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Dear UBC,
With 2024 in full swing, we reflect on the significant strides made by the UBC in the preceding year. The installation of a new Daily Board marked a pivotal moment. With a clear aim to serve the bioinformatics community at Utrecht Science Park, we will continue to shape the UBC.
Looking back, the past year was remarkably fruitful, featuring several in-person and online events. The 9th UBC symposium, held at the Princess Máxima Center, stands out as a resounding success. The event welcomed a record number of participants, featured distinguished speakers, and offered engaging interactions during sessions. Notably, we ventured into organizing a live debate for the first time, centering around generative AI. The event drew a record number of attendees from across the Utrecht Science Park, both anticipated and unexpected, and sparked valuable discussions that really seemed to resonate with the audience. We express our gratitude to the symposium’s panelists, Prof. Sanne Abeln, Dr. Wouter van Amsterdam, and Dr. Christine Fox, for their contributions.
As we set our sights on 2024, our commitment persists. This year we will continue to organise live events, kicking off with an in-person seminar by dr. Lucas Kaaij —scheduled for January 29th at 4 PM. We are very much looking forward to it, and hope to see many of you there!
Warm regards,
Ronnie de Jonge
On behalf of the UBC daily board
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Meet UBC Principal Investigator Lucas Kaaij
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Supporting the collaborative spirit of the UBC, Lucas Kaaij has recently joined our community as principal investigator. In this interview, Lucas introduces us into his research field and the pivotal role of bioinformatics in unravelling its complexities.Working as an assistant professor at UMC Utrecht’s Center for Molecular Medicine, Lucas Kaaij and his team study how the organization of the 3D genome is regulated and how its architecture impacts the regulation of gene expression. Lucas recently joined the UBC as principal investigator. On January 29th he will host a UBC Seminar, sharing his most recent bioinformatics related research.
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ERC Consolidator Grant for Charissa de Bekker |
Biologist and UBC member Charissa de Bekker was awarded an ERC Consolidator Grant, together with several other Utrecht-based researchers. In her ERC project, Charissa explores the world of parasites that manipulate the behavior of their hosts, akin to the zombies depicted in popular culture. Charissa anticipates that unraveling the molecular genetics of parasite-induced behavioral changes will not only advance our understanding of these manipulation strategies. It could also pave the way for innovative pest control methods and the development of fungus-derived drugs.
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Bioinformatics unveils cheese flavour |
UBC member Chrats Melkonian recently made headlines with his Nature paper about cheese flavour formation. Using bioinformatics, Chrats demonstrated that cheddar cheese's distinct flavour comes down to interactions between different bacteria. cheese-makers could utilise this knowledge to create a specific taste. Read more at New Scientist or Forbes.
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Student joins Dutch Olympic rowing team |
Bioinformatics & Biocomplexity master's student Eli Brouwer has pleasantly surprised by earning a spot in the Dutch Olympic rowing team. Despite joining the national selection only recently, and competing for this selection against more experienced rowers, Brouwer is now the top choice for the "Coxless Four" team. A news story is available on the DUB website, in Dutch only.
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Recent publications by UBC members |
UBC Seminar: GuidedNOMe-seq / Genome scale quantitative insight in chromatin states |
| In the next UBC Seminar, Lucas Kaaij will introduce us into his most recent bioinformatics-related research. Lucas will focus on GuidedNOMe-seq, a cost-effective, scalable, and customizable targeted enrichment extension to the existing NOMe-seq protocol. After an in depth discussion, attendees are welcome to have a drink and catch up with other UBC members. The in-person seminar will take place on January 29th, at Utrecht University's Minnaert Building, room 2.01. |
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Standardization of metagenomics is (not) required! |
| The Westerdijk Institute invites bioinformatics researchers from Utrecht and beyond to join the symposium "Standardization of metagenomics is (not) required!" Taking place on February 2nd, this symposium features talks from researchers covering a broad variety of bioinformatics-related research. The event is organized by the Dutch Royal Society for Microbiology (KNVM) and the Dutch Society for Medical Microbiology (NVMM). The full programme can be found on the KNVM website. |
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Tenth edition of the UBC Annual Symposium coming up |
| Although the previous edition of the UBC Annual Symposium is still fresh in our memories, we're alreay looking forward to this year's noteworthy tenth edition. This edition is set to take place in October 2024. While October may seem distant, the UBC Board is diligently working to secure the optimal location and date for this milestone event. Stay tuned for updates as we finalize the exact date and other details. |
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