Newsletter December 2009
December 2009
Contents
1. News from the Board
2. Dissertations
3. RECETO Scholarships
4. Conferences and Symposia
5. Upcoming Ph.D. Courses and Other Relevant Courses
6. Vacancies
7. News about RECETO Names
The board is working with several organizational questions. The main question is how the research educational programmes can function as efficient meeting places, networking opportunities and bridges between institutions under the new Ph.D. school structure. Also it appears that the funding to research educational programmes received from the Danish Research Councils is going to stop, and in the future funding is coming from the universities. Hence, new solutions have to be found for funding Ph.D. scholarships between RECETO partners. The different RECETO partners will be contacted during the coming months for reneval of partnership agreements and for discussion of new funding solutions.
New benefits for RECETO students
The board has decided on some new initiatives that RECETO students may benefit from. RECETO students may now apply for a travel grant of 5000 DKK at the disposal of the student, for support for relevant purposes (e.g. travels to conferences, meetings, international courses). The application form will be up soon.
Another offer to students is the opportunity to get your scientific articles reviewed by RECETO-affiliated supervisors before submission to a scientific journal.
RECETO-financed PhD courses held summer/autumn 2009
This summer three courses have been organized within the framework of RECETO:
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RECETO PhD summer school: “Bioactive natural compounds in soil: Analysis, fate and effects". July 26 - 31 2009 at Flakkebjerg, in co-operation with Copenhagen University and Aarhus University.
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“Phosphorus in Wetlands – hydrology, biogeochemistry and management”. September 20 - 26 2009 at Research Centre Foulum, Denmark, in cooperation with Copenhagen University, Aarhus University, and University of Southern Denmark.
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“Individual-based Modelling of Microbial Interactions & Processes Using iDynoMiCS”. June 21 – 26 2009 at DTU.
The courses got very good evaluations by the students.
Post Doc grant
The board has decided to grant a post doc stipend to Nikoline Juul Nielsen for work on the project "Plant metabolomics for the assesment of environmental contamination - a proof-of-concept study on glyphosate exposure". Nikoline is going to perform her post doc work at the Department of Basic Sciences and Environment, Faculty of Life Sciences, Copenhagen University (KU/LIFE).
Scholar stipends
Two applicants have been granted a scholar stipend of 30.000 DKK. The two scholarship awardees are Christina Aagaard Rasmussen and Karoline Nolsø Aaen. Christina is doing her master thesis at the Faculty of Life Sciences, Copenhagen University, and she will work on a paper with the working title “Synergy of the fungicide epoxyconazole at realistic concentrations”. Karoline is also doing her master thesis at the Faculty of Life Sciences, Copenhagen University, and the working title of her paper is “Development of an anaerobic [3H]leucine incorporation assay for the determination of pollution-induced bacterial community tolerance in copper-contaminated, irrigated soils”
Coming board meetings:
20 January at Faculty of Science, Copenhagen Univesity (KU-NAT)
The agendas and minutes of board meetings are posted online at http://www.receto.dk/Organization/Board/Minutes.aspx
Since the last newsletter, 5 RECETO students have completed and defended their dissertations and can now claim the title of Ph.D. Congratulations to Charlotte, Saioa, Martin, Pia, and Jacob!
Charlotte Legind Nielsen: "Uptake of organic chemicals in plants - Human exposure assessment". Supervisors were Jens C. Streibig, LIFE and Ulrich Bay Gosewinkel, NERI.
Saioa Zorita Castresana: "Analytical method development for ultra-trace determination of human pharmaceuticals in aqueous samples - Assessing the performance of a sewage treatment plant". Supervisor was: Lennart Mathiasson, Lund University.
Martin Hansen: "Anticoccodials in the environment: Occurrence, fate, effects and risk assessment of ionophores". Supervisor was: Bent Halling-Sørensen, PHARMA.
Pia Haugaard: "Analysis and Fate of Toxic Glycoalkaloids from Solanum tuberosum in the Terrestrial Environment". Supervisores were: Hans Christian B. Hansen, LIFE; Bjarne W. Strobel, LIFE; Ole Stig Jacobsen, GEUS.
Jacob Bælum: "Expression and Diversity of Functional Genes Involved in Phenoxy Acid degradation in Indigenous Environmental Microbial Communities". Supervisors were: Bjarne Westergaard Strobel, LIFE; Carsten Suhr Jacobsen, GEUS.
A list of Ph.D.s associated to RECETO
RECETO M.Sc. Merit Scholarships for M.Sc.
