ISSUE 3 (SEPTEMBER) 2013
38th FEBS Congress FEBS programmes: FEBS community FEBS publications Scientific events round-up updates news calendar
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CONTENTS
Key upcoming dates for FEBS activities Contents:
FEBS Congress Round-up FEBS–EMBO 2014 Conference 30 August – 4 September 2014 The 38th FEBS Congress 3 Abstract submission from December 2013 FEBS Medals and Awards 6 Registration from January 2014 FEBS Young Scientists’ Forum 8 www.febs-embo2014.org FEBS Congress Workshops 9 FEBS Congress Science and Society Lecture 12 FEBS Young Scientists’ Forum 27–30 August 2014 FEBS Programmes: updates Applications: 8 December 2013 – 31 March 2014 FEBS Advanced Courses 2014 16 www.febs-embo2014.org FEBS Education Workshops 17 FEBS–EMBO 2014 Conference, and FEBS YSF 18 FEBS Advanced Courses Applications for 2015 course funding: 1 March 2014 FEBS Community News Applications to participate in 2014 courses: see Spanish (SEBBM) Society 20 individual course deadlines Polish Biochemical Society 21 www.febs.org/index.php?id=86
FEBS Publications FEBS Fellowships FEBS Journal 22 Application deadlines: FEBS Letters 24 Long-Term and Return-to-Europe Fellowships: 1 October 2013, then 1 October 2014 Molecular Oncology 25 Summer Fellowships: 1 April 2014 FEBS Open Bio 26 Follow-up Research Fund (for FEBS Fellows): 1 April 2014
Applications for other Fellowships can be 27 Scientific Events Calendar submitted throughout the year Career Opportunities 28 www.febs.org/index.php?id=81
Cover: While this issue of FEBS News reports on the 2013 FEBS Congress in St Petersburg (pages 3–5), plans are already under way for next year’s big event – a joint anniversary conference with EMBO (the FEBS–EMBO 2014 Conference), hosted by the French Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (see pages 18–19).
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CONGRESS ROUND-UP The 38th FEBS Congress St Petersburg, 2013
The 38th FEBS Congress, held from 6th to 11th July 2013 in St Petersburg, Russia, and organized by the Russian Biochemical Society, gathered over 2400 delegates from all over the world. As the host country, Russia was represented by over 850 attendees. Other well-represented countries included Turkey, Poland, Italy, USA, Germany, UK, Czech Republic, France, Spain, Korea, Ukraine, Portugal, Japan, Israel, Greece, The Netherlands,
Romania, Croatia, China, Hungary, Slovakia, Switzerland, Austria, Serbia, Sweden, Canada and Finland. In total, delegates from over 50 countries attended. The cohort of invited speakers consisted of over 320 internationally renowned scientists, including 11 Nobel Laureates. We are grateful to all speakers who contributed to the event, resulting in an outstanding scientific program spanning all key areas of biochemistry, molecular biology, biotechnology, cell biology, biophysics and related fields. The motto of the Congress ‘Mechanisms in Biology’ was well substantiated by lectures and talks delivered in almost 40 symposia and 18 plenary sessions. The number of invited speakers, and Nobel Laureates in particular, made it possible for Prof. Israel Pecht, FEBS Secretary General, to mention that this event could be regarded as two Congresses! The opening lecture was delivered by Jules Hoffman, a 2011 Nobel Laureate, who told the story of how work on the Drosophila receptor Toll, and subsequent discovery of pathway homologues in other organisms, has reshaped understanding of innate immunity. The Congress Plenary Lectures –
delivered by Geneviève Almouzni, Sidney Altman,
Aaron Ciechanover, Pavel Georgiev, Anna-Karin
Gustavsson, Jules Hoffmann, Robert Huber, Roger Kornberg, Jean-Marie Lehn, Richard Lerner, Susumu Mitsutake, Richard Roberts, Gottfried Schatz, Joseph Schlessinger, Jack Szostak, Susumu Tonegawa, Kurt Wüthrich, and Ada Yonath – should really become part of the annals of science. All lectures were recorded and, after we receive written consent from lecturers, they will be placed on our website. Those who could not join us in Congress Nobel Laureate speakers at St Petersburg: St Petersburg will then still be able to learn from (left to right, from top) Sidney Altman, Aaron Ciechanover, these masterpieces of research. Roger Kornberg, Jean-Marie Lehn, Jack Szostak, The Congress program included many brilliant Susumu Tonegawa, Kurt Wüthrich, Ada Yonath, symposia, and we highlight just some here. Robert Huber, Jules Hoffmann and Richard Roberts.
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was delivered by Michael Sela (Israel) whose pioneering research has contributed greatly to fighting autoimmune diseases; in addition, very informative presentations were made on targeted elimination of pathologic B cells by new-generation compounds developed to treat autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. Indeed, the implications of molecular findings for understanding and treatment of disease were an interesting part of several symposia – from ‘Organization of Eukaryotic Genomes’ (Chairs: Wendy Bickmore and Sergey Razin; e.g. genome organization and disease development), ‘RNA World’ (Chairs: Olga Dontsova and Eric Westhof; e.g. targeted drug design for bacterial ribosomal proteins), ‘Biocatalysis’ (Chairs: Alexander Gabibov and Michael Blackburn; e.g. implications for future in silico metabolic pathways and applied pharmacokinetic research), and ‘Proteomics and Peptidomics’ (from top) Congress venue, Lenexpo, situated on the Gulf of Finland; (Chairs: Vadim Govorun and Congress poster session (photo by A. Payevsky). Vadim Ivanov; e.g. co-existence of macro- and microorganisms Symposia on stem cells (Chairs: Clare Blackburn and and the fight between ‘self’ and ‘non-self’). Alexey Tomilin), bioengineering (Chairs: Vladimir A most important mission of FEBS Congresses is Popov, Vytas Svedas and Marcel Wubbolts), education. Despite revolutionary changes in neoplastic transformation (Chairs: Georgy Georgiev telecommunication, modern science still requires and Joseph Schlessinger), G protein signaling (Chairs: direct contacts between scientists. Virtual Andrew B. Goryachev and Alfred Wittinghofer), communication cannot substitute for real discussion molecular basis of autoimmunity (Chairs: Jean and live communication between a lecturer and Francoise Bach and Ludvig Sollid), biochemistry of auditorium. A chance for young scientists to attend neurodegeneration (Chair: Michael Ugrumov), and such a great event, to listen to world scientific biochemistry of vision (Chairs: Karl-Wilhelm Koch leaders, to communicate with them in an informal and Michael Ostrovsky) were well attended and atmosphere, and to widen the scope of their attracted great interest from the audience. interests beyond their narrow field of research are A multi-session symposium ‘Biochemistry for excellent features of such Congresses. Medicine’ (Chairs: Alexey Egorov, Oleg Kisselev, FEBS supported attendance of young scientists at Serhiy Komisarenko and Tomas Zima) focused on St Petersburg in two ways. First, the main Congress recent advances in treatment of cancer, autoimmune was preceded by the Young Scientists’ Forum and metabolic diseases. One of the keynote lectures (YSF), and 117 grants were awarded to talented
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CONGRESS ROUND-UP young researchers to enable them to attend not only the YSF but the main Congress as well; second, 265 young European scientists were awarded FEBS Bursaries this year that covered the registration fee and hotel accommodation. As scientists working in the country hosting the Congress are not eligible for FEBS Bursaries, 198 grants were allocated by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research to support young Russian scientists. Together with 529 scientists under 35 years of age who paid registration fees themselves at the young scientists’ rate (50% of the regular fee), the number of young researchers who attended the event was 1109. We consider this a real success and hope that the 38th FEBS Congress was useful for young people. The Congress organizers received over 1900 abstracts that were published in electronic form as a Supplement to FEBS Journal, and over 1450 abstracts were accepted for poster presentation during the Congress. As an integral part of the Congress scientific program, we also included several satellite and company- sponsored events, among them a Russia– “St Petersburg was a magnificent surprise – I really enjoyed it and am EMBL Symposium ‘Russia’s Cooperation planning on returning at some time in the future.” Nigel Richards (USA) with European Partners in Life Sciences’ “Scientifically, one should mention the fantastic plenary sessions which and ‘NMR in biology’. were mostly given by Nobel Laureates – brilliant, interesting and As many foreign visitors needed a intensively attended. The program was intense and one had to think hard Russian entry visa to travel to to which of all interesting sessions to go.” Elias Toubi (Israel) St Petersburg, special instructions were issued to all Russian Embassies/ (from top) ‘Swan Lake’ scene from the Opening Ceremony; a Congress trip Consulates, so that Congress participants to The Hermitage; ‘White Night’ view of the River Neva; feedback quotes. could apply for an entry visa to Russia free of charge. We should confess, this bureaucratic participants to enjoy the beauty of world-famous art procedure is not easy, but we did our best to at a time when the museum was open for our guests provide help and support for all participants who only. We are deeply grateful to Prof. Mikhail needed it. Piotrovsky, the Hermitage director, who provided We hope that the 38th FEBS Congress will stay Congress participants with this unique chance. in the memory of all participants not only as a great Now, with the FEBS Congress flag transferred to scientific event but as a unique social and cultural representatives of the French Society for experience. ‘Swan Lake’ ballet at the Opening Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, we wish our Ceremony, the Congress Dinner in the Peter-and- colleagues in Paris every success in organizing the Paul Fortress, tours in St Petersburg and to the the FEBS–EMBO 2014 Conference and hope our nearby imperial palaces and parks of Peterhof and experience will be helpful for them. Tsarskoye Selo in the high season of the White Alexander Gabibov Nights, and a post-Congress tour to Moscow Marina Tretyak presented the best of Russian culture. The night Congress Organizing Committee guided tour to The Hermitage allowed Congress Photos, except where indicated otherwise, by Anna Novitskaya 5 FEBS News September 2013
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FEBS Medal Winners (St Petersburg, 2013) The Theodor Bücher Medal, the Datta Medal and the Sir Hans Krebs Medal are awarded by FEBS for outstanding achievements in biochemistry, molecular biology or related areas. The medals are presented at the annual FEBS Congress, where the recipients deliver a plenary lecture. This year’s medals were awarded at the 38th FEBS Congress, St Petersburg to: Kurt Wüthrich, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA (Theodor Bücher medal); Roger D. Kornberg, Stanford University Medical School, Stanford, CA, USA (Datta Medal); and Richard J. Roberts, New England BioLabs, Ipswich, MA, USA (Sir Hans Krebs Medal).
