Weekly News and Events | November 4, 2024

A Space for Connection and Support

We would like to invite you this Wednesday, November 6th, for an informal gathering and community support space.

There will be coffee and muffins in the Biology Main Office Kitchen at 9:30am, and folks can move to Room 101A THM after 10am.

Room 101A THM will be open throughout the day from 10am – 5pm.

This is strictly voluntary, no matter what your political leanings are. Whether you wish to share your thoughts, seek support, or simply be in the company of colleagues, please know that you are welcome. You may stay for as little or as long as you'd like.

Dr. Santollo and Jacquie Burke will available throughout the day for graduate student drop-ins.

Department News and Events



Biology Ribble Seminar

Speaker: Tiago R. Simões, PhD

Date: November 7, 2024

Time: 2:00 PM

Location: Room 116 THM

Lecture Title: "Phylodynamic and Comparative Approaches for Reconstructing Major Evolutionary Transitions in Deep Time"

Faculty Host: Philip Skipwith

You can read more about Dr. Simões's Research here.

For a full schedule of Biology seminars and events, please visit our online calendar.

Graduate Corner

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

Upcoming Defenses:

• Ashley Glover - November 19, 2024 1pm in 361M JSB
• Jessica Bills - December 3, 2024 11 am in 150 HKRB

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.

Key Benefits of the TDIS Internship:

• Stipends: $6,000 for undergraduates and $7,000 for graduate students
• Professional Development Funding: Up to $1,200 for conferences and related activities
• Travel Support: Fully funded trips to Washington, DC, including accommodations, meals, and more

Selected interns will travel twice during the program: first for an 8-day orientation in Washington, DC, and Alexandria, VA, and later for a 3-day visit for final presentations and the closing ceremony. All travel, lodging, and daily meals are fully covered, allowing students to focus entirely on their internship experience.

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

Students can access the online application via this link.

The Center for Health, Engagement, and Transformation (CHET) is offering pilot funding for University of Kentucky doctoral students to support projects aimed at identifying and reducing health disparities.

Key Details:

• Eligibility: Current doctoral students at UK (applications from the College of Arts and Sciences are particularly encouraged).
• Funding Amount: $5,000–$10,000 for 3–4 projects, with a 12-month duration.

Application Deadline: November 8.

• Requirements: Projects must address health disparities for a vulnerable population and enhance the student’s research prospects. A faculty advisor is required.

For more information and to apply, visit:

• Full RFA
• Application Submission

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

Professional Development

Upcoming CELT Events

Using Canva for Collaborative Learning

• Date: Wednesday, November 6
• Time: 11 AM - 12 PM
• Format: Zoom
• Join us for a virtual workshop on enhancing collaborative learning with Canva. We’ll cover the platform’s tools, provide classroom integration examples, and have a Q&A session. Register here!

Launching Your SoTL Project: A Roadmap for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

• Date: Thursday, November 7
• Time: 12 PM - 1 PM
• Format: Zoom
• Explore the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) in this workshop. We’ll provide a framework to start your project and time to brainstorm ideas. Register here!

Other Events

Curiosity Fair – November 6^th from 4-6pm in the Gatton Student Center grant ballroom. Read more here.

Research Events: Lunch and Learn Series - All Lunch and Learn workshops are on zoom on Wednesdays from 12 pm to 1 pm. View the complete Fall 2024 schedule here.

• Wednesday, November 6, 2024: The Healing Communities Study: Outcomes and Lessons Learned

College of A&S Concur Open Lab Schedule:

• Friday, November 8th, JSB 361 M, 10 AM - 11 AM
• 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

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! For a full list of events in the Lexington area, check out the BLUEGRASS BUZZ!

Beyond Biology: Community Awareness

Community Forest Work Days: Native Tree Planting

Nov. 5 | 9 a.m.-noon | Masterson Station Park

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