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Events

Upcoming events hosted by or involving Genetics Otago will be listed here. Please check back regularly for updates. A calendar of events that may be of interest to our members can be found at the bottom of this page and in the sidebar of other pages on this site, please note that this includes events hosted outside of Genetics Otago.

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VISG Seminar Series


The Virtual Institute of Statistical Genetics (VISG) Hub is a key part of Genetics Otago, providing a platform for researchers to collaborate and exchange knowledge and expertise in statistical genetics. The VISG Hub hosts seminars, workshops, and other events to promote statistical genetics research and foster collaboration between researchers.

We’re excited to announce our monthly genetics research seminars, aimed at connecting researchers in the field. The seminars will commence in May 2023 and will be hosted by GO’s Virtual Institute of Statistical Genetics (VISG) Hub along with the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Otago. These seminars will be available in person or via Zoom, and all are welcome.

Date: 3rd Thursday of the month
Time: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Schedule

  • May: Associate Professor Phil Wilcox, University of Otago
  • June: Professor Mik Black, University of Otago
  • July: Dr Ludovic Dutoit, University of Otago – please note that this seminar will be held on the 27th of July rather than the 20th due to ICG.
  • August: Dr Setegn Alemu, AgResearch
  • September: Ee Cheng Oi, Abacus Bio
  • October: Franziska Weik, Beef + Lamb NZ Genetics – Cancelled
  • November: Dr Jane Symonds and Dr Megan Scholtens, Cawthron – please note that this seminar will be held on the 17th of November rather than the 16th due to the Genetics Otago Annual Symposium.

Zoom Details
If you would like the Zoom details for this event, please contact us.

Next Seminar

The next seminar will be held on Friday the 17th of November, 11 am in Biochemistry Seminar Room G13 and will be given by Dr Jane Symonds and Dr Megan Scholtens, Cawthron Institute.

Title: Environmental resilience in aquatic species

Abstract: The New Zealand aquaculture sector faces growing vulnerability due to climate change, with marine heatwaves already causing elevated summer mortality rates in Greenshell mussels and king (Chinook) salmon. To tackle these challenges, selective breeding and genomic selection offer long-term solutions. Temperature challenge models, implemented in controlled tank environments, have been developed for both species. So far, this approach has been applied successfully to test more than 230 pedigree king salmon families and 21 Greenshell mussel families. Heritabilities for time to death at elevated temperature were high (0.34 to 0.48) suggesting that selection for improved thermotolerance is possible.

Megan Scholtens

Megan is a geneticist within the Aquaculture Group at Cawthron and is involved in a number of research projects across the ‘Shellfish Aquaculture’ and ‘Finfish Climate Change Adaptation’ platforms. Megan specialises in the application of genetic and genomic methodologies to enhance the understanding of how genes affect traits such as growth, development, behaviour, reproduction and immunity to improve the efficiency, resilience and survivability of aquatic species. In addition, Megan contributes to research activities of the Aquaculture team by integrating the experimental biology with commercial production to help provide solutions for clients and deliver tangible outcomes for the aquaculture industry.

Jane Symonds

Jane is a Senior Scientist and Team Leader in the Aquaculture Group at Cawthron. Jane’s focus is the application of research to enhance sustainable commercial production with a specific interest in king salmon farming and selective breeding. She has over 30 years of experience in this field. As a science programme leader she oversees a wide range of multi-disciplinary collaborative projects with internal and external partners, including salmon feed efficiency, genomics, behaviour, health, physiology, microbiomics, climate change adaptation, data science and developing trials to selectively breed resilient and efficient king salmon. Implementation of research for sustainable and profitable aquaculture development is a key driver for Jane. Dr Symonds is also a Senior Adjunct Researcher at the University of Tasmania and helps supervise multiple post-graduate students.

If you have any questions about this seminar series please contact us.

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Calendar of Events

The below is a calendar of events hosted by GO as well as events hosted by others that may be of interest to our members. If you have an event you would like us to include please contact us here.


Apr
30
Fri
Otago University 3 Minute Thesis Registration
Apr 30 @ 8:00 am – Jun 25 @ 5:00 pm

This entertaining event gives thesis students the chance to present their research to a large audience while competing for a number of generous prizes, with the overall University of Otago Doctoral winner going on to participate in the online Asia-Pacific 3MT® final. We also have the opportunity to send the best Master’s contestant to represent the University in the online New Zealand Masters 3MT® National Inter-University Challenge.

The competition is open to both thesis Master’s and Doctoral students, who must communicate their research in no more than three minutes, with the help of only one static slide, with the presentation aimed at a non-specialist audience.

