerase and Arthur Horwich’s talk on the discovery
of chaperones were added to the iBioEducation Discovery talk collection, in which first-hand accounts of famous discoveries
taken from the iBioMagazine series are connected with the corresponding research papers. These talks, which can be accessed
in the iBioEducation—Making Discoveries section of the website, also include a series of questions and suggested answers for
educators. These questions were designed to encourage students to use critical and analytical thinking skills by reading and
reflecting on primary literature.
In addition, educators who register can access “Teaching Tools,” educational materials that accompany
iBioSeminars and that include lecture notes, review questions, discussion questions, and suggestions for
journal club papers. The latest Teaching Tools relate to Cori Bargmann’s iBioSeminar on the brain and
behavior. To access any of the educational materials, register (for free) as an educator on iBiology.org.
To receive updates on new releases in the future, sign up at www.ibiology.org/join.html. n
— The iBiology Team
Assessment of Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences: A Meeting Report
Lisa Corwin Auchincloss, Sandra L. Laursen, Janet L. Branchaw, Kevin Eagan, Mark Graham,
David I. Hanauer, Gwendolyn Lawrie, Colleen M. McLinn, Nancy Pelaez, Susan Rowland,
Marcy Towns, Nancy M. Trautmann, Pratibha Varma-Nelson, Timothy J. Weston, and Erin L. Dolan . . . . . . . . . . . . 29–40
RESEARCH METHODS
Is It the Intervention or the Students? Using Linear Regression to Control for Student Characteristics
in Undergraduate STEM Education Research
Roddy Theobald and Scott Freeman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41–48
ESSAY
Putting PhDs to Work: Career Planning for Today’s Scientist
Jennifer A. Hobin, Philip S. Clifford, Ben M. Dunn, Susan Rich, and Louis B. Justement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49–53
ARTICLES
Integrating Quantitative Thinking into an Introductory Biology Course Improves Students’
Mathematical Reasoning in Biological Contexts
Susan Hester, Sanlyn Buxner, Lisa Elfring, and Lisa Nagy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54–64
22
ASCB NEWSLETTER MARCH 2014
MARCH 2014 ASCB NEWSLETTER
23
Seen on THE CELL
Be Part of The Cell
Community
An immunofluorescence image of human IMR90 lung fibroblasts stained for vinculin (green) and filamentous
actin (magenta). Nuclei are stained blue. This image of untreated fibroblasts comes from a study of the
changes in adhesion that accompany treatment to induce stem cells and can be used in hiPSC purification.
The image was selected by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) for inclusion in the
May 2013 issue of Biomedical Beat, which features noteworthy NIGMS-supported research. See also Nat
Meth 10:438-444. Image by Andres J. Garcia and Ankur Singh. This image is in the public domain and
thus free of any copyright restrictions. However, as a matter of courtesy any user is encouraged to credit the
content provider when reproducing the image.
The Cell: An Image Library (www.cellimagelibrary.org) is a freely accessible, easy-tosearch, public repository of reviewed and annotated images, videos, and animations of
cells from a variety of organisms, showcasing cell architecture, intracellular functionalities,
and both normal and abnormal processes. Its purpose is to advance research, education,
and training, with the ultimate goal of improving human health.
The Cell continues to evolve. Since the site launched just over three years ago, it
has had over 448,000 visits by over 339,000 visitors and has delivered over 1.7 million
pageviews. It has more than 164,000 Facebook fans and has been accessed from 204
countries.
The Cell has been a source of images for use in books, articles, and videos, on
websites, and even on buildings. But it is much more. The Cell is:
n A repository for material described in research articles
n A source of images for use in education
n A source of images for scientific research
n A source of data for research in image processing
The Cell was developed by ASCB under a Grand Opportunities grant from the
National Institute of General Medical Sciences. Now The Cell has moved to the National
Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research Cell Centered Database (CCDB), which
manages the Library’s day-to-day operations under a perpetual license from ASCB. ASCB
maintains a role in advertising the Library, soliciting images, serving as an advocate for
the resource, and creating a community committed to The Cell-CCDB. n
—David Orloff
24
ASCB NEWSLETTER MARCH 2014
MARCH 2014 ASCB NEWSLETTER
• Pin your favorite cell images on
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/
davidnorloff/the-cell-an-imagelibrary-ccdb.
• Sign up for a free account at The
Cell so you can save images in
folders for future reference: www.
cellimagelibrary.org/accounts/login_
prompt.
