Biological Sciences

February 8 Department Council Meeting

February 20 Family Day Statutory Provincial Holiday – University Buildings Closed

February 21-24 Winter Term Reading Week

Payroll Deadlines and Information www.biology.ualberta.ca/department/hr/

Please make sure to check the departmental calendar for availability or contact Olga at olga.milligan@ualberta.ca before booking your event/special seminar

Friday, February 10, 2012, 12:00 p.m., M149 Biological Sciences Building

Dr. Ian Pearse, Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis

“PREDICTING HERBIVORE-ASSOCIATIONS WITH NON-NATIVE PLANTS”

Special Biol 631 & 507 Seminar presentation; Recruiting to the Plant Chemical Ecology position, Department of Biological Sciences

Friday, February 10, 2012, 3:00 p.m., M145 Biological Sciences Building

Julian Davies, UBC

“ANTIBIOTICS AS INTER-KINGDOM SIGNALS”

Molecules, Cells, and Systems

Monday, February 13, 2012, 3:00 p.m., B105 Biological Sciences Building

Rachel Browns, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta

“TBA”

Biol 506

Monday, February 13, 2012, 4:00 p.m., M149 Biological Sciences Building

Dr. Christopher Keeling, Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia

“CHEMICAL ECOLOGY IN CONIFER FORESTS”

Special Seminar; Dr. Keeling is a recruit to the Plant Chemical Ecology position with BioSci

Wednesday, February 15, 2012, 12:00 p.m., M141 Biological Sciences Building

Kim Ong, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta

“NANOPARTICLE TOXICITY TESTING: INSIGHTS AT THE BIOCHEMICAL, CELLULAR, AND WHOLE ANIMAL LEVEL”

Biol 642

Thursday, February 16, 2012, 4:00 p.m., M149 Biological Sciences Building

Dr. Jessamyn Manson, Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH

“BALANCING ATTRACTION AND DEFENCE: THE CHEMICAL ECOLOGY OF FLORAL NECTAR”

Special Seminar; Dr. Manson is a recruit to the Plant Chemical Ecology position, BioSci

Friday, February 17, 2012, 12:00 p.m., M149 Biological Sciences Building

Rick Taylor, UBC

“CONTACT ZONES IN FISHES: EVOLUTIONARY INFERENCES AND CONSERVATION APPLICATIONS”

Ecology & Evolution, Biol 507 & 631

Tuesday, February 21, 2012, 4:00 p.m., M149 Biological Sciences Building

Dr. Sergio Rasmann, Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Switzerland

“ECOLOGICAL, EVOLUTIONARY AND GENETIC DRIVERS OF PLANT DEFENSE TRAIT”

Special Seminar; Dr. Rasmann is a recruit to the Plant Chemical Ecology position, BioSci

Monday, February 27, 2012, 3:00 p.m., B105 Biological Sciences Building

Emaline Montgomery, Department of Biological Sciences

“TBA”

Biol 506

Wednesday, February 29, 2012, 12:00 p.m., M141 Biological Sciences Building

Dr. Chris Cairo, Principal Investigator, Alberta Glycomics Centre, Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta

“BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF HUMAN NEURAMINIDASE 3 (NEU3)”

Biol 642

Of Interest

Friday, February 10, 2012, 3:00 p.m., Room 470 Medical Sciences Building

Tao Wu

“Prp8: A KEY PLAYER IN THE SPLICEOSOME”

Biochem 626

Biochemistry Seminar Schedule 2012

Note: If you are applying to a funding agency not listed below, please be aware that the normal department deadline is 10 working days prior to the agency deadline. This allows the department opportunity to review your application, make recommendations if necessary and sign off in time to meet the Research Services Office deadline which is 5 working days prior to the agency deadline.

Please submit one hard/paper copy of your application to Peggy Poholko in CW405 Biological Sciences. The volume of applications that are processed through this office make it prohibitive for office staff to receive electronic copies and print them all. Thanks for your understanding.

