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.
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.
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.
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Department of Microbiology Seminar – Ben Te Aika
12:00 pm
Department of Microbiology Seminar – Ben Te Aika
@ 208, 2nd Floor Microbiology Building
Nov 2 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
12:00 Noon, Monday, 2nd November Room 208, 2nd Floor Microbiology Building 720 Cumberland St Ben Te Aika Vision Matakuranga Co-Ordinator, Genomics Aotearoa, ‘Indigenous (Māori) Ethics’ The workshop will look to increase understanding of Matauraka Maori or Māori knowledge and knowledge[...]
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The 2020 Rowheath Trust Award and Carl Smith Research Medal Lecture
5:30 pm
The 2020 Rowheath Trust Award and Carl Smith Research Medal Lecture
@ Burns 1 Lecture Theatre
Nov 3 @ 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
The joint winners of the 2020 Rowheath Trust Award and Carl Smith Research Medal Lecture Dr Louise Bicknell and Associate Professor Anne-Marie Jackson will present their talks at 5:30pm on Tuesday 3 November in Burns 1 Lecture Theatre. Dr Bicknell,[...]
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Pathology Special Seminar – ‘He Tapu Te Whare Tangata (the sacred house of humanity)’
1:00 pm
Pathology Special Seminar – ‘He Tapu Te Whare Tangata (the sacred house of humanity)’
@ D'Ath Lecture Theatre, Hercus Building
Nov 4 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
We have a special seminar from Dr Jane MacDonald and colleagues based at the Centre for Women’s Health Research, Wellington Faculty of Health, Victoria University of Wellington. They will present ‘He Tapu Te Whare Tangata (the sacred house of humanity)’,[...]
OMSRS Masters and Honours Student Speaker Awards
5:00 pm
OMSRS Masters and Honours Student Speaker Awards
@ Barnett Lecture Theatre
Nov 4 @ 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
 The OMSRS Masters and Honours Student Speaker awards, and Annual General Meeting will be held on 4th November 2020 at 5pm in the Barnett Lecture Theatre. 10 speakers have been selected from a range of departments. A prize of $500[...]
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Department of Pathology Seminar – Dr Xochitl Morgan
1:00 pm
Department of Pathology Seminar – Dr Xochitl Morgan
@ D'Ath Lecture Theatre, Hercus Building
Nov 6 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Departmental seminar series continues with Dr Xochitl Morgan from Microbiology & Immunology. Her seminar is entitled ‘Understanding ecosystem dysfunction in inflammatory bowel disease’. Please see attached for more information: Morgan_poster
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MapNet 2020
11:30 am
MapNet 2020
@ Via Zoom
Nov 16 @ 11:30 am – Nov 17 @ 3:30 pm
You are warmly invited to attend MapNet 2020, a free online conference across three ~90 minute sessions on Monday 16 and Tuesday 17 November 2020. The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Mātauranga and Te Ao Māori to guide genetics[...]
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Department of Pathology – Special Seminar
11:00 am
Department of Pathology – Special Seminar
@ D'Ath Lecture Theatre, Hercus Building
Nov 23 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
We have special seminar on Monday 11 am by Dr Veronika Sander, from the University of Auckland titled “Using human kidney organoids to study acute kidney injury”. Location is the D’ Ath Hercus building. Seminar Poster
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