A number of scholarships – each DKK 30,000 – have been established to ensure that the best M.Sc. thesis work in the RECETO framework culminates in a fully developed paper that is submitted to a scientific journal. Students who are working on topics in environmental chemistry, microbiology, and toxicology within one or more RECETO research groups can apply for the scholarship at any time. See www.receto.dk
RECETO Postdoctoral Positions
RECETO Ph.D.s can apply for postdoctoral positions of three to six months. The purpose of the postdoctoral programme is to strengthen collaborative research among the research groups within RECETO and to contribute to RECETO educational activities. The next application deadlines are March 1, 2008 and September 1, 2008. See www.receto.dk
RECETO Travel Grants
RECETO Ph.D. students can at any time apply for travel grants to support their participation in Ph.D. courses abroad. Application form coming up soon, see www.receto.dk
JANUARY
4th annual meeting in the Danish Water Research Platform (DWRP)
January 28 - 29, 2010, 2-day conference at GEUS, Copenhagen
The aim of the meeting is to allow for presentation of recent advances of ongoing RTD projects with participation of Danish research groups, including projects funded by national as well as international (EU Framework Programmes, DSF, ERC, etc.) funding agencies. There will also be a session open for presentation of ongoing PhD projects, and a special session will be devoted to water research in a wider context, covering issues such as the dissemination and application of research results, RTD cooperation between research institutions and industry/public authorities, and the need for fundamental and strategic research with the water sector. All types of water research addressing topics within freshwater, groundwater, coastal water, wastewater, drinking water, industrial water, and rain- and stormwater can be presented at the meeting.
Topics include water resources management, monitoring, modelling, biogeochemical processes, wastewater treatment, water distribution, groundwater remediation, water quality, water toxicology and health, water use, reuse and demand, industrial water management, information management systems, and various aspects of technology development.
Abstract submission deadline
Deadline for submitting your abstract is 1 December, but if you are interested please contact Peter and we can arrange 4 December as the real deadline. Please send your abstract to Jesper Dannisøe, , cc to Peter, . Please state ViVa/LIFE as your affiliation.
Find guidelines for abstract submission.
You can also sign up for the meeting without presentation.
For more information see VIVAs homepage.
Download the flyer for the conference.
Venue
The Geological Survey of
Denmark and Greenland (GEUS),
Øster Voldgade 10,
1350 København K.
MARCH
Winter meeting – ATV Foundation for Soil and Groundwater
March 9-10, 2010
Vingsted Centret, Vejle
The winter meeting is a two-day conference where the latest news, experiences and research results within the area of soil and groundwater will be presented and discussed. Participants will be scientists, consultants, authorities etc. (only in Danish).
Read more about the meeting at the homepage of the Foundation.
Download flyer with information about poster presentations (Danish)
MAY
SETAC 2010; Meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry: "Science and Technology for Environmental Protection"
Seville, Spain, 23-27 May
This conference includes the session E2:
"Environmental impact of amendments on soil ecology and soil organic matter quality"
Conference topics are:
Climate change and environmental quality
Environmental chemistry
Emerging pollutants
Ecotoxicology
Handling, monitoring and remediation of pollution
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Management (LCM)
Marine environment
Nanomaterials
Risk assessment and regulation
Here you find further information of the meeting
Course organizers are
Francisco J. González-Vila and
APRIL
2010 Ground Water Summit and
2010 Ground Water Protection Council Spring Meeting
Denver, Colorado, April 11-15
This event encompasses workshops, field trips, the NGWREF Darcy Lecture, the Birdsall-Dreiss Lecture, numerous topical and poster sessions, networking receptions, and sponsorship opportunities. Plenary sessions will feature individual speakers of note and panelists.
Students are especially welcome to submit abstracts for both oral and poster presentations. Up to four $500 scholarships will be awarded based on quality of presentation, content, and demonstrated insight on the topic or issue. These funds will be distributed after the conclusion of the conference.
For more info, please visit the homepage
JUNE
International Humic Substances Society
“Humic Substances and the Maintenance of Ecosystem Services”
Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, 27 June - 2 July 2010
Topics of the conference will be on
- The role of humic substances & NOM in ecosystems
- Physical, chemical and biological properties
- Carbon stabilization processes: humification & highly refractory forms
- NOM as driver and tracer of terrestrial C fluxes
- Production, recycling and innovative applications
- New analytical approaches
- Humic substances & NOM in aquatic systems
- Water treatment
Notice:
Deadline for travel Awards application: December 1st, 2009
Deadline for submission of abstracts: January 15th, 2010
More information is available at the homepage
download flyer
AUGUST
19th World Congress of Soil Science: Soil Solutions for a Changing World
1-6 August 2010 in Brisbane, Queensland Australia, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre
The conference theme "Soil Solutions for a Changing World" provides a tremendous opportunity for a broad range of presentations – we urge you to share your research, experiences and knowledge with members in Brisbane.
