Weekly News and Events | November 11, 2024

Department News and Events

Graduate Corner

PhD Defenses

Ashleigh Glover

Thesis Title: "Reproductive Isolation and Gene Flow Across Space, Time, and Genomes in Neodiprion lecontei and N. pinetum"

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Catherine Linnen

Date: November 19, 2024

Time: 1:00 PM

Location: 361M Jacob Science Building, (JSB0

Jessica Bills

Thesis Title: TBD

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Ann Morris

Date: December 3, 2024

Time: 11 am

Location: 150 HKRB

Important Dates and Deadlines:

• November 23 - Last Day to schedule final exam
• December 5 - Last Day to sit for final exam
• December 20 - Commencement

Fall 2024 Career Workshop Series: Navigating Careers Beyond Academia



All workshops will be held via Zoom. Join here.

• Networking & Professional Branding | November 12, 1-2 P
• Job Searching & Application Materials | December 3, 1-2 PM

Fellowship and Funding Opportunities: 

Talent Development and Innovation in Sciences (TDIS) 2025 Summer Internship Program

This unique opportunity allows students to work closely with NSF Program Directors on funded projects, explore various STEM career paths, and gain firsthand experience in science policy.

Students can access the online application via this link.

Eligibility Requirements:

• U.S. citizenship or national status
• Completion of at least the sophomore year in a STEM major at an accredited college or university
• Graduating seniors must be entering graduate school in the fall

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

Faculty Spotlight



Dr. Jennifer Osterhage began serving as the new director of the Office of Transdisciplinary Educational Approaches to Advance Kentucky on November 1, 2024. In this role, Dr. Osterhage will play a key part in advancing UK’s Quality Enhancement Plan and revolutionizing education.

Dr. Ashley W. Seifert, is contributing his expertise in tissue regeneration to a groundbreaking coral reef study funded by a $1.3 million grant from the W. M. Keck Foundation. Led by UC Santa Barbara, the research aims to develop a model for how coral reefs heal from damage and respond to climate change. Dr. Seifert’s work, which previously focused on tissue regeneration in spiny mice, will help track damage signals in corals at the molecular level to identify factors that enhance their resilience. This project is crucial in the effort to understand and preserve coral reefs, which have been severely impacted by environmental stress.

Professional Development

CELT Events

• UK Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Research Symposium
• November 12, 2024 from 8am-3:30pm in the Gatton Student Center
• Breakfast and Lunch Provided. Assistant Provost and CELT Director Trey Conatser will present on “Emerging Practices in Teaching and Learning with AI from 1-1:30pm. Read more and register 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.

• November 20, 2024 - Telling Your Story: How to Advocate for and Communicate about your Research

• December 4, 2024 - Resources and Opportunities at the UK Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCYTS)

View the complete Fall 2024 schedule here.

College of A&S Concur Open Lab Schedule:

• Tuesday, November 12th, CP 303, 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
• Friday, November 15th, POT 245, 10 AM - 11 AM

Scientific Meetings

Upcoming conferences and symposiums: 

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

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

• Location: Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts
• Funding: NIH-NIGMS
• Duration: 4 years (Years 1-4)
• Structure:
• Year 1: Funded by research mentor
• Years 2-4: Funded by NIGMS IRACDA grant with a salary starting at $77k
• Research Focus Areas: Cell and developmental biology, genetics, molecular biology, microbiology, immunology, neuroscience, biomedical engineering, chemical biology, nutrition
• 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

• Location: USDA-ARS Tropical Pest Genetics and Molecular Biology Research Unit, Hilo, Hawaii
• Duration: 2-year USDA-funded project
• Focus: Sex chromosome evolution in Tephritidae fruit flies
• Qualifications:
• PhD in Biology, Evolution, Genetics, Entomology, or related field
• Experience with gene annotation and high-throughput sequence data analysis
• Proficiency in BASH, R, Python3, and Git
• Background in differential expression and epigenetic analysis
• Salary: $75,640 with full federal benefits
• 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!

Lexington Area Events Exciting activities are happening in the Bluegrass this week!

Beyond Biology: Community Awareness 

Trans Week Awareness Nov. 13-20

The University of Kentucky’s Office of LGBTQ* Resources will host Trans Week of Awareness from Nov. 13-20 to raise awareness and celebrate the trans community. The week will feature a mix of educational activities and engaging events designed to support and empower transgender students. The Office of LGBTQ* Resources offers year-round support, including a community space in the Gatton Student Center (Suite A250), open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Students can visit the office for identity-related support, a quiet space to decompress, or to connect with others.

Events for the Week:

• Nov. 13 – Transgender POC Panel | 7-8:30 p.m., David Marksbury Building
• A panel discussion on the experiences of trans people of color.
• Nov. 14 – Trans Pride Tabling | 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Outside Main Building
• Pick up trans pride swag like buttons, stickers, and flags.
• Nov. 15 – Trans Pride Crafts and Buttons | 12-4 p.m., Dinkle-Mas Suite A250
• Create crafts, bracelets, and buttons to celebrate trans pride.
• Nov. 18 – Name Change Information Session | 2-3 p.m., Dinkle-Mas Suite A250
• Learn about the legal process for changing your name, presented by UK’s Legal Clinic.
• Nov. 19 – Cryptid Pride Party | 4-6 p.m., Dinkle-Mas Suite A250
• Make cryptid-themed buttons, share snacks, and learn fun facts.
• Nov. 20 – Trans Day of Remembrance | 5-6 p.m., Dinkle-Mas Suite A250.
• A ceremony to remember those lost to violence and discrimination in the transgender community.

Traveling for Thanksgiving? Consider UK's free regional airport shuttle service.

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

This 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 there. If you notice anything that needs editing or have information to share, please email Jacqueline Burke at jacqueline.burke@uky.edu