Workshops (UPDATED April 29/15)

1. Microscopy workshop: Taxonomy under the scope (Saturday 12:30-5:30 PM)

The microscopy workshop will cover the uses of microscopy, specific dyes, and photography in identifying, characterizing, and documenting the sometimes cryptic species of algae. Dr. Juliet Brodie (NHM of London) will cover the filamentous red algae and Dr. Karolina Fucikova (U Connecticut) will cover the unicellular green algae (FW, SW, and subaerial). We encourage students and early career scientists to attend this workshop which will also be a helpful precursor to the collection trip with Dr. John Hall the following day. The workshop will be held on Saturday after the lunch hour (eat first!) and is available for $70. 16 slots are available.

2. Cyanobacterial taxonomy and systematics workshop (Saturday 8:30-5:00 PM)

Have you ever been interested in identifying and untangling the Gordian Knot of the new cyanobacteria taxonomy. We are pleased to announce that one of the worlds foremost cyanobacterial experts, Dr. Jeff Johansen (John Carroll University), will be conducting a workshop on the taxonomy and systematics of cyanobacteria. Participants will be introduced to relevant morphological features and current evolutionary relationships and taxonomy of these woefully neglected, yet vastly important organisms. The workshop will run from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm on Saturday, August 8th, and will include a lunch. As Pope Francis recently remarked: those who do not know cyanobacteria, do not know God.

3. Successfully Competing for Your First Academic Position (time and place to be arranged) (Dr. Steven Murray, Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Emeritus, California State University Fullerton)

The path to obtaining a tenure-track faculty position at an academic institution consists of several important steps. For example, once an opening at a desirable institution has been identified, the first step is to prepare a competitive application. If selected as a finalist, the next step will likely be an on-campus interview. How does the search process work from the institution’s perspective? What should be considered in preparing a competitive application? How should a candidate prepare for an on-campus interview? Insights into the recruitment and hiring process will be discussed from the perspective of the institution and also the candidate based on years of experience as a departmental chair and search committee member, a dean, and the provost of a large, comprehensive university.

To sign up for the cyanobacteria or the microscopy workshops, please do so during the registration process. For the publishing and career workshops please contact the Program Director, Dale Casamatta.

Post-meeting Workshop - Teaching Metagenomics - "I, Microbiologist" - Drexel University August 14th.

There is also a post-meeting workshop on teaching metagenomics by Dr. Erin Sanders (UCLA) and Dr. Jordan Moberg-Parker (UCLA) at Drexel University on August 14, 2015. Please see this document for more information. To sign up for this workshop, please contact Dr. Rick McCourt.