ASCB Newsletter - October 2000

ASCB President Richard Hynes was the lead witness in support of federal funding of stem cell research at a recent Senate hear- ing called by Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) following the release of the NIH guidelines on funding stem cell research.

Hynes noted that opponents have claimed that embryonic stem cell research is “’illegal, unnecessary and immoral.’ We respectfully disagree on all counts,” he said. Hynes went on to argue that all promising “forms of stem cell research—embryonic, fetal and adult—should be pursued vigorously.”

Testifying with Hynes in support of stem cell research were actors Mary Tyler Moore and Michael J. Fox. Each delivered compelling testimony urging Congress to invest in any research which could lead to the prevention or cure of diabetes, Parkinson’s and other crippling diseases.

Matthew Howard, a graduate student in the laboratory of Clare Isacke in the Department of Biology at Imperial College of London, was named by the British Society for Cell Biology “Young Cell Biologist of the Year 2000.” Howard will participate in the 40th ASCB Annual Meeting by presenting his poster on A Novel Endocytic Receptor with a Role in ECM Remodelling.

Enrique RodriguezBoulan of Cornell University Medical College was appointed Chair of the ASCB International Affairs Committee by President-elect Elaine Fuchs.

Rodriquez-Boulan, a native of Argentina, will succeed current Chair Kai Simons on January 1. A major interest of RodriquezBoulan is to work with the Committee to support cell biology in South America.

Ursula Goodenough of Washington University will serve as 2001 Chair of the ASCB Nominating Committee. She was appointed by Society President-elect Elaine Fuchs.

Goodenough, who served as Society President in 1995, will appoint a committee to be charged with identifying and recruiting candidates to serve as Society officers in 2002.

How to Use Electronic Publishing to Enhance Your Science
Molecular Biology of the Cell Editor and UCSF Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology Chair Keith Yamamoto was recently interviewed by the ASCB Newsletter about electronic publishing and how authors can take best advantage of publishing technologies to enhance the presentation of their science.

NL: Increasingly, journals are encouraging or requiring authors to put more and more of their content on the Web, and not in the printed version. This sounds like a business strategy by which publishers can save paper, printing and mailing costs. Why should scientists concern themselves with this?

KRY: If scientists allow decisions about the configuration of electronic publishing to be driven by economic considerations, we shall have abrogated an important responsibility and missed a great opportunity. First, we need to remind ourselves that communication of our findings is a crucial part of doing science—that we should regard publishing as part of the scientific process. Thus, just as working scientists make all decisions about the content of journals such as MBC, scientists should determine how the Web will be used to present their findings. Second, the Web, in combination with print, offers new ways to communicate science —in this sense, the Web could be viewed as a technological advance that can enhance our science in much the same way as a new lab procedure.

NL: You mention “the Web, in combination with print”. Will both media persist, and how might their content differ?

KRY: At least for now, both media will persist, but they may be increasingly distinct in purpose; that is, they may represent different “layers” of scientific communication. Today, perhaps for reasons that are driven partly by economics, some journals present little more than expanded abstracts, with little attention to methodological description, presentation of control experiments, or a thoughtful consideration of the findings. Electronic publishing offers the potential for authors to convey their full story, and to describe their studies in sufficient detail that they can be reproduced. This alone would facilitate the process of science. By this view, the print version of a paper would be accessible for general readers, and would also serve as a “road map” to the web version.

NL: As an example, what might be published electronically that would not appear on paper?

KRY: Materials and Methods is a simple but important example. Originally, publication standards required full descriptions. However, while the details are vitally important to specialists in the field, they are not of great interest to general readers. Hence, perhaps the print version should include only enough methodological description to maintain accessibility for general readers, while the Web version would include all the details. Indeed, we shall likely institute this policy soon in MBC.

NL: This sounds like good advice to marginally improve the dissemination of science. Are there opportunities to take advantage of electronic publishing for more dramatic contributions to the presentation of research?

