Fall image © Bryan Fleming, bryanfleming.com

Upcoming Events

4th VGN Faculty Professional Development Seminar
January 23, 2010
Saint Michael's College
Colchester, VT

9th Annual Career Day
April 14, 2010
Double Tree Hotel
South Burlington, VT

 

 

Previous Events

Proteomics Open House
August 25, 2009

8th Annual Retreat
August 12, 2009

8th Annual Career Day
April 15, 2009

Third VGN Faculty Professional Development Seminar
January 24, 2009

View Archived Events


VGN Proteomics Facility Open House

August 25, 2009

The VGN Proteomics Facility hosted its 3rd Annual Open House on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at the University of Vermont. The day began with continental breakfast, networking, and vendor displays. The vendors included: Fisher Scientific, Waters, and Thermo Scientific.

        The program began with a welcome from Dr. Bin Deng, Proteomics Facility Manager. Next Dr. Dwight Matthews, Co-Director of the VGN Proteomics Facility gave a presentation titled, “An Introduction to Proteomics by Mass Spectrometry”. The presentation outlined “What it is, How it works, and What can it do”.

Dr. Bin Deng
Dr. Dwight Matthews

Next, Dr. Bryan Ballif, Co-Director of the VGN Proteomics Facility gave a talk titled, “Large-scale Phosphoproteomics using Phosphopeptide enrichment strategies in tandem. Following Dr. Ballif’s presentation the attendees took a break and visited with the vendor representatives.

Dr. Bryan Ballif

 

 

 

After the break, there were three more presentations. Dr. Page Spiess spoke about Acrolein adduction in human lung cells, Mr. Tyler Aten spoke about identification of novel CrkL-SH2 binding partners using quantitative proteomics and Dr. Jay Silveira spoke about Phenotypic characterization of plasma- and platelet derived factor V by mass spectrometry.

 

Dr. Page Spiess
Mr. Tyler Aten
Dr. Jay Silveira
Dr. John Rodgers
The lunchtime seminar was presented by Dr. John Rodgers from Thermo. His talk was titled, “Quantitative Proteomics”. There was a Q&A period immediately following Dr. Rodgers presentation and that wrapped up the event.
After lunch, Cheryl Farnum Rendino, VGN Program Assistant, passed out the door prizes to the lucky winners. We’d like to thank the vendors who contributed door prizes for the open house.
Cheryl Farnum Rendino

   The 3rd Annual Open House was a success and introduced new users to the proteomics services available from the VGN Proteomics Facility. It was also a great networking opportunity for current users, presenters, and the vendors. The VGN Proteomics Facility Staff and Faculty would like to thank the sponsors of this event for another successful open house.

 


Vermont Genetics Network
8th Annual Retreat
August 12, 2009

Photography by Patricia Tedesco

 

Dr. Judith Van Houten

The Vermont Genetics Network (VGN) hosted its 8th Annual Retreat on Wednesday, August 12, 2009 at the DoubleTree Hotel in South Burlington. The day began with continental breakfast and a brief networking session.

At 9:00 a.m. Dr. Judith Van Houten, VGN Director, opened the program by welcoming all of the guests.

Next, three presentations by VGN funded faculty were given. The following faculty members from VGN’s partner colleges spoke about their VGN funded research:

Gina Mireault, PhD – Johnson State College
“A Naturalistic Observation of Humor Perception and Creation in 3-6 Month Old Infants: Preliminary Descriptive Findings”
Ari Kirshenbaum, PhD – Saint Michael’s College
“Response Disinhibition Evoked by Cholinergic Activation and Contextual Conditioning”
Mark Spritzer, PhD – Middlebury College
“The Impact of Hormones and Socialization on Neurogenesis and Memory in Adult Male Rats”
Dr. David Asai
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

After a short break, Dr. Van Houten introduced the guest speaker, Dr. David Asai, Director of Precollege & Undergraduate Science Education, Howard Hughes Medical Institute. He spoke on “Peripatetic Wanderings: Dynein and Me”.

All of the presentations were very well received.

During lunch, the Baccalaureate Partner Institutions (BPI) Coordinators met to discuss their roles with VGN for the next year and to welcome the 2 new BPI Coordinators: Natalie Coe, PhD, Green Mountain College and Alan Giese, PhD, Lyndon State College.