Kurt Wüthrich is the Cecil H. and Ida M. Green Professor of Structural Biology at The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA, and Professor of Biophysics at the ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland. He obtained his PhD degree in inorganic chemistry at the University of Basel, Switzerland, in 1964. In his postdoctoral training in the USA, he began to work with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, first at the University of California Berkeley and then at the Bell Telephone Laboratories in Murray Hill, NJ. He moved to the ETH Zürich in Switzerland in 1969, where he became Professor of Biophysics in 1980, and Chairman of the Biology Department in 1995. Since 2001, he has shared his time between the ETH Zürich and The Scripps Research Institute. His research interests are in molecular structural biology and structural genomics. His specialty is NMR spectroscopy with biological macromolecules, where he contributed the NMR method of three-dimensional structure determination of proteins and nucleic acids in solution. Kurt Wüthrich’s achievements have been recognized by the Prix Louis Jeantet de Médecine, the Kyoto Prize in Advanced Technology, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, and by a number of other awards and honorary degrees.
Congress plenary lecture: Structural genomics with soluble and membrane proteins
The Theodor Bücher Lecture and Medal is endowed by a generous capital gift from Frau Ingrid Bücher to the Gesellschaft für Biochemie und Molekularbiologie (GBM) and is awarded for outstanding achievements in biochemistry and molecular biology or related sciences.
Roger Kornberg is Winzer Professor in Medicine in the Department of Structural Biology at Stanford University, CA, USA. In his doctoral research, he demonstrated the diffusional motions of lipids in membranes, termed flip-flop and lateral diffusion. He was a postdoctoral fellow and member of the scientific staff at the Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, UK, from 1972 to 1975, where he discovered the nucleosome, the basic unit of DNA coiling in chromosomes. He moved to his present position in 1978, where his research has focused on the mechanism and regulation of eukaryotic gene transcription. Notable findings include the demonstration of the role of nucleosomes in transcriptional regulation, the establishment of a yeast RNA polymerase II transcription system and the isolation of all the proteins involved, the discovery of the Mediator of transcriptional regulation, the development of two- dimensional protein crystallization and its application to transcription proteins, and the atomic structure determination of an RNA polymerase II transcribing complex. Kornberg’s closest collaborator has been his wife, Dr Yahli Lorch. Kornberg has received many awards, including the Welch Prize (2001), the Leopold Mayer Prize (2002) of the French Academy of Sciences, and the Nobel Prize in Chemistry (unshared, 2006).
Congress plenary lecture: The molecular basis of eukaryotic transcription The Datta Lectureship Award is provided by generous capital gifts from Elsevier Science Publishers and is awarded for outstanding achievement in the field of biochemistry and molecular biology or a related area. S. Prakash Datta was the first Managing Editor of FEBS Letters (1968–1985) and Treasurer of FEBS (1964–1990). The Datta Medal is awarded in recognition of his many contributions. 6 FEBS News September 2013
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Sir Richard Roberts is the Chief Scientific Officer at New England Biolabs, Beverly, MA, USA. He received a PhD in Organic Chemistry in 1968 from Sheffield University and then moved as a postdoctoral fellow to Harvard. From 1972 to 1992, he worked at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, eventually becoming Assistant Director for Research under Dr J.D. Watson. He began work on the newly discovered Type II restriction enzymes in 1972 and these enzymes have been a major research theme. Studies of transcription in Adenovirus-2 led to the discovery of split genes and mRNA splicing in 1977, for which he received the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1993. During the sequencing of the Adenovirus-2 genome, computational tools became essential and his laboratory pioneered the application of computers in this area. DNA methyltransferases, as components of restriction-modification systems, are of great interest and the first crystal structures for the HhaI methyltransferase led to the discovery of base flipping. Bioinformatic studies of microbial genomes to find new restriction systems are a continuing interest. He is also leading an effort to improve the functional annotation of sequenced bacterial and archaeal genomes through the COMBREX project. At present his main research focus involves using Pacific Biosciences SMRT sequencing to detect methylated sequence motifs in DNA, and bioinformatic methods to match these motifs to the DNA methyltransferase genes that produce them.
Congress plenary lecture: Bacterial methylomes The Sir Hans Krebs Lecture and Medal was endowed by a generous gift from the Lord Rank Centre for Research and is awarded for outstanding achievements in biochemistry and molecular biology or related sciences.
FEBS|EMBO Women in Science Award 2013 The FEBS|EMBO Women in Science Award was presented at the 38th FEBS Congress, St Petersburg to Prof. Geneviève Almouzni, Institut Curie in Paris, France. Geneviève Almouzni’s career path and research were featured in the May 2013 of FEBS News, and her plenary lecture at the Congress is mentioned on page 11 of this issue.
Congress plenary lecture: The multifaces of chromatin assembly, a recipe that mixes new with old partners
The FEBS|EMBO Women in Science Award rewards the exceptional achievements of a female researcher in the life sciences over the previous five years. Winners of the award are role models who inspire future generations of women in science. The award is a statuette and a sum of €10,000. Nominations for the 2014 FEBS | EMBO Women in Science Award close on 15 October 2013. For more information, see www.embo.org/funding-awards/women-in-science-award or www.febs.org/women-award.
FEBS Publications Awards for Young Scientists 2013 The FEBS Journal prize for Young Scientists 2013 was awarded to Anna-Karin Gustavsson, University of Gothenburg, Sweden. The annual award is given to the graduate student or young post-doctoral research worker (no more than 3 years from the time of award of the PhD degree when the paper is submitted) who is the first author of a paper that is judged to be the best in FEBS Journal during the previous calendar year.
The FEBS Letters Young Group Leader Award 2013 was awarded to Dr Susumu Mitsutake, Hokkaido University, Japan. The award is given to an independent scientist, aged 40 years or younger, who is the corresponding author of an outstanding research letter published in the previous calendar year.
Both prizewinners delivered plenary lectures at the 2013 FEBS Congress; read more on page 22 (FEBS Journal prize) and page 24 (FEBS Letters prize). Changes in the FEBS Publications Awards from 2015 are announced on page 23. 7 FEBS News September 2013
CONGRESS ROUND-UP The FEBS Young Scientists’ Forum 2013 (13th YSF) This year’s FEBS Young Scientists’ Forum (YSF) received much attention from the YSF participants. took place in St Petersburg from 3rd to 6th July as a The panel consisted of Dr Alan Craig (EU Mobility satellite meeting of the 38th FEBS Congress. The programs), Dr Andrea Hutterer (EMBO programs), venue was the beautiful Russian Academy of Dr Keith Elliott (how to write a CV), Prof. Vicente Sciences, located next to the River Neva. The Rubio (FEBS Fellowships) and myself (FEBS presence of over 120 students and young post-docs activities). (~36% of the total applicants were selected) Next year’s YSF will take place in Paris just surrounded by sculptures and photographs of before the FEBS–EMBO 2014 Conference; see Russian scientists, including Dmitri Mendeleev page 19 to find out more.
(developer of the periodic table), linked the past to Claudina Rodrigues-Pousada the present and made for an inspiring atmosphere. Chair, FEBS Working Group FEBS provided a grant for the organization of the on the Careers of Young Scientists event, and funded the accommodation and most travel costs for YSF participants at both the YSF and the ensuing 38th FEBS Congress. The local Organizing Committee of Alexey Belogurov (Chair), Azad Mamedov (Co-Chair), Igor Eliseev, Dounya Ghorab, Anna Golovina, Anna Gonchar, Denis Ilyushin, Olga Ostroumova and Ivan Smirnov was a pleasant and helpful group, whose problem-solving, enthusiasm and dedication turned the YSF into a very successful event. I should also mention that they were active in seeking extra financial support, in addition to the grant given by FEBS. One fun new idea this year from the Organizing Committee was a competitive game involving teamwork, solving of logical puzzles and scientific tasks, as well as a stroll in the beautiful centre of St Petersburg. The contestants were divided into several teams which had to perform four tasks with encrypted locations, such as using the single-letter amino acid code and restriction sites, building an antibody molecule from Lego, guessing different solutions, and so on. The YSF participants showed a high level of interest and engagement in the scientific sessions of the event, exchanging ideas and asking speakers questions. Two eBook readers were awarded as prizes: for the best oral presentation and for the best poster. The first one went to Lilach Koren from the Israel Institute of Technology (Haifa), who gave a talk on ‘The role of the transcription factor ATR3 in cardiac hypertrophy’; and the poster prize went to Dani Osman (a FEBS Long-Term Fellow from EPFL, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland) for his poster ‘An exhaustive atlas describing the morphological and functional properties of Drosophila adult midgut compartments’. (top) Poster session, with Alice Verchère (2014 YSF Organizer); Towards the end of the YSF, a career advice (middle) prizewinners Lilach Koren and Dani Osman (see main text); (bottom) speakers and organizer (see text) – Keith Elliott, session was organized for discussion mainly of Robert Klose (EMBO plenary lecturer), Claudina Rodrigues- possibilities for post-doctoral funding, and this Pousada, Alexey Belogurov and Vicente Rubio. 8 FEBS News September 2013
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FEBS Congress Workshops and Events (St Petersburg, 2013) Science and Society (July 9, 2013) acquistion of an invasive and resistant phenotype. The FEBS Science & Society session of the 38th Her team has analysed 1000 tumours using high- FEBS Congress was focused on personalized throughput genome-wide technologies and has (molecular) cancer medicine, a new approach generated data at several molecular levels, such as allowing the development of therapies tailored to mRNA and miRNA expression, copy number the patient on the basis of the genetic alterations alteration, DNA methylation, paired-end carried by his/her cancer. The four lectures covered sequencing, protein expression and metabolic the scientific/medical and societal aspects of this profiles. They were able to show that, by combining topic, describing recent progress in approaches to three or more molecular levels, patients could be prevention, diagnostics and treatment. classified into groups that provide the best predictive The first speaker, Dr Alexander Eggermont (Cancer value with respect to prognosis, and they have Center Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, Paris-Sud, France) identified key molecules and stromal signatures. By defined the objectives, namely providing the right drug integrating data from the patient’s own phenotype to the right patient at the right time and at the right with the multiple layers of data derived from the dose, and he said that this approach will have a strong primary tumour, the different subclones within the influence on cancer prevention and diagnostics. He tumour, as well as the metastases, they seek to reach mentioned that success has been obtained especially a fundamental understanding of the biological in cases where a dominant (single) mutation is the dynamics of breast cancer. This should facilitate main driver in a cancer. Targeted agents often identification of risk factors, search for novel cancer produce impressive but short-lived responses that diagnostics, prediction of therapeutic effects and have little impact on survival. Innate as well as prognosis, and identification of new targets for acquired resistance remains a problem with targeted therapy, which should lead to a more personalized drugs, and a rational strategy for drug combinations treatment of breast cancer. remains to be developed. He insisted on the fact that Dr Cornelia Ulrich (Dept of Preventive Oncology, a very advanced bioinformatics infrastructure is National Center for Tumor Diseases, Heidelberg, needed to analyse the large amount of data Germany) said that for a large number of cancers generated per patient, and stressed the fact that the risk factors are well established, for instance dietary fundamental challenges with the development of factors such as