Toxicology Track

Weekly Newsletter of the MSU Center for Integrative Toxicology
Director: Dr. Norbert Kaminski / Editor: Lauren St.John

September 14, 2009, Vol. 32, Number 34

Workshops / Courses / Fellowships / Job Postings

 

Workshops

Leading Through Teamwork: How to be a Successful Professional – Prep Graduate School Workshop

Saturday, September 26, 2009, from 8:45 am - 3:30 pm at the Kellogg Center

This interactive workshop for graduate students and post-docs will focus on identifying the skills underlying successful collaborations and learning to put them into practice. Research on professional success in academic and non-academic environments identifies teamwork and collaboration as key survival skills. Studies of new faculty indicate that although they are hired for their individual expertise, their job satisfaction and promotion often depend on how quickly they learn to be collaborators in research, teaching, and service. In non-academic settings, most projects evolve as group efforts.  Some psychologists have even argued that the most important new ideas are the product of "group genius," not individual brilliance. Through a diversity of activities presenters will engage participants in learning about how the so-called "soft-skills" of teamwork and leadership come into play in academic and non-academic settings. By the end of the workshop, participants should come away with concrete strategies for:  creating and sustaining collaborations in academia and beyond, managing teams, communicating effectively in and across diverse environments. 

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED 
To register send an email to: gradwrsp@msu.edu. Please include your name, department, e-mail address, name of the workshop, and date of the workshop.  Also indicate if you will need a vegetarian option for lunch.   If your plans change, email gradwrsp@msu.edu as soon as possible so that others can participate or we can cancel the ordered meal.  Parking passes will be provided for the Kellogg Center parking structure. Thank you!

_____________

Thesis/Dissertation Formatting and Graduation Requirements - A Presentation Sponsored by the Graduate School

September 18, 2009, 2:00 - 3:30 PM, (Check In 1:30-2:00 PM)
South Kedzie Hall, Rm.105

The workshop will cover formatting requirements including:

- Margin, Paper and Print Quality Requirements        

- Most Common Mistakes in Formatting  

- Submission Packet Material (Bookplate, Thesis/Dissertation Agreement Form, etc.)           

The workshop will also cover graduation requirements:                   

- Academic Programs Catalog (Degree requirements and completion of the degree)

- Registration Requirements (Defending and submitting your thesis/dissertation)             

- Degree and Certification (Getting the diploma)

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED
To register, send an e-mail to gradwrsp@msu.edu with your name, department, e-mail address, name and date of the workshop you wish to attend and the date of the workshop.

Please be sure to bring your student ID to be swiped for workshop attendance. This presentation is offered only once each semester.

_____________

ILSI Health and Environmental Sciences Institute (HESI) Workshop on State of the Science: Evaluating Epigenetic Changes

Date:  October 28-30, 2009
Location:  NIEHS Campus, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
Program Co-Chairs: Dr. Jay Goodman, Michigan State University and Dr. Karen Augustine, Bristol-Myers Squibb

Who Should Attend: Epigenetics is an emerging issue that is rapidly gaining traction and interest in a range of scientific and regulatory communities. The program is designed to be informative to scientists who are seeking to learn more about the field of epigenetics as well as those who are actively engaged in this arena. Scientists from industry, academia, and government are encouraged to participate.

Is there a Fee to Attend? The workshop is open at no-cost for all interested, registered parties until workshop capacity is reached (approximately 150 registrants).

How do I Register? Online registration information is available here. 

Where Should I Stay While Attending the Meeting? Research Triangle Park and the surrounding Raleigh-Durham area offer numerous lodging and recreation options. A room block for workshop attendees has been secured, please contact Ms. Cyndi Nobles for more information (cnobles@ilsi.org ).

 

Courses

Computational Systems Biology and Dose Response Modeling Short Course
PHM 870, Section 301, 1 credit (fulfills the EITS Topics in Toxicology requirement)

Date: October 7-9, 2009 (all day Oct. 7 and 8, half day on Oct. 9)

Location: Food Safety and Toxicology Building, room 164

Instructors: Qiang Zhang, Sudin Bhattacharya, and Melvin E. Andersen, Division of Computational Biology, The Hamner Institutes for Health Sciences; and Rory Conolly US Environmental Protection Agency.