KRY: Absolutely. In fact, Molecular Biology of the Cell was the pioneer among life science journals in offering the publication of peer-reviewed video content and large datasets. These are elements that simply cannot be published on paper. They are now becoming common if not standard features in life science journals, together with the capabilities for cross-referencing, linking to other articles, broad searches, transmission of alerts and so forth, that are so well suited to the Web.

NL: You indicated that the print and Web versions of a paper represent different layers of information. Besides Materials and Methods, what else might distinguish these layers?

KRY: The Web of course is an ideal vehicle for presenting information in a multilayered fashion. A wellconstructed article would allow readers to “enter” at their own selected levels of expertise and interest, and to navigate freely from there. Here’s a nice example of layering from the print format: Science magazine uses “Notes,” in which a comment, caveat, provocative detail, or side issue that might well be interesting, but would interrupt the flow of the narrative, can be relegated to a note in the References and Notes list. Everyone who writes papers encounters the opportunity to include such points, but at present most often exclude them on the basis of word limits, interruption of flow of the main point, or lack of a format (except in Science) for citing this information as a sidebar to the article. Such sidebars could readily be presented in their own layer on the Web, in considerable detail and length if appropriate. These could add considerably to the scope, range and interest level of an article.

NL: Would citations differ between Web and paper?

KRY: Faced with space limitations, authors are hard-pressed to cite primary references on paper. And with the explosion of review journals, reference lists in research articles are threatening to become little more than brief compendia of recent minireviews. This erosion of scholarliness and historical perspective in our field makes it increasingly difficult for students (and experienced investigators, for that matter) to discern the origin, evolution and progression of ideas and discoveries. I’m not saying that we all have to cite Mendel and Darwin in every paper we write, but a small nod to how we got here is important. Hence, I would like to see journals require citation of relevant primary literature, including key initial discoveries and key subsequent advances, in their Web versions, while the print versions could maintain general accessibility with an appropriate mix of citations to reviews and to primary literature.

NL: So, generally, how can publishing electronically advantage authors and readers?

KRY: Electronic publishing represents an opportunity to change the way we write and read papers and to add value to the publication process. The reader can control the level of expertise and depth; authors, by organizing their work differently, can include the desired amount of content without conflicting with the reviewer’s obligation to eliminate “sidebar” content for clarity and to satisfy the space constraints of paper. In the bargain, authors will be able to appeal to general readers while also satisfying the needs of specialists.

NL: As you know, much controversy surrounds Pub Med Central, the project launched by the National Library of Medicine under Harold Varmus’ NIH directorship, to make life science journal content freely available on the Web. Publishers are crying foul because they fear that they will lose subscription income if their content becomes available without charge. Many publishers—both Society-based and commercial—claim that if successful, PMC will shut them down. What do you think?

KRY: Electronic publishing is here to stay, to the benefit of all scientists and the community at large. And despite the predictions of those who are fearful of PMC, I believe that paper publication will also be with us for a good long time. The challenge is to find a business model that encourages publishers to provide quality review and publication while also opening electronic access to content. Most or all of the current PMC journals have adopted a scheme in which they provide their journal’s content to PMC after a short delay—from days to months—allowing the publisher to capture revenue from those willing to pay a premium for prompt delivery of content. Of course, publishers also provide the traditional paper journal to individuals and institutions, which PMC has no intention of doing. For its part, PMC can offer not only broad access, but also archival content, which is not cost-effective for individual publishers. This will be enormously valuable to the scientific community. So while we don’t yet know how the final picture will look, it appears that there is room in the scientific-publishing marketplace for publishers to continue to publish while also expanding the scope of their service to the community by participating in PMC.

NL: How could Molecular Biology of the Cell justify jumping into electronic publishing and participating in PMC before these issues have played out?

KRY: MBC was founded on the notion that the publication of scientific experiments is an extension of the experiments themselves, and that scientists should therefore govern that process. If we don’t communicate information in the most innovative and effective ways, we’re not doing the experiments right.

