Top News Archive

The following items were reported more than four months ago.

Instructors Bustamante, Casagrand, and Foley Receive Chancellor's Award for Excellence in STEM Education
Instructors Heidi Bustamante, Janet Casagrand, and Teresa Foley have received a Chancellor's Award for Excellence in STEM Education. Their proposal for $10,000 for "Evaluation of the Effectiveness and Success of Inquiry-Based Laboratories in IPHY" has been accepted.

Prof. Roger Enoka receives Muybridge Award
Prof. Roger Enoka has recently been honored by his colleagues as the recipient of the Muybridge award. This is the most prestigious award of the International Society of Biomechanics and is awarded for career achievements in the field. The award is named after Eadward Muybridge (1830-1904), who was the first to use cinematography for the study of human and animal movement. Only one award is given every two years. The International Society of Biomechanics was founded August 30, 1973 to promote the study of all areas of biomechanics at the international level, although special emphasis is given to the biomechanics of Human Movement. The Society encourages international contacts amongst scientists, promotes the dissemination of knowledge, and forms liaisons with national organizations. The Society's membership includes scientists from a variety of disciplines including anatomy, physiology, engineering (mechanical, industrial aerospace, etc.), orthopedics, rehabilitation medicine, sport science and medicine, ergonomics, electro-physiological kinesiology and others.

Faculty Position in Integrative Physiology

Specialization - Expertise in integrative physiology, defined as the study of biological function by linking observations from molecules to populations of individuals. The department will consider applications from individuals with a broad range of interests, including aging, biomedical epidemiology, cardiovascular disease, cell biology, immunology, quantitative methods, and skeletal muscle.

Rank - Tenure-track position at the level of assistant professor. Start Date - August 20, 2012

Qualifications - Applicants must have completed postdoctoral training. Previous research by the applicant must be published in premier journals, including those in physiology. Evidence of an ability to obtain extramural grant support is required and some teaching experience is preferred. Individuals will be expected to teach one of the core courses for the undergraduate degree in integrative physiology, plus additional courses as required.

Responsibilities - (1) to establish an independent research program that is supported by awards from extramural agencies; (2) to contribute to the teaching mission of the undergraduate program; (3) to provide teaching and mentoring for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows; and (4) to perform service for the department, university, and profession.

General Information - The faculty roster for the Department of Integrative Physiology includes 23 tenured and tenure-eligible faculty and 9 instructors. The department offers the B.A., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Integrative Physiology. The undergraduate and graduate programs comprise ~1700 and 60 students, respectively. For more details on the department and the university, visit our website (http://www.colorado.edu/intphys). The Boulder campus is one of three in the University of Colorado system, and is approximately 35 miles from the Health Sciences Center in Denver.

Application Procedure - A description of the position can be found at the website www.colorado.edu/ArtsSciences/Jobs. Applications are only accepted electronically at https://www.jobsatcu.com, posting #813927. An application requires: (1) cover letter stating qualifications, research goals, an explanation of how your expertise adds synergy to existing strengths in the department, and teaching qualifications; (2) current curriculum vita; (3) three original research articles; and (4) list of three references with contact information.

Review of the applications will begin on November 1, 2011 and continue until a candidate is identified. Additional information can be obtained by phone (303-492-3122), fax (303-492-4009), or e-mail (marsha.cook@colorado.edu). The University of Colorado Boulder is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to building a diverse workforce. We encourage applications from women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans. Alternative formats of this ad can be provided upon request for individuals with disabilities by contacting the ADA Coordinator at 303-492-1334.

Prof. Monika Fleshner elected president of two professional societies
Her colleagues have recently honored Prof. Monika Fleshner by electing her as president of two professional societies. She is 2011-2012 president of the PsychoNeuroImmunology Research Society (PNIRS), which comprises individuals who study the interactions between the immune and nervous systems and the consequences for behavior and health. The ~400 members in the Society comprise scholars with expertise in behavioral medicine, endocrinology, immunology, infectious diseases, neuroscience, pharmacology, physiology, psychiatry, psychology, and rheumatology. Dr. Fleshner's responsibilities as President-Elect are to serve on a number of committees for the Society that shape the scientific content of the annual meeting, manage the budget, and chart its future development. The annual meeting will be held in San Diego during the time that Prof. Fleshner is President. Prof. Fleshner is also President-Elect for the International Society of Exercise and Immunology, which comprises ~200 members from 20 countries. As the name suggests, the purpose of the Society is to foster the exchange of information and the development of knowledge on the influence of exercise on the function of the immune system. The Society organizes a biennial scientific meeting with the 2009 meeting held in Tubingen, Germany, the 2011 meeting to be held in Oxford, UK, and the 2013 to be held in Australia. As Prof. Fleshner will be President at the time of the 2013 meeting, she will unfortunately have to travel to Australia for that meeting.

Prof. Rodger Kram receives BFA Faculty Excellence Award
Prof. Rodger Kram has been awarded the 2011 Boulder Faculty Assembly Award for Excellence in Teaching. Prof. Kram is one of four recipients of this award university-wide. This prestigious award recognizes outstanding educational faculty who have inspired their students with their dedication to teaching and innovative teaching methods both inside and outside the classroom.