Course Description: In this short course, you will learn:

• Current computational modeling techniques for the quantitative investigation of how biological systems respond to perturbations at the cellular level.

• Common themes in signal transduction and gene regulatory networks that underlie systems-level cellular behaviors including homeostasis, adaptation, threshold response, binary cell fate decisions, and irreversible differentiation.

• How molecular circuits comprising genes and proteins give rise to different dose response behaviors.

• To use these techniques to develop computational models for understanding and predicting dose response behaviors of drugs and environmental agents.

The course comprises lectures and hand-on computer simulation exercises. Students will be required to bring a PC laptop computer each day to the course as there will be sample data sets for them to model.

Please visit http://www.thehamner.org/education-and-training/drm_workshop.html for a full description of a one-week version of this course. Contact Dr. Norbert Kaminski, kamins11@msu.edu, with questions.

Please contact Diane Hummel, hummeld@msu.edu, in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology for course registration/override.

 

Fellowships

Nominations Sought for Environmental Health Sciences - ‘Science Communication Fellows’

Environmental Health Sciences (EHS), publisher of EnvironmentalHealthNews.org and DailyClimate.org, seeks nominations for Science Communication Fellows. The 12-month appointments are open to postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty at research universities that have active research programs related to environmental health sciences.

Most of the public and many reporters are unaware of how profoundly the environmental health sciences have advanced in the past decade, and they often lack a basic understanding of the significance or context of new results. The Science Communication Fellows program addresses this gap, working with up to 10 researchers a year to develop and hone their communication and outreach skills early in their professional careers, while also publishing accessible summaries of important new research findings.

Nominations are being accepted now for the competitive, one-year fellowships that will further enhance the researchers’ communication skills and offer a strong peer network with the Science Communication Fellows from prior years. Fellowship training provides participants the tools with which to communicate environmental health research to the media, policy makers and the public.

Duties: With assistance from skilled communication experts and EHS staff, Science Communication Fellows appointed for the 2010 calendar year will:

• Identify every month two important new scientific findings within his or her area of expertise.
• Submit short written summaries that translate the findings for reporters and a broader public.
• Report on those findings via a monthly conference call.
• Occasionally, expand the summaries into longer, more detailed synopses.
• Contribute short reviews critiquing media coverage of environmental health findings.
• Attend a two-day national conference to meet one another and Environmental Health Sciences staff, network with professionals in related fields, attend media training and discuss research and policy issues in environmental health.

Compensation: $5,000 stipend and paid expenses for media training conference.

Nomination: Department chairs or deans will nominate successful candidates. Applications are due October 15, 2009, and must be submitted electronically to sciencefellows@environmentalhealthnews.org.

Applications:

1. A letter of recommendation from the applicant's department chair or dean;
2. A letter from the nominee describing qualifications and why he or she wishes to participate; and
3. The nominee’s CV with three sample publications in PDF format.

Selection and Notification: A selection committee will review nominations and select up to 10 fellows for the 2010 calendar year. Participants will be notified before December 15, 2009.

__________

Department of Homeland Security Honors Fellowship

Would you like to be a part of an exceptional team of bright professionals who are dedicated to protecting our nation?  The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is looking to hire a handful of students from the nation’s best graduate programs.  Those selected to join the department will have a unique opportunity to put their academic achievements, intellect and professional experience to use during a critical time in American history.  As honors fellows, you will provide direct assistance to top policymakers throughout the department.  Fellows will work side-by-side with professionals with expertise in areas such as Policy Development, Strategic Planning, Private Sector Policy, International Affairs, Bioterrorism, Science and Technology, Immigration Policy, Law Enforcement, Cargo and Maritime Policy, Emergency Preparedness, Customs Enforcement, Financial Investment/Trade, and Intelligence and Analysis.

We seek applicants who have keen analytical skills, a demonstrated ability to write well, and the judgment and discretion needed to operate in a vibrant, highly visible, and challenging environment.  Those exceptional candidates who are selected as honors fellows will serve for two years.  Upon completing the fellowship, you will have the opportunity to convert to a permanent position at DHS.  