The ASCB is grateful to those below who have recently given gifts to support Society activities:

Bruce M. Alberts
Wendy F. Boss
Matthew Brady
Henry Brown
Dorothy E. Croall
Graciela C. Candelas
Ellen Dirksen
Clara Franzini-Armstrong
Susan A. Gerbi
Patricia J. Harris-Noyes
Ira Herskowitz
A. Tyl Hewitt
Masuru Himeno
Rita Wai-Leng Lim
Francesco M. Marincola
Tadashi Maruyama
Molly Mastrangelo
Satoru Matsuda
Vivianne T. Nachmias
Sandra Potter
Hans Ris
Richard E. Rutz
James H. Sabry
David R. Samols
Mark D. Sternlicht
Susan Strome
Takashi Tsuruhara
Holly A. Thompson
Angela Wandinger-Ness
Nakazo Watari

The National Institute of Aging has selected the folloiwng students, whose research is focused on an area of aging research, to received special NIA MAC Travel Awards

Ayesha Carter, Virginia Technical University
KiTani Parker-Johnson, Clark Atlanta University
Ileana Rios, City College of New York
Faith Zamamiri-Davis, Pennsylvania State University

The ASCB Minorities Affairs Committee has selected the following students and scientists to receive travel awards which are funded through an NIH MARC grant.

Jessica Anthony, Spelman College
Bahby Banks, New York University
Regina Bell, Alcorn State University
Darryl Bing, State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center
Patrick Campbell, Morehouse College
Diane E. Chico, The University of Texas Medical Branch
Margaret Colden-Stanfield, Morehouse School of Medicine
Ysidro De La O, University of Texas, El Paso
Mary-Anne Del Barrio, California State University, Northridge
Michael Garcia, University of California, San Diego
Carla Gardner, Meharry Medical College
Tracie Gibson, Purdue University
Annette M. Gonzalez, Northwestern University Medical School
Tricia Wharton Hendrickson, Emory University School of Medicine
Karen M. Hill, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Karen Hubbard, City College of New York
Duane Johnson, Morehouse College
Karl Kingsley, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Marie-Louise Locklear, University of North Carolina, Pembroke
Mark Maloney, Spelman College
Aria Miller, California State Univ, Dominguez Hills
Vivian Navas, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez
Maria Pang, SUNY, Stony Brook
Gabriel Pineda, University of Texas, El Paso
Cherilynn M. Reynolds, Meharry Medical College
Olga Rodriguez, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Alexis J. Rodriguez, Rutgers University, Newark
Raul Rojas, University of Pittsburgh
Robert Scott, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Miriam Segura, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Cherie Singer, University of Nevada School of Medicine
A. Tsahai Tafari, University of California, San Diego
Bryan Taylor, Oklahoma State University
Kendra Taylor, University of South Carolina, Columbia
Christopher Tubbs, University of Minnesota
Velinda Woriax, University of North Carolina, Pembroke

Do you have a position to fill or are you looking for a job placement? Advertise your position or job skills to over 9,000 anticipated ASCB Annual Meeting attendees.

Employers may interview candidates and advertise their positions onsite. Employers control interview selection and timing.

Candidates will benefit from their skills and interests being advertised to meeting attendees, and by the ability to schedule interviewing according to their availability.

The ASCB Placement Service facilitates interview scheduling and candidate selection through its computerized search program.

Candidate and employer ASCB Placement Service registration forms may be downloaded from the ASCB website or requested from the ASCB Office, 8120 Woodmont Ave, Suite 750, Bethesda MD 20814-2755; Phone: (301) 347-9300.

The following students were competively selected by the ASCB Education Committee to receive travel awards to attend the 40th ASCB Annual Meeting. Special congratulations to the top-ranked awardees, whose awards are sponsored by the Worthington Biomedical Corporation.

