ASCB Newsletter - December 1998
| Josiah Macy Jr., Foundation Fellowships at the Marine Biological Laboratory | |||
| 12/01/1998 | |||
|
Woods Hole, Massachusetts 1999 Summer Fellowships sponsored by the Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation at the Marine Biological Laboratory are available to three minority junior or senior faculty members to pursue independent research projects at the MBL.A unique feature of these fellowships provides for each faculty member to select a student to accompany him or her in this research undertaking.These fellowships provide travel, housing, laboratory, and research expenses for investigators and students as well as a weekly stipend for st udents. Application Deadline:January 15, 1999.Applications are reviewed by the MBL Fellowship Committee.Notification of decisions will be mailed by March 15, 1999. For forms and additional information, please contact: Fellowship Coordinator |
|||
| Call for Visiting Professor Hosts | |||
| 12/01/1998 | |||
|
The ASCB Minorities Affairs Committee (MAC) seeks ASCB members willing to host a visiting professor in the member's laboratory during the summer of 1999. The goal of Visiting Professorship Program is to give professors from primarily teaching institutions a research experience in cell biology or a related field, to provide experience with new research tools and techniques, and to allow visitors to enhance their research programs. In addition, a major goal of the Professorship is to establish long-term associations between visiting professors and research-intensive universities. The Visiting Professor Program, which is funded by a grant from the Minorities Access to Research Careers program of the NIGMS/NIH, provides research support for professors at minority-serving institutions to work in the laboratories of members of the American Society for Cell Biology for an eight-to ten-week period during the summer of 1999. Professors receive support of $12,000, plus $700 for travel expenses; $2,000 is awarded to the host institution for supplies. Women and minority professors and professors in colleges and universities with a high minority enrollment are encouraged to apply for this Award. For Professorship application or to volunteer as a host scientist, contact ASCB, at Phone (301) 530-7153; Fax: (301) 530-7139 |
|||
| Education Committee Contributes to CELS Monograph | |||
| 12/01/1998 | |||
|
The Coalition for Education in the Life Sciences has published a monograph, Professional Societies and the Faculty Scholar: Promoting Scholarship and Learning in the Life Sciences. This 87-page report showcases the contributions of dozens of professional societies to undergraduate biology education and recommends specific actions to enrich learning and teaching. The special role of the ASCB, a member of CELS, is highlighted. Former Education Committee Chair Robert Bloodgood, who along with Sarah Elgin represents the ASCB on CELS, remarks that, "individual faculty members and the professional societies they represent have a profound impact on the ability, knowledge and skills that our undergraduate students will acquire as they become our future citizens... while many scientific societies have markedly increased their support for undergraduate education projects in the past few years, these are often operated independently and in isolation. CELS... promote[s] activities that would be beyond the scope of individual societies." The monograph can be viewed at the CELS website, or bound copies can be purchased through the website. If a picture is worth a thousand words, how much is a movie worth? Illustrate your research with video material through Molecular Biology of the Cell. The online version of MBC provides the opportunity to publish videos and large data sets. Check out the videos in the July issue of MBC Online. For details on preparing and submitting video files, see the Instructions to Authors. |
|||
| MBC Online Access Continues to Rise | |||
| 12/01/1998 | |||
|
As the online version of Molecular Biology of the Cell continues to expand its capabilities and to add new features, growth in use has risen proportionately. M ore than 12,500 individual computers accessed the online journal in November alone, boosting the number of users to six times its initial usage in December of 1997. The number of users accessing MBC Online now exceeds the total number of subscribers to the printed version of the journal. The December issue of MBC Online features large scale data sets as well as two new video essays. |
|||
| One-Year Committee Chairs Appointed | |||
| 12/01/1998 | |||
|
ASCB President-elect Randy Schekman announced the appointments of three new committee chairs for 1999:
|
|||
| Members In The News | |||
| 12/01/1998 | |||
|