L to R: Dr. Alayne Schroll, Saint Michael’s College, Dr. Scott Page, Norwich University, Dr. Elizabeth Dolci, Johnson State College, Dr. Natalie Coe, Green Mountain College, Dr. Robert Cluss, Middlebury College, Dr. Alan Giese, Lyndon State College

 

 

 


Following the buffet lunch, Nathan Besio, VGN Business Manager, held a business and grant managers meeting for representatives from each of the BPI Institutions. Review of frequently asked questions in managing subcontracts and ended with Q&A session.

 

Nathan Besio, University of Vermont, Shirley Goodell-Lackey, Saint Michael’s College, Elizabeth Pickard, Saint Michael’s College, Franci Farnsworth, Middlebury College

 

 

While the business managers were meeting, other attendees networked and visited the posters that were presented by the BPI faculty, UVM Use of Facilities awardees and UVM graduate students who received VGN funding last year. There were 30 posters presented under many different disciplines.

 


Faculty Poster Presentations

Vikas Anathy PhD, University of Vermont
"Identification of Glutaredoxin-1 Interacting Proteins During FasL Induced Cell Death"

Bryan Ballif PhD; Gwen R. Buel, University of Vermont
“Fyn Promotes Phosphorylation of Collapsin Response Mediator Protein 1 at Tyrosine 504, a Novel, Isoform-Specific Regulatory Site”

Dr. Elizabeth Wuorinen, Norwich University

Natalia Blank PhD, Norwich University
“Synthesis of Chiral 1,2-diamines via Asymmetric Addition of PhLi to 1,2-diimines”

Beth Bouchard PhD, University of Vermont
“Identification and Characterization of the Two Receptor System thatFactor V Endocytosis by Megakaryocytes”

Lara Carlson PhD, Castleton State College
“Gene Expression Analysis Of Peripheral Blood Following Resistance Exercise”

Joanna Ellis-Monaghan PhD, Andrew Gilbert, Jacob Girard and Daniel Lewis, Saint Michael’s College
“Self-assembling DNA Nanoconstructs in the Octet Truss”

Joanna Ellis-Monaghan PhD, Saint Michael’s College
“Twisted Duality”

Alison Fisher PhD, Norwich University
“Regulation of Flowering Genes in Arabidopsis thaliana by the Hormone Ethylene”

Kevin Fleming PhD, Norwich University and Matt Kimble PhD, Middlebury College
“Novelty Detection in Trauma Survivors:from Military Cadets and Veterans”

Dr. Kevin Fleming, Norwich Univerisity & Dr. Carlos Velez-Blasini, Middlebury College

Hans Haverkamp PhD, Johnson State College
"Effects of Pre-exercise Airway Function on Airway Function During Exercise in Asthmatic Humans"

Sara Helms Cahan PhD; Ken R. Helms PhD; Bryan Ballif PhD and Caroline Casals, University of Vermont
“Shotgun Proteomics in a Non-Model Organism: Identifying Proteins Associated with Aggression in a Desert Ant”

Karen Hinkle PhD, Norwich University
“Investigation of TFM (Lampricide)-Induced Growth Inhibition in Saccharomyces cerevisiae”

Matthew Kimble PhD, Middlebury College
"Eye Tracking and Visual Attention in Combat Veterans"

Shane Lamos PhD, Saint Michael’s College
“Chemical Probes for Relative Quantification of Amine and Carboxylic Acid Containing Metabolites”

Miguel Martin-Caraballo PhD, Yone J. Yoon and Alexander P. Gokin, University of Vermont
“Role of GABA Neurotransmission in the Maturation of Dendritic Morphology and Network Function in the Developing Spinal Cord”

Darlene Olsen PhD, Norwich University
“Examining the Affymetrix Spike-In Dataset”

Maria Roemhildt PhD, University of Vermont
“Gene Expression in the Lateral Collateral Ligament Following Increased Chronic Strain”

Roger Sandwick PhD, Middlebury College
"The Glycation of Tubulin and Cytochrome c by Ribose 5-Phosphate"

