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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.


Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1
Otago University 3 Minute Thesis Registration 8:00 am
Otago University 3 Minute Thesis Registration
Apr 30 @ 8:00 am – Jun 25 @ 5:00 pm
Otago University 3 Minute Thesis Registration
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[...]
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3
HEDC Course: Preparing postgraduate students for the oral examination 10:00 am
HEDC Course: Preparing postgraduate students for the oral examination
May 3 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Visit the HEDC Website for details and registration for this event and all other HEDC workshops. Places are limited.
4
Fulbright NZ Scholar Award Information Session for academic staff 10:30 am
Fulbright NZ Scholar Award Information Session for academic staff @ University of Otago Staff Club (downstairs)
May 4 @ 10:30 am – 11:30 am
Fulbright NZ Scholar Award Information Session for academic staff @ University of Otago Staff Club (downstairs)
Please find attached an invitation to attend the Fulbright NZ Scholar Award Information Session for academic staff on Tuesday, 4 May 2021 at 10.30-11.30am. Please circulate this widely. Penelope Borland, Executive Director of Fulbright New Zealand, will be introducing this[...]
5
Department of Botany Seminar Series 12:00 pm
Department of Botany Seminar Series @ Benham Seminar Room, Room B215, Benham Building
May 5 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
See attached PDF for details of each weeks seminar: Department of Botany Seminar Programme S12021
Otago Medical School Research Society, 2021 Summer Student Awards 5:00 pm
Otago Medical School Research Society, 2021 Summer Student Awards @ Barnett Lecture Theatre
May 5 @ 5:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Otago Medical School Research Society, 2021 Summer Student Awards @ Barnett Lecture Theatre
The Otago Medical School Research Society is proud to host our 257th Scientific meeting, the 2021 Summer Student Awards. This will be held on 5th May 2021 at 5pm in the Barnett Lecture Theatre. 10 speakers have been selected from[...]
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12
Department of Botany Seminar Series 12:00 pm
Department of Botany Seminar Series @ Benham Seminar Room, Room B215, Benham Building
May 12 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
See attached PDF for details of each weeks seminar: Department of Botany Seminar Programme S12021
13
14
HEDC workshop: Develop a sustainable job search process 10:00 am
HEDC workshop: Develop a sustainable job search process
May 14 @ 10:00 am – 12:30 pm
HEDC Professional Development Programme Develop a sustainable job search process It’s a job getting a job so make sure that you come to this workshop to share ideas for getting yourself a strategy for finding a meaningful job. The workshop[...]
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17
Microbiology Seminar 12:00 pm
Microbiology Seminar @ Room 208, 2nd Floor Microbiology Building
May 17 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Assoc. Prof. Caroline Beck Department of Zoology, University of Otago ‘Telling tales of tadpole’s tails’ Tadpoles of the clawed frog Xenopus laevis can regenerate their spinal cord-containing tails, producing a new functional tail in just one week. However, they are[...]
Bioethics Seminar – “Who Owns Data? A Critical Analysis of Data Ownership and Data Rights.” 1:00 pm
Bioethics Seminar – “Who Owns Data? A Critical Analysis of Data Ownership and Data Rights.” @ Bioethics Seminar Room (Room 119), Bioethics Centre, Level 1,
May 17 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Tēnā koutou I tēnei ahiahi, Please find the attached Bioethics Seminar poster for next Monday – 17 May 2021, 1-1:50pm – hosted by Odette Shaw, PhD, titled, “Who Owns Data? A Critical Analysis of Data Ownership and Data Rights.” Bioethics[...]
18
19
Department of Botany Seminar Series 12:00 pm
Department of Botany Seminar Series @ Benham Seminar Room, Room B215, Benham Building
May 19 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
See attached PDF for details of each weeks seminar: Department of Botany Seminar Programme S12021
20
HEDC Course: Progress reporting for postgraduate supervisors and thesis candidates 2:00 pm
HEDC Course: Progress reporting for postgraduate supervisors and thesis candidates
May 20 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Visit the HEDC Website for details and registration for this event and all other HEDC workshops. Places are limited.
21
Matariki Lecture – Professor Ehmke Pohl, Durham University 12:00 am
Matariki Lecture – Professor Ehmke Pohl, Durham University
May 21 @ 12:00 am – 1:30 am
Matariki Lecture – Friday 21 May, 12am-1.30am, via Zoom Professor Ehmke Pohl, Durham University: Virus-X – exploring the structural and functional diversity of the Virosphere In this lecture, the key methods and challenges involved in establishing the pipeline from collecting[...]
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25
Biochemistry Seminar – Emeritus Professor Warren Tate 12:00 pm
Biochemistry Seminar – Emeritus Professor Warren Tate @ BIG13, Ground floor Biochemistry
May 25 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Biochemistry Seminar - Emeritus Professor Warren Tate @ BIG13, Ground floor Biochemistry
Emeritus Professor Warren Tate: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a real disease that has come of age with the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic ME/CFS has remained a mystery lifelong debilitating disease for many years with little public profile, despite affecting 15-30[...]
Thirst for Knowledge: From COVID-19 to Vaccine 5:30 pm
Thirst for Knowledge: From COVID-19 to Vaccine @ Ombrellos Kitchen and Bar
May 25 @ 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
From December 2019, when an outbreak of a pneumonia caused by a novel coronavirus was first recognised in China, to the availability of several effective vaccines less than 1 year later – how did we get here? Dr Ussher from[...]
26
Department of Botany Seminar Series 12:00 pm
Department of Botany Seminar Series @ Benham Seminar Room, Room B215, Benham Building
May 26 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
See attached PDF for details of each weeks seminar: Department of Botany Seminar Programme S12021
27
Master of Teaching and Learning Information Evening 7:00 pm
Master of Teaching and Learning Information Evening @ Tower Lecture Theatre G.07, College of Education,
May 27 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Master of Teaching and Learning applications close 31 July 2021. The Master of Teaching and Learning is a one-year programme (or equivalent in part-time study) offered through the University of Otago’s College of Education. Bright and motivated graduates from any discipline[...]
28
HEDC Course: Consider your career prospects with a PhD 10:00 am
HEDC Course: Consider your career prospects with a PhD
May 28 @ 10:00 am – 12:30 pm
Visit the HEDC Website for details and registration for this event and all other HEDC workshops. Places are limited.
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