Department Deadlines

February 10 - CIHR Bridge Funding to UofA CIHR Special Project Office (no department deadline) (contact Joanne Simala-Grant, Director, University-wide CIHR Special Project. jls24@ualberta.ca; phone: 2-1566)

February 16 - Canadian Institutes of Health Research - Operating see http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/35674.html

February 16 - Canadian Wildlife Federation (see http://www.cwf-fcf.org/en/action/funding-awards/grants/)

February 21 - UofA International - International Project Fund (see http://www.international.ualberta.ca/ipf.cfm)

March 1 - American Museum of Natural History - Lerner Gray Fund for Marine Research (see http://rggs.amnh.org/pages/academics_and_research/fellowship_and_grant_opportunities)

March 14 - Human Frontier Science Program - Young Investigator Grants (see http://www.hfsp.org/)

March 16 - Boehringer Ingelheim Young Investigator Award in Biological Sciences (see http://www.boehringer-ingelheim.ca/en/research_and_development/awards_corporate_sponsorships/young_investigator_award/yia_biological_sciences.html)

March 19 - NSERC Strategic Projects (see http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Professors-Professeurs/RPP-PP/SPG-SPS_eng.asp)

March 19 - Alberta Innovates Health Solutions - Post Doctoral Fellowships (see http://www.aihealthsolutions.ca/grants/training-and-early-career-development-programs/postgraduate-fellowship.php)

April 17 - Alberta Sport, Parks, and Recreation Wildlife Foundation - Development Initiatives Program (see http://www.asrpwf.ca/grant-funding-programs/development-initiatives-program.aspx)

Please note that the application material available on the FGSR website states 2011.  This is acceptable as the 2012 material will not become available in time for the Biological Sciences competition.

***Act now, please contact your referees to request letters of support.***

Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship (Master's) Competition

Government of the Province of Alberta

Value: $10,800 (September 1 start); $5,400 (January 1 start)

Eligibility: Candidates must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident at the time of nomination, and must be registered full-time in the first, second or third year of a master’s degree program during the tenure of the award. Applicants cannot be a recipient of a major award (ie. an award with a value equal to or greater than $13,000 as defined by the Graduate Scholarship Committee) during the tenure of the QEII Graduate Scholarship.  Tenure of the Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship (Master’s) may begin September 1 for an 8-month period at a value of $10,800, or January 1 for a 4-month period at a value of $5,400. Nominees must have a GPA of 3.5 or greater over the most recent 15 units of course weight and must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents at the time of nomination. All fields are eligible for funding. Recipients of major awards are not permitted to concurrently hold a Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship.

Application Form and 2 Letters of Reference (“Form” Portion) found at:

http://www.gradstudies.ualberta.ca/awardsfunding/scholarships/queenelizabeth/index.htm

*Departmental Deadline for Queen Elizabeth II Scholarship (Masters): Monday, March 5th by 4:00pm in the Graduate Student Office (CW 312)*

Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship (Doctoral) Competition

Government of the Province of Alberta

Value: $15,000 (September 1 start); $7,500 (January 1 start)

Eligibility: Candidates must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident at the time of nomination, and must be registered full-time in the first, second, third, fourth, or fifth year of a doctoral (PhD or equivalent) degree program during the tenure of the award. Applicants cannot be a recipient of a major award (ie. an award with a value equal to or greater than $13,000 as defined by the Graduate Scholarship Committee) during the tenure of the QEII Graduate Scholarship.  Tenure of the Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship (Doctoral) may begin September 1 for an 8-month period at a value of $15,000, or January 1 for a 4-month period at a value of $7,500. Nominees must have a GPA of 3.5 or greater over the most recent 15 units of course weight and must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents at the time of nomination. Recipients of major awards are not permitted to concurrently hold a Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship.

Application Form and 2 Letters of Reference (“Form” Portion) found at:

http://www.gradstudies.ualberta.ca/awardsfunding/scholarships/queenelizabeth/index.htm

*Departmental Deadline for Queen Elizabeth II Scholarship (Doctoral): Monday, March 5th by 4:00pm in the Graduate Student Office (CW 312)*

McAfee Scholarship in Botany

Value: TA salary for one term.

Eligibility: Available to graduate students (MSc or PhD) studying botany in the Province of Alberta. Awardee may not hold a major scholarship ($13,000.00 or greater).  Amount will be at the TA rate of pay for one term. Award may be held in either the fall or winter term (2012-13).  Supervisor should submit a student support letter, brief description of the student's research and the student's C.V. to the Associate Chair (Graduate Studies) in CW 312. If a suitable candidate is not found, no award will be given.

Departmental Deadline: Friday, March 2, 2012, 4:00pm, in CW 312 (Grad Office).

