Geographic vocal variation and perceptual discrimination abilities in male Australian sea lions
By: Ahonen, Heidi, Robert G. Harcourt, Adam J. Stow, and Isabelle Charrier. Animal cognition (2018): 1-9. | Find with Google Scholar »
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Dear all,
A great week with full house for both the department meeting on Tuesday (you can find the slides below in the Admin section if you weren’t there) and the first of our weekly seminars for the year. Meanwhile the new Biology building is taking place rapidly in the fauna park – see the picture below for evidence and take a walk for a sneak preview.
cheers,
Michelle
Save the Date
This coming week 12th – 16th March
Tue 13th: Workshop – Making it in Academia; 9.30am – 12.00pm; Venue TBA (see details below).
Tue 13th: Special Seminar by Bio-Strategy and GE Healthcare; 1.00pm – 2.00pm; 4WW (F7B) 322.
Wed 14th: Department Morning Tea; 10.30am – 11.30am; The Hill.
Wed 14th: Departmental Seminar – Prof. Andrew Skidmore – Remote Sensing enabled Essential Biodiversity Variables for environmental monitoring; 1.00pm – 2.00pm; Biology Tea Room.
Thu 15th: Promega Morning Tea; 10.30am – 11.30am; Biology Tea Room.
Thu 15th: Academic promotion info session; C7A Level 3 conference rooms; 2-4pm.
Fri 16th: Writing Workshop by Ken Cheng; 2.00pm – 4.00pm; 6SR (E8B) 111.
Following week 19th – 23rd March
Wed 21st: Department Morning Tea; 10.30am – 11.30am; Biology Tea Room.
Wed 21st: Departmental Seminar – Prof. Geoff Hill – Speciation and sexual selection as processes to maintain mitonuclear coadapation; 1.00pm – 2.00pm; Biology Tea Room.
Thu 22nd: MRes Seminars; 9.00am – 5.00pm; Biology Tea Room.
Fri 23rd: Writing Workshop by Ken Cheng; 2.00pm – 4.00pm; 6SR (E8B) 111.
Coming up
Thu Mar 29th: HDR Supervision Training – Mental Health; 10.30am – 12.00pm; Biology Tea Room.
Fri Apr 13th: BioNetwork “Killing it in Science” Research Symposium; 8.30 am – 5.30 pm; Lvl 8, 12WW (E7A).
Tue Apr 17th: L&T Special Seminar Commitment, engagement and learning in a large cohort of students by Maurizio Manuguerra; 1 – 2pm; 6WW (E8C)-212 for (sign up here).
Wed Apr 18th: Biological Sciences Graduation Ceremony; 2.30pm; Location 14SCO (E7B) main hall.
Departmental Seminar Series
Wed Mar 28th: Departmental Seminar – Dr. Michael Stat – Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University; 1.00pm – 2.00pm; 14EAR (E8A)-280 (Biology Tea Room).
Wed Apr 4th: Departmental Seminar – Dr. April Reside – University of Queensland; 1.00pm – 2.00pm; 14EAR (E8A)-280 (Biology Tea Room).
Wed Apr 11th: Departmental Seminar – Assoc. Prof. Kira Westaway – Department of Environmental Science, Macquarie University; 1.00pm – 2.00pm; 14EAR (E8A)-280 (Biology Tea Room).
General News and Announcements
RESEARCH OUTCOMES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Raine Island Recovery Project – Turtle Nesting Environment Research Expression of Interest
Through the Queensland Department of Environment and Science the Raine Island Recovery Project is seeking Expressions of Interest for research proposals to address whether there is a relationship between the nest micro-environment and green turtle hatching failure at Raine Island. Details regarding the EOI can be found in the attached two documents.
The EOI closes on the 19th of March 2018 at 4pm Australian Eastern Standard time. EOIs will be considered and assessed against the evaluation criteria, following which selected applicants will be requested to develop a full application. Collaborations are strongly encouraged. Should you have any queries please email <Raineresearch@des.qld.gov.au>.
Department Awards for HDRs
This year, the department is coordinating two awards for HDRs in plant sciences, supported by two bequests:
- Tony Price Award for plant ecology (guidelines here)
- Milthorpe Memorial Award in Plant Biology (this includes forestry, agriculture and horticulture) – guidelines here
In both cases, the funds (up to $2500) can be used for research support or conference presentation. Applications close 31st March, and must be submitted to <fse.bio-hod@mq.edu.au>.