folate, which can have complex targeted drugs with big impact on relatively small relationships to carcinogenesis and depend on populations are far from being resolved. genetic factors. Obesity is strongly linked to Dr Serena Nik-Zainal (Wellcome Trust Sanger increased risks of cancers of the colon, breast (after Institute, Cambrige University Hospitals, UK) menopause), oesophagus, liver and others. Energy reported that huge progress in DNA sequencing imbalance and obesity can also directly lead to a technologies has allowed access to the entire genome chronic inflammatory status in the body, which can of a cancer patient and has revealed ‘mutational facilitate growth of tumours. In return, exercise, signatures’ or imprints of the multiple mutagenic weight loss, or use of medications that reduce process operative in cancers, determined by the inflammation can inhibit carcinogenesis. Non- underlying sources of endogenous and exogenous steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as DNA damage and DNA repair. Studying the aspirin, are protective against many cancers detailed architecture of cancer genomes reveals the (particularly of the gastro-intestinal tract), but can complexity and heterogeneity between patients, and have side-effects, so one needs to define groups of even within a single cancer patient. The detailed individuals who are most likely to respond and have analysis of genomic data can provide a panoramic the least risk of adverse reactions. Therefore, view of each person’s cancer and take us a step developing personalized prevention strategies is closer to tailored, individualized treatments. important, which can be done through an Dr Anne-Lise Borresen-Dale (Institute for Cancer assessment of lifestyle risk factors or by use of Research, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, inherited genetic polymorphisms that influence Norway) reminded the audience that breast cancer is NSAID metabolism or response to these drugs a complex disease caused by accumulation of genetic (pharmacogenetics). We are entering an era where alterations leading to a disturbed balance between prevention guidelines will be personalized to obtain proliferation and apoptosis, genetic instability and the greatest benefits and lowest risks. 9 FEBS News September 2013
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The Congress organizers agreed to open this session Jacques-Henry Weil not only to the registered Congress participants, but Chair, Science and Society Committee also to the public; however, it is difficult to tell how See page 12 for a transcript of the FEBS Congress many people took advantage of this. Science and Society Lecture
Education (July 8, 2013) Lectures at the FEBS Education Congress Workshop At the 38th FEBS Congress, the FEBS Education Committee organised a workshop entitled Detlev Riesner (Heinrich Heine University of Düsseldorf; and Qiagen, Germany) ‘What the industry ‘Molecular Life Sciences Education for the Needs expects from molecular life sciences graduates’ of Industry’ as well as a poster session on education in molecular life sciences. Ruth Arnon (Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel) ‘From basic research to applied science’ The workshop looked at scientific and generic skill requirements, such as communication and Tomas Zima (Prague University 1st Faculty of commercial awareness, for career success not only Medicine, Czech Republic) ‘How medical schools within but also outside of academia. Following a prepare students for the industry’ brief introduction by Keith Elliott (FEBS Education Committee), the talks of the workshop publishing partner for FEBS Journal) offered book (see box) presented three perspectives on this topic: chapters on subjects related to the workshop industry’s needs (what does an industrial company through a website linked to the FEBS education look for in its recruits?); how academic research platform and the workshop participants were able could be developed into applied science and to download these chapters. commercialisation; and the university perspective The poster session involved all posters related to (how can students be prepared for the needs of education in molecular life sciences and provided an industry?). At the end, there was an opportunity for interactive platform for discussion. Some of the open discussion between the speakers and the interesting posters presented were: ‘European audience to share experiences – for example, how funding for talented life scientists from anywhere in different countries tackle the problems and how the world’ (European Research Council, Brussels, industry and academia can work together. Belgium), ‘Careers and Research Performance of Prof. Ruth Arnon’s inspiring illustration from the PhD Program Graduates of Health Sciences in Weizmann Institute of Sciences set an excellent Turkey’ (Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir), ‘Why example of how academic research could impact on Iranian students prefer doctoral education in industry. Prof. Detlev Riesner pointed out that the Turkey’ (Hacettepe University Ankara, Turkey), and percentage of PhD holders being recruited in ‘Promoting deep learning in biochemistry by universities was relatively low: though figures differ diversifying assessment strategies – experience at between countries, in Germany, for example, only the university of Hong Kong’ (University of Hong 4% of PhD graduates were finally recruited as Kong, Pokfulam). We look forward to receiving more professors, and 2.5% as permanent staff. The rest and more posters on education in future FEBS (93.5%) pursued careers outside universities. These Congresses. overwhelming figures stressed very well the need Finally, in the traditional collaborative activity for collaboration between universities and industry. between the FEBS Education Committee and the It was also agreed that universities should plan ways Young Scientists’ Forum (YSF), Keith Elliott of preparing students for industry, for which Prof. provided CV advice to 35 YSF participants, which Tomas Zima from Charles University First Faculty we hope will help the young scientists in their bright of Medicine described an excellent working model. future careers. This workshop was very well attended, with We thank all those who contributed to the around 100 participants at all career stages and with success of these FEBS education events in representatives from both industry and academia. St Petersburg and look forward to meeting with you in future FEBS Education workshops. We hope it not only inspired university academic staff to work more on the issue of industrial Gül Güner Akdoğan collaboration, but also motivated young scientists to Chair, FEBS Education Committee think more effectively about the translational For a report on the FEBS Education workshop in Gdansk in July potential of their research. Wiley-Blackwell (the 2013, and details of future education workshops, see page 17.
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CONGRESS ROUND-UP Women in Science (July 9, 2013) FEBS has developed events aimed at raising awareness of gender issues in science. In general these events reinforce the need for equal work opportunities, and provide career support and motivation to young scientists. At the 38th FEBS Congress, there was the FEBS|EMBO Award and Plenary Lecture, the Women in Science Career Lunch, and the Women in Science (WISE) Seminar.
FEBS|EMBO Women in Science Award 2013 and Plenary Lecture The FEBS|EMBO Women in Science Award rewards the exceptional achievements of a female researcher in the life sciences. Winners of the award are role models who inspire women in science. Dr Cecília M. Arraiano gave a welcome in the name of FEBS and introduced the event, and Dr Gerlind Wallon, Deputy Director of EMBO, provided a short description of the selection procedure and historical background to the award, which is jointly sponsored by FEBS and EMBO. Dr Olga I. Lavrik, Head of the Laboratory of (from top) Geneviève Almouzni, delivering her plenary lecture; Bioorganic Chemistry of Enzymes at the Institute Cecília Arraiano and young scientists at the WISE career lunch. of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia, gave a few words of at this Congress. She is Director of the genSET motivation focusing on the role of Russian women programme (www.genderinscience.org), an initiative working in science. run by Portia Ltd, which builds on the Dr Giacomo Cavalli, Investigator at the Institute achievements of the now completed FP7-funded of Human Genetics in Montpellier, France, was the project. Portia Ltd UK is responsible for the nominator of this year’s winner, and gave a short European Gender Summit programme laudation preceding the Plenary Lecture. The awardee development and scientific content. The title of of the FEBS|EMBO Women in Science Award 2013 her talk in St Petersburg (of interest to men and was Dr Geneviève Almouzni, Deputy Director of women) was: ‘We need to talk about sex’. In her the Institut Curie in Paris, and the title for her talk talk she used as an example the experience of genSET was ‘The multifaces of chromatin assembly, a recipe in trying to challenge scientists’ unquestioned that mixes new with old partners’. She gave an adherence to the concept of ‘gender neutrality’. The excellent lecture on her recent studies describing well-attended seminar was followed by a discussion the underlying molecular mechanisms of chromatin. among the audience, and men and women talked about gender issues, especially in various cultural Women in Science Career Lunch backgrounds. This event received very positive A women’s career lunch was organized at the feedback from both the junior and more senior Congress site for 50 people (registrations for the participants. event took place at the FEBS information desk). These FEBS Women in Science events at the The participants came from a great variety of Congress contributed to raising awareness of European countries. Career-related issues were gender differences. The participants were able to discussed in small groups, each consisting of one or reflect on this matter, focusing on the position of two female senior scientists plus younger scientists, women in science and society. Unfortunately, due and participants even exchanged addresses. to the present situation it is expected that these events still have to continue… The Women in Science (WISE) Seminar Dr Cecília Arraiano introduced Dr Elizabeth Cecília M. Arraiano Pollitzer, who gave the Women in Science Seminar Chair, FEBS Working Group on Women in Science 11 FEBS News September 2013
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FEBS Congress Science and Society Lecture One of the more exciting lectures delivered during 1970s, and in the 1980s the 38th FEBS Congress was the FEBS Science and chaired this centre and Society Plenary Lecture by Gottfried (Jeff) Schatz. in parallel became A transcript of this engaging and thought-provoking Secretary General of talk has kindly been prepared by Jeff for this FEBS EMBO. He has also News issue and is presented below. We wish to use presided over the Swiss this opportunity to repeat our deep appreciation of Science and Technology his continuous support of and involvement in Council. Alongside his different FEBS activities. research papers, he has Gottfried Schatz is renowned for his work on published three volumes mitochondrial biogenesis and mitochondrial DNA. of scientific essays and His early research was carried out in Austria, but he the autobiography Gottfried Schatz at the FEBS moved in the late 1960s to Cornell University, New Feuersucher. Congress, St Petersburg. York. He returned to Europe to join the newly established Biozentrum of Basel University in the Israel Pecht, FEBS Secretary General
