Wednesday 8th, 1400
Special seminar
Naglaa Abdullah, University of Cairo, Egypt
New breeding techniques for crops
Viikki B building, lecture room 4 (Latokartanonkaari 9)
Host: Teemu Teeri

Friday 10th, 1000
Special seminar
Günter Brader, Austrian Institute of Technology, Austria
Lipopeptides and polyketides of Bacillus
Viikki B building, lecture room 6 (Latokartanonkaari 9)
Host: Teemu Teeri

Friday 10th, 1200
Thesis defence
Juha Kontturi (Department of Agricultural Sciences & DPPS)
Type III polyketidesynthases from Gerbera hybrida
Opponent: Dr. Günter Brader, Austrian Institute of Technology, Austria
Viikki B building, lecture room 6 (Latokartanonkaari 7-9)

Wednesday 15th, 1315
Invited Plant Seminar
Pablo Goloboff, National Scientific and Technical Research Council, Argentina
On model-based phylogenetic inference for the analysis of morphological data
Viikki B building, lecture room 4 (Latokartanonkaari 7-9)
Host: Jaakko Hyvönen

Wednesday 15th, 1415
Plant Club
Iris Sevilem, Department of Biosciences and Institute of Biotechnology
Regulation of periclinal cell divisions in Arabidopsis root
Tiina Blomster, Department of Biosciences and Institute of Biotechnology
Transcriptomics of cambium development in Arabidopsis root
Johanna Leppälä, Department of Biosciences
Reproductive barriers between outcrossing Arabidopsis species
Viikki B building, lecture room 4 (Latokartanonkaari 7-9)

Wednesday 18th, 1315
Invited Plant Seminar
Stefan Jansson, Umeå Plant Science Center, Sweden
Natural variation in aspen (and why I was eating cabbage last summer)
Viikki B building, lecture room 4 (Latokartanonkaari 7-9)
Host: Jaakko Kangasjärvi

Wednesday 18th, 1415
Plant Club
Alexey Shapiguzov, Department of Biosciences
Retrograde signaling through redox interactions between chloroplasts and mitochondria: a case study in rcd1
Outi Niemi, Department of Biosciences
Insights into Pectobacterium – plant interaction revealed by dual RNA sequencing
Julia Kransensky, Department of Biosciences
Stress signaling in Arabidpsis grown under different light conditions
Viikki B building, lecture room 4 (Latokartanonkaari 7-9)

ViPS groups met with local advisory board members and discussed their research with the aid of slides or posters.

1st December 2016

Thursday 1st, 1400-1600
ViPS local advisory board & research group meeting
Poster and slide presentations by ViPS groups
Viikki A building foyer, Latokartanonkaari 9

Thursday 8th, 1500
Special seminar
Karen McDonald, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California Davis, USA.
Transient production of cell wall degrading enzymes in plant hosts for biofuels applications
Seminar room 2012, Biocentre 2, Viikinkaari 5
Host: Teemu Teeri

Friday 9th, 1200
Thesis defence
Lauri Reuter (VTT, Department of Agricultural Sciences & DPPS)
Plant cell factories: Production of hydrophobin fusion proteins in plant cell cultures
Opponent: Prof. Karen McDonald, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California Davis, USA.
Auditorium III, Porthania building, Yliopistonkatu 3

Friday 9th, 1400
Wine-Science Seminar
Yann Salmon
Room 332, 3rd floor, Forest Sciences Building, Latokartanonkaari 7

Monday – Friday 12th-16th
DPPS Course
Current Challenges in Plant Phenotyping
Invited speakers: Nathalie Gonzalez (INRA, France); Markku Keinänen (University of Eastern Finland); Anna Kicherer (Institute for Grapevine Breeding, Germany); Klara Panzarova (PSI, Czech Republic); Eetu Puttonen, Finnish Geospatial Research Institute; Lukas Spichal (Palacký University, Czech Republic); Esa Tyystjärvi, University of Turku; plus other local University of Helsinki speakers.
More details

Wednesday 14th, 1315
Invited Plant Seminar
Janusz Zwiazek, University of Alberta, Canada
Aquaporins and plants: more than just water transport
Seminar room 1015, Biocentre 2, Viikinkaari 5
Hosts: Pedro Aphalo & Matt Robson

Wednesday 14th, 1415
Plant Club
Ali Amiryousefi, Department of Biosciences
Why measure? Nonmetric ANOVA for assessing phylogenies
Samia Samad, Department of Agricultural Sciences
QTL mapping of flowering time using Fragaria as a model plant
Mirko Pavicic, Department of Agricultural Sciences
High throughput imaging based screening of Arabidopsis mutant collection for growth and morphology (using the NaPPI phenotyping facility)
Seminar room 1015, Biocentre 2, Viikinkaari 5

Thursday 3rd, 1415
Special seminar
Roderick Dewar, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
Macro-ecological patterns, chance and necessity
Lecture room 4, Viikki B building, Latokartanonkaari 9
Host: Jaana Bäck

