November 13, 2013
Ecological Genomics Institute hosts international symposium
The Kansas State University Ecological Genomics Institute hosted its 11th annual symposium Nov. 1-3 in Kansas City.
The symposium, organized by a committee and lead by co-directors Loretta Johnson, associate professor, and Michael Herman, professor, showcased 10 speakers from across the United States, as well as Canada and Germany.
Topics discussed ranged from the origins of weedy rice to the adaptation of organisms in stressful environments, a common theme at the symposium. Bradley Olson, assistant professor of biology at K-State, gave the presentation "Peering into the pond for clues to multicellularity."
A select number of poster abstracts submissions were chosen for presentation, including one by K-State’s Alison Egge, who works with Ted Morgan, associate professor. Additionally, approximately 19 posters were on display from K-State students, postdoctorates and faculty members.
Based in Kansas State University’s Division of Biology, the Ecological Genomics Institute was established in 2003 with funding from the National Science Foundation and the Targeted Excellence program of the K-State provost's office. Approximately 20 faculty from five distinct disciplines collaboratively research challenges in ecological genomics and work together to achieve the goals of the institute.
Institute scientists use funding from the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Agriculture and other agencies in various research projects aimed at understanding the genomic basis of adaptive responses of organisms to their natural environment. This year’s symposium was funded in part with a K-State Academic Excellence Award from the provost’s office.