What Europe should do for its young scientists Forty-five years ago, when I was place for young scientists as we had one priority. In those countless about the same age as many of the hoped? What is holding us back? meetings on university reform I young scientists here in this lecture My list of complaints is long, so had to sit through, we talked about hall, I said goodbye to Europe and I will mention only the three most money, political governance, and left my native Austria for the important ones: antiquated organization – but never about United States. My wife and I took universities, top-down research science. In fact, the word ‘science’ along everything we had, because funding, and unwillingness to take never even came up. Someone we were the proud owners of risks. accidentally stumbling into our Green Cards and free to decide The universities are at the top of conference room might well have whether to stay in the US for good my list. They should be places of thought that we were talking about or to come back to Europe. In fact, science, but most of them are now the Swiss railroad system or the we were quite sure that we would little more than a bureaucratic federal pension plan. And when never come back, but end our days collection of professional training our Science Council suggested as tax-paying, lawn-mowing, and schools. Our politicians and our specific reforms, one of the hamburger-eating Americans. society expect from them mainly university rectors sent me a stern There is, of course, nothing one thing: to train experts for the letter in which he admonished me wrong with this part of the story. job market. Most universities are that scientists should not meddle in Young scientists should move now officially autonomous, yet do university affairs. This letter is such around and 45 years ago the dream not have long-term budgets nor the a succinct summary of what is of a strong Europe was still a freedom to define what they wrong with our universities that I dream and Austria was still a should and should not teach; had it framed and hung on my scientific backwater. What is wrong instead, these important decisions office wall. A good administration with the story is the follow-up. are often made by politicians and is important for science, but these When a group of students recently administrators who choke us days administrations are getting out asked me whether I would do the academics with a torrent of of hand. They try to organize and same thing again if I were young paperwork. And very few coordinate everything. But we must now, I did not have to think long universities are allowed to select always keep in mind that about the answer. My answer was their students in order to define the organization is the enemy of ‘probably yes’ – in spite of all the level of excellence they wish to innovation – and coordination the problems our American colleagues represent. During my four years as enemy of motivation. have to put up with these days. president of the Swiss Science and Science is a permanent Why is Europe, after 45 years of Technology Council I learned first- revolutionary. If our universities political unification and economic hand just how far universities are want to be places of science, they growth, still not as attractive a from making science their number should be breeding grounds of new
12 FEBS News September 2013
CONGRESS ROUND-UP and even revolutionary ideas – they that the path from A to C, which After this brief detour to the should be ticking intellectual time everybody is looking for, does not essence of science and innovation, bombs. Yet, they are now among lead via B, but via X or Z. New let me come back to our our most rigid and most ideas come from people who dare universities. Most of them stifle conservative institutions. As long to challenge accepted dogmas and their young faculty by rigid and as our universities do not make to swim against the current. And antiquated hierarchies. That’s why science their top priority, they also only those who swim against the returning to Europe after a cannot act as a credible voice of current can discover new springs of postdoctoral period in the US can science for the general public. As a knowledge. This playful and be a nightmare of ill-defined result, Europe lacks a strong voice intuitive aspect of innovative positions, uncertainty, and of science. The course of research may explain why most scientific dependence. Many early European science is now heavily scientists have their best ideas academic positions are for a limited determined by politicians and before they turn 40. term and cannot be extended. administrators, often with grave Mathematicians generally have When they run out, they leave the consequences. Let me quote to you them before the age of 30 – or young scientist out in the cold. what a famous scientist has said even 25. I am convinced that this Permanent assistantships are about this problem: “It is essential also holds for the Humanities, as worse, because they trap young for men of science to take an long as one considers creativity and researchers in a state of intellectual interest in the administration of not merely productivity. dependence. Even the last stage in their own affairs or else the How does one recognize a truly this academic hurdle race can be professional civil servant will step original idea? One recognizes it by touch and go. Vacant in – and then the Lord help the fact that it surprises us. The professorships are often filled you.” The scientist who said this more original the idea is, the within the same narrow specialty was the great physicist Lord Ernest greater is our surprise. This is also through murky selection Rutherford. And even though he true of works of art, because art procedures, and all too often the said it more three-quarters of a and science draw from the same successor – surprise, surprise – century ago, his words ring as true mysterious springs deep inside us turns out to be a former student of today as they did then. The that define our individuality. New the retiree. Young scientists also appointment of Ann Glover as ideas grow best in flat hierarchies, face the problem that different Chief Scientific Adviser to the which ignore age and official rank, European universities can have President of the European but put a premium on talent, widely different career structures so Commission is a very welcome new motivation and success. Hierarchy that moving from one country to development, but it does not relieve and power impede the free another can throw you back for our universities from their duty to competition of ideas. That’s why years and endanger your career. act as strong voices of science in they are deadly enemies of science This state of affairs is a real shame their respective countries. – and that’s why we must control – not only because it is unfair to If our universities are to be them very carefully at our Europe’s scientists, but also places of science, they must be a universities. The ideal environment because it makes European steady source of new ideas. But for the birth of new ideas is a universities lose out in the how do new ideas come about? ‘controlled chaos’, and there are competition for the world’s best Why do some of us see what not many scientific leaders that can young brains. Many of America’s everyone sees, but think what set up and maintain such a volatile or Asia’s young scientific stars are nobody has thought before? I do and fragile environment. If we reluctant to accept junior positions not know the answer, but the older professors decide what our at European universities because history of science teaches us that young staff must work on, we these offer such uncertain career truly novel ideas rarely come from inhibit new ideas. At the ideal prospects. institutions or organized groups. university, it should be difficult to There is no ideal academic career They come from talented single distinguish the teachers from the system, but one that has proven its individuals. Perhaps these students. Both should do research worth is the American tenure track individuals have retained the naive and learn from one another. The system. I have found that many and playful curiosity that prompts experience and the international young scientists, European children to put a hat on backwards connections of older professors are university rectors or science or to invent funny new words. important, but in science – as in art bureaucrats have only a fuzzy Perhaps it needs this childlike – the naive optimism of youth is often notion of this system, so let me playfulness to discover intuitively wiser than the experience of age. briefly explain it even though I may
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CONGRESS ROUND-UP bore some of you. ‘Tenure’ means international star. Very few of our applicants are then free to ask one ‘permanent appointment’, and the universities are good at rigorous of the professors to accept them as essence of the tenure track system is and fair selections. Our faculties, a graduate student. Furthermore, to fill all junior academic positions God bless them all, are usually too the progress of the thesis research at the level of an independent, heterogeneous, too inefficient, and is monitored at least twice per year fixed-term assistant professor, to too political, and small university by a graduate committee chosen by promise permanent appointment institutes are too vulnerable to the student. The graduate to those who will do well – and to influence peddling by powerful committee also checks whether the fire those that won’t. It’s ‘up or out’. individuals. Selection and student fulfils the requirement of This ‘up or out’ system is tough, promotion of assistant professors attending advanced lectures on yet transparent and fair. American is best handled by well-run, large different topics. This system universities have been using it for departments or long-term, prevents a single professor from decades with great success and independent deans. Tenure track abusing a student or hiring low- many top European institutions also demands that mandatory quality students and makes have also adopted it. Like any retirement function properly. If graduate work a privilege rather successful product, though, the permanent professors refuse to than a right. Because the selected tenure track concept constantly has retire, as now often happens in the students can choose their professor, to fight against cheap imitations – US, the system clogs up, because graduate schools also inject an and Europe leads the world in inflow and outflow no longer element of healthy competition cooking up fake tenure track match. The same is true if tenure is into the professorial ranks. Such systems. The crudest fake is to hire being awarded too generously. A graduate programs have been very several people and let them all wise university leadership will successful for decades at US compete for the same permanent always aim for a healthy mix of universities and are now slowly position. That’s a great way to tenured and untenured faculty. being adopted by many of poison a department’s atmosphere Another major deficiency of Europe’s top research institutions. – and to kill careers. Other fake most European universities is the They should become the standard tenure track systems, such as the lack of genuine graduate schools. at all European universities. Many German Junior Professorships, do As matters stand now, a professor of these claim to have a graduate not reward success by a permanent is usually free to accept anybody program, but on closer look it position. No matter how well the for a PhD thesis as long as the often turns out that these programs young professor did, at the end it’s applicant has fulfilled the formal lack some of the key features I just often the famous Arnold course requirements and passed mentioned; they are only cheap Schwarzenegger phrase “Hasta la the obligatory exams. After that, imitations that won’t do the job. vista, baby”. At the other extreme, professor and student are largely Europe’s research grant system many French junior positions offer on their own. The graduate has long been another hurdle for permanence right from the start. I students have few if any young scientists. Those who have sometimes wonder who dreams up obligations to attend advanced returned to Europe from a these bizarre schemes. lectures on different subjects in postdoctoral period abroad want Tenure track is not a perfect order to broaden their scientific above all the freedom and the system. It only works if the horizon. As a result, many of them means to follow their own ideas. university works because it is, in get a very narrow training and Chances are that this will be the fact, an in-house promotion know little outside their specialty. period in their career during which system. Tenure track needs a In many cases, the professors use they will have their best ideas. But strong and long-term academic their graduate students as cheap no, the European Framework leadership that can plan vacant labour with the result that the Programs force them to join a positions in advance, because for student may spend five, six or even research network managed by older every assistant professor hired eight years on the thesis. Many of scientists. These network grants today there must be a vacant these problems can be addressed by also demand a well-defined permanent position five to seven an international graduate program. research goal. About a decade ago, years down the road. Tenure track In such a program, vacant PhD university researchers were so fed also needs an efficient selection student positions are advertised up with the Framework Programs system for junior scientists, internationally and applicants are that they pushed for a separate because choosing a young and still not selected by single professors, agency that would fund basic little known researcher is much but by a graduate selection research purely on scientific merit. trickier than going for an committee. The successful This agency is now in place: it is
14 FEBS News September 2013
