Another newsletter full of interesting courses and positions recruiting biosystematist. Take a look at the courses, and take note of the application deadlines for both the courses and jobs. In addition to ForBio courses, there are also two workshops that we organise as part of a collaboration with other research schools in Norway, the Academic Career Development workshop and the Nature Masterclass.
As part of a process to refresh our members database, we will be sending out an automated message to most of you soon with information about your membership, and a request to confirm or update your details.
To all new members and associates, we hope you find our diverse portfolio helpful for your careers!
ForBio: MSCA-IF Training Program 18-20 June 2018, Tollboden, Drøbak, Norway The second training program for incoming and outgoing fellows applying for postdoctoral research grants from the Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions (MSCA) Individual Fellows program. The program runs from June 1st (registration deadline and start of concept development with host) to the tentative submission deadline of the H2020 MSCA-IF call on September 14th 2018. The training includes match-making between fellows and hosts, coaching, an intensive 3-day workshop, writing support, peer review, and liaison with EU coordination offices. Registration deadline: June 1st, 2018
ForBio course: Lichens and lichenicolous fungi in Norwegian rainforests 5-10 August 2018, Steinkjer, Norway During this intensive course, we will combine biodiversity research in the field, lab work and evening lectures with the objective of learning as much as possible about the characteristics of main groups of lichens and lichen parasitic fungi in Norwegian Boreal Rainforests. More specifically we will focus on 1) species recognition of lichens and lichen parasitic fungi in Norwegian boreal rainforests; 2) methods of biodiversity mapping (field sampling, species recognition in the field, relevant metadata); 3) species identification training (microscopy, thin-layer chromatography [TLC] of secondary compounds); 4) DNA barcoding (sampling of lichen material, photography, data entry, BOLD) New application deadline: June 15th, 2018
ForBio field course: Northern Biodiversity Hotspots, Flora of Skibotn, plant collection and identification 12-17 August 2018, Skibotn field station of the University of Tromsø, Storfjord, Troms, Northern Norway This course provides training in identification of Boreal and Arctic groups of flowering plants. It will take place in Skibotn area with remarkably high species number for such northern latitudes (68-69 degrees N) challenging the general concept that species richness decreases as latitude increases. Daily excursions to both lowland and mountain habitats will be combined with practical work in the class to identify the collected materials using the identification keys and learn diagnostic characters of plant taxa. Application deadline: June 1st, 2018
ForBio course: Introduction to Bioinformatics for Biosystematics 25-31 August 2018, Tollboden, Drøbak, Norway Basic programming skills are becoming essential for handling large datasets and performing complex analyses in biosystematics. This course aims to provide the students with tools to solve practical problems often encountered in biosystematic research. The students will be introduced to programming using Python and R. Other programming languages may be used for specific tasks. Upon completion of the course, the students should be comfortable working with a command-line interface, well oriented in the basics of Python and R programming, and familiar with methods for computerized process control and data analysis. Application deadline: July 1st, 2018
ForBio and STI course: Entomology hands-on: collecting, sorting, species ID 2-9 September 2018, Station Linné, Öland, Sweden The course presents several aspects of insect handling in field and in collections. You will get hands-on experience in collecting, handling, sorting, identifying and preserving of insects. We will broadly cover different taxonomic levels/groups, and provide some opportunities to dive deeper into some of them. Learning targets: (1) various collecting methods, (2) knowledge of taxonomic sorting methods and tools, (3) knowledge of identification procedures for most larger insect groups, (4) basic understanding of advanced techniques for species ID in lab. Application deadline: June 10th, 2018
ForBio and Transmitting Science course: Phylogenetic analysis using R 3 Sept 2018, Barcelona, Spain This course is for biologists dealing with the analysis of multiple molecular sequences at several levels: Populations, species, clades, communities. These biologists address questions relative to the evolutionary relationships among these sequences, as well as the evolutionary forces structuring biodiversity at different scales. The objectives of the course are: (i) to know how to choose a strategy of molecular data analysis at the inter‐ or intraspecific levels, (ii) to be able to initiate a phylogenetic analysis starting from the files of molecular sequences until the interpretation of the results and the graphics. Application deadline: May 31st, 2018.