The Institute of Medicine recently elected fifty-five new members, including ASCB members Dennis A. Ausiello of Harvard Medical School, Eric S. Lander of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Thomas P. Stossel of Harvard Medical School. Florence Haseltine, Director of the Center for Population Research and ASCB member since 1990, is being honored this fall with three national recognitions: the Kilby Foundation Award, in the Mayo Foun-dation’s “Women in Medicine” exhibit, and as a “Women’s Health Hero” by American Health for Women magazine. Richard Klausner, Director of the National Cancer Institute and ASCB member since 1990, was honored at a dinner in Washington on his behalf by the Kidney Cancer Asso-ciation, on October 26. Klausner was recognized for his leadership in support of kidney cancer research and treatment. |
|||
| Teachers Stop by the ASCB Booth at the NABT Meeting | |||
| 12/01/1998 | |||
|
Teachers Turn to the ASCB ASCB Education Committee members Connie Oliver of the Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirao Preto in Brazil, and Bob Blystone of Trinity University organized a program for the eighth year for secondary and college teachers on Current Topics in Cell Biology. The popular program offers teachers valuable information about cell biology topics, a welcome contrast to the more commonly presented laboratory workshops. Baker presented "Flagellar Regen-eration as a Model System," using Chlamydomonas reinhardtii as the study organism. Garner's research interests focus on flow cytometric analyses of sperm, including determination of their functional status relative to viability, metabolic activity, acrosomal status and fertility. In addition to the fluorescent staining of sperm, he described the analysis of the stained sperm using a flow cytometer. Teachers continue to discover the value of ASCB materials in making their jobs easier and more fun. Bob Blystone's website reviews remain popular, and this year, the Press Books published annually by the ASCB Public Information Committee were a "hot item" among meeting participants. In them, selected abstracts are presented for science writers, making the information readily accessible to teachers and students. 1995 ASCB teacher fellow Mary Gregory of Lincoln Park Academy in Ft. Pierce, Florida, was named one of the National Outstanding Biology Teachers recognized at the meeting. Gregory worked with ASCB member Shirley A. Pomponi of the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution (HBOI), studying marine invertebrate cell culture for drug discovery research. The pair developed the summer collaboration into a cooperative venture they call "Harborside", which facilitates the frequent interaction among teachers, students and scientists. HBOI staff members have provided guest lectures, discussions and supervision of hands-on student laboratory and field-work. Throughout the program, they serve as role models at a real workplace The Smith-sonian Institution is initiating a similar cooperative program based on the Harborside model. Because the NABT meeting attracts a large regional audience, the ASCB continues to reach a new population of teachers each year. |
|||
| Josiah Macy Jr., Foundation Fellowships at the Marine Biological Laboratory | |||
| 12/01/1998 | |||
|
Woods Hole, Massachusetts 1999 Summer Fellowships sponsored by the Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation at the Marine Biological Laboratory are available to three minority junior or senior faculty members to pursue independent research projects at the MBL. A unique feature of these fellowships provides for each faculty member to select a student to accompany him or her in this research undertaking. These fellowships provide travel, housing, laboratory, and research expenses for investigators and students as well as a weekly stipend for students. Application Deadline: January 15, 1999. Applications are reviewed by the MBL Fellowship Committee. Notification of decisions will be mailed by March 15, 1999. For forms and additional information, please contact: Fellowship Coordinator |
|||
| Postdoctoral Associate Position, Cornell University | |||
| 12/01/1998 | |||
|
(molecular genetics, motor proteins in mitosis) We now have available a minimum of two years of support (starting salary $23-24k annually, plus fringe benefits) for a Postdoctoral Associate. The primary responsibility will be to conduct molecular genetic research into the microtubule-associated motor proteins that generate mitotic forces in the ascomycete fungus, Nectria haematococca. We have cloned, sequenced and mutated cytoplasmic dynein, kinesin and two kinesin-related proteins (KRPs) and have studied the mitotic phenotypes of the dynein and kinesin mutants. Our present priorities are to obtain an additional dynein mutant, to localize microtubules and motor proteins in wild type in vivo using corresponding protein-GFP fusions, and to express the KRPs in E. coli and characterize their in vitro motility. The molecular work will be done under the supervision of Drs. B.G. Turgeon and O.C. Yoder, whereas Dr. J.R. Aist will supervise the microscopical analyses and experiments. For further information, e-mail Dr. Aist. Interested candidates should submit a letter of application and have three letters of recommendation sent by December 7, 1998, to Dr. James R. Aist, Department of Plant Pathology, 334 Plant Science Building, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853. |
