Lab Updates, News and Mischief
October 2020 - ***NEW*** PhD Opportunity
Exploring the genomic evolution and biology of a unique endosymbiosis - Neoparamoeba perurans
We are looking for a motivated and capable PhD candidate to join us to link with new RCUK-funded project to understand the role of Perkinsela, a kinetoplastid endosymbiont, in the biology of a major salmon pathogen - N. perurans. This is a unique endosymbiosis, and an opportunity to use cutting edge 'omic technologies to explore its biology and evolution. You can find out more here.
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The studentship is NERC funded, University of Glasgow-based. You will benefit from expert supervision from Dr. Guillame Chomicki (Durham); Prof. Mike Barrett (Glasgow); and me - Dr. Martin Llewellyn (Glasgow). The wider team involves Prof. John Archibald (Dalhousie, Canada) and Dr. Neil Ruane (Marine Institute, Ireland). We have funds for training visits, exhcanges, conferences, fieldwork, 'omics etc. The project has two industry partners - MSD-Animal Health (Merck) and Scottish Sea Farms. Come join the team !
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Application deadline is 8th January 2021 - applications should be completed at http://www.gla.ac.uk/ScholarshipApp and www.iapetus2.ac.uk - application links will come live shortly.
Electron micrographs of Neoparamoeba species, http://www.int-res.com/abstracts/dao/v43/n3/p217-223/
July 2020 - Bothy trip
As Covid-19 had us in lockdown for a long time, Martin decided that we could all share some Scottish adventure and invited us to a cabin by the Kyles of Bute.
We all enjoyed the disconnection from the real world - almost no electricity - and the fire warmth, of course with food and beverages available to everyone.
Even some attempted some fishing, with zero success, guided by captain Llewellyn.
It would be nice to get together again!
April 2019 - SEECC Conference Success!
The beginning of April saw the 4th Annual Scottish Ecology, Environment and Conservation Conference 2019 come to IBAHCM.
Toni presented a fantastic poster showcasing her field of environmental DNA (particularly impressive as she is only in the early stages of her PhD). In fact, the assessors liked it so much that she won First Prize!
Other lab members were also in attendance, amongst whom Elle was chosen to represent the student voice on this year's debate panel. The theme of the panel was 'Moving Forward' and incorporated discussions about government, academic collaboration, prominent environmental issues and the future of these matters in the face of Brexit. Though nervous, Elle felt very lucky to share her opinion alongside the impressive panel members Prof Pat Monaghan (UofG), Susan Davies (CEO, Scottish Seabird Centre), and Simon Milne (Regius Keeper, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh).
March 2019 - Cell Block Science Returns!
March saw the return of Cell Block Science: Elle went back to prison to engage the learners with Biology.
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This time at HMP Low Moss, Elle changed her lesson from December's session and chose to speak about the representation of science in the media and how to discriminate between fact, pseudoscience and fiction!
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Elle ran 3 lessons across the day and found the learners to be hugely engaged and very responsive. Another challenging, but rewarding, outreach session.
March 2019 - Competitive Success for Raminta!
Raminta successfully reached the finals of Glasgow University's 3-Minute Thesis Competition - a fiercely competitive contest that challenges researchers to describe their work using a single slide in just 3 minutes!
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Raminta beat many other candidates and got the opportunity to present at the finals! We have no idea how she finds the time to do it all, but she received incredible feedback and we could not be more proud! Well done Raminta - You're A Star!
March 2019 - British Science Week Outreach.
As part of British Science Week 2019, Elle visited local primary school, St. Marnock's, to give a couple of talks to P5/P6 pupils about STEM.
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By focusing on what led her to focusing on academia and the wide range of potential scientific careers available to them, Elle hoped to capture the imaginations of the children and show that STEM is for everyone! It was a great afternoon, rounded-off by a lovely thank you card and some very interesting questions posed by the pupils (including asking Elle to prove the Earth is indeed round, not flat)!
January 2019 - Goodbye To Pei...
January 21st meant saying goodbye to our dear Pei, who returned to China to continue her impressive work.
It was hard for everyone to say goodbye after thoroughly enjoying working together and forging such strong friendships.
We wish Pei all the best and know that she is excited to finally be reunited with family and friends! We couldn't let her leave without sending her off properly though...
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December 2018 - Lab Group Christmas Activity
Llewellyn lab took a well-earned break from work and spent the afternoon bonding over a manic battle of heroic proportions... They went to Laser Quest.
Though it may have taken the group a game to warm up, they certainly showed that scientists can hold their own! Armed with lasers and pent-up research-associated frustration, competitive tendencies were unleashed... Ahhh, the true spirit of Christmas. Happy Holidays!
December 2018 - Cell Block Science
Elle Lindsay spent the day teaching at the local prison, HMP Shotts. This was made possible due to an initiative known as 'Cell Block Science' that gets researchers from a myriad of backgrounds to share their area of interest with prisoners.
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Elle engaged learners with a lesson about experimental design and the scientific process. Participants then had the chance to design an experiment and form their own hypotheses based on a variety of current research papers. With her passion for outreach, Elle had an unforgettable experience.
November 2018 - Chloe's Debut Lecture
Post-doc Chloe Heys experienced her first taste of lecturing at the University this month:
Entitled 'Mating behaviour in birds: the evolution of masturbation', Chloe shocked a lecture theatre full of undergraduates with this seemingly X-rated topic, proving once and for all that Zoology is full of surprises.
Though initially nervous at the prospect of presenting her research in front of such a large audience, Chloe's confidence in her teaching has increased as a result of the fantastic feedback she received. Well done Chloe!
May 2018 - Pint of Science, Glasgow
Elle helped to organise 'Pint of Science 2018' in Glasgow, as a member of the 'Planet Earth' team.
Pint of Science brings scientists from various backgrounds to your local pub to explain their work and most interesting discoveries.
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Featuring 3 nights of talks given by researchers on a wide variety of topics, Pint of Science now occurs in 35 cities across the UK and almost 300 cities worldwide!
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Come for the pint, stay for the knowledge.
