Announcements

Employment Opportunities

Postdoctoral Fellowship in Statistical Genetics.—The Asthma Genetics Laboratory (AGL) at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), is inviting applications for postdoctoral fellows to participate in projects aimed at understanding the genetic basis of complex diseases in racially admixed populations. The AGL is a member of UCSF's Institute for Human Genetics and has a highly interactive and multidisciplinary team of physician-scientists, genetic epidemiologists, statisticians, geneticists, and molecular biologists. The research environment is enhanced by large, family-based and population-based sample sets of well phenotyped, racially diverse individuals and strong national and international collaborative ties. The successful candidate will participate in development of statistical methods, study design, and data analysis for genomewide association studies, studies of population stratification, and investigations of admixture mapping for complex diseases. A suitable candidate will hold a Ph.D. in a quantitative science (statistics, biostatistics, computer science, or mathematics) or epidemiology and should have strong theoretical, analytical, and computational skills. A background in genetic epidemiology and statistical genetics would be beneficial. An ability to work collaboratively and good communication skills are required. Applicants should email a curriculum vitae and a letter of application and should arrange for three or more letters of reference to be sent to Dr. Esteban Gonzalez Burchard, M.D., M.P.H., Director, Asthma Genetics Laboratory and UCSF DNA Bank (esteban@sfgh.ucsf.edu). UCSF is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.

Program Director, Genetic Counseling.—The Division of Human Genetics at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), is conducting a search for a program director, who will be responsible for the continuing development and supervision of our innovative accredited graduate program in genetic counseling. The Division serves the genetic counseling needs of our diverse community, and the graduate program dynamically interacts with other units within the University, such as the UCI Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, and the programs in nursing science, public health, and pharmaceutical science. It is required that the director be board certified in genetic counseling. The successful applicant should have 10 years experience as a practicing genetic counselor, as well as a significant background in teaching, research, and/or administration. UCI offers a competitive salary and excellent benefits and pension plans, as well as an ideal location in southern California, close to beaches and mountains. UCI is an equal opportunity employer. For further information, please contact Virginia Kimonis, M.D., Chief, Division of Genetics and Metabolism Department of Pediatrics, UCI Medical Center, 101 The City Drive South, ZC4482, Orange, CA 92868; telephone: (714) 456-5791, direct: (714) 456-2942; fax: (714) 456-5330; e-mail: vkimonis@uci.edu. Also, administrative assistant Sara Davis-Eisenman can be reached by telephone at (714) 456-6612.

Clinical Geneticist.—The Division of Molecular and Human Genetics, Ohio State University Department of Pediatrics at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, is seeking an individual to participate in the division's clinical and teaching activities. The division maintains active programs in dysmorphology, pediatric clinical genetics, metabolic disorders, and prenatal genetics counseling and participates in several multidisciplinary clinics within the university. Nationwide Children's Hospital is one of eight Regional Comprehensive Genetics Centers funded, in part, by the Ohio Department of Health. The candidate must be trained in pediatrics and must be board certified or eligible in clinical genetics. Some experience in the diagnosis and management of patients with metabolic disorders is desirable. The successful candidate will join an expanding team that consists of four clinical geneticists, four pediatric clinical genetics counselors, a dedicated metabolic nurse and dietician, an accredited genetics residency-training program, and full genetics laboratory services (i.e., cytogenetics, molecular, and biochemical genetics laboratories). It is expected that the position will be filled at the assistant professor level. Excellent opportunities for clinical or collaborative research projects exist within the department. The Ohio State University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer. Women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Address correspondence, with names of three references and curriculum vitae, to Dr. Gail Herman, M.D., Ph.D., Professor and Director of Genetics Search Committee, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Drive, Room W403, Columbus, OH 43205; telephone: (614) 722-2848; fax: (614) 722-2817; e-mail: Gail.Herman@nationwidechildrens.org.