• Use the buttons on the detailed image
pages to share images on Facebook,
LinkedIn, StumbleUpon, and other
social networks.
• Join The Cell on Facebook (www.
facebook.com/cellImageLibrary)
or LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/
groups?about=&gid=3733425).
• Consider donating a tweet a day
to The Cell at http://justcoz.org/
cellimagelibrar.
• If you have used The Cell in
interesting ways or in an article or
are interested in submitting images
or collaborating with The CellCCDB, please contact David Orloff
at dorloff@ncmir.ucsd.edu.
• Donate to The Cell to help it
continue to grow. You can use the
Donate button on the homepage.
25
The ASCB 2014 Call for Nominations
HIGHLIGHTS from MBoC
Bruce Alberts Award for Excellence in Science Education
The Editorial Board of Molecular Biology of the Cell has highlighted the following articles from
the February 2014 issues. From among the many fine articles in the journal, the Board selects for
these Highlights articles that are of broad interest and significantly advance knowledge or provide
new concepts or approaches that extend our understanding.
Public Service Award
Who is Eligible: An individual who has demonstrated innovative and sustained
contributions to science education, with particular emphasis on the broad local, regional,
and/or national impact of the nominee’s activities. Nominators must be ASCB members,
but the candidate and support letter authors need not be.
Who is Eligible: An individual who has demonstrated outstanding national leadership in
support of biomedical research. Nominators must be ASCB members. The award winner
may, but need not, be a scientist.
How to Apply: Provide a letter of nomination, a maximum of three letters of support,
and a CV.
How to Apply: Provide a letter of nomination with a description of the nominee’s
advocacy for, and promotion of, scientific research.
Awards: The winner is presented a plaque and will give remarks at the Annual Meeting.
Expenses to attend the Annual Meeting are paid.
Awards: The winner gives the Public Service Award Lecture at the ASCB Annual Meeting
and receives a certificate. Expenses to attend the Annual Meeting are paid.
Deadline: April 1 (electronic submission to Thea Clarke at tclarke@ascb.org)
Deadline: April 1 (electronic submission to Kevin Wilson at kwilson@ascb.org)
Early Career Life Scientist Award
Who is Eligible: An outstanding scientist who has served as an independent investigator
for no more than seven years as of April 1.
How to Apply: Provide a nominating package that includes a CV, brief research
statement, nominating letter, and no more than three letters of support (at least one of
which must come from outside the nominee’s institution). Nominators must be ASCB
members.
Awards: The winner is presented a plaque and a monetary prize and will speak in a
Minisymposium at the Annual Meeting. Expenses to attend the Annual Meeting are paid.
Deadline: April 1 (electronic submission to Christina Szalinski at cszalinski@ascb.org)
E.B. Wilson Medal
Who is Eligible: An individual who has demonstrated significant and far-reaching
contributions to cell biology over a lifetime in science. Nominators must be ASCB
members, but the candidate need not be.
How to Apply: Provide a letter of nomination, the candidate’s CV, and no fewer than
three, and no more than five, letters of support.
Awards: The winner of the ASCB’s highest honor for science gives the E.B. Wilson
Lecture at the Annual Meeting and receives the E.B. Wilson Medal. Expenses to attend the
Annual Meeting are paid.
Deadline: April 1 (electronic submission to ascbinfo@ascb.org)
E.E. Just Lectureship
Who is Eligible: A minority scientist who has demonstrated outstanding scientific
achievement. Nominators must be ASCB members, but the candidate need not be.
A stage-9 follicle (top) from a pxtEY/EY mutant Drosophila melanogaster and higher magnification
images of the regions around the ring canals leading into the oocyte from each of the four
posterior nurse cells (bottom). F-actin was labeled with phalloidin (white), and nuclei were
labeled with DAPI (cyan). The images show the aberrant early actin remodeling, including
extensive actin filaments and actin aggregates, emanating from the ring canals in the posterior
nurse cells due to the loss of Pxt. See Mol. Biol. Cell 25, 397–411. (Image: Andrew J.
Spracklen, Xiang Chen, and Tina Tootle, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of
Iowa Carver College of Medicine)
Soft matrix is a natural stimulator for cellular invasiveness
Zhizhan Gu, Fei Liu, E. A. Tonkova, Soo Young Lee, D. J. Tschumperlin, and M. B. Brenner
ECM softness (low stiffness comparable to soft tissues) alone is sufficient to prevent cell-to-cell adherens
junction formation, up-regulate MMP secretion, promote MMP activity, and induce invadosome-like
protrusion formation. Such findings suggest that cell invasion in vivo is a spontaneous cell behavior in
response to ECM stiffness.
