Interplay between Endophyte Prevalence, Effects and Transmission: Insights from a Natural Grass Population
Gibert, A., D. Magda, and L. Hazard. 2015. Interplay between Endophyte Prevalence, Effects and Transmission: Insights from a Natural Grass Population. PLoS ONE 10. | Find with Google Scholar »
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Dear all,
Congratulations to our highly commended and winning researchers in the MQ Research Excellence Awards – Brian Atwell, David Raftos, Diego Barneche and Andy Barron – they did us proud – see the photo below!
Reminder to RSVP if you are coming along to the official opening of the new E8C teaching labs NEXT WEDNESDAY at 3pm – the eventbrite website is here.
Thanks to all who came along to this week’s department meeting – the slides are here.
cheerio
Michelle
General News and Announcements
Endeavour Success
Rowan McGinley has been awarded a Endeavour Research Fellowship to work with Eileen Hebets at University of Nebraska. Rowan will be working on mantispid-spider relations, building on some interesting observations made during his PhD with local spiders (e.g., mantispids as sexually transmitted predators). Its a really very interesting project on a very under-studied system, and Eileen is an ideal host (for Rowan, not mantispids).
Francisco Devescovi from Argentina will be heading in the other direction to join us as an Endeavour Research Fellow in 2016. He has done quite a lot of work with physiology and mating behaviour of South American Anastrepha fruit flies so will fit in well with our rapidly expanding research programs in this field.
Dom McAfee (PhD student, Benthic Ecology lab) has just been awarded an Endeavour Australia Cheung Kong Research Fellowship, a A$24,500 award which will enable him to spend 4-6 months of his PhD working at the Swire Institute of Marine Science, University of Hong Kong.
Biologists scoop the pool at MQ Excellence in Research awards
Four of the department’s researchers were successful at this year’s MQ Excellence in Research awards which were announced on Wednesday night. Andy Barron was highly commended while Brian Atwell, David Raftos and Diego Barneche all won their respective categories. Well done all!
A Message from Research Award Winner Diego Barneche
Dear all,
It is with great honour that I received the Research Awards this Wednesday evening. Unfortunately I did not have a speech prepared (lesson learned!), and during that moment of surprise and excitement I totally forgot to thank some people that were very important during my time at Macquarie. So please accept my sincere apologies. That said, I would like to thank the Biology Department and the Faculty of Science for providing me with the opportunity to conduct my research and achieve this award. In particular, I would like to thank Mariella, Tracy Rushmer, Matt Kosnik, Dan Falster, John Alroy, Josh Madin, Rob Harcourt and the Biology administration staff for the great support during my PhD candidature. This has been an awesome journey, and you have all been responsible for it in one way or another. I wish you all the best.
Thanks,
Diego
Biology Bake-off & Fund Raiser
Many thanks for everyone who contributed delicious, pies, slices, cupcakes, muffins, scones, strudels, pralines. Everything was duly consumed and the winners by (somewhat irregular) popular vote were: Equal first: Lemmon Meringue Pie by Shanta Nair and Apfelstrudel by Mariella Herberstein. Third: Savoury Scones by Rekha Joshi.
We have raised $380 dollars, which were donated to the UNHCR Syrian refugee appeal. See here & here!
If you missed out, here is the link for the donation.
Or you can host a Syrian family or donate clothes and toys here.
Special thanks to Lorraine Hardwick who won first place in our Melbourne cup sweep and has decided to donat 100% of her winnings to the Syrian refugee appeal!!
Perpetual Impact scheme – departmental prioritisation of proposals
The Perpetual Impact scheme is now open and MQ may submit one application per department, and up to a maximum of three applications per organisation (see information attached). We have been advised that each department will need to prioritise its possible applications and submit a single EoI for the most-strategic proposal only. If you are planning to apply for this funding, can you please let Melanie (melanie.bishop@mq.edu.au) know by COB Monday 9 November. If there are multiple interested parties, we will need to run a selection process within the Department prior to the Research Office EOI deadline is COB Wednesday 18th November. More information here, here and here.
Call for Biological Sciences Research Experience Projects
The Biological Sciences Research Experience is an opportunity for Advanced Science (Biology) students to work in a research group within the Department and be supported by a paid stipend for up to 4 weeks full-time (or pro-rata for longer). Students can take up this opportunity before their third year of study.
