Posted by
Rosemary.White on
URL: http://confocal-microscopy-list.275.s1.nabble.com/Janelia-conference-for-imaging-cores-some-pointers-tp7587488p7587499.html
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Yes, I was thinking that really there's nothing unique about our small facility (2 people, 4 major instruments), except that the people who use the facility are working on research projects not done elsewhere. And we're probably one of only a few facilities worldwide focussing almost entirely on plants. However, we can't compete in novelty or breadth with facilities in the US/Europe that have many more diverse instruments, facility staff, resources, etc.
And I have to say, we can all think of diverse ways to solve our bottlenecks, but they usually require additional resources of some sort, hard to come by right now. Our institution lost 20% of its staff over the last 3 years, hence staff time is our real bottleneck, it limits everything we might wish to do.
I'd be interested in a summary of this meeting, if one is produced, especially if it includes some new ideas about the various items in the "Do's" list below.
cheers,
Rosemary
Dr Rosemary White
CSIRO Black Mountain
GPO Box 1700
Canberra, ACT 2601
Australia
Adjunct Prof, EH Graham Centre, CSU
& Research School of Biology, ANU
T 61 2 6246 5475
E
[hidden email]
On 31/10/17, 9:33 am, "Confocal Microscopy List on behalf of Alison North" <
[hidden email] on behalf of
[hidden email]> wrote:
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Dear Leong,
I was a bit taken aback by this most recent message to the listserver
about the upcoming Janelia meeting. I agree 100% that a meeting that
turns into a whingefest or a simple comparison of what instruments and
problems people have would be utterly tedious. However, the implication
of your list of "do's" for the abstract seems rather elitist. There are
many of us who run large, busy core facilities who are stretched so far
just trying to keep our heads above water that we simply don't have the
time or the resources to attempt to achieve something unique or
cutting-edge on top of controlling the daily chaos. Could you please
clarify the aims of the meeting as well as whether more typical core
facility directors are encouraged to apply? From our conversations a
few weeks ago, when you first discussed the meeting with me, I got the
impression that the meeting was intended for anybody with a strong
interest in networking and finding solutions to common challenges for cores.
Thanks in advance for the clarification!
All the best,
Alison
On 10/27/2017 4:11 PM, Chew, Teng-Leong wrote:
> *****
>
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
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>
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__lists.umn.edu_cgi-2Dbin_wa-3FA0-3Dconfocalmicroscopy&d=DwIGaQ&c=JeTkUgVztGMmhKYjxsy2rfoWYibK1YmxXez1G3oNStg&r=y3Gg5KwygGNfgoACnrKLvtQcoFinbJ43lW3fx-6okTk&m=oavXxPdkIOD_02Y1uWIb-d94fomTTDJoVkzOitn5ibQ&s=XNp5XQJgl6ctSvL3ICmE0VAbO1mQRyB4Lf3Zt3ezFNA&e= >
> Post images on
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.imgur.com&d=DwIGaQ&c=JeTkUgVztGMmhKYjxsy2rfoWYibK1YmxXez1G3oNStg&r=y3Gg5KwygGNfgoACnrKLvtQcoFinbJ43lW3fx-6okTk&m=oavXxPdkIOD_02Y1uWIb-d94fomTTDJoVkzOitn5ibQ&s=M4mmMSfMul-70ssn26yVQZ9moH_OJD7RutmHsBqhadM&e= and include the link in your posting.
>
> *****
>
>
>
> Hi all,
>
>
>
> Thank you very much for the overwhelming interest to this meeting:
>
>
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.janelia.org_you-2Djanelia_conferences_frontiers-2Dmicroscopy-2Dtechnologies-2Dand-2Dstrategies-2Dbioimaging-2Dcenters-2Dnetwork&d=DwIGaQ&c=JeTkUgVztGMmhKYjxsy2rfoWYibK1YmxXez1G3oNStg&r=y3Gg5KwygGNfgoACnrKLvtQcoFinbJ43lW3fx-6okTk&m=oavXxPdkIOD_02Y1uWIb-d94fomTTDJoVkzOitn5ibQ&s=QlrIXbaI6uCogvIij3BF1cT0jbuj_TEDTscCqNOAyIg&e= >
>
>
> I quickly browsed through the abstracts we have received and based on the questions from a few prospective applicants, I thought I would clarify what we would be looking for in these applications.