CONGRESS ROUND-UP the European Research Council. It still managed to have a successful profession. We scientists also have is still underfunded, but a huge step postdoctoral stay abroad. an obligation to explain to the in the right direction. Its In the end, scientific talent is a public what we do with their philosophy and the way it awards matter of character – and the most money, and why we do it. If you grants have earned it high praise important qualities of a successful refuse to participate in visits to from the scientific community. scientist are courage, passion and high schools, in public discussions Now we must fight to expand and patience. It takes courage and on science, or in organizing your strengthen this program. passion to challenge dogmas and to institute’s annual Day of the Open But changing Europe’s take on a risky project. And it takes Door, you endanger science and, in institutions is not enough. The patience to see a project through the long run, your own future. And young scientists – and that means when it keeps stalling for months if you look down on colleagues who you – must also change. During my or even years. Science is no place go into science politics or run years as president of the Swiss for the timid. Young scientists scientific organizations, you are not Science Council, I toured Swiss should venture abroad in order to only a snob, but also short-sighted. universities and campaigned for learn new ways of doing things and Europe’s science is often so badly abolition of the outmoded to prove to themselves and others run because so few of Europe’s Habilitation and life-long that they can also succeed in an best scientists are willing to run it. assistantships, and for a general unfamiliar environment. Our Science needs courage, passion and adoption of the tenure track international postdoc system is the patience; but it also needs selflessness, system. I had expected enthusiastic bird migration that selects those modesty and generosity. support from the young academics, that can stand up to the tough If you are one of the young but was shocked and dismayed to demands of academic research. It scientists for whom I am giving this learn that many of them were keeps our science system healthy. talk, you are now at a stage where against me. Tenure track scared That’s why I have always opposed academia may confront you with all them because it does not guarantee postdoc fellowships that include a kinds of injustice, unfairness, them a permanent job. And the guarantee of return plus the arrogance, and plain stupidity. Do fact that unsuccessful assistant corresponding salary for a position get angry, and do keep your anger professors would have to leave the back home. Instead of such a alive until the time when you can university seemed to them guarantee, there should be ample improve matters. Too many of us completely unacceptable. After one independent junior positions, forget what made us angry in our of my presentations on tenure preferably with tenure track, which youth and then lose interest in track, a young assistant came up to are open to international doing something about it when we me and said: “I am not interested competition. The American scholar could. Remember that science in becoming a professor and John A. Shedd has said it as follows: hates people who are content with worrying about research grants; I “A ship in harbor is safe; but that’s the way things are. And remember only want a permanent job so that I not what ships are made for”. also that new rights and new can work in peace”. I replied that if Even though new scientific ideas freedoms are never offered for that’s what he wanted, a university nearly always come from free, but that one must fight for was no place for him. Universities individuals and not from groups, them. If you want Europe’s science need ambitious and dynamic science as a whole is very much a to be as good as it should be, you people that want to discover new communal effort. It needs the must fight to improve it – but not things and shake the world. And generous sharing of ideas and the with noisy street parades or by after one of my talks on willingness to help others. And it breaking institute windows, but by international postdoctoral very much needs the understanding, astute and patient political programs, a young woman was the goodwill, and the support of lobbying. There is much Europe infuriated by my assertion that the general public. Unfortunately, and our universities must do for scientists should go abroad after our science system now selects for you, but there is also much you their PhD degree. “Who are you to the overambitious, the self- must do for yourself. tell me that I should pack up my centered, and the overly aggressive. kids and leave my home?” she I cringe every time I read an ad for Gottfried Schatz shouted. My reply was that nobody an open position that says ‘We are [email protected] had forced her to go into science or seeking an aggressive young PS. Many of the ideas discussed here to have children and that I knew individual who can do this or that’. can be found in the book Jeff’s View on many scientists, both male and This attitude flies in the face of Science and Scientists (2005) Elsevier, female, who did have children and science and weakens our Amsterdam.
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FEBS PROGRAMMES: UPDATES
FEBS Advanced Courses 2014 Continuing the tradition of FEBS, here we provide FEBS Practical Courses you with a first announcement of FEBS-funded Advanced Courses for 2014. Please also keep an Advanced Methods in Macromolecular Crystallization VI eye on the Advanced Courses section of the FEBS Nove Hrady, Czech Republic website, where further details about these events 20–27 June 2014 are gradually being added, and where a few more Course Organizer: Ivana Kuta-Smatanova courses will be announced later in the year. Science [email protected] is a truly international endeavour – the courses Microspectroscopy: Functional Imaging of Biological reflect this by taking place at interesting locations in Systems very different regions of Europe, and bringing Wageningen, The Netherlands together scientists from many countries. 2–11 September 2014 The FEBS 2014 Advanced Courses encompass Course Organizer: Jan Willem Borst topics of much current interest and we sincerely [email protected] hope they will serve the scientific community with education of young scientists and will also provide FEBS Practical and Lecture Courses a forum for discussions and for forming new contacts and collaborations. To assist participation Ligand-binding Theory and Practice of early-career postdoctoral scientists and PhD Nove Hrady, Czech Republic students in the events, a limited number of FEBS 29 June – 6 July 2014 Course Organizer: Rudiger H. Ettrich Youth Travel Fund (YTF) grants are available for [email protected] most courses. Further details on this will be available from the individual course websites or Fundamentals of Modern Methods of Biocrystallography course organizers, and please also refer to the YTF Oeiras, Portugal section of the FEBS website. 20–27 September 2014 Course Organizer Maria Arménia Carrondo Applications to organize future FEBS Advanced [email protected] Courses are invited from scientists who have an international reputation and commitment to FEBS Workshops teaching, and who are keen to share knowledge of their field. Full guidelines about submitting an Biology of RNA in Host–Pathogen Interactions application can be found on the FEBS website. Tenerife, Spain Note there will be only one call for applications for 26–29 January 2014 funding of courses that will take place in 2015: Course Organizer: Francisco Garcia-del Portillo the applications deadline for 2015 course funding is [email protected]
1 March 2014. Lipids as Molecular Switches Spetses, Greece Beáta G. Vértessy 25–30 August 2014 Acting Chair, FEBS Advanced Courses Committee Course Organizer: Bernd Helms [email protected] FEBS Advanced Lecture Courses Decoding Non-coding RNAs in Development and Cancer
Capri, Italy Advanced Proteomics 12–15 October 2014 Varna, Italy Course Organizer: Sandro De Falco 3–9 August 2014 [email protected] Course Organizer: Bernhard Kuster [email protected] FEBS Special Meeting 360° Lysosome: from Structure to Genomics, from Function to Disease ABC Proteins: From Multidrug Resistance to Genetic Disease Izmir, Turkey Innsbruck, Austria 23–28 October 2014 8–14 March 2014 Course Organizer: Eser Sozmen Course Organizer: Karl Kuchler [email protected] [email protected]
16 FEBS News September 2013 FEBS PROGRAMMES: UPDATES
FEBS Education Workshop: Teaching Molecular Evolution Gdańsk, Poland; 13 July 2013
For several years now, FEBS has been organizing Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education Workshops throughout the FEBS area, in collaboration with Constituent Societies of FEBS. The latest workshop was agreed between the FEBS Education Committee and the Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, Gdańsk (a joint centre of the University of Gdańsk and Medical University of Gdańsk), with support from the Polish Biochemical educational tool in biochemistry’ and ‘Teaching Society. It was run on the first day of an extended metabolism with an evolutionary flavour’. There four-day event of scientific and training activities was also a practical activity on ‘Molecular evolution (13–16 July 2013). illustrated using protein structure’ which was run in The target audience comprised PhD students, silico in a computer lab (see photo). young scientists and academics involved in As is usual with FEBS Education Workshops, biochemistry and related biosciences, with an supporting documents, reading material and a interest in understanding and teaching molecular discussion forum were made available to the evolution. Fifty people attended the event, mostly participants via the online FEBS Education from Poland, 52% of them being graduate or Platform, both during and after the event. masters students and 38% PhD students. Feedback was collected from the attendants using Speakers/facilitators at this workshop were Angel a short questionnaire, which denoted a high degree Herráez (Alcalá University, Spain; and FEBS of satisfaction with the workshop (average level of Education Committee), Jarosław Marszałek overall satisfaction rated 4.4 out of 5). (Gdansk University, Poland), Juli Peretó (Valencia A more detailed report can be accessed from the University, Spain) and Dan Tawfik (Weizmann Education section of the FEBS website, and the full Institute of Science, Israel). The lectures covered program of the four-day event is available at http:// topics such as ‘Evolution: from modern to www.bss.ug.edu.pl/?tpl=schedule&lang=en. functional synthesis’, ‘Laboratory molecular Angel Herráez evolution’, ‘Discussing the origin of life as an FEBS Education Committee Member
Upcoming FEBS Education Workshops 2013
Molecular Life Sciences Education: Tbilisi, Georgia; 8–9 October 2013 Topics include post-graduate education, problem-based learning, designing laboratory practicals, and skills for young scientists. The workshop will be preceded by a celebration of the reconstitution of the Georgian Society of Biochemistry.
Molecular Life Sciences Education: Sofia, Bulgaria; 22 November 2013 Topics include post-graduate education and scientific skills for young scientists (how to read and write a scientific article, how to write a research project proposal, how to write a CV). This is an opportunity to assess progress since an earlier FEBS education event with the Bulgarian Society of Biochemistry, in 2008.
For more details on both workshops, please visit the Education section of the FEBS website; for enquiries on education events, please contact Gül Güner Akdoğan ([email protected]), Chair, FEBS Education Committee.
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FEBS PROGRAMMES: UPDATES
18 FEBS News September 2013 FEBS PROGRAMMES: UPDATES
The FEBS–EMBO 2014 Conference Next year’s FEBS Congress will take place as a joint of each organization will contribute to an anniversary event with the European Molecular outstanding event for all life scientists. It will also be Biology Organization (EMBO) – as the FEBS–EMBO an ideal opportunity to celebrate the achievements 2014 Conference. The event will be hosted by the of all three organizations over the past decades.” French Society for Biochemistry and Molecular An enriching and topical scientific programme Biology (SFBBM), one of the oldest Constituent with depth and breadth is currently being built by the Societies of FEBS, from Saturday 30th August to conference’s distinguished Programme Committee. Thursday 4th September 2014 at the Palais des In addition to the core scientific lectures, there will Congrès, Paris, France. be sessions on science policy, publishing, careers This exciting event will bring together scientists and education, as well as activities tailored from across the world working on all aspects of the specifically for scientists in the early stages of their molecular life sciences. The unique collaboration careers. Abstract submission will start in December will celebrate the 50th anniversaries of FEBS and 2013, and registration will open in January 2014. EMBO and the 100th anniversary of the French To explore all aspects of the conference, do visit Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. In its website, www.febs-embo2014.org, which as well a press release earlier in the year, Israel Pecht, as providing general information includes links to Secretary General of FEBS, commented: “It gives speaker videos and conference social media. The me great pleasure to welcome EMBO and the next FEBS News issue will cover plans for the event French Society for Biochemistry and Molecular in more detail, but we start here by introducing the Biology as partners for this life sciences conference pre-conference FEBS Young Scientists’ Forum that will take place in 2014. I believe the strengths (YSF), whose application deadlines come first.