Mol. Biol. Cell 25 (4), 457–469
Mutations that disrupt Ca2+-binding activity endow Doc2β with novel functional properties during
synaptic transmission
J. D. Gaffaney, Renhao Xue, and E. R. Chapman
The C2A and C2B domains of Doc2 have markedly distinct Ca2+-sensing and lipid-binding properties.
When expressed in wild-type neurons, a Ca2+-ligand mutant form of Doc2 that lacks apparent
Ca2+-binding activity and is constitutively bound to the plasma membrane results in an anomalous
enhancement of evoked and spontaneous synaptic transmission.
Mol. Biol. Cell 25 (4), 481–494 n
How to Apply: Provide a nomination package that includes a CV and a letter describing
the nominee’s scientific achievement and mentoring support of underrepresented minority
students and scientists.
Awards: The winner gives the E.E. Just Lecture at the Annual Meeting and receives a
plaque and a medal. Expenses to attend the Annual Meeting are paid.
Deadline: April 1 (electronic submission to Deborah McCall at dmccall@ascb.org)
WICB Awards
Junior Award for Excellence in Research
Who is Eligible: A woman in an early stage of her career (within six years of appointment to an independent
position at the nomination deadline) who is making exceptional scientific contributions to cell biology, is
developing a strong independent research program, and exhibits the potential for continuing at a high level of
scientific endeavor and leadership.
How to Apply: Provide a letter of nomination, a CV, and up to three letters of support, including at least one
from outside the nominee’s institution.
Mid-Career Award for Excellence in Research
Who is Eligible: A woman at the mid-career level (7-15 years in an independent position at the nomination
deadline) who has demonstrated a track record of exceptional scientific contributions to cell biology and/or has
effectively translated cell biology across disciplines, and who exemplifies a high level of scientific endeavor and
leadership.
How to Apply: Provide a letter of nomination, a CV, and up to three letters of support, including at least one
from outside the nominee’s institution.
Senior Leadership Award
Who is Eligible: A woman or man at a later career stage (generally full professor or equivalent) whose
outstanding scientific achievements are coupled with a record of active leadership in mentoring both men and
women in scientific careers.
How to Apply: Provide a letter of nomination highlighting scientific achievements as well as examples of
leadership and mentoring, a CV, and up to five letters of support. At least one letter must come from outside the
nominee’s institution, and two must be from current or former mentees of the nominee. Letters should include
specifics of the nominee’s mentoring history.
Awards: Each winner is presented with an honorarium and a plaque at the ASCB Annual Meeting. Expenses
to attend the Annual Meeting are paid. The Junior Awardee gives a talk in a minisymposium. Please note
that candidates may be nominated more than once, and members of the WICB Committee are not eligible.
Nominators must be ASCB members.
Deadline: April 1 (electronic submission to wicb@ascb.org)
Merton Bernfield Memorial Award
Who is Eligible: An outstanding graduate student or postdoctoral fellow (at the time of
nomination) who has excelled in research.
How to Apply: The student or postdoc or his or her advisor should submit a one-page
research statement, a CV, a list of publications, a copy of the abstract submitted to the
current year’s Annual Meeting, and the advisor’s letter of recommendation. Postdocs may
also submit the recommendation of their graduate student advisor. Duplicate applications
from graduate students may be submitted for the Gilula and Bernfield Memorial Awards.
Nominators or self-nominators must be ASCB members.
Awards: The winner is presented a plaque, is given financial support, and will speak at a
Minisymposium at the Annual Meeting. Expenses to attend the Annual Meeting are paid.
Deadline: July 15 (electronic submission to ascbinfo@ascb.org)
Norton B. Gilula Memorial Award
Who is Eligible: An outstanding graduate or undergraduate student (at the time of
nomination) who has excelled in research or first-year postdocs whose work was performed
while a PhD or MD/PhD student.
How to Apply: The student or advisor should submit a one-page research statement,
a CV, a list of publications, if any, the abstract submitted to the current year’s Annual
Meeting, and the advisor’s letter of recommendation. Duplicate applications from graduate
students may be submitted for the Gilula and Bernfield Memorial Awards. Nominators or
self-nominators must be ASCB members.