If you have a short project opportunity available, either over summer 2015-16 or during 2016, please email the following details to Koa Webster <koa.webster@mq.edu.au> by Friday 13th November:
Lab name:
Contact person and e-mail:
Lab website:
Project title(s):
Project date possibilities:
If you sent Koa similar information for (unpaid) Advanced Biology internships earlier this year, and you would like the same project(s) to be offered again, please send an email to let her know.
Big History Anthropocene Conference
The conference will explore some of the most pressing issues of our time. The conference aligns strongly with Macquarie University’s future shaping research priorities, and a document outlining that alignment can be downloaded here.
Explore Big Issues with Global Impact
The human race has had such a profound impact on the climate and environment of the Earth that some have proposed we have entered a new geological era – the Anthropocene – with significant implications for economic and political decision making.
The conference addresses a number of major global challenges. Sessions include:
- Defining the Anthropocene
- Ecosystems, Boundaries, and Species
- Economics for the Anthropocene
- Law and Governance for the Anthropocene
- Reflections on Paris COP21
- Climate Change, Health, and Population
- Humanity’s Long Term Prospects
International Research Collaborations
Each session brings together some of the finest Australian and international academics from different disciplinary backgrounds in the natural and social sciences, and culminates in a Q&A panel discussion. The conference will identify big questions that can be explored by innovative research across disciplines. The conference will be the catalyst to initiate and strengthen international research collaborations.
| When | Wednesday 9 December – Friday 11 December 9am – 6pm |
| Where | Macquarie Theatre, Building W2.4A Macquarie University |
| More Information | Find out more about the conference |
| RSVP | Monday 30 November 2015 |
WHS in Biology Teaching
All unit conveners:
From 2016, it is necessary that we have Risk assessments for all wet/ some dry practicals and fieldwork from 2016. As we wind down from teaching your technical staff can help you write risk assessments. Please get in touch with technical staff to start organising risk assessments for your units and aim to complete before mid February.
The risk assessments should be completed before the start of the teaching.
This applies to all units and for all semesters in 2016. Please contact me if you need help or have an inquiry.
Regards
Rekha
VWR Morning Tea
Please come along to the tea room (E8A 280) Monday from 10:30AM for a morning tea from VWR. More details in the flyer here.
Early Career Researcher (ECR) Informal Lunchtime Meet-Up: **starting this Wednesday, Nov. 11!**
Starting on Nov. 11, and then four times a year after that, Biol. Sci. faculty and postdoc ECRs will be having a very informal, lunchtime meet up just before Dept. Seminar. Everyone is welcome! Based on the great feedback from the poll we sent out, we’ll meet on Wednesdays. BYO lunch. Details are below.
| Who | all postdoc and faculty ECRs (ECR status is by self-nomination!) |
| Frequency | 4 x per year |
| Date |
2nd Wednesday of the first month of each half-term:
— Nov. 11 (this is the one exception to the rule, so we can meet up once before the end of the year)
— Mar. 9
— May 11
— Aug. 10
— Oct. 12
|
| Time | Noon-12:45 (just before Dept. Seminar) |
| Location | U@MQ outside tables (i.e., the covered tables as you enter the building if walking from Biol. Sci.) |
See you there!
Elizabeth Madin, Rachael Gallagher, Daniel Falster and the rest of the ECR committee
iLearn S1 2016
The iLearn spaces for S1 have been released. If you would like an iLearn space created for S1 please reply Kath <katherine.mcclellan@mq.edu.au
- Unit code
- Which version to copy (e.g. development space, S1 2015)
- Access dates (e.g. default (29/2/16-2/7/16) or other (please specify))
- Enrolments (e.g. Internal, External BIOL60X students)
- Staff (e.g academics, tech staff & tutors – if you already know)
Biology garden update and plant vandals
Work on the biology garden annexe will commence next week with removal (and spraying) of the weedy ground covers (fishbone fern and Tradescantia). Please avoid the annexe during this time.
Plans for the annexe are being finalised this week, with Property being supportive of the design we commissioned. A more detailed update will be circulated next week.