Arti Shukla PhD, University of Vermont
“CREB Target Genes in Malignant Mesothelioma”

Dr. Shane Lamos, Saint Michael’s College

Yujing Sun PhD, University of Vermont
“Identification of Tumor Specific Target Ligands Using Phage Display and Laser Capture Microdissection”

Mary Tierney PhD, University of Vermont
"Transcriptome Analysis Associated with Alterations in Extracellular Matrix Structure in Tip-growing Cells of Arabidopsis thaliana"

Uma Wesley PhD, University of Vermont
“Proteomic Analysis of Proliferating and Differentiating Neuroblastoma Cells”

Elizabeth Wuorinen PhD, Norwich University
“Exercise Intensity Effects on Appetite in Middle-Aged Women”

Elzbieta Zakrzewska PhD, University of Vermont
“Improving Peak Detection in Serum Samples– Fine Tuning of Measurement Protocol for SELDI”

Graduate Student Poster Presentations

Mujeeburahiman Cheerathodi, University of Vermont
“Proteomic Identification of CrkL-SH3 Binding Proteins from Embryonic Murine Brain, Liver and Cultured Forebrains: Implications for Tissue Specific Signaling Complexes and Reelin Signaling”

Yogi Misra, Graduate Student, University of Vermont

Dimitry Krementsov, University of Vermont
“Tetraspanin Proteins Regulate Cell-to-Cell Transmission of HIV-1”

Yogi Misra, University of Vermont
“Aberrant Expression of Germ-line Specific Factor Oct-4 in Mammary Tumorigenesis”

Beth Rice, University of Vermont
“Effect of Trans-fatty Acid Source on Indicators of Coronary Heart Disease Risk in Male Hartley Guinea Pigs"

Madhurima Saha, University of Vermont
“Identification and Characterization of SOS: 14-3-3 Complex”

YoneJung Yoon, University of Vermont
Role of GABA Neurotransmission in the Maturation of Dendritic Morphology and Network Function in the Developing Chicken Spinal Cord"

Dr. Van Houten closed the retreat by thanking Dr. Asai for traveling to Vermont to speak at the retreat. She also thanked the other faculty members and graduate students who presented posters and gave presentations about their VGN research.



 

Vermont Genetics Network 8th Annual Career Day
April 15, 2009

Vermont Genetics Network hosted its 8th Annual Career Day on April 15th at the Doubletree Hotel in South Burlington, Vermont.  Undergraduate students from UVM and our 5 Baccalaureate Partner Institutions (BPIs); Castleton State College, Johnson State College, Middlebury College, Norwich University and Saint Michaels College attended the event along with their faculty advisors. Other faculty and staff from these schools attended as well.

Michelle Personick, Middlebury College

Eric Jackson, Saint Michael's College

The evening began with student poster presentations.  Undergraduate students that received funding by VGN for INBRE project year 4 presented posters describing their research projects.  Students who worked directly for VGN funded faculty researchers were also invited to share the work they had done.  The poster presentations were excellent and met with interest by all attendees.  A panel of judges chose 2 winning posters from the students who received VGN funding and an 8GB flash drive was awarded to each winner. The winners were Hussein R H Alramini of Middlebury College and Kevin O’Rourke of Middlebury College.

Hussein R H Alramini, Middlebury College
Kevin O'Rourke, Middlebury College

Dr. Karen Lounsbury, VGN

 

A buffet dinner followed the presentations. After dinner, Dr. Karen Lounsbury, Director of Networking & Professional Development for VGN, officially welcomed the guests and introduced the panel of speakers. The presentations focused on the individual career paths that each panelist took to arrive at their current careers. . 



