#CALeDNA

[evoldir]

Fwd: Conference: LosAngeles_Online.VisualizingDataVIZBI.Mar13-15

Begin forwarded message: > From: evoldir@evol.biology.mcmaster.ca > Subject: Conference: LosAngeles_Online.VisualizingDataVIZBI.Mar13-15 > Date: 10 February 2024 at 05:57:17 GMT > To: rdmpage@gmail.com > > > Early-bird rates are still available for ONLINE and in person > participation at Visualizing Biological Data (https://vizbi.org/2024) > and the Datavis Masterclass (https:/vizbi.org/2024/Masterclass). > > Register at https://ift.tt/Ifw0Z4u - Discounts are also > available for groups, ISCB and Data Visualisation Society Members, and > USC students and Faculty. > > VIZBI has run annually since 2010. Meetings are interdisciplinary, and > feature 3 keynotes and 6 plenary sessions reviewing tools and challenges > in visualising data & communicating insight about DNA, RNA, Protein, > Cells, Tissues & Organisms and Population and Ecosystems. > > This year's Ecosystem chair by Holly Bik (UAthens), features Steve > Haddock (MBARI), Alison Young (iNaturalist & Calacademy), and Rachel S. > Meyer (CaleDNA, UCSC). > > VIZBI 2024's Keynotes: > Alex McDowell: https://ift.tt/XtuMnBo > Jessica Hullman: https://ift.tt/YNyVG4v > Anders Ynnerman: https://ift.tt/tFUa4Qb > > For the full program see https://ift.tt/h5GtDw4 > > Please share this email amongst your colleagues, and we hope you can > join us on-site or online in March! > > Jim Procter, Sean O'Donoghue, Helen Berman and Bara Kozlikova. > > The University of Dundee is a registered Scottish Charity, No: SC015096 > > "James Procter (Staff)"

[researchbuzz]

eDNA Explorer, Google News, National Library of Australia, More: Thursday ResearchBuzz, November 30, 2023

NEW RESOURCES University of California Santa Cruz: New eDNA Explorer provides a powerful new resource for conservation. “CALeDNA, a UC-wide consortium project to document California’s biodiversity, has launched a prototype of their new eDNA Explorer. This open-source tool provides a powerful and easily accessible platform for sharing, exploring, and analyzing data from projects that use…

[rjzimmerman]

DNA sleuthing in the desert

On Friday, I posted a story about a science project in which I would participate on Saturday. OK, it happened, and it was exhausting but a lot of fun. I was one of five leaders of a group of about 22 citizen scientists working on the CALeDNA project. The purpose of the project: take soil samples in designated spots throughout California, in this case in the desert, to analyze the thousands of strands of DNA found in the soil to learn which plants, animals, fungi, birds, bacteria and so on inhabit the site or have in the past inhabited the site. Soil health, soil diversity, determining what will happen to all these plants and critters as the climate changes, to study the effects of human intervention in the study areas, to learn more about the desert, and so on.

Anyway.....in the morning we did serious bushwhacking over an area with no trails. My group was about six volunteers. Although we had a GPS coordinate and tablets and apps, we really relied mostly on following landmarks to get to an oasis in the desert, so we followed washes and ridges, and there we were. And we took samples.......one inch of soil in a test tube should tell the scientists a whole bunch of stories.

So, here are some photos of my companions doing their work. The guy with the phone......not calling home. Jacob was entering data into the iNaturalist app to describe the site from which his group was yanking out soil. Also, some photos of the landscape in which we were working.....beautiful joshua tree, pinon pine, juniper forests (yes, those are what deserts call forests).

And the other element to note: look at the youth of the citizen scientists. Makes me feel so good to so many young adults interested in studying the environment, contributing to our knowledge base, particularly in this notable anti-science era of trump.

(PS, we tried to go to Pappy + Harriet’s after we were done, but were told that it would be at least 2 hours for a group of our size. The groups Curls, and then Willows and finally Cults were playing, so it was crowded. So, no go.)