ForBio and UiO: Mycology field course 10-14 September 2018, Tollboden, Drøbak, Norway University of Oslo and ForBio are offering a field course focusing on the fungal diversity of eastern Norway. The two main aims of the course are to (1) acquire more knowledge about fungal diversity, fungistics and systematics, and (2) learn to use literature, stereomicroscope and microscopy to identify fungi based on micro- and macroscopic characters. We will also focus on the species ecology and phylogenetic belonging. Application deadline: August 1st, 2018
ForBio course: Species Concepts and Species Delimitation 17-21 September 2018, Tollboden, Drøbak, Norway In this course you will learn about theoretical and practical issues around species concepts. Species boundaries in many organism groups are still in a state of flux, and for empirical species delimitation, finding appropriate character sets and analytical tools are among the greatest challenges. We will review the advantages and disadvantages of different types of data for species assessment and you will be introduced to the different methods for species delimitation based on DNA sequence data and interpretation of results. Students will gain hands-on-experience about distance and tree based methods for species delimitation, including the use of software such as VSEARCH, CROP, ABGD, UCLUST, PTP, GMYC, BPP and STACEY. We will generate stimulating discussion about the interpretation of results and the advantages and limitations of these methods. Application deadline: July 1st, 2018
ForBio and University of Gothenburg workshop: Target capture for HTS sequencing 24-28 September 2018, Tollboden, Drøbak, Norway The Target capture for HTS sequencing workshop will cover the methodology currently in use for generating DNA sequence data from multiple loci and individuals for phylogenomics and population genomics approaches. It will cover all steps from design of probes to phasing of alleles. Emphasis will be put on basic understanding of the whole procedure, which pitfalls there may be, and demonstration of the use of software for different assembly, mapping, and phasing steps. Application deadline: July 1st, 2018
Transmitting Science and ForBio course: Introduction to the art of science: Scientific IIllustration 5-9 November, Barcelona, Spain
This course is designed to help scientists, science communicators, artists, and adults interested in natural history develop the observation skills and drawing skills they need to record, distill, and visually communicate observations made of natural history objects and organisms. Traditional scientific illustration techniques as well as the history, significance, status, and future directions of scientific illustration will be explored in this hands-on studio-style course. Application deadline: July 31st, 2018
ForBio course: Population genetics of polyploids, from theory to practice 2-7 December 2018, Tollboden, Drøbak, Norway This practically-oriented course will attempt to bridge this gap. Simulation-based exercises (among others using R) will elucidate theoretical foundations of both diploid and polyploid population genetics. Additionally, analyses of real or realistic example datasets (microsatellite and SNP markers) will give participants hands-on training in several available methods for population genetic analysis of polyploids. Application deadline: September 1st, 2018
Funding opportunities
ForBio travel grants ForBio offers both incoming and outgoing travel grants to fund collaborations between ForBio members and taxonomic experts. This is an open call without deadlines.
ForBio & Transmitting Science ForBio organises some courses together with Transmitting Science (announced in the ForBio website). For these courses, ForBio will cover the registration fee for all accepted ForBio members. In addition, ForBio will cover travel and accommodation for ForBio members affiliated to Norwegian institutions. In order to benefit from this agreement, you need to indicate you are a ForBio member when registering through the transmitting Science website. A 30% confirmation fee may be required when registering; this will be reimbursed to ForBio members during the course.
ForBio members and associates also get a 20% discount on ALL Transmitting Science courses. You just need to indicateyour ForBio affiliation when registering.
Kenneth Jay Boss Fellowship provides financial support enabling graduate students to conduct collections-based research in the Department of Invertebrate Zoology (IZ) at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution. Fall application deadline, September 1st 2018
TIP: Lots of interesting jobs and other opportunities are published on the Evolution Directory (EvolDir) mailing list, and not all of them make it to the ForBio newsletter! You can subscribe to EvolDir or check out the recent postings here.
asitic fungi in Norwegian boreal rainforests; 2) methods of biodiversity mapping (field sampling, species recognition in the field, relevant metadata); 3) species identification training (microscopy, thin-layer chromatography [TLC] of secondary compounds); 4) DNA barcoding (sampling of lichen material, photography, data entry, BOLD)
