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Message from the Director |
Welcome to the Fall Semester! The summer was very busy with training
programs, the high school summer academy and addition of new
faculty to the Center and the Biotechnology Building. This edition of
the quarterly newsletter brings news of additional training programs
within the Dominican Republic, new and expanded services, and our
welcome to new staff and faculty.
The newest program that will be an annual offering is the CIB Research
Student Program (CIBR students). This program competitively
selects students conducting exceptional biotechnology-related research
to receive a grant to expand their research programs in their
home department. See the 2007/2008 CIBR students in this issue.
We congratulate them and their mentors for the great application
submission! Stop by the Center and say hello, read a journal, and look
at the Nikon Small World exhibit!
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Dr. Bart Weimer
Director & Professor
Center for Integrated BioSystems
Utah State University
Logan, Utah |
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Focus on Research |
CIB Research Student Grants
The Center for Integrated BioSystems has named recipients of the first annual CIBR student awards. Six
graduate students from departments in the colleges of Agriculture, Engineering and Science were recognized
as the first recipients of the CIBR Student Grant program based on their applications and research
programs.
A reception for the recipients was held on Thursday, Sept. 20, in the Taggart Student Center Colony
Room. Students receiving the grants were selected from a competitive field, said Ken White, CIB Research
Director. They join seven other graduate students who receive ongoing support for their research
from the Center.
The inaugural group of students includes:
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Ryan Jackson: Biochemistry Department
Faculty mentor: Dr. Sean Johnson
Research title: “Structural Analysis of the
RAMP Complex” |
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Michelle Mendenhall: Bioveterinary
Science Department
Faculty mentor: Dr. Brian Gowen
Research title: “Analysis of Host IFN
Responses Following Infection with
Pathogenic and Nonpathogenic
Strains of PTV” |
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Jillian Guttormsen: Bioveterinary Science
Department
Faculty mentor: Dr. Quinton Winger
Research title: “Role of AP-2 gamma in
Germ Cell Development and Meiosis” |
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Mingxiang Liang: Plants, Soils and
Climate Department
Faculty mentor: Dr. Yajun Wu
Research title: “Searching for
Proteins Interacting with HAP3b in
Arabidopsis” |
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Jared Ervin. Civil and Environmental
Engineering Department
Faculty mentor: Dr. R. Ryan DuPont
Research title: Molecular Tools for
Microbial Community Characterization in
TCE Contaminated Soils” |
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Whitney Wooderchak: Chemistry and
Biochemistry Department
Faculty mentor: Dr. Joan Hevel
Research title: “Defining the Methyl-
Arginine Proteome Using Protein
Arginine Methyltransferase 1
(PRMT1)” |
Awards for the six students total $40,960. The CIBR Student Grants program provides support for research and travel and brings the students
together for monthly meetings to present their research. Workshops are held to help them sharpen the skills needed in today’s competitive
research environment.
“This is a unique opportunity for graduate students at USU to interact with other students across disciplines to better understand research
activities on campus,” says Ken White, Associate Director for Research at the Center. “The goal is to foster in these students the potential
of interdisciplinary research and provide them unique educational opportunities.”
Waldron Scholarship RFP
Looking for funding to help support students attending workshops, travel to conferences or meetings, or short-term visits to laboratories at
other universities? We may be able to help you. On or before January 10, 2008 the Center for Integrated BioSystems will publish the Request
for Proposals (RFP) for the Waldron Scholarships with an anticipated due date of late February, 2008.
E.L. and Inez Waldron established this program to encourage and assist students in USU departments that support biotechnology. Students
who are: a) top scholars, (b) progressive students of lower scholarship and who show unusual promise, or c) students in special financial
need are the intended recipients. All who are registered with the CIB to receive updates will be notified via e-mail when the RFP is
published. For more information about past awardees or the program in general, visit the CIB website at http://www.biosystems.usu.edu/ grants/biosystems_grants/student_grants/waldron_scholarship/ . If you have additional questions, please contact Dr. Ken White at 797-
2149 or (ken.white@usu.edu)
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Service Laboratory Up-Dates |
The Genomics Lab partnered with the ARS forage lab to purchase an additional DNA sequencer - doubling the
capacity for DNA sequencing. This lab now offers genome identification using 16s DNA analysis with the ABI
platform coupled to the ABI database as well as other public domain databases for increased identification
opportunities. For more information on these and other genomics services please contact Ninglin Yin, CIB Genomics
Group Leader at (usudna@cc.usu.edu or 797-8218). |
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The Proteomics Lab has expanded services to include protein expression. This service is similar to gene expression
using proteomics with LC/MS/MS identification and comparison. Contact Dr. Dong Chen dong.chen@usu.edu for
more information or sample submission.
The Metabolomics Lab is getting closer to opening its doors for sample submission. A great deal of time is being
spent to verify identification of the molecules once a mass is produced using LC/MS. Watch for the opening date. |
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The Fermentation Lab has a new service available. In addition to customized fermentation projects, the fermentation
lab now stocks ready-to-use tubes of E. coli formulated for feeding the nematode worm C. elegans.
This service spares researchers the time-consuming task of growing their own food as they use this model
organism to explore many aspects of multicellular life. Contact Mark Signs (mark.signs@usu.edu) for details
on this and other fermentation services.