The FEBS Young Scientists’ Forum (YSF) 2014 Since 2001, FEBS has held a Forum for pre- and the FEBS–EMBO 2014 Conference. Applicants post-doctoral scientists immediately preceding its should be registered as a PhD student or be within annual Congress. Usually more than 100 young 5 years of having completed a PhD, should submit scientists are selected to take part in the event, where an abstract to both the YSF and FEBS–EMBO they can present their research work to an 2014 Conference as first author, and be a member international audience, make friends, and exchange of a FEBS Constituent Society. Please refer to the ideas in an informal atmosphere. FEBS financially YSF section of the FEBS–EMBO 2014 Conference supports the selected participants to take part in not website for full eligibility criteria and other details. only the YSF but also the ensuing Congress, so they The application period will open on 8th December can benefit from the different experiences that the 2013 and close on 31st March 2014. YSF and a large bioscience conference can offer. With FEBS celebrating its 50th anniversary in The YSF also gives young scientists in the host 2014, and with an important focus of FEBS from country the opportunity to be responsible for local its early days being the support of the next organisation of the event, which, while building on generation of scientists, this will be a very special a proven format, keeps the event youthful and YSF for FEBS. I am firmly convinced that the Paris fresh. To read about the most recent FEBS YSF, in organizing committee led by Alice Verchère will put St Petersburg, see page 8 of this issue. all their energy, know-how and imagination at the Next year, the 14th FEBS YSF will take place service of their colleagues in what should be a from 27th to 30th August 2014 at CISP Maurice remarkable gathering of young scientists. Ravel in the beautiful city of Paris. Successful applicants will receive financial support for Claudina Rodrigues-Pousada accommodation and travel for both the YSF and Chair, FEBS Working Group on the Careers of Young Scientists
19 FEBS News September 2013
FEBS COMMUNITY NEWS
FEBS Constituent Society meetings: FEBS National Lectures
The XXXVI meeting of the Spanish Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (SEBBM) gathered over 1000 participants in Madrid from 3rd to 6th September 2013 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of its foundation. The Organizing Committee, chaired by Prof. Margarita Salas, put together an exciting scientific programme, consisting of seven plenary lectures and three parallel symposia running in parallel across three days (focusing on ‘Structure and function of genes’, ‘Cell communication’ and ‘Molecular biomedicine’) and involving 36 speakers. In addition, more than 100 oral communications were presented at the specific sessions organized by the thematic SEBBM scientific groups in the afternoons, and the lively poster sessions reached a record of 650 presentations. Topics covered in the different symposia and scientific group meetings were at the forefront of biomedicine and biotechnology, including: the relationship between cancer and metabolism; novel therapeutic targets; communication between cells; aging; plant (from left) Miguel Angel de la Rosa, Fiona Watt (showing adaptation to the environment; epigenetics; immune FEBS National Lecturer certificate) and Federico Mayor Jr. response and tolerance to disease; obesity; and cell reprogramming and therapy. It is worth noting that for Stem cells and Regenerative Medicine, King’s SEBBM kept registration fees at very affordable College London), who was introduced by Prof. prices (€150 for members) and provided a Miguel Angel de la Rosa, past SEBBM President significant number of travel grants to encourage the and current Vice Chair of FEBS. A FEBS- participation of young researchers. sponsored Symposium session on ‘Pathogens and In addition to SEBBM, several foundations, cell response’, coordinated by Prof. J.M Bautista, companies and scientific societies supported the involved speakers from The Netherlands, meeting by sponsoring plenary lectures, specific Switzerland, Portugal and Spain. Prof. Israel Pecht, symposia and awards for young scientists. FEBS Secretary General, also addressed the Plenary speakers included Nobel Laureates Prof. participants before a plenary session to congratulate Brian K. Kobilka (Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2012), SEBBM on this special occasion. who delivered the opening ‘Alberto Sols’ plenary The inaugural session of the Congress was lecture entitled ‘Structural insights into G-protein- attended by Dr Carmen Vela, Secretary of State for coupled receptor signalling’, funded by Fundación Research, Development and Innovation, and other BBVA; and Prof. Sydney Brenner (Nobel Prize in top Spanish officials. This was followed by the Physiology or Medicine 2002), who recapitulated ‘60 SEBBM 50th Anniversary Commemorative Session, years of molecular biology’ at the closing plenary in which the current SEBBM President, Prof. lecture, funded by Fundación Ramón Areces. Federico Mayor Jr, was joined by eight SEBBM FEBS was actively involved in the support of this past-Presidents to bring to mind the long journey meeting. A FEBS National Lecture entitled ‘Regulation initiated by a few pioneer scientists in 1963, which of epidermal stem cell fate by intrinsic and extrinsic allowed consolidation and expansion of biochemistry mechanisms’ was given by Prof. Fiona Watt (Centre and molecular biology in Spain.
20 FEBS News September 2013 FEBS COMMUNITY NEWS
The SEBBM currently comprises nearly 4000 such as the Entrepreneurship Forum, an members from all major universities and research ‘Introduction to Research’ workshop for institutions, and is fully committed, particularly in undergraduate students, dissemination conferences these difficult times for science in Spain, to for the general public in downtown Madrid, and an encourage top-level research, the careers of young exhibition entitled ‘Molecules of life’ addressed to scientists and dialogue between Science and Society, the young, in collaboration with the National so our fellow citizens can ask our political leaders Museum of Natural History. and representatives to support scientific activities as a priority. In this regard, the SEBBM organized José Manuel Bautista (Universidad Complutense, satellite activities of the meeting throughout the city, Madrid), Treasurer of the Organizing Committee
The 48th Annual Meeting of the Polish Biochemical Society – From DNA Structure to Molecular Medicine – was held at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń from 2nd to 5th September. More than 460 scientists participated in three plenary sessions and 12 platform sessions, which covered a broad range of topics in biochemistry, bioenergetics, cell biology and biotechnology. The Keynote Speaker, Prof. Jan Barciszewski from the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, gave an overview of catalytic nucleic acids applications in (from left) Joanna Moraczewska, Pekka Lappalainen (showing biology and medicine. A vivid discussion was evoked FEBS National Lecturer certificate) and Adam Szewczyk. by the lecture ‘Legal and moral regulations in Prof. Lappalainen was introduced to the audience scientific studies’, by Prof. Andrzej Zoll, the former by the Chair of the Scientific Committee, Dr Joanna Polish Ombudsmen, who was a special guest of the Moraczewska. In his National Lecture, entitled Meeting. ‘Assembly of contractile actomyosin bundles in Prof. Pekka Lappalainen from the Institute of motile cells’, he described his recent studies on Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Finland, localization and function of cofilin isoforms 1 and 2 received the FEBS National Lecture Award at the in cardiac cells. He spoke about effects of cofilin 2 meeting. Prof. Lappalainen is an outstanding knockout on sarcomere formation and mentioned scientist in the field of actin cytoskeleton dynamics. the correlation between congenital myopathies and His studies concentrate on actin-binding proteins, mutations in cofilin. The FEBS National Lecture which regulate actin assembly–disassembly, certificate was presented to the Lecturer by Prof. interactions of actin filaments with the plasma Adam Szewczyk, FEBS Congress Counsellor. membrane and formation of supramolecular contractile structures in muscle and non-muscle Joanna Moraczewska cells. Chair of the Scientific Committee
FEBS 50th Anniversary Book
FEBS celebrates its 50th Anniversary in 2014. One way FEBS is marking the occasion is by preparing an illustrated ’coffee-table’ book covering not just the history of FEBS but also plans for its future development. It is hoped that publication will coincide with the FEBS–EMBO 2014 Conference in Paris (30 August – 4 September). Richard Perham, Chair of the Editorial Board of FEBS Journal, is editing this book in association with Mary Purton, Executive Editor of FEBS Open Bio. Chapters are being written by current and past officers of FEBS and others closely associated with its various activities. We are also keen to hear from any members of the FEBS community who are interested in contributing short anecdotes, reflections or memoirs (up to 500 words) recalling any aspect of FEBS or participation in its events. Images (photographs, Congress posters, etc.) will be particularly welcome. If you do have a contribution, please contact Mary Purton at [email protected]. 21 FEBS News September 2013 FEBS PUBLICATIONS
(increasing year-on-year and exceeding 3 million Dear Fellow Scientists, downloads in 2012 alone) are public recognition of the interest and high quality of papers we are publishing. FEBS Journal has published We thank all authors, referees and Editors for some outstanding Special Issues their support and contributions to the journal. this year, and there are more in the pipeline for 2013. Special Issues include both reviews and New Member of the Editorial Board regular research papers on a broad range of topics It is with pleasure that we and we hope you enjoy reading them. Most recently, announce the appointment of a we have published: new member of the Editorial Board of FEBS Journal: Dr Proteoglycans: signalling, Sathees Raghavan, Indian targeting and therapeutics (May Institute of Science (IISc), 2013) compiled by Nikos Bangalore, India. Dr Raghavan Karamanos (University of heads a team at the IISc working on areas of DNA Patras, Greece) and Robert double-strand break repair, non-B DNA structures, Linhardt (Rensselaer genomic instability, cancer biology and cancer Polytechnic Institute, New therapeutics. More information about Dr Raghavan York, USA) can be found on the FEBS Journal website.
Winner of this year’s FEBS Journal Prize for Young Scientists Catalytic Mechanisms by The winner of this year’s FEBS Journal Prize for Biological Systems (June 2013) Young Scientists is Anna-Karin Gustavsson of the compiled by Marco Fraaije Department of Physics, University of Gothenburg, (University of Groningen, Sweden for her outstanding paper: Gustavsson, A.-K., The Netherlands) and van Niekerk, D.D., Adiels, C.B., du Preez, F.B., Nigel Scrutton (University Goksör, M. & Snoep, J.L. (2012) Sustained of Manchester, UK) glycolytic oscillations in individual isolated yeast cells. FEBS J. 279: 2837–2847
Myogenesis (September 2013) compiled by Pura Muñoz- Cánoves (Pompeu Fabra University, ICREA and CIBERNED, Barcelona, Spain) and Daniel Michele (University of Michigan, USA)
Look out for our Special Issue on Signalling, coming soon!