Alberta Innovates Technology Futures Graduate Student Scholarship

The FGSR will now be administering the Alberta Innovates Technology Futures Graduate Student Scholarship competition. The application for the 2012 competition has been posted on the website, as well as links to the Guidelines and Handbook which you may access here: : http://www. gradstudies.ualberta.ca/ awardsfunding/scholarships/ albertainnovates.htm

Please note: the 2012 Alberta Innovates Technology Futures Graduate Student Scholarship is for international and Canadian students who are not currently holding a NSERC. As results from the 2012 NSERC competition have not yet been released, the FGSR is encouraging all eligible students (including those whose NSERC applications have been forwarded to Ottawa) to apply for this scholarship.

The application for the 2012 Alberta Innovates Technology Futures Graduate Student Scholarship NSERC Top-up Award will be posted soon. Information regarding renewals will be posted soon.

Applications for the 2012 Alberta Innovates Technology Futures Graduate Student Scholarship must be received in CW 312, Bio Sci Building by 9:00am, February 15, 2012.

TAVERNER AWARDS
Taverner Awards are offered by the SCO-SOC to honour Percy A. Taverner and to further his accomplishments in increasing the knowledge of Canadian birds through research, conservation, and public education. The awards are aimed at people with limited or no access to major funding, regardless of professional status, who are undertaking ornithological work in Canada. Two awards of up to $1,500 each are made annually.
Deadline: Wednesday, February 15, 2012
http://www.sco-soc.ca/studentawards.htm

JAMES L. BAILLIE AWARD
The James L. Baillie Student Research Award is open to any student conducting ornithological research at a Canadian university. It honours the memory of James L. Baillie and shall be for research that is consistent with the objectives of the James L. Baillie Memorial Fund. These are to support: studies of Canadian birds in their natural environment; projects which contribute to preservation of birds; and projects which disseminate knowledge of birds. The James L. Baillie Student Research Award is funded by Long Point Bird Observatory / Bird Studies Canada from proceeds of the Baillie Birdathon, and is administered by the SCO-SOC. One award of up to $1000 is made annually.
Deadline: Wednesday, February 15, 2012
http://www.sco-soc.ca/studentawards.htm

FRED COOKE AWARD
The Fred Cooke Student Award is offered jointly by the SCO-SOC and Bird Studies Canada to honour the contributions of Professor Fred Cooke to Canadian ornithology by supporting ornithological conference travel or research activities by a student at a Canadian university. The award shall be open to any student conducting ornithological research at a Canadian university, except that previous recipients of the award shall not be eligible. The award shall be for travel to ornithological conferences at which the student will make an oral or poster presentation, or research in any aspect of ornithology anywhere in the world. One award of up to $1000 is made annually.
Deadline: Wednesday, February 15, 2012
http://www.sco-soc.ca/studentawards.htm

Alberta Chapter of The Wildlife Society Post-Graduate Award

Value: $1,500

Eligibility: This award is open to students planning a career in wildlife management and accepted into a full-time post-graduate degree program at an Alberta university in Biological Sciences, Forest Science, Animal Sciences, Zoology, or related field of study (must be enrolled full time in September 2012).

Deadline: March 2, 2012

For more information please visit:

http://joomla.wildlife.org/Alberta/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=23&Itemid=305

Alberta Emerald Awards for Environmental Excellence

The Alberta Emerald Foundation is accepting nominations for the 2011 Alberta Emerald Awards. The awards recognize individuals and organizations that set an example of excellence in preserving, protecting, enhancing and sustaining our environment. The nomination deadline is February 27, 2012. For details, visit www.emeraldfoundation.ca

Biological Survey of Canada Scholarship

Value: $1,000 Eligibility: Applicants must be post-graduate students at the time of application, be studying at a Canadian university, and be carrying out a project on insect (or terrestrial arthropod) faunistics in a Canadian habitat. Offered in alternate years to the Keith Kevan Scholarship.

Deadline: Thursday, February 16, 2012

http://www.esc-sec.ca/bscschol.html

Awards – Funding Opportunities

Sangster Award - The CNC/CODATA is accepting applications for The Sangster Award. This award, valued at Can. $3000, will enable a Canadian graduate student enrolled in a Canadian university, or recent graduate (within 3 years of graduation and of Canadian citizenship), to attend and present his or her work at International CODATA Conferences. It is expected that the award winner's field of study will support the general objectives of CODATA, namely, to help foster and advance science and technology through developing and sharing knowledge about data and data-related activities. The deadline for applications is March 31, 2012. See attached poster or visit http://www.codata.org/canada/ sangster/ for more information.

