Congratulations to Craig and Friderike who were both winners of the Winter Biomedical Research Awards.

1st place: Craig Slattery for the paper:

Slattery C, Ryan MP, McMorrow T. Protein kinase C beta overexpression induces fibrotic effects in human proximal tubular epithelial cells. Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 2008 Mar 16. [Epub ahead of print]

2nd place: Friderike Schuetz for the paper:

Schuetz F, Kumar S, Poronnik P, Adams DJ. Regulation of the voltage-gated K+ channels KCNQ2/3 and KCNQ3/5 by serum and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase-1 (SGK-1). Am J Physiol - Cell Physiol. 2008 May 7. [Epub ahead of print]

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Where am I from?  Grew up in Colorado, USA, but never skied until I was in my twenties.  I was a geek who loved science, went to science camps, entered (and won) science fairs, but also played competitive classical piano and tennis.  Both of my grandfathers were university professors, one in Geology and the other in Mathematics, and my grandmothers also taught at uni in Geology.  My dad was the rebel, and became a lawyer, but the science genes were too strong for me to do the same (with all due respect to lawyers).
Where was I educated?  Went to Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania for my undergraduate degree, where my largest class was 100 students!  Majored in Psychology and Biochemistry, before the days of Neurobiology BSc degree.
Got my Master’s Degree in Biology from Boston College, where I looked at gangliosides and their possible role in predicting tumour morphology.  Enjoyed the people, place and work, but there was way too much time waiting for results. 
Earned my PhD in Neuroscience and Pharmacology in the wonderful laboratory of Toshio Narahashi, at Northwestern University Medical School, in Chicago.  I really enjoy electrophysiology, and its immediate gratification of progress or failure, as well as the sense I was looking at things in “real time” (with all due respect to those who don’t).  Studied sodium channels and characterized those sensitive and those resistant to tetrodotoxin as well as other natural and manmade compounds. 
For my postdoctoral research, I took my sodium channel experience and looked into glial cells at Yale University, Department of Neurology.  Branched out a bit into potassium channels, and did some work with Len Kaczmarek’s lab in Pharmacology as well.  I then  joined  Arthur “Buzz” Brown’s lab in Houston, Texas, joining them just in time to relocate to Cleveland, Ohio.  During my time there, I worked with HERG, inwardly-rectifying K channels, and cardiac myocytes.  Perhaps my biggest claim to fame is a Circulation Research paper in which we showed that some antihistamines were causing prolonged QT syndrome in patients due to block of the cardiac HERG channel.  This paper very quickly led to the withdrawal of terfenadine (Seldane) from the US market by the FDA.
And now, for something completely different...
In 1997, I was “introduced” to the cousin of a good friend of mine...I was in Cleveland, and the cousin was...in Zimbabwe. Long story short, I travelled to Zim in Dec  1997 after 6 months of correspondence, and received a wedding proposal three days later at the Victoria Falls. We married in  1998, when  Zimbabwe was still the “Switzerland of Africa”.  I taught in a private high school for girls, covering O and A Level subjects of Maths, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, with graduates moving on to Harvard, Duke, McGill, Cambridge, U Cape Town, UWA and UQ!  I really enjoyed my years in Zim and both of our children were born in Zimbabwe.

My husband’s career took us to Gaborone, Botswana, in 2005, where I taught at Maru-a-Pula Senior School, made famous by Alexander McCall Smith’s books about the Number One Ladies’ Detective Agency.
We moved to Brisbane in Jan 2007.  I started working as  an Associate Lecturer within SBMS focusing on Pharmacology.  I have enjoyed the learning curve of how things work here, from the IT to the administration and school personalities.   I feel really lucky to have had some time in my life to travel and live in different countries and cultures, and would hope that all who have opportunities to do so will seize the chance.  Science has been very kind to me, in that wherever you are in the world, there is always a need for people with science and maths skills, and the ability and enthusiasm to share them with others.  Remember this, should your own life take an interesting twist!

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UQ FirstLink Fund – RRTD

Closing Date 11th August

Eligibility: Most UQ academics

Aims of the Scheme:
Seeding grant for those wishing to pursue the commercial dollars.

