Weekly News and Events | December 16, 2024

As we enter this winter season, our department embraces the vibrant and diverse cultural traditions that light up this time of year.

From the joyful five days of Pancha Ganapati, honoring Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed deity of culture and new beginnings, to the miraculous lights of Hanukkah, the community-centered days of Kwanzaa, the spiritual enlightenment of Bodhi Day, and the hope-filled celebrations of Christmas, we celebrate the renewal, connection, and light that these holidays bring to our lives.

This season, we also honor the playful spirit of Festivus, a humorous holiday born from the Seinfeld sitcom that creatively protests holiday commercialism through its iconic "airing of grievances" and "feats of strength."

As the winter solstice marks the turning point of the year, we too turn towards each other, reflecting on the diverse traditions that make our community strong and vibrant.

Each holiday tells a story of resilience, hope, and the enduring human spirit that unites us all.

May this season bring warmth, joy, and connection to you and yours!

Happy Pancha Ganapati!

Chag Sameach (Happy Hanukkah)!

Habari gani (Kwanzaa greeting)!

Happy Bodhi Day!

... and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Have a holly, jolly Christmas!

On the longest night of the year,

may you and yours find

warmth and peace together.

Happy Festivus! (For the rest of us!)

Department News and Events

Ribble Seminars will return in the new year.

Teacher Course Evaluations (TCE) for a majority of Fall 2024 courses are active. Please remind students that any electronic device can be used to complete the TCE. Instructors can check their course response rate by logging into Explorance Blue with your linkblue sign-in.

Shipping Deadlines: December 16

Finals Week: December 16-19

Commencement: December 20

Biology Office Closure: December 23, 2024 - January 3, 2025

Spring 2025 Semester Begins: January 13, 2025

Biology Weekly News and Events Newsletter returns: January 6, 2025

Outreach Opportunity

The BioBonanza Planning Committee is seeking presenters for BioBonanza 2025.

If you're interested in presenting, please complete the form BioBonanza Interest Form.

Wellington Elementary’s Annual STEM Night!



Wellington Elementary’s Annual STEM Night is a fun-filled evening celebrating Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) through hands-on activities and interactive exhibits. This is a great opportunity to engage with local students, spark their curiosity, and inspire the next generation of innovators!

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday, January 30, 2025
• Time: 6:00 – 7:30 PM
• Location: Wellington Elementary School - 3280 Keithshire Way, Lexington, KY 40503
• RSVP Deadline: Confirm your participation by Monday, January 13, 2025

This is an excellent chance to make a positive impact on the community while showcasing your STEM passion. We look forward to working with you to make this year’s event unforgettable!

For questions or more details, feel free to reach out.

• Emily Hisle: emily.hisle@fayette.kyschools.us

Graduate Corner

Have you registered for Spring classes yet?  You can still register at myuk.uky.edu and can contact registration@uky.edu for assistance. Students are expected to register prior to the first day of classes to avoid late registration and fees.

Graduate Student Important Dates and Deadlines:

• December 13: Last day candidates for a December 2024 degree can submit their thesis/dissertation for formation review to the Graduate School via UKnowledge.
• December 20: December 2024 Commencement at 3:00 PM in Rupp Arena.
• December 20: Last day for December 2024 degree candidates to submit final revised thesis/dissertation (ETD) to the Graduate School for students who first submitted December 13th.
• Remember to turn in your Local City Tax Exempt (LCT) Forms by December 20th! It means more money in your paycheck!

Fellowship and Funding Opportunities: 

Graduate School Fellowships: Discover and apply for current fellowship openings here.

External Funding: Explore and apply for current external funding Opportunities here..

Kuehne Fellowship: The main purpose of the Biology Department's Kuehne Fund is to provide support for the field work of a graduate student in biology.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis for awards up to $1,000.

Please contact Dr. Jessica Santollo, Biology DGS, if you have any questions.

Resources for Students

Professional Development

CELT Events

• December 10, 11am-noon: Designing Slides to Reduce Cognitive Load & Support Memory
• December 12, 3-3:30pm: Ignite Learning: Impact of Instructor Mindset on Learning Info Session

View schedule of upcoming CELT Events here.

Research Events: Lunch and Learn Series

All Lunch and Learn workshops are held via Zoom on Wednesdays from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. View the complete Fall 2024 schedule here.

College of A&S Concur Open Lab Schedule:

• Tuesday, December 10, CP 303, 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM 
• Friday, December 13, JSB 361M 10 AM - 11 AM
• Friday, December 20, POT 245, 10 AM - 11 AM

Scientific Meetings



Upcoming conferences and symposiums: 

Cold Spring Harbor - Single Cell & Spatial Transcriptomics Analysis

Dates: June 26 - July 14, 2025

• Application Deadline: March 15, 2025
• Arrival: June 26th by 6pm EST
• Departure: July 14th around 12pm EST

Course Details:

The Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) course is an intensive, full-day program that often includes evening and weekend sessions. Students are expected to attend all sessions and reside on campus for the duration of the course.

