February 10, 2021

Funding Connection

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Featured Opportunities: Graduate Student Measurement Science and Engineering Fellowship The Department of Commerce, NIST’s Graduate Student Measurement Science and Engineering Fellowship program is seeking applications from eligible applicants (universities) for activities to provide master’s and doctoral-level graduate students with opportunities and financial assistance to obtain laboratory experiences within the NIST laboratories in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines.  Screening for Conditions by Electronic Nose Technology The Department of Health and Human Services, NIH’s Screening for Conditions by Electronic Nose Technology is seeking applications for a portable sensing device to detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs, i.e. scents or odors) emanating from skin and to develop a catalog of VOCs as distinct signatures for at least 20 human diseases and conditions.  Read more of this week's featured opportunities

The Power of Passion: The next generation of researchers

In this episode, we discuss one professor’s pure joy in impacting the community by keeping food safe. Dr. Valentina Trinetta's research focuses on understanding the ecology of foodborne pathogens and identifying microbial entry routes into the food supply chain. Dr. Trinetta also works on the development and implementation of antimicrobial intervention strategies to reduce and control foodborne pathogens in different commodities.

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Events and announcements

Global Foods Systems invited speaker: Jack Bobo

Science Communication and the Future of Food 9-10 a.m Thursday, Feb. 11 Jack Bobo, CEO of Futurity, will present "Science Communication and the Future of Food" from 9-10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, via Zoom. Futurity is a food foresight company that works with food and agriculture organizations to better understand emerging food trends and consumer attitudes and behaviors so they can position themselves to thrive in an ever more complex world.  Bobo previously served as the chief communications officer and senior vice president for global policy and government affairs at Intrexon Corporation. He is a globally recognized thought leader, having delivered more than 300 speeches in 50 countries on the future of food, the role of science and technology in sustainably and nutritiously feeding the world, and how to build consumer trust.  Register to attend.

Grant Writing 101

1-5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18 This training is aimed at informing graduate students and post-docs about various aspects of the grant writing process. Whether you are new to grant writing, or have some experience, information presented will be very relevant and valuable for you. The training will include: Grant writing orientation Writing the narrative and project summary Budget justification Reviewing criteria and evaluation Developing objectives and goals Find more information the Graduate School website. Please register in advance to attend.

NASA PI Launchpad 2021

Applications due on NSPIRES: March 22nd, 2021 Selections made no later than May 3rd, 2021 Workshop Dates: June 14th-June 25th Workshop Location: Virtual via WebEx   Are you thinking about developing your first flight mission proposal in the next few years but have no idea where to start? If you are a researcher or engineer who would like to submit a NASA space mission proposal in the next few years but don’t know where to start, this June virtual workshop is for you! We are interested in broadening the pool of potential NASA space mission PIs. People with marginalized identities are strongly encouraged to apply. There is no cost to attend the workshop.   Learn more and apply.

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K-State RSCAD in the news

Canada jay numbers in southern Ontario decreasing because of climate change, study suggests cbc.ca BEE MACHINE APP agriculture.com Survey Finds Consumers Think Beef Tastes Better and Is More Nutritious Than Plant-Based Meat insidehook.com NETTING RESULTS Netting results | Research program aims to learn more about birds' reaction to climate themercury.com

Agency news and trending topics

RNA molecules are masters of their own destinies At any moment in the human body, in about 30 trillion cells, DNA is being "read" into molecules of messenger RNA, or mRNA, the intermediary step between DNA and proteins, in a process called transcription. nsf.gov The microbial life of sourdough In a study of 500 sourdough starters on four continents, scientists have gained new insights into how environmental factors contribute to each sourdough starter's microbial ecosystem, and how different types of microbes influence both a sourdough's aroma and how quickly the sourdough rises. The results may surprise sourdough enthusiasts. nsf.gov Fecal microbiota transplants help patients with advanced melanoma respond to immunotherapy For patients with cancers that do not respond to immunotherapy drugs, adjusting the composition of microorganisms in the intestines — known as the gut microbiome — through the use of stool, or fecal, transplants may help some of these individuals respond to the immunotherapy drugs, a new study suggests. Researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Center for Cancer Research, part of the National Institutes of Health, conducted the study in collaboration with investigators from UPMC Hillman Cancer Center at the University of Pittsburgh. nih.gov Snakeskin Reveals Secrets Behind a Sidewinder’s Twisted Wiggle Serpent bellies seem smooth, but on a microscopic level, their species-specific scale structures may show how they adapted to their environments. Sidewinder snakes are venomous predators famously known for their smooth and mesmerizing gait that shifts them across the sandy deserts of North America, the Middle East and Africa. Like the name suggests, sidewinder snakes slither to the side, leading with their bodies, unlike other species of snakes that wiggle forward and lead with their heads. smithsonianmag.com Newly Discovered Marine Reptile Sawed Prey With Serrated Teeth Researchers say the new species of mosasaur had teeth unlike those of any known reptile. A newly unearthed species of dolphin-sized marine reptile had a mouth full of serrated blades for teeth, reports Jake Buehler for Science News. The 66-million-year-old saltwater terror’s saw-like teeth are a razor-sharp departure from the pointed or cone-shaped chompers of all other known reptiles, instead most closely resembling the flesh-shearing dentition of certain species of sharks. sciencemag.org

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