The congress covers topics of
- Soils in Space and Time
- Soil Properties and Processes
- Soil Use and Management
- The Role of Soils in Sustaining Society and the Environment
Call for Papers
Papers must be submitted by 31 October 2009 to be considered.
Download the Congress flyer and get more information at the homepage of World Congress of Soil Science.
2010
JANUARY
STAiR PhD course: Visualization of Soil Inner Space – Advanced Visualization Methods and Links to Soil Physical Functions
Course content
This course will introduce students to various aspects of soil physics related visualization and characterization practices. Students will use field- sampled intact soil cores and perform various types of characterization, such as dye tracer visualization, gas diffusivity and air permeability measurements, and X- ray computer tomography (X-ray CT) scanning. The course will cover both the theory and conceptual understanding of X-ray CT needed to reliably measure and quantify soil properties such as porosity and pore network structure, soil permeability, and fluid saturation level. Following successful scanning of the collected field samples at Aarhus University medical X-ray scanning facility, students will learn to use basic routines and software tools to extract quantitative information from the images. This will facilitate comparison between CT data and data generated with the other characterization techniques. The goal is to provide students with an opportunity to assess the usefulness of the various techniques and to get a sense of the type of complementary information that can be obtained with the various techniques. The course format will include both technical lectures and hands-on experiences with soil physics laboratory exercises, and CT scanning and visualization.
Key lectures
Professor Dorthe Wildenschild, Oregon State University, USA. Professor Per Moldrup Aalborg University, Leading physicist Søren Baarsgaard Hansen, PET Center Aarhus University Senior Scientists Bo Vangsø Iversen and Lis Wollesen de Jonge, Aarhus University.
Further information and online registration:
www.stair.agrproject.dk
Download course flyer
FEBRUARY
Data Analysis tools in ecology
Coimbra, Portugal
Module 1:15-19 February
Module 2: 22-26 February
More information and registration at the homepage
MARCH
Publishing in peer-reviewed journals (Tress and Tress, 3 ECTS)
Munich, Germany, 16 – 18 March, 3 days comprehensive training
Find more info on the homepage of Tress and Tress
Roads to success in interdisciplinary research (Tress and Tress, 1 ECTS)
19 March, 1 day, Munich, Germany
Find more info on the homepage of Tress and Tress
APRIL
PhD course: Hazardous chemicals in the environment (STAiR, GESS, AU)
April 12 – 16
Download the flyer for the course
Scientific Article Writing and Critical Literature Scrutiny (PHARMA, 4.5 ECTS)
19 – 23 April
Find more info about the course and regisrtation at Pharmas homepage
MAY
Mixed effects models in ecology
Coimbra, Portugal, 17-21 May
More information and registration at the homepage
Training researchers to commercialize research (NOVA, 4 ECTS)
Two periods: 5 days in may and 5 days in September
Visit the homepage of Tress and Tress for more info
Coping with the challenges of a PhD study (Tress and Tress , 2 ECTS)
Comprehensive 3-day training, 31 May – 2 June
(E-mail: ) or visit their homepage www.tress-tress.com
JUNE
Soil degradation, Erosion and Restoration (NOVA, 4 ECTS)
7 – 16 June 2010.
Find more information and application forms at the homepage
SAFE summer school: Hands-on LC-MSMS analytical chemistry of phytochemicals
PhD School of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Aarhus University
21 June - 2 July, 2010
Knowledge of advanced chemical analysis i a necessary tool in research on bioactive natural compounds from plants both when focus is on the compounds' health effects and their defense properties against insects, weeds and diseases. Analytical chemistry can of course be studied in books, -but with practical laboratory work you will learn much more. The cours will take place in a well equipped laboratory at Aarhus University, Flakkebjerg, Denmark. Three LC-MSMS apparatuses will be availeble for the students during the course and the use of the equipment will be taught by our experienced technicians. Techniques on the practical preparation of natural samples will be trained as well.
The course will include
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Preparatory reading of course literature (sent by mail to the participants no later than two months before the start of the intensive part of the course)
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Participation in a ten-days on residential course at Research Centre Flakkebjerg
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Hand-in of a report no later than two weeks after the ten-days residential course
Lecturers
Inge S. Fomsgaard, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Aarhus
Senior Scientist Niels Henrik Hyttel Spliid, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Aarhus
Laboratory Technician Anne G. Mortensen
Laboratory Technician Bente Laursen
Laboratory Technician Kirsten Heinrichson
PhD student Jonas Lekfeldt
Other visiting lecturers will be announced later
Course venue
The course venue is Research Centre Flakkebjerg, situated in Southwest Zealand, 10 km south of Slagelse, 100 west of Copenhagen. Research Centre Flakkebjerg hosts two departments of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Aarhus University.