Publication Metrics FEBS Journal does not chase an Impact Factor. We prefer to rely on the intrinsic interest and merit of the papers we publish. Nonetheless, we are delighted to announce a new Impact Factor of 4.250 Presentation of the FEBS Journal Prize for Young for FEBS Journal this year. The rising Impact Factor Scientists to Anna-Karin Gustavsson by and the extremely healthy readership of the Journal Prof. Richard Perham, FEBS Journal Editor-in-Chief. 22 FEBS News September 2013 FEBS PUBLICATIONS
Anna-Karin Gustavsson described her prize- winning work in the FEBS Publications Awards plenary session at this year’s FEBS Congress in St Petersburg, where she was awarded the prize of €10,000 by Editor-in-Chief of FEBS Journal, Professor Richard Perham. We warmly congratulate her not only on her prize but on the excellent plenary lecture she delivered.
Latest Virtual Issue The latest FEBS Journal Virtual Issue, on microRNA, published in August 2013, was compiled by our Editor Gunter Meister (University of Regensburg). It can be ● FEBS J. 280, Issue 16: Engineering RNA-binding accessed via the Wiley proteins; AMPKβ in AMPK complex Online Library. It ● FEBS J. 280, Issue 15: ADP-ribosylation comprises a collection of (minireview series) papers on specific roles of ● FEBS J. 280, Issue 14: Telomere and telomerase miRNAs in different forms of cancer, stem cell (minireview series); Heterochromatin during biology, neuronal function or adipogenesis. In development addition, the issue includes several publications that Reviews and minireviews can be read online and identified important mechanistic aspects of miRNA downloaded free of charge on the FEBS Journal function, and review articles that discuss the website from the time of publication . fundamental roles of miRNAs in fibrosis and epigenetics. With best wishes from us all at FEBS Journal, Richard Perham, Editor-in-Chief Reviews and minireviews Vanessa Wilkinson, Editorial Manager Reviews and minireviews published in FEBS Journal Malika Ahras, Deputy Editorial Manager cover a diverse range of topics. Review topics in Giannina Bartlett, Editorial Assistant recent issues are: Juanita Goossens-Roach, Editorial Assistant
Prizes awarded by FEBS Journal and FEBS Letters from 2015
FEBS has given careful consideration to the way in which it supports younger scientists through the prizes awarded to the authors of the papers judged to be the best of their kind published in FEBS Journal and FEBS Letters each year. It has decided to adopt a new scheme from 2015 that will better complement the overall objectives of FEBS as a charitable organization dedicated to fostering biochemical research, education and scientific cooperation. In 2014, prizes will be awarded in the same way as now (with the recipients selected from papers published during 2013). From 2015, FEBS Journal will continue to award a prize every year to the paper judged by the Editors to be the most meritorious with a first author who is a post-graduate student or post-doctoral scientist of no more than three years standing since the award of the PhD Degree. The prize will consist of a personal gift of €1000 plus an invitation to present the work in a plenary lecture at the annual FEBS Congress. FEBS Letters, on the other hand, will open its prize of €10,000 to the senior authors of all papers published in FEBS Letters, regardless of the age or standing of the authors. The FEBS Letters prize will be awarded every other year, also with an invitation to present a plenary lecture at the corresponding FEBS Congress. FEBS believes that this is a timely adaptation of its policy, taking into account an ever-growing financial need to care for the long-term support of the core activities of FEBS. 23 FEBS News September 2013 FEBS PUBLICATIONS
biochemical and biophysical Dear Fellow mechanisms of vesicle budding Scientists, and fusion, cellular regulation of vesicle fusion in exocytosis We hope you all had a great summer and managed and synaptic transmission, and to recharge your batteries for the second half of the structural and functional year. As usual for this time of the year, July brought organization of the Golgi the FEBS Congress, this year in St Petersburg, apparatus. James is one of the Russia. The highlight of the Congress for the most prominent researchers in cellular transport journal was the FEBS Letters Young Group Leader and we are looking forward to a productive and Award plenary lecture session. As you probably successful collaboration in the future. know by now, the prize was awarded to Dr Susumu Mitsutake, Hokkaido University, Japan for his Special Issues paper: Mitsutake, S., Date, T., Yokota, H., Sugiura, M., Kohama, T. & Igarashi, Y. (2012) Ceramide kinase deficiency improves diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance. FEBS Lett. 586(9): 1300–1305
Finally, we would like to draw your attention to three recent Special Issues: ● The Many Faces of Proteins; edited by Wilhelm Just, Presentation of the FEBS Letters Young Group Leader Award: FEBS Lett. 587 (8) (from left) Prof. Laszlo Nagy, chairman of the prize selection committee and a FEBS Letters Editor; Dr Susumu Mitsutake; ● St Petersburg Special Issue: Mechanisms in Biology; Prof. Felix Wieland, Managing Editor of FEBS Letters. edited by Alexander Gabibov, Vladimir Skulachev, Felix Wieland and Wilhelm Just, FEBS Lett. 587 (13) Susumu gave an enthusiastic plenary lecture about ● A century of Michaelis–Menten kinetics; edited by his work in front of a full plenary hall. The award Athel Cornish-Bowden and Christian P. Whitman, was endowed with €10,000 prize money and an FEBS Lett. 587 (17) invitation to give a plenary lecture at the FEBS Congress. As always, we look forward to receiving your manuscripts. New Member of the Editorial Board Best wishes, We are also pleased to welcome a new Academic Felix Wieland, Managing Editor Editor, James E. Rothman, to FEBS Letters. James Aleksander Benjak, Editorial Manager is a Professor at Yale University in the Department Daniela Ruffell, Editor of Chemistry. His main areas of expertise are the Anne Rougeaux, Editorial Assistant
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Top 5 most downloaded articles in the last 90 days in FEBS Letters (retrieved 5 September 2013)
Inflammation and insulin resistance mTOR regulation of autophagy Carl de Luca and Jerrold M. Olefsky Chang Hwa Jung, Seung-Hyun Ro, Jing Cao, Neil Michael Otto FEBS Lett. 2008, 582(1), 97–105 and Do-Hyung Kim
Longevity of lobsters is linked to ubiquitous telomerase FEBS Lett. 2010, 584(7), 1287–95 expression Structure and assembly of the influenza A virus Wolfram Klapper, Karen Kühne, Kumud K Singh, Klaus ribonucleoprotein complex Heidorn, Reza Parwaresch, Guido Krupp Wenjie Zheng, Yizhi Jane Tao FEBS Lett. 1998, 439(1-2), 143–46 FEBS Lett. 2013, 587(8), 1206–14
Regulation of EMT by TGFβ in cancer Carl-Henrik Heldin, Michael Vanlandewijck and Aristidis Moustakas For complete and up-to-date lists, go to the FEBS Letters FEBS Lett. 2012, 586(14), 1959–70 website Recent articles and Most cited articles links.
Dear Fellow Reuters) impact factor for Molecular Oncology increased to 6.701 in 2012, from 5.082 in 2011. We Scientists, believe that this steady rise in impact factor since Molecular Oncology the journal was first indexed reflects an increasing (www.moloncol.org) highlights new discoveries, visibility of the journal among scientists, which we approaches and technical developments in basic, hope will translate into our reaching a broader clinical and discovery-driven translational research, audience and a greater interest in the journal from and one of the main features of the journal is to all cancer stakeholders. provide an international forum for debating cancer Since its inception, Molecular Oncology has provided issues. Through this we intend to encourage and the scientific community with a coherent body of support a coordinated approach to cancer research, reviews, combined into thematic issues that address with a societal dimension that goes beyond the timely topics that we believe will have a significant purely scientific aspects. Molecular Oncology aims to structuring impact in the field, ultimately for the influence the political agenda in translational cancer benefit of cancer patients. In line with these aims, research by promoting current and near-future we would like to highlight here our most recent political news and debate. Hence, we are delighted thematic issue ‘Mouse models of cancer: Essential to report that the Journal Citation Reports (Thomas tools for better therapies’, edited by Drs Anton
Special Issue: Mouse models of cancer: Genetically engineered mouse models of prostate cancer Maxime Parisotto, Daniel Metzger Essential tools for better therapies Mouse models for liver cancer Latifa Bakiri, Erwin F. Wagner edited by Anton Berns and Mariano Barbacid How animal models of leukaemias have already benefited patients Mol. Oncol. (2013) Vol.7, Issue 2 Julien Ablain, Rihab Nasr, Jun Zhu, Ali Bazarbachi, Valérie Lallemand-Breittenbach, Hugues de Thé et al.
Contents: Genetically engineered mouse models of pancreatic Mouse models of cancer adenocarcinoma Anton Berns, Mariano Barbacid Carmen Guerra, Mariano Barbacid
Genetically engineered mouse MYC-y mice: From tumour initiation to therapeutic targeting models of PI3K signaling in breast cancer of endogenous MYC Sjoerd Klarenbeek, Martine H. van Miltenburg, Jos Jonkers Jennifer P. Morton, Owen J. Sansom
Mouse models for lung cancer Mouse models for studying angiogenesis and Min-chul Kwon, Anton Berns lymphangiogenesis in cancer
Lauri Eklund, Maija Bry, Kari Alitalo What are the best routes to effectively model human colorectal cancer? Rebuilding cancer metastasis in the mouse Madeleine Young, Liliana Ordonez, Alan R. Clarke Meera Saxena, Gerhard Christofori
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Berns and Mariano Barbacid, who introduce the Molecular Oncology will be useful not only to academic collection of articles in their foreword: scientists interested in understanding the molecular intricacies of tumor initiation and progression, but also to pharma In this thematic issue of Molecular Oncology you will find a scientists and executives actively engaged in identifying effective compendium of reviews on mouse models of cancer written by therapeutic strategies and to science policy makers...responsible experts in the field. The various chapters deal with mouse for assuring that we make the most effective use of public models engineered to gain deeper insight into what drives funds to fight cancer.
