BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT MATTERS | October 28, 2016

Dear all,

I hope you all enjoyed the Faculty Safety Day last Wednesday – the Biology WHS display looked great, thanks to all those who contributed.

Please come along next Tuesday at 11am to get an update on the new units offered in 2017 (BIOL228, BIOL229 and BIOL368) and then to the monthly Department meeting at 1pm where we will discuss ideas for support for HDR students and staff, amongst other interesting things!

cheerio

Michelle

Save the Date

This coming week 31st October – 4th November

Mon Oct 31st: Applications for domestic (APA) PhD scholarships due.

Tue Nov 1st: Learning and Teaching Discussion – BIOL228/229/368 Development; 11am – 12pm; E8A-280 (Tea Room).

Tue Nov 1st: Department Meeting; 1pm – 2pm; E8A-280 (Tea Room).

Wed 2nd: Morning Tea with HoD; 10:30am – 11am; The Hill.

Following week 7th – 11th November

Tue 8th: Biology programs information session for students. 1 – 2pm; E8A-280 (Biology Tea Room).

Wed 9th: Morning Tea with HoD; 10:30am – 11am; E8A-280 (Biology Tea Room).

Coming up

Nov 14-15: Department research and L&T retreat at Victoria & Albert Hotel, Mt Victoria (academic staff – please put this in your diaries now!)

Nov 16: Town Hall on Research Commercialisation, Innovation and Impact. 12pm to 1pm in the Macquarie Theatre.

Nov 28th – Dec 2nd: HDR writing boot camp at Pearl Beach

Dec 1st: PhD completion seminars – Sarah Jacquet and Marissa Betts, followed by drinks; E8A-280 (Biology Tea Room).

Dec 6th: Department Formal Exam Meeting for Semester 2 2016; 11am; E8A-280 (Tea Room). Followed by…

Dec 6th: Department Christmas Party; from 12.30pm Biology courtyard

Dec 9th: Faculty of Science & Engineering Xmas BBQ

2017

Feb 21st: E8A Digital Teaching Lab Induction; 9am – 12:30pm; E8A-120 (Red Lab).

Feb 23rd: E8C Digital Teaching Lab Induction; 9am – 12:00pm; E8C-106.

Feb 24th: F7B Digital Teaching Lab Induction; 9:30am – 11:00am; F7B-108 (and 105).

General News and Announcements

Student Award

Laura Fernandez won the Biosecurity Impact Award at the CRC for Plant Biosecurity Science Exchange this week, held in Melbourne. Laura was part of the winning Myrtle Rust Team along with her co-supervisor from NSW Dept of Primary Industries Dr Angus Carnegie, Dr Geoff Pegg and Dr Suzie Perry (Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries) and UQ PhD student Emily Lancaster.

Learning and Teaching Discussion – November 1

Brian Atwell, John Alroy and Josh Madin are going to chat to us about progress with developing BIOL228, BIOL229 and BIOL368. We then hope for some productive discussion and input. Tuesday November 1, 11-12pm Biology tearoom. Please come along.

Faculty Prizes

The Executive Dean recently announced the  2016 Faculty of Science and Engineering Awards. These prizes recognise and celebrate outstanding staff achievements in the following categories:

1. Research
2. Learning & Teaching
3. Professional Technical Staff
4. Professional Administration Staff

More on the awards can be read here:  http://awards.science.mq.edu.au/staff/

If you have any nominations (self or other) for any of these categories please contact a member of the prizes committee (Robert Harcourt, Brian Atwell, Hannah Woodrow Clark, Kerstin Bilgmann and Jennifer Hallinan) by  Wednesday 2nd November. Final applications are due 14 November.

Women In Science and Engineering Society at Macquarie Uni Annual Networking Event

The Women In Science and Engineering Society (WISE MQ) will be holding their annual networking event next week! Join us for a night full of networking and inspiring TEDx-style talks from fellow Macquarie University academics and staff. To raise awareness of the STEMM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine) this year’s theme is Women in STEMM at university & in the modern age. So be prepared for a night that will be sure to pique your interest!

Guest speakers include:Dr Richard McDermid, Candace Lang and Josien de Bie … more to be announced shortly.

STEMMx Event Details:

Date: Thursday 3rd November, 2016

Time: 5:00PM – 8:00PM

Venue: Drysdale Room, C10A Level 3, Macquarie University

Cost: FREE!

If you’re interested in attending please click on the link below for more information and to register for tickets. RSVP by 6:00PM, Wednesday 2nd November.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/stemmx-tickets-28523310991

Exam Meeting for Session 2

Is being held on Tuesday 6th December at 11am in the tearoom. Academics can you please put this in your diaries. We will go straight from the department meeting to the Biology Christmas Party in the courtyard afterwards!

Faculty Safety Day

The very first Faculty Safety Day was held on the 26th October.  There was wide participation from all departments in the Faculty, spreading awareness of WHS in a fun way.  Organisers can’t wait to do it again next year!