Postdoctoral Position in Statistical Genetic Analysis and Genetic Epidemiology.—The Genetics of Complex Disorders training program in the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University provides pre- and postdoctoral training in the genetic epidemiology and statistical genetic analysis of complex diseases, including psychiatric disorders. Our mission is to train scientists to be aware of all aspects of genetic studies, including study design, clinical aspects, phenotype definition, molecular laboratory issues, and statistical analysis. Training includes both didactic (course work and laboratory rotations) and research components. We seek an applicant with a demonstrated interest in pursuing a career in the genetic analysis of complex disorders, preferably someone with training in statistics, medicine, epidemiology, and/or genetics. To be considered, applicants must have earned a Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent. Further information is available at our Web site (http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/sph/epi/gcd/) or by request to Susan E. Hodge, D.Sc, NYSPI, Unit 24, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032. Columbia University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens.

Codirector/Assistant of Clinical Cytogenetics.—The Permanente Medical Group of Kaiser–Northern California is seeking applicants for the position of codirector/assistant director of Clinical Cytogenetics to join our laboratory management team. Kaiser Permanente is one of the largest health-maintenance organizations in the United States. The Northern California program provides integrated, comprehensive genetics services through five genetics centers and regional cytogenetics and molecular genetics laboratories. These include a staff of 14 medical geneticists, >40 genetics counselors, 5 genetics laboratory directors, and >40 cytogenetic and molecular technologists. Located in San José—the heart of Silicon Valley, 50 miles from San Francisco and the Pacific coast—our full-service diagnostic cytogenetics laboratory processes >12,000 prenatal, constitutional, and oncology cases annually, with a significant molecular cytogenetics component, including array comparative genomic hybridization. The candidate should have earned an M.D. or Ph.D. in a field related to genetics, have completed a 2-year American Board of Medical Genetics (AMBG)–approved training program, be ABMG clinical cytogenetics board certified or eligible, and be eligible for California state licensure. Eligible persons are invited to apply by sending a curriculum vitae and letter of interest to Joy Bates, Support Staff Supervisor, Genetics Department, 5755 Cottle Road, Building One, San José, CA 95123; telephone: (408) 972-3318; fax: (408) 972-3298; e-mail: Joy.A.Bates@kp.org.

Medical Genetics Physician.—A rapidly expanding research program in human genetics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine is seeking applications from American Board of Medical Genetics (ABMG)–eligible or –certified M.D. or M.D./Ph.D. clinical geneticists for a new open-rank, tenure-track position. The successful applicant will have a significant amount of time protected for research, with the remainder devoted to patient care and teaching. A strong record of scholarship and the intent to develop an independent research program are expected. Joint appointment in a clinical department (Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Obstetrics/Gynecology, etc.) is anticipated. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has a long tradition of collegiality and collaboration, and the medical school has well-established clinical programs in pediatric genetics and metabolism, adult genetics, cancer genetics, maternal and fetal medicine, and psychiatric genetics. We are fully accredited by the American Council of Graduate Medical Education for residency training in medical genetics and molecular genetic pathology and by the ABMG for fellowship training in cytogenetics and molecular and biochemical genetics. For additional information, see our departmental Web page at http://genetics.unc.edu/. Candidates should send electronic copies of a curriculum vitae, a letter of interest with a description of research and clinical experience and research plans and hard copies of four letters of recommendation to Terry Magnuson, Ph.D., Chair, Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB# 7264, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7264; telephone: (919) 843-6475; e-mail: trm4@med.unc.edu. The University of North Carolina is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

Postdoctoral Position in Statistical Modeling of Gene-Environment Interaction, University of Michigan.—A postdoctoral position is available, beginning January 2008, for a qualified applicant to work with Sebastian Zöllner in collaboration with Noah Rosenberg on methods for gene-environment interaction. We are interested in modeling gene-environment interaction, finding efficient methods for including environmental covariates in gene mapping, and exploring the evolutionary consequences of gene-environment interaction. A possible project involves developing a model to define heritable subtypes of complex disorders, such as bipolar disorder, by analyzing the joint inheritance of endophenotypes and the clustering of environmental covariates in families. Strong computing skills are essential, and experience with statistical modeling is highly desirable. The project is funded for 3 years by the National Institutes of Health. The postdoctoral position will be based in the Department of Biostatistics (http://www.sph.umich.edu/biostat/) and the Center for Statistical Genetics (http://csg.sph.umich.edu/) at the University of Michigan. For further details, please contact Sebastian Zöllner at szoellne@umich.edu.