LEARNING AND TEACHING
HDR Supervision Training – Mental Health
There is an upcoming workshop that will contribute to your requirement of ongoing HDR supervisory training. Dr Benjamin Wilkes, Clinical Psychologist, Campus Wellbeing will be facilitating the workshop: Responding to Mental Illness in the tertiary setting. Ben has graciously offered to run this session especially for the Biological Sciences Department.
When: Thursday 29th March 10:30-12 (Note new date!)
Where: Biology Tea Room
This workshop will cover managing the supervisory relationship and supporting students with symptoms of mental illness. To register: please email <julian.may@mq.edu.au>.
The University BioQuest – April 2018
Macquarie University will be participating in this month-long competition to document plants and animals on and near campus. The competition is international against 15 other universities. There are many prizes to be won! Participation is free, but you must register.
More information will be distributed next week, including slides for undergraduate lectures. All staff and students (including undergrad, Masters and Post Grad) are encouraged to participate. More information: https://questagame.com/university-bioquest Questions can be directed to Samantha Newton.
SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS
Departmental Weekly Seminar
Day/Date/Time/Place: Wednesday, 14th March, 1:00pm – 2:00pm, 14EAR (E8A)-280 (Tea Room).
Speaker: Prof. Andrew Skidmore, Department of Environmental Science, Macquarie University.
Title: Remote Sensing enabled Essential Biodiversity Variables for environmental monitoring
Abstract: https://goto.mq.edu.au/biologyseminar2018-abstracts
Weekly Molecular Sciences Seminar by Bio-Strategy and GE Healthcare
Date & Venue: Tuesday, 13th March, 2018 – 1 – 2pm – 4WW (F7B) 322
Title: From DNA/RNA to Protein analysis, GE Healthcare provides high quality and reliable solutions for researchers
Content: The seminar will introduce reagents and equipment that GE offers to researchers for DNA/RNA and protein purification and analysis.
Please RSVP for the seminar using the below link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NYSTSNW
Respect. Now. Always. Programme
Respect@MQ Workshops
Writing Workshops
Running weekly for most of the year: Fridays 2-4pm in room 6SR (E8B) 111. Convened by Ken Cheng
These writing workshops are meant for HDR students and early-career researchers. In these face-to-face encounters, writing at any stage of any genre is welcome, from first draft to final polish, from empirical paper to literature review to popular news story. Ken envisages personal feedback linked perhaps with rounds of revisions on selected passages during the session. The aim is not just to get stuff written, but to write everything well.
Those interested in attending a session should email Ken Cheng <ken.cheng@mq.edu.au> by Wednesday 12:00-noon, preferably with a draft attached of what they are working on and some indication of what they especially need help with.
CALL FOR ABSTRACTS & SAVE THE DATE for the BioNetwork “Killing it in Science” Research Symposium
Friday 13th of April 2018 at Macquarie University
Building 12WW (E7A), Level 8, 8.30 a.m. – 5.30 p.m., free event, catering included!
The aim of this one day symposium is to foster the Macquarie University researcher community across the Faculties of Science & Engineering and Medicine & Health Sciences, with a common interest in the biosciences. The event is being organised by Macquarie’s own ECRs, for anyone keen to build their career in science in academia and industry. The program will consist of
- A unique career building session in the morning: ‘Killing it in science: Adventures and misadventures of a research scientist’
- A dynamic scientific session in the afternoon to create a platform for interdisciplinary research collaborations to commence novel or strengthen existing projects
Call for abstracts:
This year we are looking for scientific presentations that inspire the interdisciplinary BioNetwork at MQ. Specifically we would like to receive abstracts that cover:
– an overview or description of your research technology(ies)
– a research challenge, or a research opportunity
– your research expertise or developed method
– insights into data visualisation or data statistics
– inspiring and novel interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary research results
Presentations will be 10-15 minutes long and should be adapted for the general BioNetwork audience. Please fill in this Abstract Template and email to: <bionetwork@mq.edu.au> before Friday the 9th of March!
Workshop Next Week: ‘Making it in Academia’
Tuesday 13 March, 9.30am-12.00pm. Venue: TBA
This workshop is targeted towards ECRs and HDR students who aspire to the academic career path. Perhaps you have seen a job advertisement for an academic position and think that it is made for you. How do you actually make this job yours?