Lunch and Learn
Sponsored by Health Promotion and WorkLife Services, Lunch & Learn Presentations are free, but seating is limited. Sessions from 12:05 - 12:55 p.m. (Except where noted otherwise). See locations below. Register at: www.learningshop.ualberta.ca

February 16 – Communication in Intimate Relationships, presentation by Cecile Schultz, Homewood Human Solutions; Education South 113

February 23 – Bollyrobics, presentation by Deepti Sami, Bollywood Beats; W1-17 Van Vliet

February 28 – Mix and Mingle, presentation by Kim Arsenault, Meridian Learning and Development; Heritage Lounge, Athabasca Hall

Life Lines February 2012

Facing Change When You Don’t Choose It

Workshop – February 14, 2012, 9 a.m. – 12p.m. in Prairie Room, Lister Centre

HPaWS Newsletter January – February 2012

February 2012 Program Schedule

To register for a program offered below, please visit the Learning Shop,www.learningshop.ualberta.ca.

NEW! Skillsoft online learning

Go to www.hrs.ualberta.ca/stafflearning/skillsoft for the link to

register now to access thousands of online learning resources

NEW! Pathways Learning Series – February is Organizational Citizenship month!

www.hrs.ualberta.ca/learning/pathways

Respect 101

This brand new half day session provides learners with the opportunity to increase their knowledge and awareness around respect. The course provides education, exposure and hands-on experiences to enable you to learn, practice, and discover more effective ways to create inclusive and respectful working, studying and living environments at the University of Alberta. Topics include: developing awareness of inclusive and respectful vocabulary, definitions and interpretations of what “respect” means, awareness of norms and rules in the UofA culture, and developing awareness of personal assumptions in relation to respect and inclusion. This course is foundational to establishing positive relationships with colleagues, students and anyone you may interact with at the University.

Date(s): February 15, 2012
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Location: Glacier Room, Lister Centre

Fee: Free

Audience: Open to all Support Staff as part of the Pathways Learning Series

Facilitator: Organizational Learning and Effectiveness

D2D 101

This brand new full day course is focused on understanding how the university functions, and gives employees the opportunity to see how their work connects to the UAlberta vision and mission. Time will be spent introducing some relevant policies and legislation that all employees should be aware of. Participants will explore the concepts of personal accountability and relationship building, with the goal of creating fully engaged and integrated staff members.

Date(s): February 29, 2012
Time: 8:30 to 4:30
Location: Glacier Room, Lister Centre

Fee: Free

Audience: Open to all Support Staff as part of the Pathways Learning Series

Facilitator: Organizational Learning and Effectiveness

Pathways Learning Series Information Session

Pathways is a new series of learning sessions designed to help support staff strengthen their professional skills. Pathways offers several face-to-face learning sessions, which will be held on Wednesdays throughout 2012. Each month will focus on a different skill set, with both in-class and online choices. Skillsoft is the online portal and learning system that offers you information about the key skill areas and much more - 24/7!

This self-directed learning series is based on seven key skill areas:

· Organizational Citizenship

· Communicating

· Providing Service

· Thriving as a Team Member

· Being Adaptable and Flexible

· Utilizing Technology and Equipment

· Demonstrating Professionalism

Come find out more about the program and how it can help you and your co-workers realize your potential at one of the Pathways Information Sessions:

Date(s): February 13 OR February 14
Time: 1:30 to 2:30
Location: various. Go to www.learningshop.ualberta.ca to register

Fee: Free

Audience: Open to all Support Staff and their supervisors

Facilitator: Organizational Learning and Effectiveness

Workplace Learning Calendar Offerings

Introduction to Business Process Mapping

This session, presented in collaboration with the Excellence Canada, is intended for employees, managers and quality professionals responsible for increasing the effectiveness of their workgroup or organization. The full-day course will cover:

· The definition of a process

· How to facilitate process mapping

· How to define processes in terms of suppliers, inputs, process, outputs, and customers

· How to map processes at three levels of detail (Level 1, 2 and 3 process maps)

