Toxicology Track

Weekly Newsletter of the MSU Center for Integrative Toxicology
Director: Norbert Kaminski/Editor: Lois Furry

April 7 , 2008, Vol. 31, Number 14

Seminars this week / Seminars Upcoming / Trainee Enrichment and Professional Development / New Topics in Tox. Summer Course / Position

Seminars this week

Tuesday, April 8
*The College of Osteopathic Medicine presents Dr. Hava Avraham, Ph.D., Harvard Medical School, to speak on “Wild-Type BRCA1, but not Mutated BRCA1, Acts as a Sensor Regulating Beta-Catenin Activation and Beta-Catenin/FOXO Interaction During Oxidative Stress Responses" on Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at 9 a.m. in 1425 Biomedical and Physical Sciences Building. Dr. Avraham is a candidate for the MSU Patenge Endowed Professorship in Cancer Biology.

*The Physiology Department presents Dr Jodi Flaws, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Illinois, to speak on “The Effect of Methoxychlor on the Mammalian Ovary” on Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at 2:30 p.m. in 1425 Biomedical and Physical Sciences Building.

The Microbiology and Molecular Genetics Department presents Dr. Michael Ibba, Ohio State University, to speak on “Translation of the genetic code, quality control and the cost of accuracy” on Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at 4:10 p.m. in 1415 Biomedical Physical Sciences.

Wednesday, April 9
The Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Behavior Program and Department of Forestry presents Dr. Adrien Finzi, to speak on “Rising Atmospheric CO2, Forest Productivity and C Sequestration: The Role of Nitrogen Limitation in Forest-Carbon Uptake and Storage” on Wednesday, April 9, 2008 at 3:30 p.m in 247 Plant Biology.

Thursday, April 10
The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology program presents Dr. Michael Washburn, Stowers Institute for Medical Research, to give the Boezi Lectureship on "Using Normalized Spectral Abundance Factors to Visualize Protein Complexes and Protein Interaction Networks" on Thursday, April 10, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. in 101 Biochemistry.

The Neuroscience Program presents Dr. Emilie Rissman, University of Virginia, to speak on “Sexual Differentiation: Steroid Receptors and Sex Chromosomes” on Thursday, April 10, 2008 at 12:30 p.m. in 1425 Biomedical Physical Sciences.

The Department of Physiology presents Dr. Jeffrey Gimble, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University, to speak on “The Characterization of Human Adipose Derived Stem Cells” on Thursday, April 10, 2008 at 3 p.m. in 1425 BioMedical Physical Sciences.

*The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering presents Dr. Frank E. Loeffler, Georgia Institute of Technology, to speak on "Exploiting Nature's Blueprint for Bioremediation" on Thursday, April 10, 2008 at 4:10 p.m. in 3540 Engineering Building.

Friday, April 11
The Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation presents Ingrid Bergin, Resident, to speak on “Canine Melanocytic Neoplasia-Why are Benign Tumors Benign?" on Friday, April 11, 2008 at 12 p.m. at 4125 Beaumont Road.

Seminars Upcoming

*The Chemistry Department presents Dr. Richard Fehir, MSU, to speak on “Differential Polarization of Spin and Charge Density in Transition Metal Organic Radical Complexes” on Monday, April 14, 2008 at 11:20 a.m. in 136 Chemistry.

*The Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, and Pharmacology & Toxicology present Dr. Bettie Sue Masters, Ph.D., D.Sc., M.D., the Robert A. Welch Distinguished Professor in Chemistry at the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, to speak on "Early Trails and New Horizons for Cytochrome P450 Oxidoreductase and Nitric Oxide Synthesis" on Tuesday, April 15, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. in 1415 Biomedical and Physical Sciences.

*Fulfills seminar requirements for the Environmental and Integrative Toxicological Sciences Graduate Programs. Seminars that fulfill this requirement are archived at Seminar List.

Trainee Enrichment and Professional Development

"Navigating the Ph.D.: A Writing Workshop Series Part II; Topics and Proposals, Writing Strategies, Revision Strategies, The Defense, and Beyond" on Saturday, April 12, 2008 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in 300 Bessey Hall. (Also offered on April 19, 2008). For more information, go to http://writing.msu.edu/ntp/.

New Summer Course

Topics in Particle Toxicology: From Micro- to Nano-Particles

• Sponsored by the Center for Integrative Toxicology and the Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation
  

Course Description:

Historically, research in particle toxicology has been closely connected to industrial exposures to coal, asbestos, and synthetic fibers. More recently, research has focused on the toxicology of ambient particulate matter and man-made nanoparticles. In this course, students will review research literature related to the adverse human health and environmental effects of occupational and environmental exposures to a wide-range of particles varying in size (microns to nanometers in diameter) and chemical composition. Though most of the reviewed areas of research will concern inhalation exposures and pulmonary toxicity, other routes of exposure (e.g., oral, dermal) and particle-induced effects on other target organs (e.g., cardiovascular) will be discussed. The goal of this course is to provide students will an introduction to particle toxicology concentrating on topics related to particulate exposure, dosimetry (deposition and clearance), cellular responses, and pathological outcomes. In addition, students will gain an understanding of in vivo and in vitro models and methods for toxicological testing of particles.

Term: Summer semester 2008 (first term only ¾ May 12-June 26, 2008)
Class time: Wednesdays, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Location: Conference room 162, National Food Safety and Toxicology Bldg.
Course Number: PDI 891
Course Credit: 1
Enrollment: Students must contact Ms. Denise Harrison in the Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation (517- 432-4685 or harrison@dcpah.msu.edu) with a student number and course title to receive an override in order to enroll. Course moderators: Drs. Jack Harkema (PDI) and Patricia Ganey (PHM/TOX).

Position

The MSU-CIT Environmental and Integrative Toxicological Sciences program has an open postdoctoral position. Research programs of the faculty employ modern technologies at the molecular, cellular and in vivo levels to explore mechanisms by which toxicants cause tissue injury. Areas of interest include cell signaling, molecular targets, immune/inflammatory responses, gene-environment interactions, susceptibility factors, control of gene expression, hemostasis, fibrogenesis and endocrine disruption in neuronal, respiratory, hepatic, cardiovascular, and immune tissues. Toxic agents of interest include drugs, air pollutants (particulate matter, ozone, mycotoxins) and water and food contaminants (plant and microbial toxins, metals, chlorinated hydrocarbons, etc.) and others. Research funding derives from the NIH and other federal sources (EPA, DOE) and includes a multi-investigator NIEHS/EPA Superfund Program Project grant. The toxicology faculty at MSU collaborate extensively with each other and with colleagues at other academic and industrial institutions; this provides numerous opportunities for postdoctoral fellows to engage in collaborative research that broadens their investigative and networking horizons. This postdoctoral position is supported by a training grant from the NIEHS and is accordingly limited to applicants who are US citizens or permanent residents. Interested applicants should visit the website of the Center for Integrative Toxicology and send a curriculum vitae that includes a short description of research interests, training and experience and three references to Amy Swagart, Center for Integrative Toxicology, Food Safety and Toxicology Building, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824 or by email to swagart@msu.edu. Questions about the position should be addressed to Robert Roth, PhD, Director, EITS Training Program, at rothr@msu.edu or 517-353-9841.