I was disappointed to discover one of our new plants has been vandalised, being broken off at ground level and left nearby with its label attached. Hopefully this was a one-off occurrence, but let’s all keep an eye out for poor behaviour. Feel free to approach anyone doing work in the garden and ask them what they’re about. Any concerns please contact Samantha Newton, or Alison Downing.
Free Cycle Nook and e-waste
It’s great to see the Free Cycle Nook being utilised. However, please do not place computer equipment here. If you have e-waste please contact Marita Holley or Samantha Newton for information on how to arrange a collection.
HDR Student Survey
We would like to hear from you about your experiences as PhD students in Biology! So, we have put together a short survey to find out what your experiences have been (what works and what needs improving). Please take the time to do the survey (about 5 mins). Please find the link here.
NearMap Workshop
Michael Chang (Environment Sciences) and Richie Howitt (Geography and Planning) would like to invite you to a 2 hour workshop exploring research, teaching and practical applications of the University’s license with NearMap.
NearMap is a web-based aerial photo service that offers high resolution time series coverage of wide areas of Australia, particularly major urban areas.
It offers a range of tools and we have an under-utilized opportunity to draw this technology into a wide range of productive applications.
The unlimited license runs out late next year and we would like to have a range of research and teaching outcomes in place to demonstrate the value of renewing the arrangements when this is needed and to justify its inclusion in budget planning.
Macquarie has signed up to NearMap products. All staff members may self-register and get started using NearMap by clicking this link. Please note that this link is for any email with the domain registration “@mq.edu.au”
The Workshop will run 9.30-11.30 (or 10.00-12.00) on the morning of Friday November 13, with morning tea provided.
When:
Where: Faculty of Arts Building W6B201 – W6B201 Macquarie University, NSW 2109
Change of Insurer for Staff and Students who Travel for Work Related Purposes
The University’s Accident and Health Lines insurance provider has now changed from Chubb to ACE. You can find more details here.
Looking for Casual Work
I (Hugo Vuillemin) am currently undertaking a three-year Engineering study program which will lead to a degree in research in food-processing, animal health, agricultural sciences and the environment, at Agrocampus Ouest in Rennes, France. I am passionate about the marine realm and I have specialization in marine, fishery, and aquaculture sciences. As part of my course this year, I’ve organized a year in Australia, to help discover future career paths and to improve my skills as well. At the moment, I am doing a 6 month research internship at Macquarie University with the Marine Ecology Group, researching early life history strategies for sea urchin larvae and how they respond to climate changes.
While I’m here I hope to gain some casual work in order to gain further work experience and to finance my placement year in Australia.I am professional and pay attention to detail, I have a positive attitude and I am passionate about the biology realm. Given my area of study, I have been trained to the research methodology and how to work in a laboratory. Above all, I am hard working, adaptable and very motivated. I would be pleased to meet you and I am would love to talk to you about any questions you may have.
For a copy of Hugo’s C.V. please contact Hugo directly <hugo.vuillemin@mq.edu.au> or drop an email to Anne Marie <annemarie.monchamp@mq.edu.au>.
Looking for Work
I (Michelle Jerry) am an MRes qualified Marine Biologist with 10 months practical experience in animal (fish) husbandry and behaviour with a focus on energetics. I’m hoping to gain further research experience in an animal lab. For a copy of Michelle’s C.V please drop an email to Anne Marie <annemarie.monchamp@mq.edu.au>.
Looking for Volunteer Work
I (Ebenezer Okikiade Abilwon) am a bioscientist who is new to Australia and looking for volunteer work in the Department of Biological Sciences at Macquarie University. I am dynamic and versatile and I will be an added value to your research group. For detailed information including a C.V. please contact Ebenezer directly <raimentng@email.com> or drop an email to Anne Marie <annemarie.monchamp@mq.edu.au>.
Seeking Work Experience
We have a year 10 student from Hornsby Girls High School seeking work experience from the 30th of November to 4th of December inclusive. If you’re able to supervise her drop Anne Marie <annemarie.monchamp@mq.edu.au> an email.