Solar Solutions Event

MQU is hosting an event on campus about solar and battery storage on Nov 29, 6.30 – 8.30pm in conjunction with City of Ryde and the Australian Solar Council. Attached is the flyer and here is the facebook event link. Please share this event with anyone you think would be interested! It’s open to everyone and free to attend.

solar-solutions-batteries-event-poster

solar-solutions-batteries-event-flyer_2up

Field volunteer(s) required early 2017 

A volunteer is needed to assist a PhD student with field work collecting grasshoppers throughout New South Wales and in the Snowy Mountains between late January to early Feb and again between late February to early March. All expenses will be covered. This experience may also be compatible with a lab internship if necessary. If you are available for either of these windows of time, have a drivers licence, enjoy road trips and catching insects, please contact Rachael Dudaniec at rachael.dudaniec@mq.edu.au for more information.

Plant of the Week

This week – Kunzea ambigua – Tick Bush or Poverty Bush.

Attention Terrestrial fieldworkers

Sarah (terrestrial fieldwork manager) will be on leave from 18th November until 3rd January so there will be no terrestrial fieldwork inductions at this time. If you or your students expect to need an induction at this time please organise as soon as possible before this date. In her absence approvals will be done by Amanda Sordes via Field Friendly as usual. Please allow at least 5 working days for approvals as Amanda will be responsible for all terrestrial and marine (non-boating) approvals during this busy period.  In cases of accidents or emergencies or to collect or return equipment please see Amanda or Tarun Rajan.

Acting Vehicle Manager

Sarah Collison will be the acting vehicle manager from the 4th October till the 31st October 2016 as Tarun will be away on a course. Sarah will be able to provide vehicle inductions, but may not be able to conduct one on short notice. Please endeavour to provide her with sufficient notice to schedule any inductions.

Sorry about the inconvenience and we appreciate your co-operation.

Boating Officer

Josh Aldridge will provide interim support for boating in the department until a replacement for Andrew Irvine has been appointed. Josh will do boating activity risk assessments and inductions when required. Please contact Josh if you plan any boating activities.

Invitation to attend the 6th BioFocus Research Conference

Thursday 15 December 2016

This annual conference provides a platform for the multidisciplinary community at Macquarie to present and communicate our research, discuss research outcomes and facilitate interdisciplinary collaborations spanning the fields of of biomedical sciences, biomedical engineering, physics, chemistry and medicine.

Please see attached information for more.

biofocus-abstracts-2016

Research Assistant Position Sought

Nicole O’Donnell has just completed a Masters of Research, investigating the relationship between diet, aging and longevity in spiders, with Professor Mariella Herberstein. She is seeking any opening for a research assistant. She is great at field work, collecting and analysing data and scoring videos.

Please email her at <nicole.odonnell1@students.mq.edu.au> if you have a suitable position available.  CV available on request.

Fixed-Term Position Available at PACE International

PACE International is currently recruiting for a Program Coordinator.  The role is for up to 8 months and will have responsibility for the country portfolios of Vanuatu, Fiji, Cambodia, Vietnam and the Philippines.

If you are interested in this role or know of anyone who may be interested, please click on the link below.

http://jobs.mq.edu.au/cw/en/job/498753/pace-international-program-coordinator-community-development

2017 Ecology and Conservation Internship Program with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy

The program is designed to introduce conservation biologists to a variety of sanctuaries with a host of different ecosystems, flora and fauna, field techniques and conservation issues. There will be ten internships offered in 2017, varying in length from 4 – 6 months.

Please see below for a copy of the advertisement. It would be fantastic if you could please pass this along to any interested and suitable honours students. Please feel free to contact Chantelle Jackson <Chantelle.Jackson@australianwildlife.org> if you have any questions.

2017-awc-intern-program-final

Providing Content for Department Matters

While we encourage anyone who has information relevant to the Department to send in articles for Department Matters, it would really help if you could please adhere to the following submission guidelines:

1. Please write any submissions in 3rd person.  Personal references that work in emails don’t work in the context of the Newsletter.
2. Forwarding emails with masses of text is unhelpful.  Please edit long information circulars down to the key points, and again remove any personal references (make 3rd person).  The editor doesn’t necessarily understand the content like you do, so if you don’t do this, you may not get the message you want across.
3. CoB on Thursday of the week in question is the deadline for guaranteed inclusion in that Friday’s newsletter.  Anything later than that may not make it in until the following week.

Thank you very much for your understanding.

Tenure-Track Position in Animal Behavior

The Department of Biology at University of Pennsylvania invites applicants for a tenure-track position in Animal Behavior at the level of Assistant Professor.  We are especially interested in integrative research that explores animal behavior in a natural context. We will consider all types of behaviors and animal models, but we have a particular interest in behaviors that include a social, interactive component. The anticipated start date for this position is July 2018.

Candidates are expected to have demonstrated excellence and productivity in research and to participate in undergraduate and graduate teaching. Interested candidates should submit materials through http://facultysearches.provost.upenn.edu/postings/957 and include a curriculum vitae, concise statements of research and teaching interests, a short annotated description of up to five publications, and the name and contact information of at least three referees. Recommenders will be contacted by the University with instructions on how to submit a letter to the website. Review of applicants will begin November 7, 2016 and continue until the position is filled.

New Publications

In the Media

Recent Completions

Daniel Bateman submitted his thesis this week entitled “Direct and indirect impacts of a non-native predator: foraging by Carcinus maenas on native bivalves of south-east Australian estuaries.”

Supervised by Melanie Bishop

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