News & Announcements
Serio’s project takes on sexism in science
Serio’s project takes on sexism in science
New CNS Dean Tricia Serio was profiled in a story in ASBMB Today about Speak Your Story, a project she launched that documents subtle sexism at scientific institutions as a way to begin designing ways to prevent it. The project invites academics to share their experiences with sexist comments or actions and helps increase awareness about the issue. Read more
Albertson’s research looks at surprising source of adaptive variation
Albertson’s research looks at surprising source of adaptive variation
An unspoken frustration for evolutionary biologists over the past 100 years, says Craig Albertson, Biology, is that genetics can only account for a small percentage of variation in the physical traits of organisms. Now he reports experimental results on how another factor, a “bizarre behavior” that is part of early cichlid fish larvae’s developmental environment, influences later variation in their craniofacial bones, in Proceedings of the Royal Society B. Read more
Cheung and Wu receive NSF funds for study of plant fertilization and seed production
Cheung and Wu receive NSF funds for study of plant fertilization and seed production
Alice Cheung and Hen-Ming Wu, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, have been awarded $1.35 million from the National Science Foundation’s Division of Integrative and Organismal Systems and Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences to support their work in plant male-female interactions, which lead to fertilization and seed production, and in exploring basic mechanisms in plant signal transduction pathways. Read more
UMass Amherst Molecular Biologist Li-Jun Ma Wins Grant to Outwit Plant Fungal Diseases
UMass Amherst Molecular Biologist Li-Jun Ma Wins Grant to Outwit Plant Fungal Diseases
Li-Jun Ma, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, has been awarded a five-year, $880,000 Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) grant by the National Science Foundation to fund her research on pathogenic fungi that can cause wilt diseases in more than 100 plants species and pose serious threats to agricultural productivity. The CAREER grant is NSF’s highest award in support of junior faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through outstanding research, excellent education and the integration of both. Read more
Zoeller discusses research on fetal alcohol syndrome
Zoeller discusses research on fetal alcohol syndrome
R. Thomas Zoeller, Biology, commented on a discovery that a common blood sugar medication or an extra dose of a thyroid hormone can reverse some signs fetal alcohol syndrome in rats may help scientists find an effective treatment for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in humans. “At this moment, there’s really no pharmaceutical therapy,” Zoeller said. Read more
Anna Ye PhD Dissertation Defense
Anna Ye PhD Dissertation Defense
Wednesday, July 26, 2017
1:00 PM
Integrated Sciences Building, Room 221
Dissertation Title: Defining molecular pathways that ensure accurate cell division
Advisor: Tom Maresca
Madelaine Bartlett receives National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) grant to investigate flower diversity
Madelaine Bartlett receives National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) grant to investigate flower diversity
Madelaine Bartlett has received a five-year, $837,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) grant to investigate the developmental processes that create diversity among species of flowering plants. The CAREER grant is NSF’s highest award in support of junior faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through outstanding research, excellent education and the integration of both. Read more
David Sela and colleagues featured in Applied and Environmental Microbiology for study on the benefits of cranberries for gut microbiome
David Sela and colleagues featured in Applied and Environmental Microbiology for study on the benefits of cranberries for gut microbiome
Many scientists are paying new attention to prebiotics, that is, molecules we eat but cannot digest, because some may promote the growth and health of beneficial microorganisms in our intestines, says nutritional microbiologist David Sela at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. In a new study, he and colleagues report the first evidence that certain beneficial gut bacteria are able to grow when fed a carbohydrate found in cranberries and further, that they exhibit a special nontypical metabolism. Read more
Trustees Approve Tenure Awards, Appointments with Tenure
Trustees Approve Tenure Awards, Appointments with Tenure
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Jianhan Chen was appointed professor with tenure in Chemistry |
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Paul Katz was appointed associate professor with tenure in Biology |
Peyton Named to NIH Grant Review Panel
Peyton Named to NIH Grant Review Panel
Shelly Peyton, associate professor of chemical engineering, has been named to the Bioengineering, Technology, and Surgical Sciences Study Section of the Center for Scientific Review in the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Members are selected on the basis of their demonstrated competence and achievement in their scientific discipline as evidenced by the quality of research accomplishments, publications in scientific journals, and other significant scientific activities, achievements and honors, according to Richard D. Nakamura, director of the Center for Scientific Review. Service on a study section also requires mature judgment and objectivity as well as the ability to work effectively in a group, qualities Peyton will bring to the task, he said. Read more