2000 ASCB/Worthington Predoctoral Travel Awardees
Madhavi Agarwal, Clark University
Monica Calero, Cornell University
Jung-Ren Chen, Medical College of Georgia
Kenneth Lee, Johns Hopkins University
Xiaodong (Robert) Wang, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Paul Weber, State University of New York, Buffalo

2000 ASCB Predoctoral Travel Awardees
Carole Abi Farah, University of Montreal
Jonathan Aumais, Baylor College of Medicine
Trillium Blackmer, Northwestern University Medical School
Valeria Canto Soler, Universidad Austral, Buenos Aires
Diane Casey, University of Massachusetts Medical Center
Stefania Castagnetti, European Molecular Biology Laboratory
Alice Chen, University of Texas, Richardson
Dan Chen, University of California, San Diego
Hao Chen, Cornell Medical College
Jing Chen, Emory University School of Medicine
Xinyu Chen, Northwestern University Medical School Chetana, Center for Cell & Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India
Zahoor Chughtai, McGill University
Maria Luisa Daroy, St. Luke’s Medical Center, Quezon City, Philippines
Brinda Dass, Texas Tech University Health Science Center, Lubbock
Jean-Francois Dermine, University of Montreal
Krishnan Dhandapani, Medical College of Georgia
Li-Lin Du, Yale University Shannon Eaker, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Lucy East, Imperial College of Science Technology & Medicine, London
Michelle Elfervig, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Lindsay Emerson, University of East Anglia, Norwich, England
Jane English, University of East Anglia, Norwich, England
Masatoshi Esaki, Nagoya University Graduate School of Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
Yuhong Fan, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Khashayar Farsad, Yale University
Jade Forwood, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Canberra, Australia
Rutilio Fratti, University of Michigan Medical School
Zachary Freyberg, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Walter Gall, Vanderbilt University
Ya-sheng Gao, University of Alabama
Elizabeth Grevengoed, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Jeffrey Gross, Duke University
Sanjeev Gupta, Center for Cell & Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India
Julian Guttman, University of British Columbia
Deniza Hahn, University of Graz, Austria
Ming-Ming Hao, Weill Medical College, Cornell University
Michelle Harreman, Emory University
Ibrahim Hawash, Purdue University
Alexander Henzing, University of Edinburgh
Beth Holloway, University of Pennsylvania
Natasha Hussain, McGill University
Karen Jordan, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
Agata Jurczyk, University of Massachusetts Medical School
Shih-chu Kao, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Neerja Karnani, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
Mary Kinkel, Northeastern Ohio University College of Medicine
Susan Kline-Smith, Indiana University Kevin Ko, University of Toronto
Avmeet Kohli, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
Michael Kruhlak, University of Calgary
Patricia Kultgen, University of North Carolina
Alexander Luchin, Ohio State University
Malini Mansharamani, Texas Technical University Health Science Center, Lubbock
Kirk McManus, Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton
Kanchan Mishra, Sanjay Gandhi Postgrad Institute for Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
Aaron Morrow, St Louis University, Missouri
Juan Pablo Munoz, University of Chile, Millennium Institute for Advanced Studies in Cell Biology and Biotechnology
Fubito Nakatsu, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
Anh Nguyen, Kansas University
Minh Dang Nguyen, Montreal General Hospital
Oliver Nufer, University of Basel, Switzerland
Lucas Pelkmans, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich
Demtra Perlegas, Wake Forest University
Julie Pilotte, Mcgill University, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Montreal
Stephen Pratt, Washington University
Anna Sokac, University of Wisconsin, Madison
Jason St Pierre, University of Dayton
Ryo Suzuki, Nagoya City University, Japan
Vladimir Sytnyk, University of Hamburg, Germany
Carmen Tepel, University of Bonn, Germany
Christina Thomas, University of Wisconsin, Madison
Christos Tzavelas, University of Essex, Cholchester, England
Kozue Ueda, Hiroshima University, Japan
Hironori Ueno, University of Tsukuba, Japan
Vincent Van Buren, Lehigh University
Lidia Vasilieva, University of Helsinki, Finland
Brandi Vasquez, Oregon Health Sciences University
Koen Verbrugghe, University of Wisconsin, Madison
Emmanuel Vignal, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
Ekaterina Voronina, Brown University
Tobias Walther, European Molecular Biology Laboratory
Lei Wang, Ohio University Stacy Weber, Ohio University
Frank Wettey, University of Cambridge, England
Erin White, Miami University
Wei Wong, University of Toronto
Yunfeng Yang, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Edward Yeh, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
Manola Zago, Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, Glasgow
Robert Zanner, Klinikum Rechts Der War, Munich, Germany
Rong Grace Zhai, University of Alabama, Birmingham
Xinhua Zhao, University of Alberta, Canada
Bin Zheng, University of California, San Diego
Jacob Zhurinsky, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel

Alexander Varshavsky of the California Institute of Technology, an ASCB member since 1991, received the prestigous Lasker Award for Medical Research. Varshavsky and colleagues will share a $50,000 prize for co-discovery of the ubiquitin system of protein degradation.