The FirstLink Fund provides development funds for ARC Linkage Project Grants (Round 1 & 2) and NHMRC Development Grant applications. These funds are provided to assist applicants in the preparation of high quality ARC Linkage Project Grants or NHMRC Development Grant applications. Funding can be used to support such items as travel costs or research assistance so long as the applicant can demonstrate how this will make an external grant application more competitive.
Award: Up to $3000. 1 year grant.
More Info.

UQ Travel Awards for International Collaborative Research – School

Closing Date: 18th August

• Eligibility: Most UQ academics
• Aims of the Scheme: There are two types:

Category 1 - aims to facilitate visits to the University by scholars from other countries. Travel assistance is available to scholars actively engaged in research who will contribute substantially to research activity in the nominated School, Centre or Institute at the University of Queensland.
Category 1 Award
(i) an air fare to Brisbane, inclusive of visa fees levied by the Australian Government for the visitor only; and
(ii) subject to the visitor spending at least four weeks during semester at the University as specified in paragraph 4 (below), a return air fare for the visitor only.
(iii) In exceptional circumstances, and at the discretion of the selection committee, there is provision for a limited contribution to subsistence on a basis identified as genuine merit of proposal and genuine need, to be proportionate to the length of stay.

Category 2 - aims to:

1. give strong encouragement to international collaborative research, especially for younger members of staff. Special consideration may be given to new collaboration;
2. enable research-oriented staff to spend short periods overseas to gain firsthand experience in technological and other developments and acquire new research skills;
3. keep the University's research effort in line with that of other countries, in rapidly developing areas of research; and
4. enhance the University's international reputation in learning and research.

Category 2 Award
A direct return airfare for the awardee only; and in exceptional circumstances, and at the discretion of the selection committee, there is provision for a limited contribution to subsistence on a basis identified as genuine merit of proposal and genuine need, to be proportionate to the length of stay. More Info.

Postdoctoral Research Fellowships for Women – School

Closing Date: 18th August

Eligibility: To be eligible, applicants must:

(a) possess a PhD degree or equivalent postgraduate experience;
(b) demonstrate clearly how their careers have been interrupted, delayed or otherwise constrained by family or other responsibilities (normally of a care-related nature);
(c) possess Australian citizenship or permanent residency status.
Aims of the Scheme:
Open to women with a PhD or equivalent qualification, whose academic careers have been interrupted, delayed or otherwise constrained by family or other responsibilities. This includes applicants who are precluded from applying for postdoctoral research fellowships in locations elsewhere.
Award:
One fellowship is for full-time research over a period of three years while the other two are for half-time research over a period of three years. The formal period of appointment for both full-time and half-time fellowships will be three years only. The current salary range for the award is on a three-level scale from A$60,391 - A$64,827 (full-time) and approximately A$30,195 - A$32,413 (half-time) (2008 Salary Scales).More Info

UQ Early Career Researcher (ECR) – School

Closing Date: 1st September

Eligibility:
To be eligible you must be less than eight years postdoc and be able to demonstrate you are the primary originator of the proposed research program. You must also have s established some track record in research, through publication.
Aims of the Scheme:
(1) to encourage research by new members of staff;
(2) to provide limited seed funding as a means of generating external research support; and
(3) to support, on a competitive basis, high quality research projects of modest financial cost from early career researchers.Award: Up to 40K for BACS applicants. 1 year grants.
More Info:
Note - The following link takes you the rules and application form from last year. The new rules and the revised application will be posted at the same address by the end on of next week. RRTD have confirmed there will be no significant changes to the Scheme.

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The School has recently acquired a defibrillator via the OHS Unit.   It will be located in the Distribution Area and available for use by trained persons i.e. first Aiders.  All staff and students should know where it is kept in the case of emergency.  It has been shown that early access, early defibrillation and knowledge of CPR really do save lives.   Any staff members wishing to become a First Aider should contact Leanne Ritchie, ext.51269 or l.ritchie@uq.edu.au.  Remember; call Security on Ext 53333 for all emergency services.

New Risk Assessment
 
A couple of new/amended Risk Assessments have been posted recently on the Risk Management Database for your use.  They are
 #11359- SBMS - Making laboratory solutions
#1378 ­ SBMS ­ Autoclave use
 
On-Line Training
 
The Fire Service is currently conducting monthly inspections of all buildings at UQ and I have been told that they are handing out $1500 personal fines to staff that haven't completed the training module.
 