|||
| International Symposium on Biochemical Roles of Eukaryotic Cell Surface Macromolecules | |||
| 12/01/1998 | |||
|
January 4-8, 1999 Organizers: Scientific Program: For more information, contact Prof. A. Surolia, Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-560 012; Phone: 91-80-309-2714/-2389; Fax: 91-80-334-8535/-1683. |
|||
| Cell Biology Notecards Order Form | |||
| 12/01/1998 | |||
|
Cell Biology Notecards $12/set Check one: __ Please charge the total cost of $_____________ to my credit card: __ Visa __ MasterCard __ American Express Card Number: Merchandise ($12/set): Maryland residents add 5% sales tax: $3 U.S. or $10 international per destination airmail shipping: TOTAL: __Ship to self Send order form to: The American Society for Cell Biology |
|||
| WWW.Cell Biology Education | |||
| 12/01/1998 | |||
|
The ASCB Education Committee calls attention each month to several Websites of educational interest to the cell biology community. The Committee does not endorse nor guarantee the accuracy of the information at any of the listed sites. If you wish to comment on the selections or suggest future inclusions, please send a message to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
These sites were checked November 11, 1998. Previous ASCB columns reviewing Educational WEB sites with the links to the sites may be found online. --Robert Blystone for the ASCB Education Committee NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF CANCER BIOLOGY The National Cancer Institute (NCI), the nation';s leading organization responsible for cancer research, seeks a highly motivated individual to fill a senior scientist or science administrator position as the Director, Division of Cancer Biology (DCB). The incumbent will provide visionary leadership and must demonstrate a commitment to the NCI's program goals, priorities, and initiatives. The Director of the DCB is responsible for formulating with the Director, NCI, the major policies of the National Cancer Program in cancer biology and cancer immunology including planning, directing, coordinating and evaluating a contract and grant-sponsored program of extramural basic and applied research. Included in this research is the study of biological and health effects of exposures to ionizing and non-ionizing radiation and the role of chemical and physical agents, acting separately or together, or in combination with biological agents in the inhibition or promotion of cancer. Additionally, the Director of DCB is responsible for establishing program priorities, allocating resources, integrating the projects of the various branches, evaluating program effectiveness and representing the program area in management and scientific decision-making meetings with the Institute; as well as advising the Institute Director and other Institute staff on extramural research in cancer biology and associated areas of science of interest to the Institute. The Director manages a budget of approximately $550 million, four major programmatic areas (seven branches) and oversees a staff of approximately 62. These programs are implemented through extramural grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, collaborative projects, and other activities. The Director serves as a member of the NCI Executive Committee and directs and provides leadership to the senior professional staff. Through presentations and personal interactions, the incumbent advises the NCI Board of Scientific Advisors, National Cancer Advisory Board, and the President's Cancer Panel of advances and changes within the overall program. The qualified candidate must be an experienced Senior Scientist and/or Science Administrator with considerable experience and demonstrated recognition for achievements related to cancer biology research. The candidate must have extensive scientific expertise in the field of chemistry, biology, microbiology, or medicine; must be nationally recognized by the scientific community as an authority in basic cancer research, scientific administration and financial management of a multi-million dollar research program; and must have professional experience that has demonstrated successful program planning, implementation, development, and scientific administration of biomedical research programs. In addition to the duties outlined above, opportunities for continued personal direct participation in research may be provided through continued external collaborative efforts or by affiliation with an intramural unit of the NIH. SALARY/BENEFITS Other Appointment Mechanisms and Incentives - May apply in individual circumstances based on experience and expertise with total salary and incentive compensation to be negotiated. Benefits - Health and life insurance options, retirement, savings plans, paid