Awards: The winner is presented a plaque and a ribbon for his/her poster board. Expenses
to attend the Annual Meeting are paid. Funded by an annual grant from Rockefeller
University Press.
Deadline: July 15 (electronic submission to ascbinfo@ascb.org)
For names of prior awardees or more information, visit www.ascb.org and click on “Membership” or contact the ASCB at 301-347-9300 or ascbinfo@ascb.org.
26
ASCB NEWSLETTER MARCH 2014
MARCH 2014 ASCB NEWSLETTER
27
GRANTS & OPPORTUNITIES
A list of current grant and other opportunities can be found at www.ascb.org/grants. The following items were added since the last issue of the Newsletter:
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) Grant Writing Workshop. ASBMB seeks nominations for assistant professors and
senior postdoctoral researchers to participate in its 2014 Grant Writing Workshop, June 12–14, 2014, in Washington, DC. Application deadline: May 2,
2014. www.asbmb.org/grantwriting.
Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program. The CAREER Program is a Foundation-wide activity that offers the National Science Foundation’s
(NSF’s) most prestigious awards in support of junior faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through outstanding research, excellent education,
and the integration of education and research within the context of the mission of their organizations. In addition, each year NSF selects nominees for the
Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) from among the most meritorious recent CAREER awardees. The White House Office
of Science and Technology Policy makes the final selection and announcement of the awardees. Application deadline: July 21, 2014. www.nsf.gov/funding/
pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503214.
Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI). The National Science Foundation GOALI program promotes university–industry
partnerships by making project funds or fellowships/traineeships available to support an eclectic mix of industry–university linkages. The program targets highrisk/high-gain research with a focus on fundamental research, new approaches to solving generic problems, development of innovative collaborative industry–
university educational programs, and direct transfer of new knowledge between academe and industry. GOALI seeks to fund transformative research that lies
beyond that which industry would normally fund. Contact program office for deadlines. http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504699.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Competition to Appoint New HHMI Investigators. HHMI seeks to appoint 20–25 outstanding scientists
who are basic researchers and physician scientists studying significant biological problems in all biomedical disciplines, including plant biology, as well as in
adjacent fields such as evolutionary biology, biophysics, chemical biology, biomedical engineering, and computational biology. Application deadline: June 3,
2014. www.hhmi.org/programs/biomedical-research/investigator-program.
Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU). The National Science Foundation (NSF) REU program supports active research participation by
undergraduate students in any of the areas of research funded by the NSF. REU projects involve students in meaningful ways in ongoing research programs
or in research projects specifically designed for the REU program. There are two mechanisms for support of student research: (1) REU Sites are based
on independent proposals to initiate and conduct projects that engage a number of students in research. REU Sites may be based in a single discipline
or academic department or may offer interdisciplinary or multi-department research opportunities with a coherent intellectual theme. Proposals with an
international dimension are welcome. (2) REU Supplements may be included as a component of proposals for new or renewal NSF grants or cooperative
agreements or may be requested for ongoing NSF-funded research projects. Application Deadline: August 27, 2014. www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.
jsp?pims_id=5517.
“ASCB,” “The American Society for Cell Biology,” “iBioSeminars,” and “Molecular Biology of the Cell” are registered trademarks of The American Society
for Cell Biology. “The Cell: An Image Library” is a common law trademark of The American Society for Cell Biology.
A complete list of upcoming meetings can be found at http://
ascb.org/global-meetings-calendar. The following meeting was
added since the last issue of the Newsletter:
August 5–9, 2014. Winnipeg, Canada
First International Summer Institute of Scientific Teaching and Educational
Leadership for Bioscience Researchers. http://umanitoba.ca/medicine/
institutes/ineds.
ASCB Annual Meetings
December 6–10, 2014.
Philadelphia December 12–16, 2015.
San Diego
December 3–7, 2016.
San Francisco
December 2–6, 2017.
Philadelphia
December 8–12, 2018.
San Diego
The world of slime molds is seething with
activity as teams prepare their entries for the
upcoming Dicty World Race, set for May
16 in the Massachusetts General Hospital
lab of Daniel Irimia. Meantime, Irimia
and ASCB member Chris Janetopoulos of
Vanderbilt University have raised $3,000 from
private sponsors for prize money. Their goal now is to raise the
grand prize to $5,000 through crowd funding on RocketHub
(www.rockethub.com/projects/39942-dicty-world-race2014#description-tab). The idea that you could win real money
racing Dictyostelium discoideum is startling. Imagine cell biology
on the sports pages. Give generously. n
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ASCB Member Comments
We welcome your comments and suggestions at
ascbinfo@ascb.org n
Members in the News
Clifford Brangwynne, of Princeton University, an
ASCB member since 2013, was awarded a $50,000
early-career scientist research fellowship by the Alfred
P. Sloan Foundation.
Sally Kornbluth, who first became an ASCB member
in 2000, has been named provost of Duke University.