Application Link: CSHL Course Application

The Ninth Cold Spring Harbor: Brain Barriers Conference:

April 8-12, 2025 | 7:30 pm on Tuesday, April 8th | concluding on Saturday, April 12, 2025.

Abstract Deadline: January 24, 2025

For more details and to register, please visit the Brain Barriers meeting website.

Job Opportunities

Harvard Medical School - Biomedical Informatics Curriculum Fellow Position

Harvard Medical School is hiring a Biomedical Informatics Curriculum Fellow to support the Master of Medical Sciences in Biomedical Informatics (MMSc-BMI) program. The Fellow will help ensure the program offers opportunities for students to develop data science skills in the context of medicine and biological science to improve human health.

This position is ideal for early-career scientist-educators focused on curriculum development, teaching, and educational programming.

Qualifications:

• Doctorate-level degree in a Biomedical Informatics-related field (e.g., computational biology, computer science, biostatistics)
• Experience teaching at the graduate or undergraduate level (candidates near completion of doctoral work are encouraged to apply)

Deadline: February 1st, 2025 APPLY HERE

Cornell University, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment Faculty Position

Position: Assistant Professor, Tenure-track

Department: Natural Resources and the Environment, Cornell University

Location: Ithaca, NY, USA

Focus: Global Biodiversity and Ecoinformatics

Start Date: July 2025 (negotiable)

Salary: $90,000 - $130,000

Position Summary:

Cornell University seeks an Assistant Professor specializing in global biodiversity and ecoinformatics. The candidate will develop a research program using large-scale biodiversity datasets to address global biodiversity loss. This includes integrating data from diverse sources (e.g., DNA, remote sensing, citizen science) to inform conservation efforts and policy.

Responsibilities:

• Research (50%): Lead an internationally recognized, externally funded research program using advanced data science and computational methods to explore biodiversity trends and processes.
• Teaching (50%): Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in data science and biodiversity informatics; mentor students.

Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in quantitative biodiversity science, computational biology, environmental science, or ecology/evolution, with expertise in ecoinformatics.
• Experience in biodiversity research and computational methods.

Application Materials:

• Cover letter, CV, research and teaching statements, diversity statement, 4 relevant publications, 3 reference contacts.
• Apply online: academicjobsonline.org

Application Deadline: December 31, 2024 (early applications preferred)

Questions: Dr. Matt Hare (mph75@cornell.edu). 

Biology Teaching Professor - University of Notre Dame

Review of applications will begin on January 5, 2025.

For inquiries, please contact Dr. Ryan Sensenig at rsenseni@nd.edu.

To apply, please visit the Interfolio advertisement: https://apply.interfolio.com/159088

Tufts IRACDA (Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Awards Program)

• Application Deadline: February 1, 2025 (for fall 2024 start)
• Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents with no more than 2 years of postdoctoral experience
• Inquiries: Tufts IRACDA website

Postdoctoral Research Associate Position in Sex Chromosome Evolution

• Eligibility: US citizens only
• Start Date: Flexible, pending background clearance
• Inquiries: sheina.sim@usda.gov | Full Job Ad

Campus and Lexington Area Events

Whether you're looking to expand your academic knowledge, connect with peers, or simply unwind with some fun activities, the University of Kentucky Campus has something for everyone!

The Bluegrass region of Kentucky offers a rich blend of natural beauty, history, and culture. Whether you're hiking, touring distilleries, or discovering local art, the Bluegrass area has something for everyone.

Beyond Biology: Community Awareness 

Big Blue Pantry The Food Pantry is an emergency relief program that is designed to meet the short-term food security needs of all current UK students. Email: bigbluepantry@uky.edu

LGBTQ+ Resources

LGBTQ* Resources is the University of Kentucky's central hub for accessing information, groups, and services related to diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. Housed in the Office for Student Success, we are a campus-wide office that works to make sure that our community is a welcoming, safe, and supportive place for all students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Email: LGBTQ@uky.edu

Starting in December, the CaTS team will be providing free Professional Headshots for all Arts and Sciences faculty and Staff. Walk-in sessions on the first Wednesday of each month from 11 AM - 1 PM in POT 918 (student work room). You can also book a 15-minute appointment on select Thursday's with Sophie Morgan for as-needed headshots.



COVID, Flu Vaccines now available at UK Retail Pharmacies. For additional information regarding the vaccinations available at UK click here.

Feedback and Weekly Newsletter Submissions



The weekly newsletter, along with future updates, will be posted on the Biology website under the Departmental Newsletter and Weekly News tab. Any edits or updates will be reflected on this page.

If you notice anything that needs editing or if you have information to share in the next newsletter, please email Jacqueline Burke at jacqueline.burke@uky.edu.