In this workshop hear from expert panel members and new faculty members on different aspects of what it takes to make it into academia. From writing a job application, making a good impression during interviews, delivering that impeccable seminar, and then the first year in academia. There will be a Q&A at the end of each session.
This workshop is convened by Ajay Narendra – ARC Future Fellow in Biology. The aims of this workshop are to support ECR and HDR researchers by giving tips, advice and building confidence around academic job applications.
Panel members:
Associate Professor Juan Carlos Afonso (Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, FoS&E)
Senior Lecturer Rachael Dudaniec (Department of Biology, FoS&E)
Associate Professor Adam Dunn (Centre for Health Informatics, FoM&HS)
Dr Jenn Fifita (Bill Gole MND Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Neurobiology, FoM&HS)
Dr Jemma Geoghegan (Department of Biology, FoS&E)
Associate Professor Ann Goodchild (Neurophysiology, FoM&HS) (Tentative)
Professor Marie Herberstein (Department of Biology, FoS&E)
Professor Dorrit Jacob (Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, FoS&E)
Distinguished Professor Michelle Leishman (Department of Biology, FoS&E)
Ms Sally Purcell (HDR Professional Skills Program Manager, Office of the Dean – Higher Degree Research)
Emeritus Professor Mark Westoby (Department of Biology, FoS&E)
Click here to register for Making it in Academia
<registration link:https://hdrworkshops.mq.edu.au/registration/new/15461?year=2018>
Call for Expressions of Interest to Participate in the REP Leadership Program ‘Make Your Mark on Macquarie – Lead a Project for Change’
Do you want to improve Macquarie University? Do you have an idea on a project that you wish to lead that will have a lasting impact? This is an invitation for expressions of interest to participate in the Research Enrichment Program Leadership series: Make your mark on Macquarie – Lead a project for change, organised by Mauricio Marrone and Marie Herberstein. This leadership program is open to all career stages, from PhD, ECR, mid-career and senior academics.
In this 6-month support program, up to ten applicants will undergo a six-month leadership development process, mentored by senior members across the university. Selection into the program will be based on the projects that you wish to lead and the impact that these projects will have on the University, or broader community. Please submit your expression of interest to be one of the 10 participants here.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YV92DFP
Applications close on 23rd of March.
Successful applicants will participate in a kick-off meeting in early April 2018. During the kick-off meeting, participants will have to do a three minute pitch of their project and outline the impact that they wish to have. Participants will then be partnered with mentors to help fulfil their project.
Over the following 6 months (lasting until the beginning of November), participants will lead their project to completion, with the support of their mentors, all while developing their leadership skills. At the end of the six months, a networking event will be organised and participants will share their projects and the lessons learned during the process.
ADMIN THINGS
Slides from March Departmental Meeting
Need the HoD’s signature?
Please remember that if you want sign-off on any application, send it to fse.bio-hod@mq.edu.au
Absence on Duty – get in early
Reminder that you are asked to submit Absence on Duty forms AT LEAST two weeks before your departure. Give our lovely admin team a break!
Photo Competition – March 2018 – 1x $100 Gift Card to Win each month!
This month’s theme is SUMMER
Your images could be used on our Department website, this newsletter, on our social media and in other biology publications. A lucky person’s name will be drawn each month, and they will receive a $100 Gift Card!
Criteria
- you must provide caption information including details of what/where/who(names of people)/date
- you must have taken all photos
- the image was taken in the last five years
Please follow the dropbox file request link to submit your images.
Submission close: 30 March 2018
You can enter as many photos as you like – one entry to the draw for each good photo, good luck!
Correct Method for Submitting to Department Matters
Department Matters submissions now have their own email address. Please send all future submissions to the newsletter to <fse.bionewsletter@mq.edu.au>!
Also, please see the following to correctly format your additions, and keep them rolling in!
You may have noticed that we try to keep all the articles to the same format for the Department Matters, however, rest assured, they do NOT all turn up in this format! To help keep your Department Matters looking as good as possible, when sending in additions to the Newsletter, please try to keep these formatting guidelines in mind.
- Please write in third person. The information is coming from the Newsletter, not directly from you.
- Do not use fancy text formatting. Bold heading, normal text, and only italics or bold to highlight. No font size changes will make it through, sorry.