>
>
>
> We are specifically seeking applicants who could contribute something novel to the conference. What I mean by that are the following do’s and don’ts:
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>
>
> Don’ts
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> 1. Don’t submit an abstract that reads like a CV or a core facility description. Abstracts that go down a laundry list of “I have 5 confocals, 3 EMs, and 500 users in a 3000 square feet space” are not going to get accepted.
>
> 2. If you discuss open access, you cannot simply say “20 labs from a nearby institution also use my facility”.
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> 3. For data handling, don’t simply say “I have ~200 TB of storage space, folks can use it for free or for a fee”.
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> 4. Don’t say my university IT department provides storage for a fee (it may be true); nobody cares. Have they built something special for you?
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> 5. Do not address all the issues listed on the website in one abstract. Pick 1-2 issues that set you apart.
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> 6. Don’t whine about problems you are facing – state the challenges you face in the form of opportunity for improvement. Wishing you could have more money is not a strategic solution.
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> 7. Do not attempt to re-explain the importance of core facilities to your fellow core facility directors.
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> Almost everyone in the audience faces these issues, so you are not contributing anything new if you say something like the above. If you don’t want to hear these same issues for three straight days, don’t submit these kinds of abstracts.
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>
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> Do’s
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> 1. State clearly what makes your core facility unique compared to 1,000 other cores worldwide
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> 2. Articulate how you deal with open access challenges – biosafety handling, animal transfer, data transfer, lodging, equitable fee structure etc
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> 3. State how you deal with big data challenge – how you deal with cloud computing and data transfer rate if you offer extensive open access
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> 4. State your problems in running the core and how you would like these problems solved strategically
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> 5. Describe unique method development (for technical abstract)
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> 6. Describe unique algorithm or data analysis strategy (for technical abstract)
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> 7. Describe unique probes developed/tested in your core (for technical abstract)
>
> 8. Describe any unique experience in dealing with manufacturers. Demo’ing an instrument is not unique; helping your users get to a company demo site is not unique.
>
> 9. Describe your unique educational outreach. Running a microscopy course to talk about N.A. or confocal is not unique, organizing a workshop event sponsored by a bunch of companies is not unique. On the other hand, if you run a world-class workshop (accessible to non-local attendees) on tissue clearing/expansion microscopy/computer vision or how to build a microscope from individual parts, we are more likely to want to hear about it.
>
> 10. Share your innovative strategy/experience in fundraising
>
> 11. Share your creative approach in working with the university leadership to help build up your imaging center.
>
> 12. Share how your regional institutions have formed a local alliance to better serve the community
>
>
>
> In a nutshell, we look for those who have something unique to contribute as we begin to build up an international community of imaging centers – for collaboration, data sharing, lobbying for funding, technology dissemination. You should show that you have something (expertise or experience) unique to contribute to this alliance. Don’t reiterate routine efforts that are expected for a decent core facility.
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> Again, if you have unique experience with any other issues not listed, bring it up.
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> Keep your abstract focused. Don’t discuss too many issues. Regular talks are only 15 min each.
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>
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> Feel free to e-mail me with any question you may have. I am happy to work with you. Really looking forward to seeing some familiar faces and meeting new colleagues!
>
>
>
> Regards,
>
> Leong
>
>
>
--
Alison J. North, Ph.D.,
Research Associate Professor and
Senior Director of the Bio-Imaging Resource Center,
The Rockefeller University,
1230 York Avenue,
New York,
NY 10065.
Tel: office ++ 212 327 7488
Tel: lab ++ 212 327 7486
Fax: ++ 212 327 7489