Seminars & Events

This page displays ALL of the Seminars and Events taking place in the Biology Department.  For separate listings of departmental research seminars, events for undergraduates, or other specific events, click on one of the links below, or use the left hand navigation menu.

Departmental Research Seminars | Events for Undergraduates

>> Past Seminars & Events

Upcoming Seminars & Events

Past Seminars & Events

Changes in Caribbean Reef Communities: Patterns, Causes and Mitigation Speaker: Dr. John Bruno, UNC Chapel Hill Date and Time: Tuesday, September 20, 2011 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Bill Kier

"Getting Involved in Undergraduate Research" Discover the research opportunities inside and outside the Biology Department. Open to first-year, sophomore and junior students. Speaker: Dr. Gidi Shemer Date and Time: Thursday, September 22, 2011 @ 6:00 PM Location: 201 Coker Hall

"How to Study for Biology" Aimed at students taking their first biology course in the department, with an emphasis on Biology 101. Speaker: Dr. Kelly Hogan Date and Time: Wednesday, September 28, 2011 @ 7:00 PM Location: 107 Wilson Hall

Coordination of Cytoskeletal Dynamics and Membrane Trafficking for Cell Shape Change and Motilty Speaker: Stephanie Gupton, UNC, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology Date and Time: Tuesday, October 4, 2011 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Bob Goldstein

Green/Sustainability Careers Networking Night Sponsored by University Career Services Date and Time: Thursday, October 6, 2011 @ 5:30 PM Location: Room 239B, Hanes Hall

Distinguished Seminar in Evolutionary Biology Nature, Nurture and the Nurturers Speaker: Michael Wade, Indiana University Date and Time: Tuesday, October 11, 2011 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Joel Kingsolver

Lawrence Gilbert Distinguished Seminar in Biology A Dual Role for Dynamin in Clathrin-Mediated Endocytosis Speaker: Sandra Schmid, Scripps Research Institute Date and Time: Tuesday, October 18, 2011 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Mara Duncan

9th Annual Biology Retreat and Symposium Date and Time: Monday, October 24, 2011 @ 12:00 PM Location: Hitchcock Multipurpose Room, Stone Center

Experimental Evolution of Multicellularity Speaker: Michael Travisano, University of Minnesota Date and Time: Tuesday, November 1, 2011 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Christina Burch Lab

Divergent Selection and the Evolution of Reproductive Isolation in Sticklebacks Speaker: Dr. Jenny Boughman, Department of Zoology, Michigan State University Date and Time: Tuesday, November 8, 2011 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Maria Servedio

Biology Career Panel Sponsored by TriBeta, the Biology Department, and University Career Services. Open to all students. Highlighting various careers that relate to Biology. Registration required. Speaker: Dr. Kelly Hogan Date and Time: Wednesday, November 9, 2011 @ 6:00 PM Location: Room 107, Wilson Hall

Dissecting the Molecular Mechanisms of Wnt Signaling Speaker: Raymond Habas, Temple University Date and Time: Tuesday, November 15, 2011 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Frank Conlon

Winner of the Biology Grad Students intra-departmental speaker vote Delving into the Devonian: Evolution and Early Plant Structure Speaker: Pat Gensel, UNC Chapel Hill Date and Time: Tuesday, November 22, 2011 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: BGSA Eric Earley

Polyploidy and Aneuploidy During Drosophila Tissue Remodeling Speaker: Don Fox, Duke University Date and Time: Tuesday, November 29, 2011 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Mark Peifer

Quantitative Imaging Faculty Search Seminar Cytoskeletal Control of CD36 Diffusion Promotes its Receptor and Signaling Function Speaker: Khuloud Jaqaman, Harvard Medical School Date and Time: Monday, January 9, 2012 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Vicki Bautch

Metagenomics Faculty Search Seminar The Molecules and Mechanisms of Microbial Interspecies Interactions Speaker: Elizabeth Shank, Harvard University Date and Time: Thursday, January 12, 2012 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Sarah Grant

Quantitative Imaging Faculty Search Seminar A Speedy Service for Nucleocytoplasmic Transport Speaker: Weidong Yang, Bowling Green State University Date and Time: Tuesday, January 17, 2012 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Kevin Slep

Quantitative Imaging Faculty Search Seminar How Can Molecular Dynamics Predict Cellular Function? Speaker: Catherine Galbraith, NIH Date and Time: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Bob Goldstein

Quantitative Imaging Faculty Search Seminar Imaging Epigenetic Events Regulating Chromosome Segregation Speaker: Paul Maddox, IRIC, University of Montreal Date and Time: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Mara Duncan