Fundraiser for ORRCA
The Society for Marine Mammalogy Australia & New Zealand Student Chapter invite you to join us at the largest IMAX theatre in the world to view the documentary – Humpback Whales in 3D. Check out the flyer here.
| Where | Sydney Imax Theatre, Darling Harbour, Sydney |
| When | Sunday 8th November 2015 at 11:00 am |
| Cost | $30 per person (cash only!) |
Found Earring
If you recognize this earring contact Hannah <hannah.woodrow-clark@mq.edu.au>
Permanent Positions Available in Pests and Weeds
Research Officer, Vertebrate Pests
- Professional Officer Grade 1-4. $124,378. Package includes salary ($58,686 – $112,712 range pa), plus employer’s contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading
- Ongoing full-time role
- More information here.
Research Leader, Integrated Weed Management
- Professional Officer Grade 5. $131,201. Package includes salary ($116,042 – $118,359), employer’s contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading
- Ongoing full-time role
- More information here.
Invasive Species Officer (Vertebrate Pests)
- Professional Officer Grade 1 – 4 Total remuneration package up to $124,378 pa includes salary ($58,687 – $112,713 range pa), plus employer’s contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading
- This is a full time ongoing role
- More information here.
Women in the Sciences
If you are concerned about the current state of play for Women in Science Research in Australia, and especially in the Academy – COME ALONG ! Equity and Diversity are delighted to announce that Professor Sharon Bell (Deputy Vice Chancellor, Charles Darwin University) will lead this year’s Forum. The aim is to bring together women in the Science Research workforce at Macquarie to explore the current challenges and strategies for addressing gender inequity in the science research workforce.
It will focus on findings from her most recent report, Women in the Science Research Workforce: Identifying and Sustaining the Diversity Advantage (ARC Linkage).
During her illustrious career, Sharon has undertaken ground-breaking research on women in STEM in Australia. Her 2009 report Women in Science in Australia (2009) was a landmark Australian study and she has been in the forefront of the discussion around gender in research in Australia. As a member of the steering committee for the Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) Forum, Professor Bell will be one of the voices helping to promote this paradigm change, through the new national Athena Swan initiative to improve gender equity and diversity across the Australian research workforce.
BIO – Professor Sharon Bell
Professor Sharon Bell is Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Charles Darwin University, a Professorial Fellow at the LH Martin Institute at the University of Melbourne and Emeritus Professor at the University of Wollongong. She was Co-convenor of Universities Australia Executive Women (previously AVCC Senior Women’s Colloquium) 2005 – 2008. Professor Bell’s background is as a senior academic administrator, a documentary filmmaker and an anthropologist. Professor Bell holds a PhD from the University of Sydney in the discipline of Anthropology. She has worked with international agencies such as the World Bank, the Sri Lankan University Grants Commission and AusAid on institutional capacity building projects. She is currently a recipient of an Australian Research Council Grant on Women in the Scientific Research Workforce. She also continues the research on post-colonial Sri Lanka that commenced with her doctoral studies in Anthropology.
There are 10 more spaces, RSVP to Kate Wilson.
Alt-Ac Careers
Are your students, lab mates or fellow students consider a career outside academia? Do you have a partner to consider in your job search?
Consider Alternative Academic, a.k.a Alt Ac careers.
Here are some thoughts on ‘how to begin’.
Internship – Bio Expertise Assistant Manager
QuestaGame (www.questagame.com) is looking for a Bio-Expertise Assistant Manager whose role will be to help manage a growing community of biologists and environmentalists as they collaborate to identify photographs of wildlife as quickly and accurately as possible. If you are interested please contact Andrew Robinson andrew@questagame.com
Volunteers List
Latest volunteers list attached here.
Plant of the week: Australian Red Cedar – Toona ciliata – nondescript flowers, awesome timber!