The ASCB Education Committee calls attention each month to Web sites of educational interest to the cell biology community. The Committee does not endorse nor guarantee the accuracy of the information at any of the listed sites. If you wish to comment on the selections or suggest future inclusions please send a message to Robert Blystone.

1. Molecular Expressions: Images from the Microscope
   The National High Magnetic Field Laboratory has an extensive educational outreach program. The lab operates from Florida State University and is supported by the National Science Foundation, Los Alamos Laboratory, and the State of Florida. One may reach its main educational outreach URL at http://k12.magnet.fsu.edu>. The Molecular Expressions project is the focus of this review. The purpose of the site is expressed in its first paragraph: “We are going where no microscope has gone before by offering one of the Web’s largest collections of color photographs taken through an optical microscope (commonly referred to as ‘photo-micro-graphs’). Visit our Photo Gallery for an introductory selection of images covering just about everything from beer and ice cream to integrated circuits and ceramic superconductors. These photographs are available for licensing to commercial, private, and non-profit institutions, or for personal use on the Web.” This site is simply amazing; thanks to Education Committee member Bob Bloodgood for pointing it out. Be prepared to spend a very long time here; this is a complete educational site. You will need the latest browsers, Java version, Flash player, and T-internet connection speed to take advantage of all that is available at this site.

   The initial page currently gives over 50 choices of things to do at the site. Each choice is better than the last. It begins with a fluorescence microscopy digital image gallery. Beautiful images of dog tick, bird lung, fava bean root tip mitosis, house fly face, compact bone, and obelia hydroid are but a few of the possible selections. Teachers looking for biological images will find this to be a goldmine. The next choice is a tutorial on image formation. Using java scripts one can explore numerical aperture and image resolution and then move on to interactive conoscopic imaging of periodic gratings. The next choice moves into a subject called pond life. One can obtain movies of topics such as amoebae phagocytosis; another goldmine for a teacher looking for excellent time lapse movies to demonstrate biological phenomena. Some of the clips were difficult to download; specific compression software is necessary to open several of the movies. There is a selection that allows stereoscopic zoom microscopy in real time through a virtual microscope. Another choice provides clear explanations of digital imaging cameras and technology. A “Museum of Microscopy” follows the history of microscopy through pictures of instruments. One can even obtain a Windows-based screen saver image file with up to 80 images of historical microscopes. Another location has a Power of Ten animation. Photomicrography is covered thoroughly including discussions and demonstrations of color temperature, filters, and film basics. A whole course of information resides in this part of the Web site. Of course, there are the image galleries. All those gee whiz type photomicrographs are here. There are pictures of black grape rot, amino acids, beer, dinosaur bones, DNA, moon rocks, neurotransmitters, soft drinks, andwine. This is a fascinating site that provides endless educational possibilities. It is a real treasure.

2. BioLogica
   The first page of this URL states as it purpose: “BioLogica enables students to manipulate processes at different, but dynamically related levels of life function ... that embody increasingly elaborate models of cellular and molecular processes.² BioLogica is being developed by The Concord Consortium (http://www.concord.org) with National Science Foundation funding. The main Concord site describes a large array of activities of which BioLogica is one. The BioLogica site uses a “Web Lab” metaphor and has two Java-based examples that work over the web. The first is Dragon Genetics which allows one to chose dragon genotype alleles to produce variations in phenotype. The graphics are fun and the science is good. The second interactive model is titled “Mendel’s Peas.” One can rerun Mendel’s experiments over the web. If these examples spark your interest, the good news is that there is free software that will allow a much deeper exploration of the genetic principles exhibited by the two examples. The software works on either Mac or PC; however, it requires a relatively recent vintage machine upon which to run. The software also requires a good amount of disk space and RAM. There are instructions on how to acquire and run the software. It will take a little time to download and set everything into motion. There is also older and less space-intensive software available called GenScope. For instructors looking for interactive computer software exploring principles of genetics, this is an interesting site. The larger Concord site has other resources that an instructor may wish to explore.