Mangelsdorf Seminar, Chosen by the Biology Graduate Students, Co-Sponsored by NCBiotech How does a frog egg solve geometry problems? Speaker: Tim Mitchison, Harvard University Date and Time: Tuesday, February 7, 2012 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Biology Graduate Students

Metagenomics Faculty Search Seminar Daily Tracking of Human Health, Behavior, and Gut Microbiota over One Year Speaker: Lawrence David, Harvard University Date and Time: Thursday, February 9, 2012 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Alain Laederach

Quantitative Imaging Faculty Search Seminar Imaging mRNA Transport To and Through the Nuclear Pore Complex Speaker: David Grünwald, Kavli Institute of Bionanoscience Date and Time: Tuesday, February 14, 2012 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Dorothy Erie (Department of Chemistry)

"Getting Involved in Undergraduate Research" Discover the research opportunities inside and outside the Biology Department. Open to first-year, sophomore and junior students.   107, Wilson Hall  5:00-6:30 PM Spring 2012 research workshop Speaker: Dr. Gidi Shemer Date and Time: Wednesday, February 15, 2012 @ 5:00 PM Location: 107 Wilson Hall

Metagenomics Faculty Search Seminar Microbes in Honey Bee Health and Disease Speaker: Scott Cornman, USDA-ARS Beltsville Date and Time: Tuesday, February 21, 2012 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Karin Pfennig

Introduction to Graduate School Open to all students who are considering Graduate School. What is Graduate School in Biology? How do you become a competitive candidate? Which schools to apply to? These and many other questions will be discussed   107, Wilson Hall  5:00-6:30 PM       Speaker: Dr. Gidi Shemer Date and Time: Wednesday, February 22, 2012 @ 5:00 PM Location: 107, Wilson Hall

Metagenomics Faculty Search Seminar The Evolution of Diversity in the Medicago truncatula-Sinorhizobium Symbiosis Speaker: Maren Friesen, University of Southern California (USC) Date and Time: Thursday, February 23, 2012 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Jason Reed

Metagenomics Faculty Search Seminar Predictive Models of Host/Microbe Interactions in Gnotobiotic Mice Speaker: Jeremiah Faith, Washington University in St. Louis Date and Time: Tuesday, February 28, 2012 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Jeff Dangl

Membrane protein assembly: What are the rules? Speaker: Gunnar von Heijne, Stockholm University Date and Time: Thursday, March 8, 2012 @ 4:00 PM, Thursday Location: Coker 201 Host: Darrel Stafford

Once in a lifetime: control of cell fate and architecture by a Hippo signaling system Speaker: Eric Weiss, Northwestern University Date and Time: Tuesday, March 13, 2012 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Kerry Bloom and Pat Brennwald

"Writing Your Personal Statement" Open for all students who are considering graduate or professional school. We will discuss the structure and content of a personal statement.  Learn the do’s and don’ts of an effective statement. Participants will begin the process of formulating their own personal statement 107, Wilson Hall  5:00-6:30 PM Speaker: Dr. Brian Rybarczyk Date and Time: Thursday, January 1, 1970 Location: 107, Wilson Hall

Lawrence Gilbert Distinguished Seminar in Biology Learning from Insect Brains: Explorations of a 'Simple' Olfactory System Speaker: John Hildebrand, University of Arizona Date and Time: Tuesday, March 20, 2012 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Larry Gilbert and Ken Lohmann

Madagascar: Lemurs and Spies Speaker: Dr. Bobby Schopler Date and Time: Monday, March 26, 2012 Location: Coker 201 07:00 PM

Adaptive Landscapes for RNA in vitro Speaker: Donald Burke, University of Missouri Date and Time: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Alain Laederach

Impacting Policy Through Noninvasive Wildlife Monitoring Speaker: Samuel Wasser, University of Washington Date and Time: Tuesday, April 3, 2012 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Keith Sockman

Phytochrome Nuclear Bodies and Light Signaling in Plants Speaker: Dr. Meng Chen, Duke University Date and Time: Tuesday, April 10, 2012 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Jeff Dangl

Assigning sexual signals to their source: How túngara frogs solve the cocktail party problem Speaker: Hamilton Farris, Louisiana State University Date and Time: Tuesday, September 11, 2012 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Sabrina Burmeister

Study Abroad Fair Representatives from all over the world, study abroad advisors, and past study abroad students to answer your questions about studying almost anywhere in the world! Speaker: Multiple Speakers Date and Time: Friday, September 14, 2012 @ 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM Location: UNC Student Union - Great Hall