At this stage, the local 2021 University of Otago competition will be held in person, but arrangements are being made to revert to an online competition if necessary.

Entries close Friday 25 June

Register for this event
Have a look at past years’ events on our archive page.

Jun
3
Thu
Ira Rangahau Māori @ Main Common Room
Jun 3 @ 9:00 am – Jun 4 @ 1:00 pm

Genetics Otago together with Allan Wilson @ Otago is pleased to bring you the second Ira Rangahau Symposium in June 2021. Initiated in 2019 by Dr Phillip Wilcox (Ngāti Rakaipaaka, Rongomaiwahine, Ngāti Kahungnu ki te Wairoa), Ira Rangahau brings together Māori kaipūtaio (scientists) from around the motu to present on their genetics-related research ranging from the primary sector, to health, to whakapapa and te taiao (the environment).

Full Details Here

Jun
28
Mon
Biostatistical Tips from Biostatisticians @ Room 033, Adams Building,
Jun 28 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Biostatistics Centre

Te Pokapū Tatauranga Koiora

Division of Health Sciences

Te Wāhanga Matua Mātua Hauora

 

Biostatistical Tips from Biostatisticians

 

When:           28th June 2021,11:00am to 12:00pm

Where:          Room 033, Adams Building, 18 Frederick Street

 

Presenter:   Associate Professor Robin Turner

 

Feeling like it’s difficult to get Biostatistical help? Come along to our seminar to learn about what we do. We will answer all your questions on how to get fast access to Biostatistical help; including all the insider tips on how we work and how we collaborate with researchers.

 

Questions? Please email: biostatistics_dunedin@otago.ac.nz

University of Otago Christchurch 3MT® competition @ Beaven Lecture Theatre
Jun 28 @ 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

This entertaining event gives thesis students the chance to present their research to a large audience while competing for a number of generous prizes, with the overall University of Otago Doctoral winner going on to participate in the online Asia-Pacific 3MT® final. We also have the opportunity to send the best Master’s contestant to represent the University in the online New Zealand Masters 3MT® National Inter-University Challenge.

 

The competition is open to both thesis Master’s and Doctoral students, who must communicate their research in no more than three minutes, with the help of only one static slide, with the presentation aimed at a non-specialist audience – see below for more on eligibility and rules.

At this stage the local 2021 University of Otago competition will be held in person, but arrangements are being made to revert to an online competition if necessary.

Entries close Friday 25 June

Eligibility

Active PhD and Professional Doctorate candidates who have successfully passed their confirmation milestone (including candidates whose thesis is under examination, but not graduates) by the date of their first presentation are eligible to participate in all levels of the 3MT® competition. The University of Otago overall winner will be entered in the Asia-Pacific 3MT® final. Pre-confirmation PhD candidates who are active in programme are eligible to participate in heats, but cannot advance to the University of Otago Grand Final.

Master’s thesis (90 points of research or more) candidates who are active in programme (including candidates whose thesis is under examination, but not graduates) are eligible to participate in all levels of the 3MT® competition. The overall winner will be entered in the New Zealand Masters 3MT® National Inter-University Challenge.

Competition timeline

  • Monday 28 June 1.30pm
    University of Otago Christchurch 3MT® competition, Beaven Lecture Theatre, Christchurch campus.
  • Tuesday 29 June 1pm
    University of Otago Wellington 3MT® competition, Small Lecture Theatre, Wellington campus.

Note: the Christchurch and Wellington competitions feed into the Health Sciences Divisional heat, other Division candidates located in Christchurch/Wellington can present at these events and be judged as part of their Divisional heat.

 

  • Tuesday 6 July 10am
    Humanities Division 3MT® heat, Moot Court, Richardson Building, Dunedin campus.
  • Wednesday 7 July 2pm
    Health Sciences Division 3MT® heat, Barnett Lecture Theatre, Dunedin Hospital.
  • Thursday 8 July 10am
    Commerce Division 3MT® heat, Otago Business School Lecture Room 1.17, Dunedin campus.
  • Friday 9 July 10am
    Sciences Division 3MT® heat, Mellor Laboratories Seminar Room 2.02, Dunedin campus.

Heat winners progress to the Grand Final (see below).

 

  • Thursday 5 August 5pm
    University of Otago 3MT® grand final, venue to be confirmed.

Grand Final winners progress to further national/international competitions:

  • Master’s, Tuesday 31 August.
  • Doctoral, September/October.

Competition rules

The University of Otago 3MT® competition follows the official rules of the founder, the University of Queensland.