She will assume the position on July 1.
Dicty Racers Vie for Big Cash Prize
28
MEETINGS Calendar
Elaine Fuchs, of The Rockefeller University, an ASCB
member since 1980 and 2001 ASCB President,
will receive the 2014 Pezcoller Foundation–AACR
International Award for Cancer Research from the
American Association for Cancer Research.
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ASCB Member
Benefit: Publicize
Your Book
Are you publishing a book? If so, let ASCB know! Send the
title, publisher, ISBN information, and a thumbnail (300
dpi) of the cover. We’ll include it in the ASCB Newsletter.
This publicity is available only to ASCB members. Please
send submissions to Thea Clarke at tclarke@ascb.org. n
Volunteer to Review
CVs
We are always looking for more volunteers, especially
ASCB members in industry, to help review cover letters,
CVs, and resumes online for young ASCB scientists. If you
can help, please contact Thea Clarke at tclarke@ascb.org. n
ASCB NEWSLETTER MARCH 2014
MARCH 2014 ASCB NEWSLETTER
29
New ASCB Members
1,406 new members were approved by the ASCB Council from June–December 2013.
Nikka Abaricia
Genevieve Abbruzzese
Ammara Abdullah
Robert Aboukhalil
Maria Acevedo
Yvess Adamian
Arlo Adams
Shaquria Adderley
Gbenga Adefolaju
Neema Adhami
Evgenia Afanasieva
Megan Agajanian
Hiroshi Ageta
Smriti Agrawal
Ivie Aifuwa
Jayne Aiken
Michael Ailion
Tara Kafiyeh Akhshi
Ryutaro Akiyoshi
Hikmat Al Hashimi
Lauren Albrecht
Antigoni Alexandrou
Isma Ali
Anna Allen
Amanda Allred
Maria Almonacid
Annabel Alonso
Varisce Alston
Faisal Alturkistany
Rojelio Alvarado
Arun Anantharam
Sirinart Ananvoranich
Kate Anderson
David Ando
Darrell Andrews
Wei Tzer Ang
Dimitrios Angelis
Stephane Angers
Damodaran Annamalai
Neil Anthony
Kunio Arai
Alexander Aranovich
Edwin Arauz Diaz
Jessica Arden
Elisabetta Argenzio
Torey Arnold
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Stephanie Weber
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Six ASCB members were
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Mary Bell
Wendy F. Boss
Margaret R. Kasschau
William J. Smith
Leslie Wilson
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33
DEAR Labby
Paying It Forward
Dear Labby,
I have reason to be thankful to a number of senior faculty members at
my former institution and elsewhere after I was denied tenure. There are
some who supported me through my appeal process and search for a new
position, by conversations and letters of support. Another champion worked
hard to snatch me up for her institution. What is an appropriate, ethical
way to thank these people: my advocates in other institutions, my local
colleagues, and especially my new colleague who I hope will be a longterm neighbor? I will send emails of thanks once my career trajectory is resecured, but would a token of my appreciation be appropriate, say a fruit
basket or book for distant contacts and a night out at a wine bar with my
local group? For my champion with whom I may be working for the next two decades, may I give her
something more than my loyalty in future departmental ventures, like tickets to a show she might like
to see with a family member? What are the ethics of giving gifts to say thank you?
I enjoy your column and respect your advice. Thank you for considering my question.
—Sensitively Appreciative
Dear Sensitively Appreciative,
What you suggest is very thoughtful, but I wouldn’t underestimate how already “gifted” these
fine colleagues and supporters feel by having helped you. Seeing an admired colleague succeed,
especially if it is accompanied by a sense of right winning out, is a powerful dose of gratification.
Although the tangible gifts you are pondering are all lovely ideas, they really don’t come close to the
gift these fine people have already received by knowing that their efforts were successful. I would
advise a simple, hand-written note to each, perhaps adding something like “The way I hope to truly
say thank you and repay you for your wonderful support is to be the same stalwart champion of others
as a colleague, mentor, and friend.” n
—Labby
CBE
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