· How to use process mapping to facilitate process improvement

Date(s): February 23, 2012
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Location: 2-51 University Terrace

Fee: $100 by indent or cheque payable to the UofA (Send attention to: Cynthia Munro, 2-60 University Terrace)

Audience: Open to all University employees

Facilitator: Organizational Learning and Effectiveness

Budget Planning
This session is open to UofA Staff - Academic & Support staff welcome. The University’s budget has increased in size and complexity over recent years. In response to that change, the University has expanded and integrated much of its planning process. This workshop is presented as a general overview of managing operating budgets at the University of Alberta. It will be of interest to anyone who is new to administering an operating budget in a Faculty or administrative unit, or who wants an understanding of how the current operating budget works. It will include an overview of operating budget planning and the maintenance of operating budgets, and the existing annual budget cycle, budget policies and procedures, and budget reporting. Detailed position budgeting/management is not included in the workshop.

Date(s): February 28, 2012 OR March 8, 2012
Time: 1:30 to 3:00
Location: various
Fee: Free
Audience: Open to all University employees
Facilitator: Ian James Bernard, Associate Director of Resource Planning, Brittany Shmyr, Budget Assistant and Angela Strachan, Budget Administrator, Department of Resource Planning

What Does the Research Tell Us About Workplace Bullying

In partnership with Office of Safe Disclosure & Human Rights

A recent edition of the Journal of the International Ombudsman Association (JIOA – Volume 3, number 2, 2010) focused on the topic of bullying. This introductory IOA webinar series builds upon this edition of JIOA.

Date(s): March 14, 2012
Time: 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Location: Telus Centre, Room 236

Fee: Free

Audience: Open to all University employees

Facilitator: Wade King

Register by contacting Sheryl Raivio at Sheryl.raivio@ualberta.ca. (Registration for this session is not available on the LearningShop)

Registration
To register for these sessions please go to the Learning Shop:
http://www.learningshop.ualberta.ca

Select the appropriate month for the upcoming session, click on it in the calendar, select Register.

You may need to set up a new Learning Shop account if you do not have one already. Please download the instructions:

http://www.hrs.ualberta.ca/Learning/Help-LearningShop.pdf

Job Posting

Terrestrial & Aquatic Biological Technical Assistants needed - summer positions in Saskatchewan.

Samles Needed

I am a PhD candidate studying in the University of Otago, New Zealand. I am focusing on the use of DNA-based techniques to analyze the diet of small mammals. I am particularly interested in frogs as prey
items and the ability of researchers to identify frog remains using either visual or molecular methods.

At the moment I am in the process of gathering mammal diet samples (stomach contents or scats) that have already been collected as part of other studies. Specifically I am hoping to obtain a large array of samples from different predators where frog remains were identified in some percentage of those samples. I am also collecting my own samples here in New Zealand but am hoping to bolster my study and develop a technique applicable to a wide range of predators and prey with samples from all over
the world. I am also willing to explore the diet of other frog-eating animals, such as birds, reptiles etc.

If anyone has samples in storage that they think might suit this project then please do not hesitate to get in touch. There may be potential for collaboration on this project. I can of course provide much more information anyone who is interested.
Bastian Egeter (egeba296@student.otago.ac.nz)

Job Posting

Canadian Wildlife Services, Environment Canada

Wildlife Technician

Room for Rent

I'm moving out of my place for the field season (March through August) and am looking for someone to rent either for the 6 months I'm away, or on a more permanent basis. I share the upper floor of a house (2 bedrooms) with a male PhD student. The rent is $425 plus utilities (~$150). The house is at 106st and 67ave, and is close to bus stops. Pets are negotiable. If interested, please email Conrad at cgscott@ualberta.ca.

Looking to Rent

I will be coming to UoA from March to beginning of July 2012 and I am looking for a place to me and my family (a couple with a 5 yr old daughter). I am looking for a place preferably within walking distance of campus or near one of the closer LRT stations. If someone could help me, please contact me at zheschoereder@gmail.com (Jose H Schoereder)

Looking to Rent

I will be coming to UoA for the Winter semester to do my Masters and I was looking for a place starting Jan 1st. I am looking for a place preferably within walking distance of campus or near one of the closer LRT stations. Also I would prefer an apartment over a house. I have already lived in Edmonton for 5 years, so I am familiar with lease agreements and so on. If you have anything, please contact me at mg19@ualberta.ca.