 

Have a look at past years’ events on our archive page.

Jun
29
Tue
IT Training in Learning and Development: R – Data Analysis Walkthrough (via Zoom) @ Online
Jun 29 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

R – Data Analysis Walkthrough (via Zoom)
Go through the steps of a data analysis using sample data. Set up and modify data files, run analyses, and plot graphs. As this is an online training session delivered via Zoom, participants should have R and RStudio installed on the machine they are practicing on.
Tuesday 29th June, 10:00am – 12:00pm
Campus: Online
Cost: Free for Staff /  Free for Students
Platform: Windows but works the same on Macintoshes
Book Online: https://corpapp.otago.ac.nz/training/its/course/13854/date/202106/

University of Otago Wellington 3MT® competition @ Small Lecture Theatre,
Jun 29 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

This entertaining event gives thesis students the chance to present their research to a large audience while competing for a number of generous prizes, with the overall University of Otago Doctoral winner going on to participate in the online Asia-Pacific 3MT® final. We also have the opportunity to send the best Master’s contestant to represent the University in the online New Zealand Masters 3MT® National Inter-University Challenge.

 

The competition is open to both thesis Master’s and Doctoral students, who must communicate their research in no more than three minutes, with the help of only one static slide, with the presentation aimed at a non-specialist audience – see below for more on eligibility and rules.

At this stage the local 2021 University of Otago competition will be held in person, but arrangements are being made to revert to an online competition if necessary.

Entries close Friday 25 June

Eligibility

Active PhD and Professional Doctorate candidates who have successfully passed their confirmation milestone (including candidates whose thesis is under examination, but not graduates) by the date of their first presentation are eligible to participate in all levels of the 3MT® competition. The University of Otago overall winner will be entered in the Asia-Pacific 3MT® final. Pre-confirmation PhD candidates who are active in programme are eligible to participate in heats, but cannot advance to the University of Otago Grand Final.

Master’s thesis (90 points of research or more) candidates who are active in programme (including candidates whose thesis is under examination, but not graduates) are eligible to participate in all levels of the 3MT® competition. The overall winner will be entered in the New Zealand Masters 3MT® National Inter-University Challenge.

Competition timeline

  • Monday 28 June 1.30pm
    University of Otago Christchurch 3MT® competition, Beaven Lecture Theatre, Christchurch campus.
  • Tuesday 29 June 1pm
    University of Otago Wellington 3MT® competition, Small Lecture Theatre, Wellington campus.

Note: the Christchurch and Wellington competitions feed into the Health Sciences Divisional heat, other Division candidates located in Christchurch/Wellington can present at these events and be judged as part of their Divisional heat.

 

  • Tuesday 6 July 10am
    Humanities Division 3MT® heat, Moot Court, Richardson Building, Dunedin campus.
  • Wednesday 7 July 2pm
    Health Sciences Division 3MT® heat, Barnett Lecture Theatre, Dunedin Hospital.
  • Thursday 8 July 10am
    Commerce Division 3MT® heat, Otago Business School Lecture Room 1.17, Dunedin campus.
  • Friday 9 July 10am
    Sciences Division 3MT® heat, Mellor Laboratories Seminar Room 2.02, Dunedin campus.

Heat winners progress to the Grand Final (see below).

 

  • Thursday 5 August 5pm
    University of Otago 3MT® grand final, venue to be confirmed.

Grand Final winners progress to further national/international competitions:

  • Master’s, Tuesday 31 August.
  • Doctoral, September/October.

Competition rules

The University of Otago 3MT® competition follows the official rules of the founder, the University of Queensland.

 

Have a look at past years’ events on our archive page.

Jul
1
Thu
IT Training in Learning and Development: R – ggplot graphs (via Zoom) @ Online
Jul 1 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

R – ggplot graphs (via Zoom)
Exploring the options for making graphs with ggplot2 in R. As this is an online training session delivered via Zoom, participants should have R & R Studio already installed on the machine they are practicing on.
Thursday 1st July, 10:00am – 12:00pm
Campus: Online
Cost: Free for Staff /  Free for Students
Platform: Macintosh but works the same on Windows
Book Online: https://corpapp.otago.ac.nz/training/its/course/14534/date/202107/

Jul
5
Mon
Research Bazaar (ResBaz) @ University of Otago, Business School
Jul 5 – Jul 7 all-day

Research Bazaar (ResBaz) is coming to Dunedin: workshops, compelling seminars, engaging discussion. Free of charge!