Evolution Position Defended

Dear ASCB Newsletter:
We are grateful for Robert Blystone’s recent mention of our institute in his list of evolution teaching resources [ASCB Newsletter, July 2000]. His description of our institute, however, is inaccurate in a few details. Our Center for the Renewal of Science and Culture (CRSC) is a separate program within Discovery Institute. The CRSC’s purpose is not to “explore the intelligent design approach to creationism” but rather to explore the evidence for intelligent design in biology, physics and chemistry.

While creationists generally base their views on biblical texts, the scientists associated with the CRSC see intelligent design as an inference motivated from scientific evidence, indeed, particularly evidence from molecular and cell biology. Additionally, many design theorists do not accept many of the other distinctives of creationism, such as a commitment to a young earth.

Additionally, Mr. Blystone describes our site as promoting “anti-evolution” views. Our fellows are not necessarily opposed to evolution in the broad sense of evidence of change in the history of life, but they are opposed to neo-Darwinism and specifically its denial of any evidence of actual design (as opposed to apparent design) in living organisms.

Again, we appreciate your interest in our site and thought we would offer these points of clarification for your readers.

Yours sincerely,
Stephen C. Meyer
Director, Center for the Renewal of Science and Culture

BWF Visiting Professorships: 2001 Awards. The Burroughs Wellcome Fund is offering Visiting Professorships. For the basic medical sciences. For the microbiological sciences. Application deadlines are March 1, 2001

Predoctoral Fellowships for Minorities. The Ford Foundation offers predoctoral fellowships to members of six minority groups whose underrepresentaton in the professoriate has been severe and long-standing. Contact Fellowship Office/FF, TJ 2041, NRC, 2101 Constitution Ave., Washington, DC 20418.

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program. The NSF will award approximately 900 new Fellowships in 2001-02 to support graduate study in science, mathematics, and engineering. Contact NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program, ORAU, PO Box 3010, Oak Ridge, TN.Application deadline: November 7.

Biotechnology Training Program. Be at the peak of the biotechnology field by training in the majestic Rocky Mountains at Utah State University’s prestigious Biotechnology Center. Intensive biotechnology training program in the areas of cell culture, microbial fermentation, protein purification and more. For more information, contact Rebecca Jo Isom with Education & Outreach, at 4700 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322.

Postdoctoral Positions in Heart Development. A cluster of laboratories working in molecular and cellular aspects of embryonic heart development is jointly seeking to fill postdoctoral positions. Funding is available immediately for qualified candidates with a doctoral degree and an interest in either cardiac muscle or heart valve development. Research opportunities are available with R.B.Runyan (transcriptional regulation of valve formation), R.L. Heimark (cadherins and catenins in valve formation), P.A.Krieg (regulation of cardiac muscle commitment) and C.C. Gregorio and P.B. Antin (organization of myofibrils and muscle differentiation). The proximity of these and other laboratories within a Program Project Grant provide a unique environment for diverse training in the embryology of the early heart. Application review will begin on September 19, 2000 and will continue until filled. Interested candidates should send a letter of interest in one or more laboratories referencing Job # 994508 and a C.V. to Audrey Pallette, University of Arizona, Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, PO Box 245044, Tucson, AZ 857245044. EEO/AA M/W/D/V

Postdoctoral Fellowship. Asymmetry and Polarized Growth In S. Cerevisiae. A Postdoctoral Fellowship is available to study cellular generation of asymmetry and polarized growth. We study three aspects of polarized morphogenesis—bud emergence, mating, and cytokinesis—in the baker’s yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. That these processes all occur at a particular place on the cellsurface, and at a particular time in the life cycle of yeast provides an opportunity to study temporal and spatial regulation of polarized growth. The trainee will use classical and molecular genetics as well as cell biological and biochemical approaches to study polarity. This position provides an opportunity for the trainee to join a small, supportive laboratory, to interact with a rich and broad scientific community, and to develop independent projects. Please send a C.V. and the names of three references to Dr. Sylvia Sanders, Department of Biology Building 68, Room 623, MIT, 31 Ames St., Cambridge, MA 02139.