Friday 4th, 1200
Thesis defence
Tommy Chan (Department of Forest Sciences)
Dynamic variations in bark hydraulics – understanding whole tree processes and its linkage to bark hydraulic function and structure
Opponent: Prof. Roderick Dewar, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
Auditorium 1, Korona Infocentre, Viikinkaari 11

Monday – Tuesday 7th-8th
DPPS Course
Plant pathogen co-evolution, Theme II: Disease Complexes
Invited speakers: Arne Weinhold (Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany); Clare Casteel (UC Davis, USA); Michael Thomas-Poulsen (University of Copenhagen, Denmark) & Anna-Liisa Laine (University of Helsinki)
More details

Wednesday 9th, 1315
Invited Plant Seminar
Klaus Pillen, Martin-Luther-University, Germany
Allele mining in multi-parental populations of wheat and barley
Seminar room 1015, Biocentre 2, Viikinkaari 5
Host: Alan Schulman

Wednesday 9th, 1415
Plant Club
Maija Pollari, Department of Food and Environmental Sciences
Coordination of potyviral protein synthesis in the host cell
Ondrej Smetana, Department of Biosciences and Institute of Biotechnology
Stem cell niche dynamics in vascular cambium
Aleksia Vaattovaara, Department of Biosciences
Evolution of DUF26-containing genes
Seminar room 1015, Biocentre 2, Viikinkaari 5

Thursday 17th, 1200
Thesis defence
Anu Riikonen (Department of Agricultural Sciences & AGFOREE)
Some ecosystem service aspects of young street tree plantings
Opponent: Dr. Arne Sæbø, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, Norway.
Auditorium 2041, Biocentre 2, Viikinkaari 5

Thursday 17th, 1430
Special seminar
Sylvie German-Retana, INRA Université de Bordeaux, France
Potyvirus adaptation to eIF4E-mediated resistance in crops
Seminar room 3, Korona Infocentre, Viikinkaari 11
Host: Kristiina Mäkinen

Friday 18th, 0900-1300
Final seminar
Small-RNA-based virus diagnostics (SIRNA) and its applications
Lecture room 5, Viikki B building, Latokartanonkaari 9
Organised by Jari Valkonen

Friday 18th, 0915
Special seminar
Anders Hafren, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)
Uppsala BioCenter
Role of autophagy in plant virus infection
Seminar room 3105, Biocentre 1, Viikinkaari 9
Host: Kristiina Mäkinen

Friday 18th, 1200
Thesis defence
Andres Lõhmus (Department of Food and Environmental Sciences & ILS)
Helper component-proteinase and coat protein are involved in the molecular processes of Potato virus A translation and replication
Opponent: Dr. Sylvie German-Retana, INRA Université de Bordeaux, France.
Auditorium 1041, Biocentre 2, Viikinkaari 5

Friday 18th, 1300
Special seminar
Eva Kondorosi, Member of the ERC Scientific Council
The wonders of symbiosis in nitrogen fixing root nodules
Seminar room 3402, Biocentre 3, Viikinkaari 1
Host: Mart Saarma

Monday 28th, 1515
Viikki Biocentre Monday Lecture
Dolf Weijers, Wageningen University, The Netherlands
Genetic control of identity, growth and shape in the early plant embryo
Auditorium 1041, Biocentre 2, Viikinkaari 5
Host: AP Mähönen

Ari-Pekka Mähönen, Albert Porcar-Castell and Matthew Robson have all been granted funding for two years from the so-called ‘Kärkihanke’ instrument of the Academy of Finland.
http://www.aka.fi/globalassets/20arviointi-ja-paatokset/liitteet/karkihanke_300916_en.htm

CONGRATULATIONS!

Monday – Tuesday 3rd-4th
DPPS Course
Plant pathogen co-evolution, Theme I: Plant Microbiomes
More details

Monday 3rd, 1515
Viikki Biocentre Monday Lecture
Paul Schulze-Lefert, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Cologne, Germany
Reductionist approaches to explore functions of the plant microbiota
Auditorium 1041, Biocentre 2, Viikinkaari 5
Host: Kirk Overmyer

Tuesday 4th, 1515
Research Lecture
Rytas Vilgalys, Duke University, Durham NC, USA
Ectomycorrhizal fungal community
Lecture room 6, Viikki B building, Latokartanonkaari 9

Tuesday 3rd, 1515
Research Lecture
Thierry Candresse, INRA, France
Phytoviral metagenome in various plant populations
Seminar room 11, Viikki B building, Latokartanonkaari 7

Thursday 6th, 1000-1500
Minisymposium on Forest Fungal Genomics and Wood Decay
Seminar room 2402, Biocentre 3, Viikinkaari 1
Organisers: Taina Lundell & MBDP

Wednesday 12th, 1315
Invited Plant Seminar
Charles Melnyk, The Sainsbury Laboratory, UK
When Two Make One: Understanding How Plants Graft
Lecture room 2, Viikki C building, Latokartanonkaari 5
Host: AP Mähönen

