Click here for the Phospholipid technical program.
Click here for the Surfactants and Detergents technical program.
Message from the Chair, by Tom McKeon
The time of the Annual Meeting in Seattle is fast approaching. The deadline for the online special registration rate is February 29. This issue of the newsletter includes some information on our Biotechnology Division sessions and a list of duties of each division officer. I would like to take this chance to encourage you to participate in the Biotechnology Division Roundtable, scheduled for Tuesday, May 20 from noon to 1:30. It's a good chance to network with other division members and to discuss ideas for sessions at future annual meetings.
Analytical Methods in Functional Genomics
Monday afternoon of the Annual Meeting and Expo of AOCS will feature a joint session between the Biotechnology and Analytical Divisions entitled "Analytical Methods in Functional Genomics." The area of functional genomics includes large-scale analysis of gene expression at the level of the transcript, protein, and metabolite. Among the benefits of functional genomics is the ability to reveal relationships in gene expression and metabolism which can lead to more effective diagnosis of disease states, and strategies for the modification of diet and crop improvement.
The ability to analyze thousands of macromolecules and small organic molecues at the same time requires rapid and sensitive techniques in molecular genetics, biochemistry, and analytical chemistry.
Monday afternoon's joint session will be chaired by Dr. Randall Weselake of the University of Alberta, Canada, and Dr. Ken Lin of the USDA. Drs. Lin and Itabashi will deliver presentations on methods in the analysis of neutral lipids. Information on the profiling of chemical and flavor components of genetically modified peanut varieties will be presented by Dr. N.T. Dunford of Oklahoma State University. Dr. Sue Abrams, research officer with the Plant Biotechnology Institute (National Research Council of Canada), will deliver a presentation on the targeted profiling of hormones in plants. Information on this hormone profiling methodology can be found at: http://pbi-ibp.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/en/research/planthormoneprofiling.htm. Co-chair Dr. Weselake will speak on a novel method for the detection and quantification of TAG accumulation in recombinant yeast systems. Finally, Dr. George Haughn of the University of British Columbia, Canada, will provide an overview of TILLING, a reverse genetic technique which can be applied to all plant species.
This exciting session should provide useful information for scientists and students from a range of disciplines.
Award Announcement:
Biotechnology Lifetime Achievement Award
Chairperson: Ching T. Hou. NCAUR, USDAWinner: Dr. Yung-Sheng (Vic) Huang, Vice-President
National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Congratulations, Vic Huang! The award reception and lecture is scheduled for Tuesday, May 20 at 2 p.m.
Biotechnology Division Officers
Biotechnology Division Officer Duties:
Chair
- presides over Annual Meeting Biotechnology Division Board meeting and the Roundtable Discussion
- attends Annual Meeting Program Committee meeting with vice chair
- attends Annual Meeting Division Board meeting
- provides AOCS staff with items for Biotechnology Division Newsletter (due one month prior to September, February and Annual Meeting publication dates)
- appoints members of Student Award Committee
- appoints a division member as chair of the Lifetime Achievement Award Committee
- reports results of Lifetime Achievement Award to the Awards Administration Committee Chair
- presides over Biotechnology Division Dinner
- attends Division Council meetings to represent the division
Vice Chair
- organizes Annual Meeting program for Biotechnology Division, reviewing abstracts, deciding placement of submitted abstracts in oral or poster sessions, especially for volunteer papers
- assumes duties of chair in case of chair’s absence
- attends Annual Meeting Program Committee meeting, describes proposed sessions for next Annual Meeting
- attends Annual Meeting Division Board meeting
- works with AOCS staff on organizing Biotechnology Division Dinner, Roundtable
- attends Division Council meetings to represent the division
Secretary/Treasurer
- reports on division finances at the Annual Meeting Biotechnology Division Board meeting and at the Roundtable
- serves on AOCS Membership Committee
- takes board meeting notes
- develops the division's budget in collaboration with the chair and vice chair
Immediate Past Chair
- collects nominations for division officer elections
- attends Annual Meeting Biotechnology Division Board meeting and Roundtable Discussion
Members-at-Large
- attend Annual Meeting Biotechnology Division Board meeting and roundtable
- other duties as assigned by the chair such as serving on award committees
Special Representative
- attends Annual Meeting Biotechnology Division Board meeting and roundtable
- this is an ad hoc appointment, made at the discretion of the chair
All Biotechnology Division Members
- are encouraged to attend Roundtable Discussion, traditionally scheduled for noon-1:30 p.m. on Tuesday during the Annual Meeting
- can run for elective office or nominate Biotechnology Division members for elective office
- can suggest topics for Biotechnology Division Annual Meeting sessions and serve as session organizers/chairs
- can serve on award committees, submit nominations or letters of support for awards
- can contribute articles for the division newsletter
Currently, officers hold office for three years. Members-at-large, secretary/treasurer and vice chair are elective offices. Vice chair becomes chair after serving three years and is the only name that appears on the election ballot. However, write-in candidates are permitted for the chair position.
I hope that more division members can come to the Division Roundtable, usually held on Tuesday at 12 noon. The Roundtable is usually held in the same room as the division scientific sessions are held, but the scheduled time and location is listed in the Annual Meeting program. Please come if you’re interested in serving as a division officer, have an idea for a scientific session, or just want to catch up on what the division is doing and planning for future meetings.
Current Division Officers:
Chair: Tom McKeon (Term: 2007-2010)
Vice Chair: Ramesh Patel, Vice Chair/Program Committee (2007-2010)
Secretary/Treasurer: Dan Solaiman (2007-2010)
Immediate Past Chair: David Hildebrand (2007-2010)
Special Representative: Ching Hou (ad hoc appointment)
Members-at-Large: Hans Christian Holm (2007-2010)
Yuji Shimada (2007-2010)
Randall Weselake (2007-2010)
Xuebing Xu (2007-2010)
AOCS Offers Expanded Career Center
The AOCS career center delivers opportunities for advancement at any stage in your professional development.
AOCS and JobTarget have partnered to create a new full-service online career center. The career center focuses on assisting job seekers in the fats and oils industry and can be found on the AOCS website at http://www.aocs.org/member/jobcent.
AOCS knows how hard it is for employers to find top quality professionals, and for job seekers to find the right employer. Our career center connects member and non-member professionals in their search to find the optimal career fit.
The career center includes a Job Alert system that notifies you by email of new job opportunities that match your search criteria and an Anonymous Résumé Bank feature that enables you to list your experience and qualifications in a protected environment. The anonymous posting option allows you to stay connected to the employment market while maintaining full control of your confidential information. In return, employers have the option to pay only for the résumés that are appropriate for their job opportunity with the Pay-Per-Résumé feature.
For all your career needs and resources, visit us at http://www.aocs.org/member/jobcent.