
The 42nd Maine Biological and Biomedical Sciences Symposium (MBMSS) is a state-wide gathering of scientists and students—an opportunity to share research results, exchange ideas, promote collaboration, and network with Maine scientists in a variety of disciplines.
Abstract Submission is Closed
Conference Registration Closed
Keynote Speaker: Clifford J. Rosen, M.D.
Clifford J. Rosen, M.D. is the Director of Clinical and Translational Research and a Senior Scientist at Maine Medical Center’s Research Institute. Dr. Rosen is the founder and Former Director of the Maine Center for Osteoporosis Research and Education.
Please Note: All participants must register in order to attend.
MBMSS Online Evaluation: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MBMSS2015
Fees
Conference registration includes all events, meals, catered receptions, parking, and WiFi access.
Maine INBRE Undergraduate/Graduate Student: Complimentary (Includes On-Campus Housing)
Maine INBRE Faculty: Complimentary
MDI Biological Laboratory Alumni: Complimentary
Maine High School Student: Complimentary
Non INBRE Participant: $50.00
Corporate/Industry: $200.00
Partner

- James A. Coffman, Ph.D.Associate Professor; Director, Maine IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE)MDI Biological Laboratory
- Patsy Dickinson, Ph.D.Josiah Little Professor of Natural SciencesBowdoin College
- Markus Frederich, Ph.D.Associate ProfessorUniversity of New England
- Lynn Hannum, Ph.D.Associate ProfessorColby College
- Keith Hutchinson, Ph.D.ProfessorUniversity of Maine
- Chris Petersen, Ph.D.Faculty, Ecology and BiologyCollege of the Atlantic
Friday, April 24, 2015 | |
11:30 – 12:35p | Registration at Maren Conference Center Lunch at Dining Hall |
12:35 – 12:45p | Welcome, Maren Conference Center Chuck Fidler Ph.D., MDI Biological Laboratory |
12:45 – 2:45p | Session 1: Genetics/Genomics & Bioinformatics Maren Conference Center Chair: Keith Hutchison, Ph.D., University of Maine – Karolina Andralojc – Understanding the role of C. elegans germ granules in maintaining germline pluripotency – Craig Lessard – Computational identification and biological validation of FOXJ1 regulatory regions in Strongylocentrotus purpuratus – Clare Bates Congdon – GenomePatternScan: Computational identification of genome-wide candidate binding sites for FOXD1 – Katrina Harris – Computational genomic analysis of Mycobacteriophage ChipMunk – Kathleen Morrill – Genetic diversity and the 2013 decline of delgrass (Zostera marina) beds of the Frenchman Bay, ME coastlines – Kyle Beauchemin – Characterization of the murine lung transcriptome during pre- and post-natal development in three strains of laboratory mice – Gwen Beacham – Characterization of lysogeny regulation in the Cluster E Mycobacteriophage Ukulele – Jarod Rollins – Post-transcriptional processing is increased upon dietary restriction in C. elegans: a possible role for nonsense mediated decay and alternative splicing in lifespan extension |
2:45 – 3:00p | Break, Maren Conference Center |
3:00 – 3:45p | Session 2: Environmental Biology/Stress and Toxicology Maren Conference Center Chair: Markus Frederich, Ph.D., University of New England – Julia Middleton – Functional forms of Emiliania huxleyi interactions with a host specific virus – Amber Howard – Lowering eukaryotic initiation factor 4G improves proteostasis and helps explain the associated longevity phenotype in Caenorhabditis elegans – Stephanie Nichols – Analysis of the Maine Prescription Monitoring Program, 2010-2014 |
3:45 – 4:00p | Break, Maren Conference Center |
4:00 – 5:00p | Keynote Speaker Maren Conference Center How now brown fat: Where we were and where we are going? Cliff Rosen M.D., Maine Medical Center Research Institute |
5:00 – 6:30p | Dinner, Dining Hall |
6:30 – 7:45p | Poster Session A and Evening Reception, Maren Conference Center |
Saturday, April 25, 2015 | |
8:00 – 9:00a | Breakfast, Dining Hall |
9:00 – 9:45a | Session 3: Developmental Biology and Regeneration Maren Conference Center Chair: James Coffman, Ph.D., MDI Biological Laboratory – Tariq Ahmad – Drosophila model of Frontotemporal Dementia: A view from fly eyes – Minh-Tam Pham – Transcriptional Regulation of the Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (nrf) family by the Aryl hydrocarbon receptor-1b (Ahr-1b) during Danio rerio development by Chromatin Immunoprecipitation – Sree Deepthi Muthukrishnan – BMP7-TAK1-JNK-JUN signaling pathway governs the proliferation of nephron progenitor cells |
9:45 – 10:30a | Poster Session B and Morning Refreshment Maren Conference Center |
10:30 – 12:00p | Session 4: Neuroscience and Physiology Maren Conference Center Chair: Patsy Dickinson Ph.D., Bowdoin College – Melissa Maginnis – Molecular determinants of JC polyomavirus attachment and entry – Scott Dobrin – Development of standard lab and field tests of honey bee health – Kristy Townsend – Regulation of Energy Balance by the Bone Morphogenetic Proteins – Peter Reifsnyder – Rapamycin with metformin treatment ameliorates comorbidities in a type 2 diabetic mouse model, NONcNZO10/LtJ – Taylor Follansbee – BMP signaling is required for allodynia in Drosophila – Julia Mitchell – Investigation of Disc1 gene status and stress exposure in female rats on behavior and hippocampal plasticity |
12:00 – 1:00p | Lunch, Dining Hall |
1:00p | Symposium Conclusion |
On-Campus Housing
As of March 26 campus housing is full. If you want to be put on a waiting list please contact the Education Office.
STUDENTS -Dormitory style accommodations are available and are double occupancy and single rooms, shared bathrooms, common room, high speed wireless internet, and parking.
Our on-campus housing is within walking distance of all campus facilities (Note: campus grounds include wooded terrain). Campus Map
Discounted Hotel Room Blocks
- Acadia Inn $69.00/night. (800) 638-3636 or (207) 288-3500. Discount Code: MBMSS. Room block expires on March 24th, make your reservations before then to ensure the rate and availability.