Animal Flight Dynamics, Stability and Maneuverability Speaker: Ty Hedrick, UNC Chapel Hill Date and Time: Tuesday, September 18, 2012 @ 3:30 PM - NEW TIME [Refreshments at 3:15 PM] Location: Coker 201 Host: Bill Kier

Getting Involved in Undergraduate Research Discover the research opportunities inside and outside the Biology Dept. Open to first years, sophomores & juniors Fall 2012 research info session Speaker: Dr. Gidi Shemer Date and Time: Wednesday, September 19, 2012 @ 6:00 - 7:30 PM Location: Room 107, Wilson Hall

"Science Majors CAN Study Abroad!" Learn about opportunities specifically for science majors to study abroad during the semester and summer, and meet students who have done it. Speaker: Multiple Speakers Date and Time: Thursday, September 20, 2012 @ 7:00 - 8:30 PM Location: Room 201, Coker Hall

Recombination Rate Influences Adaptation and Speciation in the Drosophila pseudoobscura Species Group Speaker: Mohamed Noor, Duke University Date and Time: Tuesday, September 25, 2012 @ 4:00 PM Location: 201 Coker Hall Host: Corbin Jones

“College Biology is Not Like High School Biology” (Aimed at students taking their first biology course in the department; focus on studying for Biology 101.) Speaker: Dr. Kelly Hogan Date and Time: Wednesday, September 26, 2012 @ 7:00 - 8:30 PM Location: Room 107, Wilson Hall

Group Advising for First Year Students First year students who are declared Biology majors or who are interested in Biology as a major may attend. Registration required—first years will receive information via email from academic advising. Speaker: Dr. Kelly Hogan and Steele Building Advisors Date and Time: Wednesday, October 3, 2012 @ 4:00 - 5:30 PM Location: Room 107, Wilson Hall

The Genome of Theobroma cacao: The Chocolate Tree Speaker: Mark Guiltinan, Pennsylvania State University Date and Time: Tuesday, October 9, 2012 @ 4:00 PM Location: 201 Coker Host: Alan Jones

Group Advising for First Year Students First year students who are declared Biology majors or who are interested in Biology as a major may attend.  Registration required—first years will receive information via email from academic advising. Speaker: Dr. Gidi Shemer and Steele Building Advisors Date and Time: Tuesday, October 9, 2012 @ 4:00 - 5:30 PM Location: Room 107, Wilson Hall

Genotype-Phenotype Mapping in a Post-GWAS World Speaker: Sergey Nuzhdin, University of Southern California Date and Time: Monday, October 15, 2012 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Corbin Jones

Biology Graduate Students Intra-departmental Speaker Vote Winner Insights into avian diversity and migration using citizen science data Speaker: Allen Hurlbert, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Date and Time: Tuesday, October 16, 2012 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Kayla Peck & Biology Graduate Student Association (BGSA)

Bacterial mutualists of insects: Adaptation and degradation of tiny genomes Speaker: Jennifer Wernegreen, Duke University Date and Time: Tuesday, October 23, 2012 @ 4:00 PM Location: 201 Coker Hall Host: Joel Kingsolver

Selling Yourself: Writing Your Personal Statement for a Masters or PhD Program Open for all students who are considering graduate or professional school. We will discuss the structure and content of a personal statement.  Learn the do’s and don’ts of an effective statement. Participants will begin the process of formulating their own personal statement. Speaker: Dr. Brian Rybarczyk Date and Time: Wednesday, October 24, 2012 @ 5:00 - 6:30 PM Location: Room 107, Wilson Hall

Health and Human Rights in Haiti Dr. Evan Lyon, of Partners in Health and the University of Chicago, will present a public talk entitled 'Health and Human Rights in Haiti: Setbacks and the Ways Forward'.  Dr. Lyon will discuss human rights and its impact on health and health care, and will provide us with an update on the aftermath of the earthquake,  cholera, and the work of Partners in Health in Haiti.  Dr. Lyon’s work as a physician and activist focuses on the right to health – providing comprehensive care in poor communities, assisting community-based HIV and TB care, and managing chronic illness using community health workers.  He has worked in Haiti since 1996, and was one of the first from Partners in Health on the scene in Haiti after the 2012 earthquake.  This event is co-sponsored by the Department of Biology, the UNC First Year Seminar Program and GlobeMed UNC.  Click here for more information or contact Mark Peifer at peifer@unc.edu. Speaker: Dr. Evan Lyon Date and Time: Thursday, October 25, 2012 @ 7:00 PM Location: Room 201, Coker Hall