Postdoctoral Positions. Postdoctoral positions are available for recently graduated Ph.D.s at the Program in Cell and Lung Biology, Hospital for Sick Children. #1) Folding, targeting, degradation and structure-function of wt and mutant CFTR in epithelia and non-polarized cells. #2) Cell biology of plasmid DNA transfer. Isolation of cytoplasmic nucleases and activation mechanism of caspase-activated DNase. Approaches involve biochemical, electrophysiological, proteomic, molecular biological and morphological techniques. The initial position is for one year with the possibility of extension. Applicants with relevant experience should send their CV, a description of research interest and names of three references to G.L. Lukacs, Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave., Toronto, ON, Canada, M5G 1X8.

Cell Biologist. Amylin Pharmaceuticals is looking for a Cell Biologist to work in our San Diego office. The position will establish and optimize in vitro biological assays to identify peptides with potentially useful actions. Requires Ph.D., biological science or equivalent and experience with biochemical and pharmacological techniques such as isolation and primary culture of cells, receptor characterization, enzymatic and metabolic assays and transfection of cell lines. We are not looking for a molecular biologist to fill this position. Refer to job code E106. Please email resumes to Amylin Pharmaceuticals 9373 Towne Centre Dr., Suite 250, San Diego, CA 92121.

Research Faculty Position in the Study of Stem Cell Biology. The Coriell Institute for Medical Research invites applications for appointment as a member of its research faculty at either the junior or senior level. Candidates must have training and experience of the highest quality and an exciting research program addressing fundamental questions in the area of the biology of stem cells. Desirable programs might include those in the regulation of differentiation, the role of growth factors in stem cell replication, the biology of growth factor receptors, or the molecular genetics of hematopoietic precursors. The research program must be funded, or in the case of a junior applicant, eminently fundable. Coriell is an independent, not-forprofit research organization founded in 1953. Its current programs center on the immunogenetics of diabetes, genes of the immune system, cancer therapeutics, and cell culture and banking. Coriell offers an excellent research environment, laboratory facilities, and generous start-up funds and benefits package. Salary is negotiable. Candidates should submit a C.V., a statement of research interests and accomplishments, and a list of at least three references to the Director of Human Resources, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 401 Haddon Ave., Camden, NJ 08103 Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. EOE/AA.

Professional Research Assistant. The Section of Pediatric Critical Care at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, Colorado seeks to fill 3 full-time positions for Professional Research Assistants with a minimum BS degree. The work will focus on the role of cell adhesion molecules and their regulation by integrins and homeobox transcription factors in vascular smooth muscle cells and reactive adventitial fibroblasts. Highly motivated and experienced individuals with extensive experience in current cellular and molecular biology techniques are encouraged to apply. Experience in protein biochemistry will also be useful. Salary commensurate with education and experience. Send resume and cover letter, including references and salary requirements to Peter L. Jones, Ph.D., Department of Pediatrics, Division of Critical Care Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, 4200 E. 9th Ave., Box B131, Denver, CO 80262; Application deadline is October 31.

Postdoctoral Positions. Airway Cell Physiology And Disease. Department of Physiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School Post-doctoral positions (NIH funded) are available for two years, to study intercellular Ca2+ signaling in airway epithelial and smooth muscle cells and the regulation and dysfunction of airway mucociliary activity. Experience in confocal microscopy, Ca2+ imaging, electrophysiology, tissue culture and molecular biology desirable.. Send CV and statement of interests to: Dr. Michael J. Sanderson, Department of Physiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA, 01655