IPHY doctoral program receives high marks
The National Research Council (NRC) reported what it calls "illustrative" ranges of rankings on overall program quality and on three dimensions of doctoral education-research activity, student support and outcomes, and gender and ethnic diversity of the academic environment. The IPHY doctoral program received overall rankings as high as fourth when compared over 60 other physiology programs in the country. The NRC approach takes into account many factors ranging from number of students, faculty publications, graduation rates, faculty honors and awards, combined using a lengthy and complex statistical analysis process. Congratulations to both the grad students and faculty alike for this significant achievement.

Only as Old as Your Arteries
Prof. Doug Seals' work on the aging of artery walls is featured in the CU College of Arts & Sciences Magazine. His group studies how exercise, dietary salt restriction, and other lifestyle factors can promote cardiovascular health. Now their research focus has expanded to explore the benefits of natural pharmaceuticals such as Vitamin D. Link: http://artsandsciences.colorado.edu/magazine/2010/10/only-as-old-as-your-arteries/

Prof. Pei-San Tsai Receives Provost's Faculty Achievement Award
Prof. Pei-San Tsai has received the 2010 Provost's Faculty Achievement Award. This new award of $1,000 is granted in recognition of a coherent body of work, such as a publication or series of related publications, that has made a significant impact on the field.

Benjamin Greenwood appointed as assistant research professor
Dr. Greenwood completed undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Colorado at Boulder with a double major (1999) in psychology and kinesiology, an M.S. (2001) in Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, and a Ph.D. (2005) in Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience. His postdoctoral training at CU-Boulder included a project that was funded by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. His current research, which is funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, examines the neurobiological mechanisms by which physical activity status impacts cognitive and behavioral responses to stress, focusing primarily on learning and memory, depression, and anxiety-related behaviors in rodents. His long-term goals are to do identify the neurobiological mechanisms by which physical activity increases resistance against stress-related psychiatric disorders.

Christopher DeSouza promoted to professor
Since being promoted to the rank of associate professor with tenure in 2005, Dr. DeSouza has continued to be among the top performers in the department each year in teaching, research, and service. These accomplishments have been recognized by the University as they have agreed with the recommendation of the Department that he be promoted to the rank of professor. His research focuses on vascular biology, as he examines the interface between physiology and blood chemistry. The significance of this work is underscored by the breadth of topics he has studied, which include the effects of aging, obesity, hormone replacement therapy, HIV-1 infection, oxidative stress, and regular physical activity. The Department concurs with the University's conclusion that we are fortunate to claim a colleague of his calibre among our ranks.

Dr. Tom Johnson receives Denham Harman Research Award for the Lifetime Achievement in Research
Established in 1978, this award was named in honor of Dr. Denham Harman, a co-founder of the American Aging Association and honors a person who has made significant contributions to biomedical aging research.

Monika Fleshner Elected President
Professor Monika Fleshner was elected to a two-year term as president of the International Society for Exercise Immunology (http://www.isei.dk). The Society provides a forum for the exchange of ideas among researchers interested in exercise and immunology and its members include biochemists, exercise physiologists, hematologists, immunologists, neuroscientists, physicians, and traumatologists. The Society organizes a biennial convention and the next meeting will occur on July 11-13, 2011 in Oxford, England.

Marissa Ehringer promoted with tenure
After evaluations by the Department, College of Arts of Sciences, and the University, Dr. Marissa Ehringer has been promoted to the rank of associate professor with tenure. She is also a faculty fellow in the Institute of Behavioral Genetics. Dr. Ehringer's research focuses on understanding the molecular genetic mechanisms that contribute to the development of substance abuse, mainly alcohol- and nicotine-related problems. The Department is fortunate to claim a colleague of her caliber among our ranks.

Dr. Tom Johnson receives BFA Faculty Excellence Award
Dr. Tom Johnson has been awarded the 2010 Boulder Faculty Assembly Award for Excellence in Research, Scholarly and Creative Work. This award of $3,000 emphasises work of high quality that does not receive recognition through the usual channels, such as interdisciplinary research, work accomplished with undergraduate students, or integrated long-term achievements.

Dr. Tom Johnson awarded distinction of AAAS Fellow
Prof. Tom Johnson has been awarded the distinction of AAAS Fellow for his contributions in developing the C. elegans model for the understanding of the genetics of longevity. The AAAS is the largest scientific membership organization in the world. Each year a few hundred are nominated by their peers for elevation to Fellow status which is one of the highest honors conferred by the AAAS and ranks among the major awards and recognitions that can be obtained in the United States.

Dr. Rodger Kram's Research Plays Key Role in Debate About Athletes with Prosthetic Limbs
Dr. Rodger Kram, his former PhD student Alena Grabowski and collaborators have published a study that found that amputee runners with prosthetic limbs do not have an unfair advantage over runners that have their biological limbs. In fact, prosthetic limbs impart a slight disadvantage. Kram is also the lead author of a debate on the topic that was recently published in the Journal Of Applied Physiology. Their work was inspired by Oscar Pistorius' successful bid to try out for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. The study has received extensive media attention, including coverage in The New York Times.

Assistant Professor Position
The Department is recruiting for an assistant professor in integrative physiology. This is a tenure-track position that begins August 16, 2010. Applicants must add synergy to existing strengths in the Department. The review of applications will begin on November 1, 2009. Additional information can be obtained from Marsha Cook (marsha.cook@colorado.edu).