The panelists:

Lee Ann Banks, P.E.
Environmental Compliance Mananger
Vermont Army National Guard

Robinson W. Fulweiler, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Earth Sciences

Michael Hillinger, Ph.D.
Director, Learning Services Division
MIRACORP, Inc.
Kerry Swift, M.S. .
Assistant Director, Technology Transfer
University of Vermont

VGN Funded Undergraduate Students presented the following posters:

Hussein R H Alramini, Middlebury College
"Elucidation of A Putative Isoprene Pathway in
The Lyme Disease Bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi"

Eric Jackson, Saint. Michael’s College
“Response Disinhibition Induced by Nicotine Administration I:
Stop-task Performance and Sensitization”

Alison Mehravari, Middlebury College
"Cognitive Effects of Glucose in the Rat Insular Cortex"

David Ozimek, Middlebury College
“Antioxidant Enzyme Activities and Steroid Hormone Concentrations within the
Follicular Fluid of Individual Developing Antral Follicles”

Kevin O’Rourke, Middlebury College
“Genome-wide Characterization of the SloR metalloregulome in Streptococcus mutans”

Michelle Personick, Middlebury College
“Mechanism and Kinetics of the Oxidation of
Purine Derivatives Coordinated to Platinum (IV) Complexes” 

Madeleine Terry, Middlebury College
"An Investigation of Children's Micro-Behaviors Associated with Interview Rapport"

Adam Volwiler, Middlebury College
“Probing Methionine Aminopeptidase/Inhibitor Complexes with
Magnetic Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy”

Ashleigh Weissman, Middlebury College
“Partial Purification and Expression of
3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase in Borrelia burgdorferi”

Additional Posters Presented by Students of VGN Funded Faculty:

Caitlyn Dias, Merlin Poutre & Mallory Sargent, Johnson State College
“Humor Development in Infancy: A Naturalistic Observation”

Anna Gersten & Annie Onishi, Middlebury College
"Ribose 5-Phosphate Glycation of Heme Proteins"

Please mark your calendar for the next important VGN gathering:
VGN Annual Retreat
August 12, 2009
Doubletree Hotel
9:00 am- 3:00 pm


 

 

3rd Annual VGN Faculty Professional Development Seminar
Hosted by Middlebury College
Saturday, January 24, 2009

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Guest Speaker Dr. Bert Holmes

The Baccalaureate Partner Institution (BPI) Coordinators planned and hosted their 3rd Professional Development Seminar which was held at Middlebury College on Saturday, January 24, 2009.  The topic for the seminar was “The Research-Friendly Curriculum – Integration of Undergraduate Research and Teaching” and the speaker was Dr. Bert Holmes, NSF Program Office Division of Under-graduate Education and Carson Distinguished Chair of Science at the University of North Carolina, Asheville.  Faculty members from all of our BPIs attended and enjoyed networking while enjoying a continental breakfast.

Dr. Liz Dolci and Dr. Hans Haverkamp

The program officially began with a lively and interactive presentation by Dr. Bert Holmes. He spoke about different models and approaches of integrating undergraduate research and teaching. His presentation was met with questions and insights from many of the BPI faculty members in attendance. 

Following Dr. Holmes’ presentation, three of our BPI faculty members spoke about their own examples of best practices at their institution. The panel included: Kevin Fleming, PhD, Norwich University, Department of Psychology, Jeremy Ward, PhD, Middlebury College, Biology Department, and Shane Lamos, PhD, Saint Michael’s College, Chemistry Department. The panel spoke one at a time and outlined what has worked for them and what they hope to achieve for the future. 

The attendees then split into smaller groups for an informal workshop to develop Institution-Specific approaches to increasing the integration of research and teaching. 

Workshop and Networking

 

Enjoying the Presentations

After a delicious lunch, Dr. Bert Holmes provided a brief overview of NSF programs of interest to faculty at undergraduate institutions as well as “The 15 Do’s and Don’ts for for Proposal Writing”. Some of his tips included caring about the project, having measurable goals and objectives, and using good management skills. His talk was again met with much interest and enthusiasm.

Following the overview was a lively question and answer period that concluded the program. All participants enjoyed the program and VGN would like to thank Middlebury College BPI Coordinator, Dr. Bob Cluss, and Grants Manager, Franci Farnsworth for their efforts in hosting the event.

 


To view and download all of Dr. Holmes’ presentations – Click Here


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Support of the National Institutes of Health and the National Center for Research Resources is gratefully acknowledged

Contact information:

Vermont Genetics Network
University of Vermont
120A Marsh Life Science Building
Burlington, VT 05405-0086
(802) 656-4087
(802) 656-0242 - Fax
vgn@uvm.edu

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vgnwebstaff@list.uvm.edu

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