The BMB Weekly Vol. 44, No. 47, November 21-25, 2011
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Please send submissions to: Katie Gallagher at galla134@cns.msu.edu or 212 Biochemistry (mailbox on 2 floor)
Calendar
** For a listing of all CNS Events, please click here **
Monday, November 21
Science at the Edge: Math/QB/Gedd Seminar: Ionic interactions in biological systems: A variational treatment.
Bob Eisenberg, Rush University, 10:30 a.m., 1400 Biomedical & Physical Sciences.
Chemistry Seminar: Electron transfer in efficient molecular solar cells. Jerry Meyer, John Hopkins University,
11:20 a.m., 136 Chemistry.
Genetics Research Forum: The molecular mechanisms responsible for pervasive epistasis among evolutionary
lineages. Barry Williams, Michigan State University, 12:30 p.m., 1425 Biomedical & Physical Sciences.
Physics & Astronomy Seminar: Chiral domains in Sr2Ru04: Reality or myth? Victor Vakaryuk, Argonne
National Laboratory, 4:10 p.m., 1400 Biomedical & Physical Sciences.
Plant Biology & Plant Research Lab Seminar: Differential age-dependent regulation of protein import into
chloroplasts. Hsou-min Li, Academia Sinica, 4:10 p.m., 101 Biochemistry.
Tuesday, November 22
Statistics & Probability Seminar: Random matrix theory and covariance matrix estimation. Wei Biao Wu,
University of Chicago, 10:20 a.m., A405 Wells Hall.
Plant Research Lab Seminar: Light quality-dependent responses of Fremyella diplosiphon to iron limitation.
Bagmi Pattanaik, Montgomery Lab, 12:00 noon, 168 Plant Biology.
Pathobiology & Diagnostic Investigation Seminar: The use of mucosal explants to study herpesvirus host
invasion. Lennert Steukers, Northwestern University, 12:10 p.m., 101 Diagnostic Center for Population and
Animal Health.
Physics & Astronomy Seminar: Vector boson pair production at hadron colliders. John Campbell, Fermilab,
1:45 p.m., 1400 Biomedical & Physical Sciences.
Physics & Astronomy Special Seminar: Single electrons transport on a liquid He surface: Point-contact and
quasi-1D channels. K. Kono, 3:00 p.m., 1400 Biomedical & Physical Sciences.
Chemistry Seminar: Jared Hansen, Michigan State University, 4:10 p.m., 136 Chemistry.
Wednesday, November 23
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Preliminary Examination: Interaction of isoprene-mediated
thermotolerance with light environment in whole leaves: Implications for the mechanism of isoprene action. Chris
Harvey, 10:30 a.m., 208 Biochemistry.
Chemistry Seminar: Qian Qin, Michigan State University, 3:00 p.m., 136 Chemistry.
Calendar continued
Thursday, November 24
Happy Thanksgiving!!
The University will be closed in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday
Friday, November 25
The University will be closed in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday
Department News
Hoffmann-Benning Mentors Future Scientist
Assistant BMB Professor, Susanne Hoffmann-Benning, participated in the Future Scientist Program, during Summer
2011. This program, sponsored by MSU, the American Cancer Society, and the Lansing School District, gives
Lansing high school juniors the opportunity to work in a laboratory setting for eight weeks. Under the HoffmannBenning lab's guidance, Tina Guo learned how to grow Arabidopsis plants from seed, extract mRNA and examine
gene expression as part of the "Expression of Annexin and LAFP in Arabidopsis thaliana" project.
Six other high school students were granted stipends to work in plant biology, pathobiology, chemistry, psychology,
physiology, and nursing researchers' laboratories. See their stories in Kathy Walsh's article, "Future Scientist Program
2011: Student researchers driven by compassion, curiosity."
Applications for the Summer 2011 Future Scientist Program are available from through the Clinical and Translational
Sciences Institute, https://ctsi.msu.edu/node/191, and are due February 18, 2011.
Announcements
MSU COGS 2011 Thanksgiving Dinner: Spartan Village Community Center, Wednesday,
November 23rd. Dinner served at 5:00 p.m. Join graduate students from around campus for a
Thanksgiving event this year. This is a great opportunity for students who are out-of-state or
international who may not have the chance to go home for the long weekend. All graduate
students are welcome! If you’re interested in volunteering, please contact Zuleikha Zadran,
ISA President at siddiqiz@msu.edu.
The Graduate School Workshops:
Electronic Thesis/Dissertation Formatting and Graduation Requirements. Thursday, December 2, 2:00-3:00 p.m. 105
South Kedzie. Registration is required. To register, please use the web registration form located here.
Developing a Teaching Philosophy: Building Reflection Through Collaboration. Monday, December 4, 5:30 p.m. –
7:00 p.m. 1279 Anthony Hall. Registration is required. To register, please use the web registration form located
here.
New Graduate Seminar: Eavesdropping on the Boy’s Club. The “women in science” graduate seminar (NEU 992)
will be offered Spring 2012 and facilitated by Cindy Jordan. Class will meet weekly on Wednesdays, starting January
11, 2012. 12:30-2:30 p.m., 101 Giltner Hall. The class is open to all graduate students and postdocs (students are
encouraged to register). This year’s class has two main objectives: understanding the role females have in their own
career advancement and hearing the male perspective on career advancement. For a complete class description, please
click here. Please contact Cindy Jordan (jordancy@msu.edu) to obtain a course override or to answer any questions
you may have.
Graduate Research Funding Workshop: Funding Your Graduate Experience: Natural Sciences. Thursday, January
12, 4:00-6:00 p.m. Reference Instruction Room, Main MSU Library, 1st Floor. Registration is required. Please visit
http://classes.lib.msu.edu/class_list.php for postings and registration form.
Position Vacancies
The Center for Radiochemistry and Biological Imaging at Brookhaven National Laboratory is seeking a highly
motivated and independent Research Associate in whole-plant physiology to study mechanism of sucrose
accumulation in sweet sorghum, a candidate bioenergy crop. Their group uses short-lived radioactive isotopes (e.g.,
carbon-11) for in vivo physiological studies of plant function, such as transport dynamics, whole-plant photosynthate
allocation, and biochemical partitioning of carbon. This postdoctoral position is available for up to 3 years. For full
job description and to apply online, go to http://www.bnl.gov/HR/careers/. Questions about the research program can
be directed to Dr. Benjamin A. Babst (bbabst@bnl.gov), Medical Department. Look for job # 15948.
Internship Opportunity
MSU Technologies has an internship opportunity available in Intellectual Property Commercialization. This
position is a fixed-term position for MSU Technologies. The IP Commercialization Intern will examine intellectual
property assets to determine commercial potential using an established set of criteria and write reports of results,
determine market structure, develop marketing targets, and validate licensing leads. Investigations must look beyond
the “wow” factor of new technology to analyze the business reality of each situation. Reports must clearly convey to
MSUT Technology Managers, inventors, and industry partners the commercial potential of intellectual property assets
and suggest additional development of the assets that would improve marketability. For complete information, please
click here.
Quote for the Week
Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from
the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds.
~ Theodore Roosevelt ~