holidays, and vacation and sick leave. Applications will be accepted from all qualified persons, including PHS Commissioned Corps Officers and individuals with SES reinstatement eligibility. The individual selected, if not presently in the SES, must serve a one-year probationary period. Applicants must meet the qualifications requirements. Applicants will be further evaluated on the degree to which they possess these requirements. A copy of the requirements may be obtained by contacting Ms. Toni McKeown in the Human Resources Management and Consulting Branch, NCI, at (301) 402-2812. Applicants are strongly encouraged to obtain this information. A current curriculum vitae and bibliography must accompany all applications/resumes. Applications/resumes are to be postmarked to Ms. McKeown by January 22, 1999, at: National Cancer Institute (vacancy announcement CA-98-2151) All applicants will be given consideration without regard to race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, disability or sexual orientation. NIH IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Radcliffe College and Harvard University Press Volume V of Notable American Women will include essays on approximately 500-600 women who will have died between January 1, 1976 and January 1, 2000, with an expected publication date of 2003. This volume will follow the criteria for selection used in Notable American Women: The Modern Period (1980): 1) the subject’s influence on her times or field; 2) ability; 3) innovative or pioneering work; 4) relevance of her career for the history of women. We are actively soliciting suggestions of possible subjects for our extensive database, especially nominations reflecting the contributions of underdocumented groups, regions, or specialties. If you wish to nominate a subject (or subjects), please supply a short synopsis of her career and its importance, as well as basic bibliographic sources, both secondary and archival (if known). We also welcome the names of scholars who are interested in writing specific articles or serving as consultants for specialized fields. Please address all communication to:
Program Suggestions Welcome
ASCB members who have suggestions for symposium or minisymposium topics and/or speakers for the 1999 ASCB Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. are encouraged to submit them to Program Committee Chair David Drubin through the ASCB National Office. Arousing the Fury of the Immune System: A new report from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute describes recent progress in understanding how the immune system deploys its billions of weapons against infection or cancer.
The free, 75-page publication also focuses on the 3-D shapes of immuno-logical molecules and on how impor-tant it is for scientists to actually see them. And it describes the new, "double-stick" molecules that are being designed to turn on certain genes upon command, thereby turning on and off the immune system at will. For more information, contact the HHMI Office of Communications, 4000 Jones Bridge Road, Chevy Chase, MD 20815-6789. FACULTY POSITION BIOLOGICAL IMAGING University of California, Irvine UCI is an equal opportunity employer committed to excellence through diversity. |
|||
| 38th Annual ASCB Meeting Schedule Summary | |||
| 12/01/1998 | |||
|
Views of the Cell Sunday, December 13 and Tuesday, December 15, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM Meet the author of this beautiful and historic book depicting the pioneers of cell biology through their historic contributions, observations, and illustrations as depicted on the covers of Molecular Biology of the Cell in its first five years. Books will be offered for sale for $29. Affirmative Action in the Biological Sciences: Wednesday, December 16, 12 Noon – 1:30 PM Moderator: Panelists: NSF Research Opportunities Wednesday, December 16, 12 Noon – 1:30 PM Participating NSF staff: Eve Barak, Program Director for Cell Biology Richard Rodewald, Program Director for Cell Biology Staff from the National Science Foundation will provide information about research grant opportunities in cell biology and related biological sciences. Topics will include how the NSF reviews grant proposals and selects projects for awards; scientific areas and themes that are of particular interest to the NSF; types of awards available, including special programs of interest to the cell biology community (such as the Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER); Research in Under-graduate Institutions (RUI); Small Grants for Explora-tory Research (SGER); Multi-User Instrumentation and Instrument Development; etc.), and advice on preparing proposals for submission to the NSF. Biotech Symposium Saturday, December 12, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM Insights into the Biotech World Topics/Speakers: Imparting Small-Molecule Control to Gene and Cell Therapies Inflammation Signaling Pathways: New Targets for Drug Discovery Career Structure in