- If sending via email, set your email output to basic. HTML output will add all sort of formatting that will have to be removed before your article can go into the newsletter.
Keeping to these guidelines will streamline your article’s addition to the newsletter. Thank you.
Follow us on Social Media
Are you getting credit for your Outreach Activities? Have participated in an activity for Biology recently?
Don’t forget to fill in the super-quick form here – ACCESS OUTREACH FORM HERE
JOB POSITIONS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Physics and Astronomy Urgently Require a Scientific Officer
Position: Scientific Officer
Reporting To: Technical Manager – Physics and Astronomy
Hours: Equivalent of 3 days a week, flexibility on days and times
Contract Length: 3 months (casual)
Level: HEW5.1
Tasks and Duties:
- Work with laboratory managers and academics to develop and maintain safety within the Department’s research spaces.
- Help to develop, monitor and maintain support systems for the Department’s research laboratories.
- Support the technical manager in the management of laboratory space upgrade projects.
- Perform and other duties as required and appropriate for this role.
Selection Criteria:
- Essential
-
- Experience in a research laboratory setting
- A good understanding of both general laboratory equipment and specialist equipment
- Strong understanding of health and safety within a research setting
- Excellent technical, administrative and organisational skills including planning, prioritisation and time management.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Proficiency in the use of standard computer programmes such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Outlook.
- Desirable
-
- An Advanced Diploma or degree in physics or relevant discipline or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
- Experience with scientific languages with an emphasis on Python. Experience with Matlab, Labview or Mathematica will be highly regarded.
For all questions and to apply, contact Ben Norton <ben.norton@mq.edu.au>.
SIMS Advertising for a Full-Time Post-Doc for an Initial Period of 3 Years
Job Opportunity
As a Department we want to offer a range of high quality learning activities, for outreach events, that are related to our research and teaching. We are currently adapting two undergrad practicals to create 40 min+ lesson plans for high school students (any year 7-11) for various events and school visits. We can pay HDR, MRes, or excellent UG students up to 10 hours at Dem rates.
So we are looking for one or two people depending on the skill set of the applicants. We are specifically looking for people that have:
- Some molecular skills to adapt a prac in Biol115 to create a versatile activity called solving mysteries with DNA
- Interests in marine conservation with an emphasis on fish to build resources for a marine reserve activity built around a fish ID prac
The second task will be delivered as part of an event later this semester and so there is further opportunity to also be paid to present it
Although we have the framework sorted original input into the activities will not be discouraged.
BLOGS AND OTHER THINGS OF INTEREST
Plant of the Week!
Commelina cyanea – or Scurvy weed – is a native plant, but in spite of its glorious, cobalt blue flowers, is often weeded out of suburban gardens. Its unflattering common name relates to the fact that it is edible, and does contain Vitamin C!
“The history of conservation is a story of many victories in a losing war”.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/03/opinion/sunday/species-conservation-extinction.html
Shuttle Bus
Did you know that the University has a free shuttle bus service during semester time? Follow this link to find out more – https://www.mq.edu.au/about/contacts-and-maps/getting-to-macquarie/shuttle-bus
Reference Writing & Gender Bias
This one-page poster is a succinct and evidence-based guide to writing references (for women or men), from the Faculty Women in Stem Committee. avoiding_gender_bias_in_letter_of_reference_writing
WANTED & AVAILABLE
Room for Rent
Kaja Wierucka has a room for short-term rent (from now until April). The two-bedroom apartment is in Ryde, with direct connections to Macquarie University and the CBD. Rent is $250/week (including all bills and internet). Contact her at <kaja.wierucka@hdr.mq.edu.au> for more details.