How do I apply?  Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to The Graduate School at gradschool@grd.msu.edu by November 20, 2009.  DHS will work with The Graduate School to schedule an on-campus informational session and interviews.  You will be required to go through multiple rounds of interviews with departmental officials on your college campus and at DHS headquarters.  If selected, we will present you with an offer letter to join the department.  Some key requirements that must be met are U.S. citizenship, background investigation, and master’s degree or higher.

 

Job Postings

Biology/Microbiology/Toxicology, GS-401/403/415-12/13

The Cardiopulmonary and Immunotoxicology Branch at the U.S. EPA in Research Triangle Park, NC, is recruiting for a principal investigator to plan execute and report on an independent research program to improve methods for assessing the effects of environmental contaminants on the development and expression of immune responses.  Someone who has used molecular methods to understand problems in toxicology or environmental health would be ideal as the immediate need is to apply molecular and high throughput technologies to develop new approaches for identification of chemical sensitizer and address specific chemical sensitizer issues of interest to the Agency, and more generally to design research that is responsive to the issue of Toxicity Testing in the 21st Century in the context of immunotoxicology.  The job is at the GS12 (someone finishing a postdoc) or GS13 level (someone with slightly more experience). 

In order to apply, go to the USAJOBS website, http://www.usajobs.gov, and type in the vacancy number, RTP-DE-2009-0228. The announcement closes September 21, 2009.

__________

Assistant or Associate Professor in the Environmental Science Program at Carthage College

Carthage College invites applications for a renewable three-year Assistant or Associate professor appointment in the Environmental Science Program. Candidates must hold a Ph.D. in Environmental Science or related field by September 2010. Preferred specialization is Environmental Toxicology or Environmental Chemistry, but strong applicants from the other areas of environmental science will be considered.

The successful candidate must demonstrate an enthusiastic commitment to teaching undergraduate students and to conducting faculty-student research within a liberal arts college environment. The ideal candidate will teach courses in the core of the environmental science program and facilitate faculty-student research. Opportunities to teach/develop courses in other areas of interest also will be available.

More information about the environmental science program can be found at: www.carthage.edu/dept/envs/.

Application materials should include a cover letter outlining teaching philosophy and research interests, three letters of recommendation, and curriculum vitae. Send to: Professor Kevin Crosby, Chair, Division of the Natural Sciences, Carthage College, 2001 Alford Park Drive, Kenosha, WI, 53140-1994. For full consideration, complete applications should be received by September 25, 2009.

__________

Public Health Specialist II for the Public Health Division of Alaska
This recruitment seeks an environmental and/or public health scientist with formal education and experience in the field of toxicology.

This position serves as a health assessor for the Environmental Public Health Program within the Section of Epidemiology. The incumbent will evaluate the health significance of chemicals in the environment in Alaska, considering the chemical and physical nature of the chemicals, site conditions, toxicological properties, and relevant exposure pathways. The incumbent will evaluate contaminants in fish and other subsistence foods, perform health assessments for communities impacted by contaminated sites, conduct lead exposure surveillance, and respond to a variety of other environmental health concerns. This position provides a unique opportunity to improve the health status of Alaskans by reducing exposure to hazardous chemicals. The starting salary for this position is $4976 per month.

We are looking for candidates with the following knowledge, skills, experience and strengths:

• Demonstrated knowledge of environmental toxicology principles
• Experience evaluating the health impacts of environmental contaminants
• Demonstrated knowledge of the fate and transport of chemicals in the environment
• Experience communicating the results of scientific information to peers, both through oral presentations and publication in peer-reviewed scientific literature
• Ability to communicate complex information in a simplified manner that is understandable to the lay public
• Ability to communicate professionally, effectively and diplomatically while under pressure
• Knowledge of risk communication theory and practice
• Strong critical thinking skills
• Strong writing skills (both scientific and for lay public)
• Experience working effectively as a member of a team

For more information about the position and to apply online, please visit: http://notes4.state.ak.us/wa/postapps.nsf/3fce5e59a6a3b75189256443007a8ed2/f1aaadfd1fe8c0d1892576260079c1a1?OpenDocument.
__________

Assistant Professor of Biology/Cell Biology at Hofstra University

Hofstra University invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track, assistant professor position in the Department of Biology. The successful candidate will be qualified to teach cell biology and ideally one other of the following subject areas: immunology, environmental toxicology, or bioinformatics. The successful candidate should be able to teach courses at a variety of levels, i.e. non-majors, undergraduate majors, Master's. Faculty in Biology must maintain an active and productive research program accessible to both undergraduate and master's research students. The specific areas of research are open.