Biomedical Science: Implications for Training & Trainees Sunday, December 13, 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM Moderator: Panelists: Elizabeth Marincola J. Richard McIntosh The Panel will discuss the results and implications of the ASCB Career Survey and the recently released National Research Council’s report, Trends in the Early Careers of Life Scientists. The Practice of Science Series Moderator: John Barton Stanford Law School Douglas Hanahan Jeffrey Labovitz Have you ever been stymied in doing an experiment because a reagent, cell line or data base that you request from another investigator can be obtained only after protracted negotiations and voluminous forms pass between your two institutions? Commercial rights and potential financial benefits have become strong considerations in the sharing of scientific information and in providing access to research tools. What’s the proper balance between free exchange of scientific materials and protecting their potential for application and profit? Should the NIH regulate the dissemination of research tools and enforce sanctions against violators? Can university technology management offices avoid delays to research while serving the interests of competing companies, anxious administrations and entrepreneurial faculty? Keith Yamamoto (UCSF) will moderate a panel that will include John Barton (Stanford Law School), Doug Hanahan (UCSF) and Jeffrey Labovitz (UCSF). But in the tradition of all Practice of Science sessions at ASCB, your questions and comments will be central features of the program. Sponsored by the ASCB Public Policy Committee Demonstration Study Section Tuesday, December 15 Room 130 The Demonstration Study Section will be moderated by Anthony Carter, Scientific Review Administrator at the Center for Scientific Review of the NIH. Actual study section members will review grants to demonstrate the review process; there will be an opportunity for questions & answers. This year the focus will be on a new RO1, a resubmitted RO1 and a postdoc grant. Career Panel Moderator: Panelists: Each of the panelists recently began an independent career after training in cell biology. Remarks and audience discussion will include: how they found their current job, how they would suggest preparing for a job search, what about their training turned out to be relevant, and what their job is like on a daily basis. Congress 101: How to Talk Science with your Representative and Why A leader in science will be paired with his or her own Congressional Representative to lead a lively discussion with attendees about the nexus between Congress and science. Issues to be addressed include:
Most of the time will be designated for audience discussion; everyone is encouraged to attend and participate. Refreshments will be served. Sponsored by the ASCB Public Policy Committee An Evolutionary Perspective for the Next Century of Cell Biologists Moderator: Panelists: Paul Sternberg Julie Theriot Günter Wagner The panelists will discuss the “big problems” in cell biology that emerge from evolutionary studies, consider what problems in evolution can be approached by cell and developmental biology, and ask if the techniques to approach these problems exist. Audience participation will be encouraged. Careers Discussion Lunch/WICB Awards (by preregistration only) Christine Guthrie University of California, San Francisco Daphne Preuss University of Chicago Christine Guthrie of the University of California, San Francisco and Daphne Preuss of the University of Chicago will receive the Senior and Junior Awards of the ASCB Women in Cell Biology Committee for 1998. Guthrie will receive the Senior Award. She is being recognized for her pioneering contributions to the understanding of the structure and function of yeast small nuclear RNAs, as well as for her sustained guidance of students and junior colleagues. Preuss, who will receive the Junior Award, is cited for her promise to the field of cell biology, in particular for developing immunoelectron microscopy of yeast cells and for defining the plant centromere. The Careers Discussion Lunch will follow brief presentations of the WICB Awards. Participants will meet informally for roundtable discussions on issues of importance to cell biologists in various stages of their careers. The conversations will be moderated by individuals who have experience in various professional areas or with particular issues. The sponsoring committees envision this session as an excellent way to disseminate practical information on career choices, to discuss strategies for effectively developing a career, to make contacts with others who share career interests and concerns and to enjoy a collegial lunch. Sponsored by the ASCB Education and Women in Cell Biology Committees Minorities Affairs Committee Eloy Rodriguez Exploring the African and Amazonian Public Service Award & Address J. Michael Bishop E.B. Wilson Medal Presentations & Addresses James Darnell The Rockefeller University |
|||