Health and Human Rights in Haiti: Setbacks and the Ways Forward Speaker: Dr. Evan Lyon Date and Time: Thursday, October 25, 2012 @ 7:00 PM Location: Room 201, Coker Hall

Darwin in silico: Genomic and Phenomic Forays into Evolutionary Diversity Speaker: Todd Vision, UNC-Chapel Hill Date and Time: Tuesday, October 30, 2012 @ 4:00 PM Location: 201 Coker Hall Host: Bill Kier

Transcriptional Control of Cardiovascular Development Speaker: Frank Conlon, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Date and Time: Tuesday, November 6, 2012 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Bill Kier

Biology Career Panel Sponsored by TriBeta, the Biology Department, and University Career Services. Open to all students. Highlighting various careers that relate to biology.  Registration required at Biology Website. Speaker: Dr. Kelly Hogan Date and Time: Wednesday, November 7, 2012 @ 6:00 - 7:30 PM Location: Room 107, Wilson Hall

Phrog Pharming: using chemical genetics in frog embryos to investigate the morphogenesis and evolution of the gut Speaker: Nanette Nascone-Yoder, North Carolina State University Date and Time: Tuesday, November 13, 2012 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Frank Conlon

State of North Carolina Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium Doing research and want practice presenting? Want to see what other university undergrads are doing? Registration begins in early September and closes mid-October. Hosted by Duke University.  Details >> Speaker: Multiple Speakers Date and Time: Saturday, November 17, 2012 Location: Duke University

Manglesdorf Seminar, Selected by the Biology Graduate Students Angiogenin, tRNA and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Speaker: Paul Anderson, Harvard University Date and Time: Tuesday, November 27, 2012 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: BGSA Shawn Lyons

Distinguished Seminar in Cell Biology Context Dependent Regulation of Cell Survival and Drug Sensitivity in Epithelial Cells Speaker: SEMINAR CANCELLED - Joan Brugge, Harvard University Date and Time: Tuesday, January 22, 2013 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Mark Peifer

Information Session - Morehead City Field Site Spend your fall semester at one of the UNC field sites. Speaker: Rachel Noble Date and Time: Tuesday, January 22, 2013 @ 2:00 - 3:30 PM Location: Room 314, Whitehead

Information Session - Outer Banks Field Site Spend your fall semester at one of the UNC field sites. Speaker: Lindsay Dubbs Date and Time: Thursday, January 24, 2013 @ 1:00 - 3:00 PM Location: Room 314, Whitehead

Faculty Search Seminar Cytoskeletal Dynamics and Cell Shape Change during Development Speaker: Amy Shaub Maddox, Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, University of Montreal Date and Time: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Kerry Bloom

Information Session - Highlands, NC Field Site Spend your fall semester at one of the UNC field sites. Speaker: Karen Kandl Date and Time: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 @ 1:00 - 3:00 PM Location: Room 314, Whitehead

Evolutionary Biology Faculty Search Seminar Macroevolution of Plant Breeding Systems Speaker: Emma Goldberg, University of Illinois at Chicago Date and Time: Thursday, January 31, 2013 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Corbin Jones

Health Affairs Job and Internship Expo This year, University Career Services has collaborated with UNC’s Gillings School of Global Public Health, the School of Allied Health Sciences and the Carolina Health Informatics Program to offer this event. Business Attire. Bring multiple copies of your resume. Speaker: Multiple Speakers Date and Time: Thursday, January 31, 2013 @ 12:00 - 4:00 PM Location: Great Hall, Student Union

Evolutionary Biology Faculty Search Seminar Reproductive Isolation in Drosophila: Genetic Causes and Evolutionary Consequences Speaker: Daniel Matute, University of Chicago Date and Time: Tuesday, February 5, 2013 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Karin Pfennig

Evolutionary Biology Faculty Search Seminar The Dynamic History of Vertebrates: Ecological Transitions Promote Diversification Speaker: Samantha Price, University of California at Davis Date and Time: Thursday, February 7, 2013 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Joel Kingsolver

Evolutionary Biology Faculty Search Seminar New Tools for Studying Macroevolution on Phylogenies Speaker: Liam Revell, University of Massachusetts Boston Date and Time: Tuesday, February 12, 2013 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Bob Goldstein

“College Biology is Not Like High School Biology” (Aimed at students taking their first biology course in the department; focus on studying for Biol 101.) Speaker: Dr. Kelly Hogan Date and Time: Wednesday, February 13, 2013 @ 6:00 - 7:00 PM Location: Room 107, Wilson Hall