The Bioinformatics Lab is expanding the analytical capabilities available for use. The bioinformatics cluster
has expanded the bioconductor interface for protein or gene expression analysis. Additionally, GO enrichment
analysis is now available to quickly guide the biological exploration of gene lists. (See Champine et al. Microarray
analysis reveals potential mechanisms of BRMS1-mediated metastasis suppression. It is out on e-pub
ahead of print, but will be published in Clinical and Experimental Metastasis for our recent application of GO
enrichment in metastasis.) |
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Metabolic reconstruction using Pathway tools and genome sequence is an expanded capability. The CIB is
hosting CIBcyc for exploration of genomes and metabolism. Watch for eukaryotic databases as they become
available at metacyc (metacyc.org). If you have a genome and want a metabolic reconstruction contact us!
Additionally, we are proud to announce our collaboration with Dr. John Stevens (Math/Stats) to provide additional
statistical expertise in analysis of gene and protein expression data sets. Please contact Dr. Bala Ganesan
(g.balsu@usu.edu or 435-760-3765) with questions or bioinformatic questions.
The CIB is considering a high throughput DNA sequencer purchase. We are thinking about a Solexa or 454 instrument. Your input is extremely
valuable in this decision. Before purchasing this instrument we want to be sure that the biotechnology community has need and
interest in this DNA sequencing capacity. Please contact Dr. Bart Weimer (bart.weimer@usu.edu) with your suggestions for this technology
or any other that is needed to support biotechnology and systems biology at USU.
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Recruiting News
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Biotechnology High School Summer Academy |
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The 7th Annual Biotechnology High School Summer Academy and the 2nd Annual
Advanced Biotechnology Summer Academy were held July 19-13, 2007. Thirty-nine
students participated in the academy and eight students in the advanced program.
Faculty from colleges of Agriculture, Engineering, and Science received these students
into their laboratories for a week–long research experience. These programs
consistently recruit highly qualified students to USU. The program was sponsored by
a grant from the Utah Office for Economic Development and the Center for Integrated BioSystems. Thanks to all of the faculty that hosted
students. The program was a success due to your involvement. If you are interested in hosting a student next year, contact Dr. Afifa Sabir
at (afifa.sabir@usu.edu or 760-3767). |
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Education and Training News |
Biotechnology and Bioprocessing Training Courses at the CIB
As part of the internationally recognized hands-on training program that the Center has been offering for the past seven years, the following
courses were offered between May and October of 2007:
Microbial Fermentation: Development and Scale-up, May 15-18, 2007
Gene Expression and Microarray Analysis, July 31-August 3, 2007
Bioinformatics, August 14-16, 2007
Microbial Fermentation: Development and Scale-up, October 16-19, 2007
The 2008 schedule will be released shortly. We look forward to USU student involvement.
For more details about the training programs please contact Dr. Kamal Rashid
at (kamal.rashid@usu.edu or 770-7015) or check our website:
www.biosystems.usu.edu/education. |
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Educational programs
*The 7th Annual Biotechnology Teacher Symposium was held November 5, 2007 at the Center. This is a one
day hands-on training program designed to introduce high school teachers to biotechnology and to encourage
them to include biotechnology-related exercises in their science curriculum.
*Biotechnology Training Course: Techniques in Animal Cell Culture and Scale-up Strategies was held November
13-16, 2007 |
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Seminars
Thanks to NFS faculty for their willingness to partner in the Fall Semester biotechnology seminar series. The speakers have been diverse
and relevant to the current food and health trends. If your department is interested in partnering with the CIB to co-host a seminar series
contact Dr. Kamal Rashid (krashid@cc.usu.edu or 770-7015) www.biosystems.usu.edu/education/seminars/
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Center News
Please join us in welcoming the new members of the Center:
• Syed Sayem, CIB Web site assistant
• Darlene Orduno, Staff assistant II
• Andrea Porras, Budget office assistant.
• Dr. Chris Davies, Research Associate Professor, CIB and ADVS
We wish each of you the greatest success in your new positions at USU.
The Center hosts the Nikon Small World. We will have a new exhibit in May 16, 2008— August 17, 2008. Please come by and have a look
at world-wide award winning scientific photographs that are great art!
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International Collaborations
Dominican Republic
The CIB partnered with the Provost’s Office in the Phase IV agreement with the Dominican government to develop five biotechnology training
courses for delivery between October 2007 and May 2008. This first course was held September 10-21, 2007. The courses cover a
wide range of biotechnology-related subjects coupled with hands-on laboratory exercises. These courses are two weeks in duration and are
designed to introduce Dominican students and interested faculty members to the recent developments in biotechnology research. The
course schedule is:
Introduction to Biotechnology. September 10-21, 2007
Advanced Biotechnology. Offered October 22- November 2, 2007
Biosafety and GMO Testing. To be offered February 18-22, 2008
Animal Cell Culture. To be offered March 24-April 4, 2008
Proteins and Proteomics. To be offered April 20- 30, 2008
For a comprehensive view of all CIB programs check the website: www.biosystems.usu.edu.
Archive Newsletters
Volume 1
Volume 2
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