Conference

Lysosomal Disease Network: WORLD (We're Organizing Research on Lysosomal Diseases) Symposium 2008.—The Lysosomal Disease Network invites you to attend Lysosomal Disease Network: WORLD Symposium 2008, February 13–15, 2008, at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. Participants will include clinicians, geneticists and genetic counselors, neurologists and neuropsychologists, researchers, nurses, and other health care professionals, as well as patients and families, patient/family support organizations, and industry professionals. The Lysosomal Disease Network is a research consortium of scientists, laboratories, health care professionals, and clinics working as networked centers of excellence to improve basic knowledge and understanding of lysosomal disorders, improve diagnosis, and advance therapeutic options for individuals affected by these disorders. Topics will include Newborn Screening, New Advances and Therapies in Gaucher Disease, Fabry Disease, Mucopolysaccharidosis, Batten Disease, Pompe Disease, Mucolipidosis, Sphingolipidoses, and Oligosaccharidosis. American Medical Association Physician's Recognition Award Category 1 Credits will be offered; final determination of credits is pending. For more information, see the Lysosomal Disease Network Web site (http://www.LysosomalDiseaseNetwork.org) or the University of Minnesota's Continuing Medical Education Web site (http://www.cmecourses.umn.edu) or contact the University of Minnesota by calling (612) 626-7600 or (800) 776-8636, or by e-mail (cme@umn.edu).

Award

2008 William K. Bowes, Jr., Award in Medical Genetics.—The annual William K. Bowes, Jr., Award in Medical Genetics has been established by the Harvard Medical School-Partners HealthCare Center for Genetics and Genomics, to recognize and honor an outstanding physician or scientist who is completing training in medical genetics or in a combined training program with medical genetics. The Bowes Award highlights the exciting opportunities available to those who are interested in a career in medical genetics and gives critical visibility to the importance of genetics in the future of health care. The recipient will receive a cash award of $20,000 and a framed certificate. The Award will be presented at a black-tie dinner to be held in Boston on June 18, 2008. During the day of June 18, the recipient will join a nationally recognized senior scientist to present grand rounds at the Center. Eligible candidates must have completed all the official requirements for training leading to board certification by the American Board of Medical Genetics (ABMG). Individuals in joint ABMG training programs—such as Pediatrics and Medical Genetics, Internal Medicine and Medical Genetics, and Molecular Genetic Pathology—are also eligible. All such individuals who have completed the requirements within 4 years of nomination are eligible. Candidates must have a proven record of academic accomplishments, exemplify excellence in their areas of specialty, and show exceptional promise and commitment for continued leadership. Nominations may be made by any physician, scientist, or other health care professional. Those wishing to nominate a candidate are encouraged to do so by completing the online nomination form, which can be found at http://www.hpcgg.org/News/award_2008. Alternatively, a letter identifying the candidate and providing full contact information for the nominee may be sent to the Award Committee. All nominees will be contacted by the Award Committee, advised of their nomination, and asked to complete the detailed nomination requirements. The deadline for nominations is December 31, 2007. An Award Committee of nationally and internationally renowned scientists will review nominations and select the Award recipient. Please address questions and correspondence to Harvard-Partners Center for Genetics and Genomics, William K. Bowes, Jr., Award in Medical Genetics, Award Committee, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Suite 250, Boston, MA 02115, or to Janice Larson at jalarson@partners.org.