[kangaske]

Become a citizen scientist and help preserve California's biodiversity

Would you like to become a volunteer citizen scientist helping to document and analyze California's rich biodiversity? If so, you can be among 1,000 volunteers who will collect 18,000 samples of soil and aquatic sediment from across the state through a new University of California program called CALeDNA that intends to revolutionize conservation in California by the end of this year. http://dlvr.it/NC1rVY

[evoldir]

Postdoc: UCalifornia_SantaCruz.2.eDNA_Biodiversity

We are hiring two post-docs as follows: 1. UCSC-based HHMI Post-Doctoral Scholar in Environmental DNA Research, Education, and Outreach HHMI Post-Doctoral Scholar in Environmental DNA Research, Education, and Outreach University of California V Santa Cruz Summary: UC Santa Cruz department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) is recruiting one full-time postdoctoral scholar to perform environmental DNA (eDNA) research and science education outreach. The position is ideal for a candidate with a background in molecular biology. In collaboration with project partners in the department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) at UC Los Angeles, the postdoctoral scholar will help establish a new education program called eSIE: environmental DNA for Science Investigation and Education, supported by a grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) jointly awarded to UCSC and UCLA. The scholar will work with a team of researchers and science education experts on eDNA research that connects to the eSIE program. Why eDNA? eDNA is a highly sensitive molecular approach to catalog biodiversity in any ecosystem. The results can reveal a near complete diversity profile of the ecosystem from microbes to plants and animals, and can enable tracking biodiversity changes over time. UCLA and UCSC have pioneered cutting-edge methods to obtain eDNA data, from citizen science to packaged computational pipelines. Our goal with the eSIE program is to use the excitement and wide application of eDNA as a new gateway for students to enter research avenues in the environmental sciences. The postdoctoral role in the eSIE program: The postdoctoral scholar will help co-develop and manage eSIE program while receiving training focused on the advancement of science education. eSIE reaches a broad undergraduate constituency by involving hundreds of students annually in CALeDNA bioblitzes on UC Natural Reserves (http://bit.ly/2uykU0k). The postdoc will help select field sampling, ideally around research questions of their interest, and travel to do field collections at natural reserves around the entire state. eSIE will also launch a multidisciplinary flipped course to introduce undergraduates formally to STEM subjects through DNA and eDNA activities. The postdoc would co-design the course with the eSIE team, and receive training through the Center for Education Innovation and Learning in the Sciences (http://bit.ly/2BVIRly) at UCLA (remote learning possible). The eSIE program also supports students who enter research labs. The postdoc would be expected to occasionally work with student research interns. Research scope: The postdoc will be encouraged to pursue environmental science research that uses the eSIE-generated eDNA data and sample collections. They will join the lab group of Beth Shapiro (UCSC), whos lab focuses on evolution, paleogenomics, and conservation genomics. They will also join the UC Conservation Genomics Consortium community that conducts many eDNA projects. Preparation: Candidates should have a PhD in biology or a related science field and molecular biology laboratory experience evidenced by a strong record of scholarship. The ideal candidate would have demonstrated interest or some experience working in science communication and education research, as well as undergraduate teaching or public outreach. Candidates should demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills, interest in pedagogical innovation, educational assessment, and scholarship, excellent organization and management abilities, experience working with diverse groups. Candidates also should possess skills in mentorship. They must be willing to travel within California, including multiple trips per year between Santa Cruz and Los Angeles, and lead fieldwork excursions to collect eDNA on UC Natural Reserves. Candidates must have a valid drivers license. The postdoctoral position is a minimum two-year appointment starting Spring 2018, with salary commensurate with experience and following the UC salary scales. To apply submit a cover letter, CV, and contact information for three references here, or send all documents directly to Beth Shapiro (bashapir@ucsc.edu). For inquiries about the position, please contact Robert Wayne (rwayne@ucla.edu) or Beth Shapiro (bashapir@ucsc.edu). Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see: UC Nondiscrimination & Affirmative Action Policy 2. UCLA-based HHMI Post-Doctoral Scholar in Environmental DNA Research and Science Education Research & Communication HHMI Post-Doctoral Scholar in Environmental DNA Research and Science Education Research & Communication University of California V Los Angeles Summary: UCLA department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) is recruiting one full-time postdoctoral scholar to perform environmental DNA (eDNA) research combined with science communication and discipline-based education research (DBER). The position is ideal for a candidate with a background in ecology and/or genetics as well as interest in curriculum development in undergraduate education. In collaboration with project partners in the department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) at UC Santa Cruz, the postdoctoral scholar will help establish a new education program called eSIE: environmental DNA for Science Investigation and Education, supported by a grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) jointly awarded to UCSC and UCLA. The scholar will work with a team of researchers and science education experts on the eSIE program, and have the opportunity to publish in both scientific research and DBER fields. Why eDNA? eDNA is a highly sensitive molecular approach to catalog biodiversity in any ecosystem. The results can reveal a near complete diversity profile of the ecosystem from microbes to plants and animals, and can enable tracking biodiversity changes over time. UCLA and UCSC have pioneered cutting-edge methods to obtain eDNA data, from citizen science to packaged computational pipelines. Our goal with the eSIE program is to use the excitement and wide application of eDNA as a new gateway for undergraduate students to enter research avenues in the environmental sciences. The postdoctoral role in the eSIE program: The postdoctoral scholar will help co-develop and manage the eSIE program while receiving training focused on the advancement of science education. eSIE reaches a broad undergraduate constituency by involving hundreds of students annually in CALeDNA bioblitzes on UC Natural Reserves (http://bit.ly/2uykU0k). The postdoc will help with organizing field trips for eDNA sampling at beautiful natural reserves in California. eSIE will also launch a multidisciplinary flipped course to introduce undergraduates formally to STEM areas through DNA and eDNA activities. The postdoc would co-design the course with the eSIE team, and receive training through the Center for Education Innovation and Learning in the Sciences (http://bit.ly/2BVIRly) at UCLA (remote learning possible) in order to design, implement, and publish science education research scholarship such as strategic course assessment. The eSIE program also supports students who enter research labs. The postdoc would be expected to occasionally work with student research interns. Research scope: The postdoc will be encouraged to pursue environmental science research that uses the eSIE-generated eDNA data and sample collections. They will join the lab group of Bob Wayne (UCLA), whose lab focuses on evolution and conservation genomics, with several eDNA projects. Preparation: Candidates should have a PhD in biology or a related science field and molecular biology laboratory experience evidenced by a strong record of scholarship. The ideal candidate would have demonstrated interest or some experience working in science communication and education research, as well as undergraduate teaching or public outreach. Candidates should demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills, interest in pedagogical innovation, educational assessment, and scholarship, excellent organization and management abilities, experience working with diverse groups. Candidates also should possess skills in mentorship. They must also be willing to travel within California, including multiple trips per year between Santa Cruz and Los Angeles. Candidates must have a valid drivers license. The postdoctoral position is a minimum two-year appointment starting Spring 2018, with salary commensurate with experience and following the UC salary scales. To apply upload a cover letter, CV, and contact information for three references using the form below or send an email with all documents attached to uc.caledna@gmail.com. For inquiries about the position, please contact Robert Wayne (rwayne@ucla.edu) or Beth Shapiro (bashapir@ucsc.edu). Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see: UC Nondiscrimination & Affirmative Action Policy . Bob via Gmail