Complete adress of the venue is:
Department of Integrated Pest Management,
Research Centre Flakkebjerg
Forsøgsvej 1,
DK-4200 Slagelse
Tel: +45 89993500
Complete adress of the venue is:
Flakkebjeg Efterskole
Slagelsevej 13, Flakkebjerg
4200 Slagelse
Denmark
Course coordinator: Inge S. Fomsgaard, Tel. no. +45 89993610 or +45 22283399, E-mail
Download the flyer
Understanding peer-reviewed publishing, 1 day (Tress and Tress, 1 ECTS)
3 June 2010, Munich, Germany
Visit the homepage of Tress and Tress for more info.
Publishing in peer-reviewed journals, 3 days comprehensive training (Tress and Tress, 3 ECTS)
7 – 9 June, Munich, Germany
Visit the homepage of Tress and Tress for more info
AUGUST
RECETO summer school, title to be announced. Topic within the area of soil contaminants.
23 – 28 August, Roskilde, Denmark.
9th International NCCR Climate Summer School "Adaptation and Mitigation: Responses to Climate
29 August – 3 September 2010, Grindelwald, Switzerland
The NCCR Climate, Switzerland's centre of excellence in climate and climate impact research, invites young scientists to join leading climate researchers in a scenic southern Swiss Alpine setting for keynote lectures, workshops and poster sessions on the occasion of the 9th NCCR Climate Summer School 2010.
The topics covered at the NCCR Climate Summer School 2010 will include:
- Emission scenarios and the future of the global climate
- Economics of climate change: an overview
- Assessing costs and benefits of climate change
- Adaptation and Mitigation: instruments, strategic aspects and implementation
- Climate policy and international negotiations.
The summer school is open to young researchers (PhD students and Post-Docs) worldwide. Participation is highly competitive and will be limited to a maximum of 70. The registration fee (1'200 CHF) includes half board accommodation, excursion and teaching material. A small number of grants will be available for students from developing countries.
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: 19 DECEMBER 2009
Successful applicants will be notified in February 2010.
Contact: University of Bern, , Zähringerstrasse 25, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland, Telephone +41 31 631 31 45, Telefax +41 31 631 43 38.
Find more information at the homepage of NCCR
Applied statistics with R for the agricultural, life, and veterinary sciences (NOVA, 6 ECTS)
6 days August, 2010
Find more information about the course and application forms at the homepage
OCTOBER
Sustainable use of tropical soils (NOVA, 5 ECTS)
23rd October – 6th November 2010
Find more information about the course and application forms at the homepage
RECETO Postdoctoral Positions
RECETO Ph.D.s can apply for postdoctoral positions of three to six months. The purpose of the postdoctoral program is to strengthen collaborative research among the research groups within RECETO and to contribute to RECETO educational activities. The next application deadlines are March 1, 2010 and September 1, 2010. See www.receto.dk
Five PhD projects have been commenced that are co-financed by The Danish Agency for Science and Technology. The five people who have taken on the projects are:
Heidi Huus Petersen, M.Sc. has started as a PhD student at the University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Life Sciences, Department of veterinary disease biology.
Project title: "Occurrence and fate of protozoan parasites in separated animal slurry applied to agricultural soil".
Supervisors: Anders Dalsgaard
Esther Sørensen Boll has started as a PhD student at the University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Life Sciences, Department of Basic Sciences and Environment.
Project title: "Chemical profiling of oil and PAH polluted soil and drainage water - A step toward novel paradigm in risk assessment".
Supervisor: Jan H. Christensen
Li-Zhi Huang has started as a PhD student at the University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Environment, Department of Basic Sciences and Environment.
Project title: "Applied photochemistry of iron oxides - photo-Fenton degradation of organic pollutants in soils and groundwater".
Supervisor: Hans Christian Bruun Hansen.
has started as a PhD student at the University of Aarhus, NERI, Department of Environmental chemistry and microbiology.
Project title: "Occurrence and characterization of virulence genes amongst naturally occurring environmental bacteria".
Supervisor:
Estelle Petersson has started as a PhD student at Lund University.
Project title: "Diffusive sampling strategies for environmental pollutants in wet solid matrices".
Supervisor: Jan Åke Jönsson
New RECETO secretary
A new scientific secretary in RECETO has taken over the post from Karina Knudsmark Jessing. The new secretary is Ditte Carlsen who has a Master degree in Biology from Aarhus University. Her areas of research are microbiology, microbial processes and biogeochemistry in marine sediments.
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