Department News and Current Events
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November 4, 2009
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Dr. Jeffrey Ross-Ibarra, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from 2006 to 2008, has been awarded the prestigious Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). Only twelve are awarded nationwide; the recipients will receive their awards at the White House in January of 2010. Ross-Ibarra has been given this award based on his expertise on plant domestication, and particularly genetic diversity in maize and its wild relatives. Ross-Ibarra completed his postdoctoral work under the tutelage of Dr. Brandon Gaut, Departmental Chair of EEB, and has been an Assistant Professor at UC Davis since January 2009. Ross-Ibarra is a local product of University High School, and his father Stuart Ross is an employee of UC Irvine where he is the Assistant Director of Research Development in CalIT2. To learn more about PECASE awards: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/pecase.htm
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October 14, 2009
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Dr. Douglas Wallace, who has a faculty appointment in both the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and the School of Medicine, has been elected to the Institute of Medicine. The Institute of Medicine is the medical arm of the National Academy of the Sciences. To read more about this singular honor, follow the link to: http://today.uci.edu/news/nr_wallaceiom_091013.php
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September 21, 2009
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Adjunct Professor Steven Handel has organized a public lecture series on ecology to be held at the Irvine Great Park. The series kicks off on October 8 @ 7 pm with Dr. Gordon Frankie (UC Berkeley), who will lecture on "Native bees looking for new real estate". Among other things, the lecture will focus on bees in sustaining our urban gardens and agriculture. The second in the series will be on October 22 @ 7 pm with Dr. Jon Keeley. He will lecture on “21st Century Megafires in Southern California. Adapting to Fires in Paradise”. The lectures will be held at the Second Harvest building auditorium at the Great Park.
Directions:
north on Sand Canyon Rd., right Marine Way, just after the Rt. 5 overpass, right at end of Marine way, go ½ mile to Second Harvest on the right.
For more information see the www.ocgp.org website.
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September 15, 2009
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The UCI Libraries’ fall exhibit, “So Simple a Beginning: 150 Years of Darwin” recognizes the 150th anniversary of the publication of Charles Darwin’s seminal work of scientific literature, On the Origin of Species, as well as the 200th year of his birth. The opening event will be held on October 22, 2009 at 5:30 pm in Langson Library. This event will feature a talk titled “Darwin’s Gift to Science and Religion,” by Francisco Ayala, University Professor and Donald Bren Professor of Biological Sciences at UCI.
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August 26, 2009
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Faculty member Jim Hicks will be featured in a BBC and National Geographic special on the circulatory system of giraffes. See a sneak preview in this Youtube feature that includes postdoc Tomasz Owerkowicz. Things do not turn out well for their British visitor! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tos50Wx41p4
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August 3, 2009
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Dr. Francisco Ayala and colleagues have identified what they believe is the original source of malignant malaria: a parasite found in chimpanzees in equatorial Africa. The investigators think the deadly parasite was transmitted to humans from chimpanzees perhaps as recently as 5,000 years ago - and possibly through a single mosquito, genetic analyses indicate. The study appears online the week of Aug. 3 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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June 18, 2009
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Deborah McWilliams has been elected by her peers to serve as the Chair of the UCI Staff Assembly, beginning 1 July 2009. The purpose of Staff Assembly is to promote the interests of the staff and to bolster communications between staff and the administration; to provide input to the decision-making process on issues affecting staff and the University; and to support and develop activities that serve UCI, the community, and the University. Deborah's election as Chair reflects her standing in the UCI community and also her keen desire to serve the campus.
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June 4, 2009
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Dr. Tim Bradley has been awarded the Daniel G. Aldrich Distinguished University Service Award. Tim has made numerous contributions to UC and UCI over the last 20 years. He has been active in the UC Reserve System for 20 years, most recently becoming Campus Director in 2001, and has served as an advisor to UCI Environmental Health and Safety. He served as Chair of the Academic Senate in addition. Within the School, he has served on the Crystal Cove Advisory Committee, the Anza Borrego Advisory Committee, the Advisory Committee to the Associate Dean for Research, and the Upper Level Writing Review Committee. We applaud Tim for his great service to the campus, and congratulate him on this honor.
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May 15, 2009
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On May 15, Dr. Francisco Ayala was awarded an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Warsaw for his "extraordinary contributions to evolutionary biology and the philosophy of the sciences". The University of Warsaw (UW), established in 1816, is Poland's largest and finest university and plays a major role in the intellectual, political and cultural life of Poland. Dr. Ayala's honorary doctorate coincided, in part, with the translation of his book "Darwin's Gift to Science and Religion" into Polish.
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Riccardo Papa receives Dean's Award for Postdoctoral Research Excellence
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May 12, 2009
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Ecology and Evolutionary Biology postdoc Riccardo Papa was selected out of all the postdocs in the School of Biological Sciences to receive the Spring 2009 Dean's Award for Postdoctoral Research Excellence. Riccardo received this award for his work in the Reed lab on the evolutionary genetics of butterfly wing pattern mimicry. Congratulations Riccardo!
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Allison earns a Golden Apple
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May 21, 2009
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EEB Faculty member Steve Allison is this year's recipient of the Golden Apple Teaching Award. The award is the annual School of Biological Sciences selection for teaching excellence. Congratulations, Steve, both for your commitment and for the superb quality of your teaching performance.
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Rebecca Aicher named 2008-2009 Most Promising Future Faculty Member
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April 30, 2009
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Graduate student Rebecca Aicher has been elected to receive an Award for Most Promising Future Faculty Member 2008-2009 at the 16th annual Celebration of Teaching. The event will take place on Thursday, May 28, 2009 from 4:30-6:00 in the University Club Dining Room. This award includes a one-quarter dissertation fellowship and fee waiver, and is made possible through the generosity of the Graduate Division.