tumor initiation and tumor progression, an aspect that is As always, we look forward to receiving your difficult to study in human tumors. The reviews primarily focus on modeling studies of frequently occurring human manuscripts. tumors. Each review highlights what they have taught us and Best wishes, also how this knowledge has already contributed or can Julio E. Celis, Editor-in-Chief contribute to the treatment of cancer patients...We hope that José Moreira, Managing Editor the information contained in this monographic issue of Dorte Perdersen, Editorial Assistant
Top 5 most downloaded articles in Dear Fellow Scientists, FEBS Open Bio* FEBS Open Bio celebrated the *Articles published Nov 2011– Dec 2012; publication of its 100th article total full-text downloads Nov 2011 – Jul 2013 in June, 18 months after the A new hybrid bacteriocin, Ent35–MccV, displays launch of the journal: antimicrobial activity against pathogenic Gram-positive and
Lavergne, M., Jourdan, M.-L., Blechet, C., Guyetant, Gram-negative bacteria Leonardo Acuña, Gianluca Picariello, Fernando Sesma, S., Le Pape, A., Heuze-Vourc’h, N., Courty, Y., Roberto D. Morero, Augusto Bellomio (2012) FEBS Open Bio Lerondel, S., Sobilo, J., Iochmann, S. & Reverdiau, 2, 12–19
P. (2013) Beneficial role of overexpression of TFPI-2 IGF-1 receptor is down-regulated by sunitinib induces MDM2 on tumour progression in human small cell lung -dependent ubiquitination cancer. FEBS Open Bio 3, 291–301 Hongchang Shen, Yan Fang, Wei Dong, Xueru Mu, Qi Liu, Jiajun Du (2012) FEBS Open Bio 2, 1–5 The rate of submissions to the journal is now The role of substrate specificity and metal binding in defining increasing, and so we hope to reach the 200th the activity and structure of an intracellular subtilisin article well before the end of 2014. Michael Gamble, Georg Künze, Andrea Brancale, Keith S. Open Access is about making an author’s work as Wilson, D. Dafydd Jones (2012) FEBS Open Bio 2, 209–215 widely accessible as possible. All articles published The Wnt pathway destabilizes adherens junctions and in FEBS Open Bio are now included in the promotes cell migration via β-catenin and its target gene repositories PubMedCentral (PMC) and Europe cyclin D1 PubMed Central (Europe PMC) and indexed in Annica Vlad-Fiegen, Anette Langerak, Sonja Eberth, Oliver Müller (2012) FEBS Open Bio 2, 26–31 PubMed. Authors can also post the final published PDF in any other repository. Inclusion of the Inhibitory effects of choline-O-sulfate on amyloid formation CrossMark logo on these multiple versions will alert of human islet amyloid polypeptide readers if and when any changes are made to the Mamoru Hagihara, Ayaka Takei, Takeshi Ishii, Fumio Hayashi, Kenji Kubota, Kaori Wakamatsu, Nobukazu Nameki ‘parent’ version on ScienceDirect. (2012) FEBS Open Bio 2, 20–25 Download requests for FEBS Open Bio articles on ScienceDirect have been building steadily since the 3 years (citations are counted in Year 3 to papers journal was launched in November 2011. A list of published in Years 1 and 2). However, from data the five most downloaded articles from the 56 collected by Scopus and Google Scholar, the articles published in 2011–2012 appears in the box number of citations to FEBS Open Bio articles is to the right. The first article, by Acuña et al., is still growing at a steady rate (see graph on next page). A featured in the Most Downloaded Articles list in the list of the five most cited articles in the journal is past 90 days. also given in the box on the next page. Downloads are one measure of the attention an We look forward to receiving your manuscripts. article gets, but what matters most is citations. As a With best wishes new journal, FEBS Open Bio won’t be eligible for an Mary Purton Impact Factor until it has been publishing for over Executive Editor 26 FEBS News September 2013 FEBS PUBLICATIONS
Citations in FEBS Open Bio
Top 5 most cited articles in FEBS Open Bio* Exploring potassium-dependent GTP hydrolysis in TEES family *Data from Scopus collected 21 August 2013 GTPases Abu Rafay, Soneya Majumdar, Balaji Prakash (2012) FEBS GeneSetDB: A comprehensive meta-database, statistical and Open Bio 2, 173–177 visualisation framework for gene set analysis Araki H., Knapp C., Tsai P., Print C. (2012) FEBS Open Bio 2, 76–82
In silico prediction of a disease-associated STIL mutant and its Total citations to FEBS Open Bio articles affect on the recruitment of centromere protein J (CENPJ) Ambuj Kumar, Vidya Rajendran, Rao Sethumadhavan, Rituraj Purohit (2012) FEBS Open Bio 2, 285–293
The manner in which DNA is packaged with TFAM has an impact on transcription activation and inhibition Ryo Furukawa, Yuma Yamada, Yuichi Matsushima, Yu-ichi Goto, Hideyoshi Harashima (2012) FEBS Open Bio 2, 145–150
Tespa1 is a novel inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor binding protein in T and B lymphocytes Hiroshi Matsuzaki, Takahiro Fujimoto, Takeharu Ota, Masahiro Ogawa, Toshiyuki Tsunoda, Keiko Doi, Masato Hamabashiri, Masatoshi Tanaka, Senji Shirasawa (2012) FEBS Open Bio 2, 255–259
Scientific Events Calendar Molecular Life Sciences 2013 (German Principles, Parameters and Applications European Biotechnology Conference Society for Biochemistry and Molecular of PCR 15–18 May 2014 Biology) 21 October 2013 Lecce, Italy 3–6 October 2013 Breda, The Netherlands www.eurobiotech2014.eu Frankfurt, Germany www.alsavans.nl/avans-training- www.molecular-life-sciences.de 2545.htm 20th Microsomes and Drug Oxidations Symposium A joint FEBS / Biochemical Society Real-time PCR in Molecular Diagnostics 18–22 May 2014 Lecture Course 22–24 October 2013 Stuttgart, Germany Cell-penetrating peptides: design, Breda, The Netherlands www.mdo2014.de synthesis and applications www.alsavans.nl/avans-training- 7–10 October 2013; London, UK 2548.htm The FEBS–EMBO 2014 Conference www.biochemistry.org/Conferences/ 30 August – 4 September 2014 AllConferences/tabid/379/View/ 14th IUBMB Conference Paris, France Conference/MeetingNo/IND106/ Host–Microbe Interactions www.febs-embo2014.org Default.aspx 16–20 November 2013 Marrakech, Morocco 25th tRNA Conference 38th Symposium on Hormones and Cell www.iubmb-2013.org/ 21–25 September 2014 Regulation: Development, Diseases and Kyllini, Greece Evolution of Endocrine Organs Regional European Biomedical www.trna2014.gr 10–13 October 2013 Laboratory Science Congress and the Mont Ste Odile, France 4th Greek Medical Laboratory See also the list of FEBS Advanced www.hormones-cell-regulation.eu Technologists Conference Courses 2014 on page 16 of this issue 5–8 December 2013 of FEBS News. FEBS Workshop Athens, Greece Translating epigenomes into function: a www.ebsc2013.com next-generation challenge for human disease 13–16 October 2013 To announce a scientific event in FEBS News and on the FEBS website, please email brief Capri (Napoli), Italy details to [email protected]. Priority will be given to events within biochemistry, workshop.igb.cnr.it molecular biology and related disciplines, and taking place within the FEBS area. 27 FEBS News September 2013 POSITIONS AVAILABLE
Career Opportunities
Six vacancies for PhD STUDENTS in MEDICAL BIOCHEMISTRY and BIOPHYSICS in the main Portuguese Universities (M2B-PhD Programme – www.m2b-phd.pt)
The “M2B-PhD – Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics” is an international PhD Programme that aims to train six candidates in scientific research environments of high quality, with tailored curricula for future professional careers in academia, industry or clinical practice. Each candidate will be integrated in a research group and enrol a research project. Training will also be composed of a curricular part with a focus on non-transferable skills. There will be research projects available from the universities of Lisbon, Coimbra, and Porto (Portugal). The projects will be available on September 15th so that the candidates can indicate their preference for specific research projects.
We look for candidates with a strong motivation to work in medical biochemistry or biophysics. Candidates need to have a masters degree (or equivalent), preferably in Biochemistry, Medicine, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Physiology, Chemistry, Physics or related areas.
Other information: Duration– 48 months Tentative starting date– 1st January 2014 Approximate monthly allowance – 980 euros How and when to apply – Fill the form at www.m2b-phd.pt (from 15 to 30 September 2013) Selection– A selection committee will meet and decide on the best candidates for the projects available based on their background training, academic marks, and eventual publications and/or other scientific activities. Programme director – Prof. Miguel Castanho (University of Lisbon, School of Medicine, Portugal), www.biochemistry-imm.org/article.php Contact – Send us an email at http://www.m2b-phd.pt/cat.php?catid=7 Webportal – www.m2b-phd.pt Funding – The M2B-PhD is funded by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (Portuguese Ministry of Science and Education)
Three POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATE positions at the DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACOLOGY, UNIVERSITY of CAMBRIDGE Signalling to and from IP3 receptors
Applications are invited for three postdoctoral posts funded by the Wellcome Trust and BBSRC for initial periods of up to 3 years. The lab combines diverse approaches to examine the structural basis of intracellular Ca2+ signalling (Nature 458, 655–; Nature 483, 108–; J Cell Biol 202, 699–) and it enjoys collaborations with labs in other disciplines.
Candidates must have, or soon expect to have, a PhD. The appointees will contribute to work addressing the roles of IP3 receptors in cell migration, signalling from the plasma membrane to IP3 receptors, and the roles of dynamic organelles in generating intracellular Ca2+ signals. Experience with gene-editing, cell migration, and/or advanced optical imaging methods, and an interest in cell signalling are essential. Starting salary, depending on experience, will be in the range £27,854-£36,298. A more senior appointment may be available for an exceptionally experienced candidate.
Informal enquiries to Prof. Colin W. Taylor: [email protected]. Candidates should submit a CV, a coversheet CHRIS 6 (fromhttp://www.phar.cam.ac.uk/department/vacancies) including the email addresses of two academic referees, and a description of your experience as it relates to the job specifications to Ms J. Dunne at: [email protected]. The reference CWT/RA2013 should be included in the subject heading.
The closing date is 31 October 2013. Interviews of short-listed candidates will take place soon afterwards. Further information available at: http://www.phar.cam.ac.uk/research/taylor
FEBS offers free advertisement of academic positions on the FEBS website, and selected entries are also included in FEBS News. For more information, see the ’Post a Vacancy’ link on the Career Opportunities page.
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