The GCC WEEKLY | 3 May 2022

Welcome Aboard, New GCC Faculty Affiliates!

Please join us in welcoming three new faculty affiliates to the Global Change Center, each based in the department of fish and wildlife conservation:

Elizabeth Hunter, vertebrate conservation biologist and landscape ecologist

Beth Nyboer, freshwater ecologist and conservation scientist

Haldre Rogers, tropical forest community ecologist and conservation biologist

Congratulations, Dr. Meredith Semel!

IGC Fellow Meredith Semel successfully defended her PhD dissertation on Friday, April 29. In her seminar, titled "Integrative Perspectives of Wild and Captive Sifaka Conservation", Meredith walked us through her research studying the movement behavior of endangered golden-crowned sifakas to inform conservation efforts for the species, novel technology development to aid in remote tracking, and education and outreach initiatives for communities in Madagascar.

In fall 2022, Dr. Semel will start a new position as assistant professor at the University of Minnesota, Morris.

Way to go, Meredith!!

Upcoming PhD Defense Seminars by IGC Fellows:

Kerry Gendreau, Biological Sciences

"Adaptive evolution, sex-linkage, and gene conversion in the voltage-gated sodium channels of toxic newts and their snake predators"

Thursday, May 5, 11:00 AM ET

Fralin Hall Auditorium

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Devin Hoffman, Geosciences

"Evolution in biological radiations; insights from the Triassic archosaur radiation"

Monday, May 9, 12:00 PM ET

Derring Hall 4069

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Course of Interest Fall '22: College Teaching in Natural Resources

In this discussion-based course, we will review modern, evidence-based strategies for teaching college natural resources-related courses. Topics include: creating an equitable and inclusive classroom, running a classroom, writing a syllabus, designing assessments that help students learn, common issues in the classroom, and more. By the end of the course, students will develop a teaching philosophy statement suitable for use in job applications.

Contact Instructor JP Gannon (FREC) with any questions.

View Course Syllabus

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Bryan Brown

Biological Sciences

Dr. Brown's research covers a fairly broad range of themes, the majority of which falls under the heading Community Ecology in Aquatic Systems. His lab’s research also tends to revolve around experimental tests of ecological theory and relies heavily on field experimentation.

The main research themes underway in the Brown lab include:

ecology of symbiosis
metacommunity concept in aquatic ecosystems
influence of habitat heterogeneity on community stability
effects of perturbations on aquatic communities

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LECTURES & SEMINARS

Temperature as a driver of invasions

Science, Policy and Management of Biological Invasions Discussion Group

Madison Pinko

Virginia Tech

Wednesday May 4

10:00-11:30 AM ET

Full Schedule and more info here

Zoom link here

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Sexual conflict and genital coevolution in vertebrates

BEAM Seminar Series

Patricia Brennan

Mount Holyoke

Wednesday May 4

2:30-3:45 PM ET

Robeson Hall 210

Seminar flyer here

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Adaptive evolution, sex-linkage, and gene conversion in the voltage-gated sodium channels of toxic newts and their snake predators

IGC Fellow PhD Defense Seminar

Kerry Gendreau

Virginia Tech Biological Sciences

Thursday May 5

11:00 AM ET

Fralin Hall Auditorium

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Evolution in biological radiations; insights from the Triassic archosaur radiation

IGC Fellow PhD Defense Seminar

Devin Hoffman

Virginia Tech Geosciences

Monday May 9

12:00 PM ET

Derring Hall 4069

Fralin STEM Summer Camp

Fralin Life Sciences Institute, in collaboration with 4-H, is running a 1-week STEM Summer Camp for kids ages 9-12. Led by FLSI Director of Education and Outreach, Dr. Kristy Collins, each day will focus on different STEM topics including Geology, microscopy, computer coding, engineering and more. Scholarships available, please contact Dr. Collins via email for more information.

June 6 - 10 or July 25 - 29

9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Search Committee for Fralin Life Sciences Executive Director Announced

A national search has been launched to recruit the next executive director of the Fralin Life Sciences Institute. Reporting to Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation Dan Sui, the executive director will have the opportunity to shape the institute’s strategic direction by establishing priorities and leveraging existing strengths and resources, including its talented faculty and cutting-edge facilities.

The new executive director will replace Matt Hulver, who is serving as vice president for research at Arizona State University. XJ Meng, University Distinguished Professor at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine and professor of internal medicine at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, is serving as interim. Karen Roberto, University Distinguished Professor and executive director of Virginia Tech’s Institute for Society, Culture, and Environment, chairs the search committee, which includes GCC affiliates Linsey Marr and Kevin McGuire.

Do you have an opportunity or announcement you'd like to share with the GCC community? Send us an email!

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