[evoldir]

Postdoc:UC_Berkeley.Computational_Genomics

--Apple-Mail=_77EA83F3-6EBD-42CB-BDD6-4305EF59877F Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 Postdoctoral Scholar at Nielsen Group, UC Berkeley The University of California’s Conservation Genomics Consortium is a cross-campus effort to leverage recent developments in genomics for conservation efforts in California. The Consortium has launched the CALeDNA project (http://bit.ly/2uykU0k), aimed at collecting and analyzing environmental DNA in California. To fully take advantage of the data generated by the project, new computational methods are needed for analyzing Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) data in the context of taxonomic assignment and ecological modeling. This Postdoc position will work on developing and applying new computational and statistical methods for species assignment, new methods for analyzing biases associated with sequencing technologies and PCR, and new methods for testing ecological hypotheses using large geospatial DNA data. See http://bit.ly/2tegUyr for more information. --Apple-Mail=_77EA83F3-6EBD-42CB-BDD6-4305EF59877F Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/html; charset=utf-8

Postdoctoral Scholar at Nielsen Group, UC BerkeleyThe University of California’s Conservation Genomics Consortium is a cross-campus effort to leverage recent developments in genomics for conservation efforts in California. The Consortium has launched the CALeDNA project (http://bit.ly/2uykU0k), aimed at collecting and analyzing environmental DNA in California. To fully take advantage of the data generated by the project, new computational methods are needed for analyzing Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) data in the context of taxonomic assignment and ecological modeling. This Postdoc position will work on developing and applying new computational and statistical methods for species assignment, new methods for analyzing biases associated with sequencing technologies and PCR, and new methods for testing ecological hypotheses using large geospatial DNA data.See http://bit.ly/2tegUyr  for more information.

--Apple-Mail=_77EA83F3-6EBD-42CB-BDD6-4305EF59877 via Gmail