Seeking Accommodation
I’m moving to Sydney to start a post doc in Biology Dept, MQ the end of January. I’m looking for a room in a shared house for when I arrive. I’m flexible about whether it’s short-term or long-term rental, but would prefer short-term. If you know of a room that’s available, please contact me directly at jfkamhi@gmail.com. Thank you! Franne Kamhi
Some Pictures of Libby Eyre’s Paper Festival Display in the Biology Museum – come down and check it out for yourself
New Publications
The ecology, evolution, impacts and management of host-parasite interactions of marine molluscs
Coen, L. D., and M. J. Bishop. 2015. The ecology, evolution, impacts and management of host-parasite interactions of marine molluscs. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 131:177-211. | Find with Google Scholar »Marteilia spp. parasites in bivalves: A revision of recent studies
Carrasco, N., T. Green, and N. Itoh. 2015. Marteilia spp. parasites in bivalves: A revision of recent studies. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 131:43-57. | Find with Google Scholar »Immune responses to infectious diseases in bivalves
Allam, B., and D. Raftos. 2015. Immune responses to infectious diseases in bivalves. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 131:121-136. | Find with Google Scholar »Where did all the trees come from? A novel multispecies approach reveals the impacts of biogeographical history and functional diversity on rain forest assembly
Rossetto, M., H. McPherson, J. Siow, R. Kooyman, M. van der Merwe, and P. D. Wilson. 2015. Where did all the trees come from? A novel multispecies approach reveals the impacts of biogeographical history and functional diversity on rain forest assembly. Journal of Biogeography 42:2172-2186. | Find with Google Scholar »In-depth N-glycome profiling of paired colorectal cancer and non-tumorigenic tissues reveals cancer-, stage- and EGFR-specific protein N-glycosylation
Sethi, M. K., H. Kim, C. K. Park, M. S. Baker, Y.-K. Paik, N. H. Packer, W. S. Hancock, S. Fanayan, and M. Thaysen-Andersen. 2015. In-depth N-glycome profiling of paired colorectal cancer and non-tumorigenic tissues reveals cancer-, stage- and EGFR-specific protein N-glycosylation. Glycobiology 25:1064-1078. | Find with Google Scholar »Ecology and Evolution of the Human Microbiota: Fire, Farming and Antibiotics
Gillings, M. R., I. T. Paulsen, and S. G. Tetu. 2015. Ecology and Evolution of the Human Microbiota: Fire, Farming and Antibiotics. Genes 6:841-857. | Find with Google Scholar »Heterogeneous flows foster heterogeneous assemblages: relationships between functional diversity and hydrological heterogeneity in riparian plant communities
Lawson, J. R., K. A. Fryirs, T. Lenz, and M. R. Leishman. 2015. Heterogeneous flows foster heterogeneous assemblages: relationships between functional diversity and hydrological heterogeneity in riparian plant communities. Freshwater Biology 60:2208-2225. | Find with Google Scholar »Current Approaches to Quantifying Tonic and Reflex Autonomic Outflows Controlling Cardiovascular Function in Humans and Experimental Animals
Salman, I. M. 2015. Current Approaches to Quantifying Tonic and Reflex Autonomic Outflows Controlling Cardiovascular Function in Humans and Experimental Animals. Current Hypertension Reports 17:84-84. | Find with Google Scholar »Evolution of displays in Galapagos lava lizards: comparative analyses of signallers and robot playbacks to receivers
Clark, D. L., J. M. Macedonia, J. W. Rowe, M. A. Stuart, D. J. Kemp, and T. J. Ord. 2015. Evolution of displays in Galapagos lava lizards: comparative analyses of signallers and robot playbacks to receivers. Animal Behaviour 109:33-44. | Find with Google Scholar »Rab1-dependent ER-Golgi transport dysfunction is a common pathogenic mechanism in SOD1, TDP-43 and FUS-associated ALS
Soo, K. Y., M. Halloran, V. Sundaramoorthy, S. Parakh, R. P. Toth, K. A. Southam, C. A. McLean, P. Lock, A. King, M. A. Farg, and J. D. Atkin. 2015. Rab1-dependent ER-Golgi transport dysfunction is a common pathogenic mechanism in SOD1, TDP-43 and FUS-associated ALS. Acta Neuropathologica 130:679-697. | Find with Google Scholar »In the Media
Darrell Kemp was interviewed about colour signal evolution by a freelance writer some weeks ago, which has now culminated in coverage of his lab’s research in this week’s Nature (an outlook special on “beauty”).
Check out the whole story here.
Robert Harcourt provided comment to ABC online on swimming with humpback whale tours at Western Australia’s Ningaloo Marine Park.
Read more »
Robert Harcourt was interviewed on JJJ regarding a proposal to allow swimmers with humpback whales off Western Australia.