Every autumn in the Southern Hemisphere, Magellanic penguins leave their coastal nesting sites in South America. For adults, their summer task — breeding, or at least trying to — is complete. Newly fledged chicks and adults gradually head out to sea to spend the winter feeding. They won’t return to land until spring.
In a paper published by UW Biology Professor Dee Boersma and Research Scientist Ginger Rebstock on Aug. 9 in the journal Marine Ecology Progress Series, they report that the Río de la Plata — which drains South America’s second-largest river system after the Amazon — strongly influences oceanographic conditions in the Magellanic penguins’ winter feeding waters. Those oceanographic features, they report, show up in the body conditions of Magellanic penguin females, but not males, when the penguins return to their nesting grounds in spring.
Rebstock then analyzed whether variations in these oceanographic features — such as a strong, dispersed plume or a weak, localized plume — were associated with the body condition of penguins at the time of their arrival at Punta Tombo. Boersma and her team have collected information on the health and state of individual penguins when they arrive Punta Tombo for more than three decades. According to their data, the body conditions of male Magellanic penguins weren’t correlated with the extent of the plume. But Rebstock found that female penguins arrived back at Punta Tombo earlier, and in healthier body condition, if the Río de la Plata plume was weaker in winter. This may indicate that the plume affects how hard Magellanic penguins must work to find food.
Ben's research focuses on using active learning in large-enrollment courses at both UW and Western Washington University.
Ben helps to run the teaching side of the Biology Department (here is a visual of the kinds of things he does on a day-to-day basis).
In Winter quarters he teaches Bio200 (Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology) where he enjoys connecting molecular characteristics to big-picture evolution and human challenges.
His upper-division lab course is Civilizational Biology (Bio313), which is roughly speaking the biology you would need to restart human civilization after the apocalypse.
He helps with a small course (MCB508 Teaching College Science) focused on teaching skills and curriculum development for 4th and 5th year graduate students with an emphasis on equity for diverse student groups and active learning methods. An example syllabus for 508 is here, and here is a syllabus for one of the resulting independently-designed courses known as Bio410 from Spring 2018. And here is another.
During Autumn quarter, he teaches a first-year seminar on The End of the World (Gen St 197) from a perspective of science, leadership and anthrology.
Lastly, Ben teaches an array of seminars and workshops ranging across education, teaching development, molecular biology, etc. Ben has a MS in Molecular and Cellular Biology and a PhD in the Learning Sciences.
For undergraduate students interested in getting credit for a biology-related internship, please submit this application:
For undergraduate students working as Peer Facilitators but NOT recieving credit, please complete this form and get it back to me:
For those interested in applying to be a Field Trip Coordinator, please use this form for the Handshake application
Manager responsible for the overall assessment of compliance, quality control and/or standards defined for the execution of clinical trial(s); including managing CAPA, supporting process improvement initiatives and preparing/analyzing metrics.
Will have direct reports and will matrix manage with assigned therapeutic area or functional partners to ensure proper documentation of AbbVie procedures, implementation of process changes, ensure compliance and/or execution on timelines and quality deliverables.
Is aware of both internal and external business environments, assesses impact on the processes for clinical study execution and makes modification as necessary.
Interprets relevant regulations and guidelines and act as a SME for Clinical Operations. Assist clinical teams with inspections, audit responses and consult on root cause analysis, as required.
Independently takes initiative to resolve problems and mitigate risk. Escalate significant issues to management.
Provides management of clinical compliance, quality and standards projects within Clinical Operations; prepares key performance indicators
Provides input new/updates to SOPs, guidelines, work instructions as well as make initial gap assessment of impact of new regulations.
Effectively communicates project progress/ compliance concerns and actively identifies issues that potentially impact evaluable study data, ethical study conduct and ICH compliance and identify potential interventions or solutions to manage the issues.
Bachelor's degree (or equivalent ex-US) is required, typically in nursing or scientific field. An Associate's degree/R.N. (or equivalent ex-US) with relevant experience is acceptable.
Must have 7+ years of Pharma-related/ clinical research related experience; 3+ years of experience preferably with clinical research, regulatory, compliance and/or quality control.
Must have demonstrated a high level of core and technical competencies through management of various aspects of clinical trials (e.g., audits, study oversight, SOP development, quality assessments)
Possesses good communication skills and demonstrated leadership abilities and problem solving skills.
Demonstration of successful coaching/ mentoring in a matrix environment; direct people management preferred
Considered a Subject Matter Expert and competent in the application of standard business procedures (SOPs, ICH, Global Regulations, Ethics and Compliance).
Experience with global studies from initiation through study completion/primary data analysis and/or in multiple phases of studies (Phase 1-3, 4)
We are seeking for a Staff Scientist to lead key Formulation and Product Development activities within the Formulation Development Group of Regeneron Pharmaceutical Inc. at Tarrytown, NY.
The Staff Scientist in the Formulation Development Group (Tarrytown, NY) will be responsible for antibody based drug product formulation design and development in various stages of clinical and commercial development. In addition, the Staff Scientist will carry out research on protein formulation, protein stability and characterization, and develops new technologies.
• Leads formulation and product development and stability assessment activities that may include candidate screening and selection, developing lyophilized or liquid formulations for all phases of clinical and commercial development.
• Directly or indirectly leads, guides, and works with Research Associates in conducting research and developmental work, and investigating and solving developmental problems. Sets goals, assigns tasks, and provides performance management and development as needed.
• Serves as a team representative in drug development cross functional team meetings, and shares knowledge and expertise of formulations development within the company.
• Authors and reviews CMC sections of regulatory and technical documents, technical reports and technology transfer documents.
• Develops fit-for-purpose analytical methods to support formulation development and research stability testing.
• Ph.D. in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Science (or related discipline) with 4-7 years of relevant industry working experience.
• Working experiences in one or more of the following areas are required: protein formulation development for IV and SC administration, protein characterization and stability, IV admixture compatibility, biologics drug product process development, or antibody drug conjugate (ADC) development.
• Experience in drug product process technology transfer and working with contract research and/or manufacturing organization (CRO or CMO) is highly desirable.
• Enthusiasm in science with a motivation for making contributions in a team environment is necessary.