Attending ResBaz offers:

– Hearing how researchers currently use digital tools and coding to improve their research

– Workshops on learning to code and ways to improve your efficiency in research

– Engagement with a community designed for continued peer-learning

 

From the 5th to the 7th of July 2021, the University of Otago will be hosting ResBaz, a worldwide event designed to promote and teach the computing and digital collaboration skills that now play a central role in today’s fast-paced research.

 

With a combination of keynote research seminars, hands-on training workshops and group discussion sessions, ResBaz is targeted at postgraduate research students and early career researchers who are wanting to upskill in these areas.

 

Workshop sessions will cover:

– Data analysis and visualisation with R and RStudio

– Bash scripting

– Improved reproducibility with version control and workflow languages

– Research data management

– Web site creation with GitHub

– Science communication

– Even more! (see link below)

 

Check out https://resbaz.github.io/resbaz2021/dunedin/ for a full list and description of sessions.

 

This event is free, but spaces are limited so registration is essential!

 

To register or see the draft schedule for ResBaz Dunedin 2021, go to https://resbaz.github.io/resbaz2021/dunedin/

 

For additional information about Research Bazaar, please email the ResBaz Dunedin 2021 organising committee at: carpentries@otago.ac.nz

 

We’re looking forward to seeing you at ResBaz 2021!

Introductory Biostatistics for Health Researchers Short Course @ Room 033, Adams Building,
Jul 5 @ 9:00 am – Jul 6 @ 4:30 pm

Course Duration: 2-Days

Platform: There are no software requirements.

Overview: This course is a fun introduction to the appropriate application and interpretation of biostatistical concepts. It is for people working in clinical research who have no formal statistical training.

Contents: The focus of this course will be on understanding the appropriate use of statistical methods, the implications when underlying assumptions are not met, and how to interpret statistical results. Participants will not be carrying out analyses. Course material will be presented through examples, and all statistical analyses will be performed by the course instructors. Topics include handling data, collecting data, study design, inference and sample size calculations. The course is presented by Associate Professor Robin Turner, Director of the Biostatistics Centre. Morning and afternoon tea will be provided. **GST applies to all credit card payments** All students who wish to pay by departmental cost code need to email: biostatistics_dunedin@otago.ac.nz. If you have any questions about the course contents/level, please email: biostatistics_dunedin@otago.ac.nz

More Details: https://corpapp.otago.ac.nz/training/biostats/course/9055/course/0/

Jul
7
Wed
Stata Software Workshop – Biostatistics Centre @ Hercus CAL Lab, Dunedin South Campus
Jul 7 @ 9:00 am – 4:30 pm

Biostatistics Centre

Te Pokapū Tatauranga Koiora

Division of Health Sciences

Te Wāhanga Matua Mātua Hauora

 

Stata Software Workshop

 

Register at: https://www.otago.ac.nz/healthsciences/research/biostatistics.html

 

When:           7th July 2021, 9:00am to 4:30pm

Where:          Hercus CAL Lab, Dunedin South Campus

Cost:              $150 Early Bird Entry Fee  $225 after 15th June 2021

 

Instructor:   Dr Ari Samaranayaka

 

This is a hands-on workshop based in a computer lab aimed at researchers and research students who need to use Stata Software for their research.  The computer lab has Windows computers, but the software works on Mac computers in the same way. Participants can bring their own laptops with Stata (version 16 or later) if they wish. Please advise if you are brining your own laptop.

 

The University of Otago now offers Stata SE to all Staff and Students.

 

This is an introductory level course, no previous experience with the software is expected. The workshop focuses on the use of Stata software for simple statistical analyses. Underlying statistical concepts are also discussed as necessary even though the course is not intended to teach biostatistics theory.

 

The course will use an example dataset to cover the following:

 

  • reading data into Stata
  • handling numeric and text data.
  • data checking for errors, cleaning, manipulating
  • commonly used univariate and bivariate descriptive analyses
  • simple graphs
  • confidence intervals
  • basic statistical tests
  • simple linear regression
  • do-files

The course is limited to 30 people.

 

**Credit card payments will incur GST**

 

Students wishing to pay by Departmental Cost Code will need to contact:biostatistics_dunedin@otago.ac.nz

 

Because of restrictions to food and drink inside the computer lab, we are unable to provide any catering. We encourage you to bring your own bottled water. One hour for lunch and two 15min tea breaks.

 

Cancellations must be made to the Biostatistics Centre no later than 4pm Tuesday, 29th June 2021. After this time a cancellation fee may apply.

 

Questions? Please email: biostatistics_dunedin@otago.ac.nz