Evolutionary Biology Faculty Search Seminar Why Sex? Empirical Tests of the Genetic and Ecological Factors Predicted to Favor Outcrossing Speaker: Levi Morran, Indiana University Date and Time: Thursday, February 14, 2013 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Christina Burch

Distinguished Seminar in Genetics Cilia, Centrosomes and Signaling in the Mouse Embryo Speaker: Kathryn Anderson, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Date and Time: Tuesday, February 19, 2013 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Vicki Bautch and Mark Peifer

Variation and Evolution of Developmental Pathways in Yeast Speaker: Paul Magwene, Duke University Date and Time: Tuesday, March 5, 2013 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Mara Duncan

Getting Involved in Undergraduate Research Discover the research opportunities inside and outside the Biology department. Open to first years, sophomores and juniors. Speaker: Dr. Gidi Shemer Date and Time: Thursday, March 7, 2013 @ 6:00 - 7:30 PM Location: Room 201, Coker Hall

Max and Fran Hommersand Distinguished Lecture in Biology Disentangling the Convoluted History of Algal Genomes Speaker: Debashish Bhattacharya, Rutgers University Date and Time: Tuesday, March 12, 2013 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Corbin Jones

Cooperative Mechanisms of Spindle Assembly Speaker: Alexey Khodjakov, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health Date and Time: Tuesday, March 19, 2013 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Vicki Bautch

Introduction to Graduate School Speaker: Dr. Gidi Shemer Date and Time: Wednesday, March 20, 2013 @ 5:00 - 6:30 PM Location: Room 107, Wilson Hall

Undergraduate Research Honors Symposium in Biology Research posters and talks presented by undergraduates. Open to the public. Speaker: Undergraduate Speakers Date and Time: Friday, March 22, 2013 @ 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM Location: Room 215, Coker Hall (presentations) Coker Hall lobby (posters)

Lawrence Gilbert Lecture Mechanism and Regulation of Cytoplasmic Dynein Speaker: Andres Leschziner, Harvard University Date and Time: Tuesday, March 26, 2013 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Kevin Slep

“Getting Pandas Pregnant” Dr. Barbara S. Durrant, from the San Diego Zoo, will Skype interview with us this evening and tell us stories from her career as a world famous reproductive physiologist. Notably, in 1999 Durrant was responsible for harvesting sperm from the reluctant panda male Shi Shi and artificially inseminating Bai Yun at precisely the right moment. No small feat, considering that pandas go into heat only a few days each spring. She has worked with many other endangered animals and will surely have some stories to tell. Speaker: Dr. Barbara Durrant Date and Time: Thursday, March 28, 2013 @ 7:00 - 8:30 PM Location: Room 201, Coker Hall

Running the Light at the Intersection Between RNA Editing and Gene Silencing Speaker: Rob Reenan, Brown University Date and Time: Tuesday, April 2, 2013 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Greg Matera

Biology Faculty Search Seminar Mammals in Space - The large-scale ecology and conservation of mammals in temperate and tropical ecosystems Speaker: Dan Thornton, Trent University Date and Time: Monday, April 8, 2013 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Charles Mitchell

New Insights towards a Trait-Based View of the Study of Biological Diversity Speaker: Brian Enquist, University of Arizona Date and Time: Tuesday, April 9, 2013 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Bob Peet

Biology Career Panel Sponsored by TriBeta, the Biology Department, and University Career Services. Open to all students. Highlighting various biological careers. Registration required: details on Twitter and Facebook  Speaker: Dr. Kelly Hogan Date and Time: Wednesday, April 10, 2013 @ 6:00 - 7:30 PM Location: Room 107, Wilson Hall

Regulating Centriole Assembly Speaker: Chad Pearson, University of Colorado Denver Date and Time: Thursday, April 11, 2013 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Kerry Bloom

Distinguished Seminar in Plant Biology The Genetic Architecture of Maize Domestication: Low-hanging Fruit and Dark Matter Speaker: John Doebley, University of Wisconsin-Madison Date and Time: Tuesday, April 16, 2013 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Jeff Dangl and Sarah Grant

Manglesdorf Seminar, speaker selected by the Biology Graduate Students Colors of the Past: Ancient Metabolic Networks and Contemporary Avian Evolution Speaker: Alex Badyaev, University of Arizona Date and Time: Thursday, May 2, 2013 @ 4:00 PM Location: Coker 201 Host: Kayla Peck and the BGSA