New Publications
A database of chlorophyll a in Australian waters
By: Davies, C.H., Ajani, P., Armbrecht, L., Atkins, N., Baird, M.E., Beard, J., Bonham, P., Burford, M., Clementson, L., Coad, P. and Crawford, C., 2018. Scientific data, 5, p.180018. | Find with Google Scholar »Phylogenetic classification of the world’s tropical forests
By: Slik, J.F., Franklin, J., Arroyo-Rodríguez, V., Field, R., Aguilar, S., Aguirre, N., Ahumada, J., Aiba, S.I., Alves, L.F., Anitha, K. and Avella, A., 2018. 115(8), pp.1837-1842. | Find with Google Scholar »Coastal polynyas: Winter oases for subadult southern elephant seals in East Antarctica
By: Labrousse, S., Williams, G., Tamura, T., Bestley, S., Sallée, J.B., Fraser, A.D., Sumner, M., Roquet, F., Heerah, K., Picard, B. and Guinet, C., 2018. Scientific reports, 8(1), p.3183. | Find with Google Scholar »A new species of Amazonian snouted treefrog (Hylidae: Scinax) with description of a novel species-habitat association for an aquatic breeding frog
By: Ferrão, Miquéias, Rafael de Fraga, Jiří Moravec, Igor L. Kaefer, and Albertina P. Lima. PeerJ 6 (2018): e4321. | Find with Google Scholar »Integrating social networks, animal personalities, movement ecology and parasites: a framework with examples from a lizard
By: Sih, Andrew, Orr Spiegel, Stephanie Godfrey, Stephan Leu, and C. Michael Bull. Animal Behaviour (2017). | Find with Google Scholar »Where should we meet? Mapping social network interactions of sleepy lizards shows sex-dependent social network structure
By: Spiegel, Orr, Andrew Sih, Stephan T. Leu, and C. Michael Bull. Animal Behaviour (2017). | Find with Google Scholar »Learning ability is unaffected by isolation rearing in a family-living lizard
By: Riley, Julia L., Anna Küchler, Théo Damasio, Daniel WA Noble, Richard W. Byrne, and Martin J. Whiting. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 72, no. 2 (2018): 20. | Find with Google Scholar »New evolutionary and ecological advances in deciphering the Cambrian explosion of animal life
By: Zhang, Zhifei, and Glenn A. Brock. Journal of Paleontology 92, no. 1 (2018): 1-2. | Find with Google Scholar »Eldonioids with associated trace fossils from the lower Cambrian Emu Bay Shale Konservat-Lagerstatte of South Australia
By: Schroeder, Natalie I., John R. Paterson, and Glenn A. Brock. Journal of Paleontology 92, no. 1 (2018): 80-86. | Find with Google Scholar »Inter-individual variability in the foraging behaviour of traplining bumblebees
By: Klein, Simon, Cristian Pasquaretta, Andrew B. Barron, Jean-Marc Devaud, and Mathieu Lihoreau. Scientific Reports 7, no. 1 (2017): 4561. | Find with Google Scholar »Assessing host response to disease treatment: how chytrid-susceptible frogs react to increased water salinity
By: Klop-Toker, K., Valdez, J., Stockwell, M., Edgar, M., Fardell, L., Clulow, S., Clulow, J. & Mahony, M. (2018). Wildlife Research, 44(8): 648-659. | Find with Google Scholar »In the Media
Lesley Hughes was interviewed on ABC Radio Canberra and ABC Radio National
Distinguished Professor Lesley Hughes from the Department of Biological Sciences was interviewed on ABC Radio Canberra celebrating women in STEM. See page five of this report. And also ABC Radio National, see page five of this report.
Matthew Bulbert subject of the recent In situ science podcast
Dr Matthew Bulbert from the Department of Biological Sciences was the recent subject for In situ science. Listen here to an interview with In Situ Science where we cover journeys through Papua New Guinea, Africa and Australia in search of rare and poorly understood animals. And discusses exploring new paradigms in biology by describing and studying animal behaviours that have never been studied before.
Jane Williamson was featured in The West Australian and Life Hacker
Associate Professor Jane Williamson from the Department of Biological Sciences was featured in The West Australian and Life Hacker following her research into great white shark numbers in West Australian waters.
Ravi Palavalli Nettimi was featured in the Sydney Morning Herald and Saturday Age
Ravi Palavalli Nettimi from the Department of Biological Sciences was featured in the Sydney Morning Herald and Saturday Age regarding his research into how ants navigate travelling to and from their nest.
Phil Taylor was interviewed on ABC Landline, ABC Radio Australia and ABC Online
Professor Phil Taylor from the Department of Biological Sciences was interviewed on ABC Landline, ABC Radio Australia and ABC Online regarding his research into fruit flies.
Recent Completions
Congratulations to Danae Moore for submitting her PhD on the threats to the endangered great desert skink. You may not have met Danae, she lives on a remote Australian Wildlife Conservancy property in the Tanami desert with her family.
Supervised by Associate Professor Adam Stow