Candidates must have a Ph.D. in a relevant discipline, experience in course development and design, and demonstrated teaching ability. An interest in and/or experience with innovative teaching techniques is desirable. Post-doctoral experience is preferred.

Interested individuals should: (1) submit a curriculum vitae (indicating specific teaching experience, (2) statement of research interests, (3) statement of teaching experience, interests and philosophy, and (4) have letters from three references sent to: Faculty Search, Department of Biology, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY 11549-1140, or email application documents (in PDF format) to Robert.W.Seagull@hofstra.edu.

The Department of Biology is a medium-sized, diverse, and growing department. Additional information about the department, faculty, facilities, etc. is posted on the web at: http://hofstra.edu/biology. Application materials should be received by December 1, 2009. Starting date: September, 2010.
__________

Director of the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC)

Applications are invited for the position of Director of the ISTC, a department of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign within the Institute of Natural Resource Sustainability (INRS). With its national reputation, ISTC promotes sustainability by providing technical assistance, conducting & sponsoring research, and disseminating information on environmental issues. The Director provides scientific leadership and administrative direction for the development, coordination, and implementation of programs, activities and professional services undertaken by a staff of approximately 40, primarily engineers and chemists. She/he reports directly to the Executive Director of the INRS and interacts regularly with all levels of government, industry, and the public to maintain and enhance the Center's reputation for excellence and objectivity in science and public service.

Qualifications: the candidate must possess a Ph.D. in a pertinent discipline of engineering, or physical, chemical, biological, or environmental sciences. At least five years experience with the following is required: 1) managing a large and/or complex organization operating in a technical environment; and 2) working in an industrial pollution prevention and/or waste management or related area. Candidates must possess a demonstrated substantive and sustained record of accomplishment of publishing and obtaining external sponsored funding. Salary range: $148,000 to $153,000 commensurate with qualifications and experience. Proof of U.S. citizenship or current eligibility for U.S. employment will be required prior to employment. To ensure full consideration, all candidates must submit an online profile through http://jobs.illinois.edu by September 18, 2009. Qualified candidates must upload a letter of interest, resume, email address, and the contact information for three professional references. For additional information regarding this position, please contact Kate Day at 217/333-8943. The search will continue until the position is filled.

__________

Post-doctoral position at the NIH related to drug-induced liver disease: Spring 2010.

A postdoctoral position will be available for research training to study the role of cytokines and other factors in regulating susceptibility of patients to drug-induced liver diseases (DILD) that are mediated by toxic metabolites and cells of the innate and adaptive immune systems.  Molecular and cellular biology, toxicology, and immunology as well as genomic, proteomic, bioinformatic, and systems biology methods and animal model techniques are used to discover risk factors and elucidate their molecular and cellular signaling pathways that either promote or control the incidence and severity of DILD.  Our long-term goals are to translate our findings into new approaches for identifying patients who are susceptible to DILD and designing safer drugs and treatments for DILD.

Applicants must have a Ph.D. or M.D. with less than five years of postdoctoral experience, and a strong background in toxicology, drug metabolism, and/or immunology.  Send C.V. and list of three references to Lance R. Pohl, Pharm.D. Ph.D., Chief, Molecular and Cellular Toxicology Section, NHLBI/NIH; E-Mail: pohll@nih.gov.

For more information please visit: http://dir.nhlbi.nih.gov/labs/lmi/mct/.   

 

 

This newsletter is produced and distributed weekly by the Center for Integrative Toxicology. To be added to the e-mail list or to make suggestions regarding information that might be included in this publication, contact: Lauren St.John, Editor, Center for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, 165C Food Safety and Toxicology Building, East Lansing, MI 48824; lstjohn@msu.edu; 517/432-2435(phone), 517/355-4603(fax).