Could all supervisors ensure that their staff complete ASAP.  We are expecting our buildings to be audited within the next couple of months.
Skerman will be first on the list.
 
If any staff members have not completed the generic OHS Induction why don't you do both at the same time as they are on the same site.
 
Please access the site via the Current Staff  link on the UQ Home page.
Select on-line training before logging on to myUQ.

August Courses 2008 - Occupational Health and Safety
The Occupational Health and Safety Unit will be conducting courses in August. Details are outlined below:

Obligations of Managers

Occupational Health & Safety for Supervisors & Managers – 4 Hours

20th August, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm, TEDI Seminar Room, Bldg No. 15

Workplace Safety

Chemical Risk Assessment Database Training – 2 Hours

26th August, 10:30 am –  12:30 pm, Building 33, Rms 102 & 104

Computer Workstations: Participative Ergonomics – 2 Hours

20th August, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm, TEDI Seminar Rm, Bldg No. 15

Radiation Safety with Unsealed Sources. – intro. – 3 Hours

12th August,, 9:00 am – 12 pm, TEDI Seminar Room, Bldg No. 15

Risk Assessment Database Training – 1.5 Hours

26th August, , 9:00 am – 10:30 am, Building 33, Rooms 102 & 104

Safety with Analytical X-Ray Equipment - 2.5 Hours

4th August, 9:30 am – 12:00 pm, TEDI Seminar Rm, Bldg No. 15

 Requirements for working with Biological Material – 2 Hours

6th August, 9:00 am – 11:00 am, QBI Auditorium, Level 7

For detailed course descriptions  and to register, please contact the Teaching and Educational Development Institute on extension 53019.  Alternatively, email the Staff Development Administrator on StaffDev@tedi.uq.edu.au or visit TEDI’s website     

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Bennett, Mike - Conference July 28 - August 1 (5 days)
Brown, Lindsay - Conference July 28 - August 1 (5 days)
Forwood, Mark - Conference August 4 - 8 (5 days)
Forwood, Mark - Conference August 27 - 29 (3 days)
Kaye, Peter - Conference August 19-20 (2 days)
Kaye, Peter - Conference August 25-28 (4 days)
Kloda, Anna - LSL August 5 - September 5 (23 days)
Marshall, Justin - Conference July 30 - August 15 (12 days)
Minchin, Rod - Conference July 28 - August 01
Poronnik, Phil - Conference July 28 - August 1 (5 days)
Weir, Kristy - Recreation August 1 (1 day)
Weir, Kristy - Recreation August 8 (1 day)

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New Finance System Update

The biggest and most relevant news regarding UniFi is the replacement of iBuy Purchasing System. Now I know all of you have come to know and love iBuy but do not despair, Business Services has promised that the proposed new Purchasing System is far improved.  However to launch the new system effectively there are be some sacrifices made. Unfortunately, the end of year cut off will move forward two weeks to 30 November, so no invoices can be raised or purchase orders created from this date until after “go live” on 1 January 2009. The UniFi team has foreseen that this could cause unwanted strain. To alleviate the hardship Business Services has instructed the Faculties to ‘Pre-Order’ any foreseen requisites, Business Services has also allowed for the use of Purchasing Cards during the lock-down period when necessary. This however inconvenient should not be of great concern, with almost 6 months notice; there is ample time to prepare.  If anyone has any major concerns please feel free to contact the Finance Department at sbmsfinance@uq.edu.au.
Watch the space for more information and future updates.

Tom Orth
Project Officer

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Conserving via the Computer – Switch it off and go home!

Help green up your office and reduce energy consumption of your computer.

Turn your computer off when you leave the office at night -
The University can reduce GHG emissions by 1500 tonnes per year just by switching off computers at night. This will have the same impact as switching off the power to 250 houses for one year (3 bdrm, 4 person).

Enable Energy Star on your PC
Step-by step instructions for enabling energy star on a number of different computer systems are available.
 (The Australian Greenhouse Office, 2003)

Turn printers and photocopiers off as well at night and over the weekend

Got a question about recycling or not sure how to activate the energy saving settings for your computer?

Check out the Green Office Website
OR ask your SBMS Green Office Rep

Dave Logan
CoralWatch Project Manager
Ext: 54080
E-mail: d.logan@uq.edu.au

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