Wednesday 12th, 1415
Plant Club
Clara Lizarazo, Department of Agricultural Sciences
EU Climate CAFE in Finland: Differences in Nitrous oxide emissions among faba bean (Vicia faba L.) cultivars in a boreal climate
Sitaram Rajaraman, Department of Biosciences
Sequencing the Alder genome
Sari Siipola, Department of Biosciences
Short-term changes in the phenolic compounds of Arabidopsis photoreceptor mutants under different light treatments
Lecture room 2, Viikki C building, Latokartanonkaari 5

Thursday 13th, 1400
Special seminar
Heribert Warzecha, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Germany.
How to make novel plant natural products by metabolic engineering
Seminar room 2012, Biocentre 2, Viikinkaari 5
Host: Teemu Teeri

Friday 14th, 1200
Thesis defence
Hannu Hotti (VTT, Department of Agricultural Sciences & DPPS)
The Killer of Socrates Exposed – Coniine in the Plant Kingdom
Opponent: Prof. Heribert Warzecha, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Germany.
Auditorium 1041, Biocentre 2, Viikinkaari 5

Wednesday – Friday 26-28th
DPPS Course
New Plant Protein Foods
More details

Friday 28th, 1400
Wine-Science Seminar
Room 332, 3rd floor, Forest Sciences Building, Latokartanonkaari 7

Applications are invited for a postdoctoral position in the plant virology laboratory of Dr. Kristiina Mäkinen, (http://kristiinamakinen31.wixsite.com/plantvirology; http://tuhat.halvi.helsinki.fi/portal/en/person/krmakine) Department of Food and Environmental Sciences (http://www.helsinki.fi/food-and-environment/) University of Helsinki (https://www.helsinki.fi/en), Finland.

Work Description:

• This ambitious project requires a postdoctoral scientist who is highly motivated to investigate challenging questions related to the recruitment of potyviral RNA from replication to translation. The focus of your research work will be on the molecular events and mechanisms of how viral and host proteins interact and cross talk during the replication/translation cycle in infected host plants.
• You will be expected to contribute to international collaboration and high quality papers.
• You will contribute to teaching by supervising undergraduate / postgraduate students.

 Criteria:

• You have a PhD in biochemistry, plant molecular biology/physiology/ virology or a related discipline and have a publication record including at least two first author papers.
• You are able to use advanced molecular biology / biochemistry / cell biology techniques.
• You have strong communication skills and ability to work in a multidisciplinary international team.

Start date: 1^st January 2017 (negotiable), the postdoctoral researcher is hired for the duration of the project up to 3.5 years, subject to an initial probationary period.

Funding source: Academy of Finland.

More information: kristiina.makinen@helsinki.fi

Applications including a cover letter with a description of your motivation for this position, curriculum vitae (max. 3 pages) and the contact details of three referees should be sent to Dr. Kristiina Mäkinen (Kristiina.makinen@helsinki.fi). The deadline for applications is October 31^st, 2016.

Examples of recent work:

-Besong-Ndika, J., Ivanov, K.I., Hafrèn, A., Michon, T., and Mäkinen, K. (2015). “Co-translational CP-mediated inhibition of potyviral RNA translation” Journal of Virology 89, 4237-4248.

-Hafren, A., Lõhmus, A, and Mäkinen, K. (2015). “Formation of Potato virus A-induced RNA granules and viral translation are interrelated processes required for optimal virus accumulation” PLOS Pathogens, 11(12):e1005314. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005314.

-Ivanov, K.I., Eskelin, K., Bašić, M., De, S., Lõhmus, A., Varjosalo, M., and Mäkinen K. (2016). ”Molecular insights into the function of the viral RNA silencing suppressor HC-pro” The Plant Journal, 85, 30–45.

-Lõhmus A., Varjosalo M., and Mäkinen K. (2016). ”Protein composition of 6K2-induced membrane structures formed during Potato virus A infection” Molecular Plant Pathology 17, 943–958.

ICAR2018 will be held in Turku from 25-29th June, a first for the Nordics!

The conference is centered on all aspects of modern plant biology using thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana) as a model system. The conference regularly brings together over 800 scientists from all corners of the world for five days to discuss all aspects of molecular plant science from research on plant growth and development to improving plant tolerance to adverse environmental conditions.

The organising team, headed by Michi Wrzaczek, is made up of 8 ViPS PI members plus PIs from Turku and Oulu.

Wednesday 31st August, 1500
Special seminar
Richard Immink, Wageningen University, Netherlands.
Hot science: How ambient temperature affects flowering time
Lecture room B7, Forest Science Building (Viikki B building), Latokartanonkaari 7
Hosts: Paula Elomaa & Timo Hytönen

Friday 2nd September, 1200
Thesis defence
Elli Koskela (Department of Agricultural Sciences & DPPS)
Genetic and environmental control of flowering in wild and cultivated strawberries
Opponent: Prof. Richard Immink, Wageningen University, Netherlands.
Lecture room B3, Forest Science Building (Viikki B building), Latokartanonkaari 7

Tuesday -Friday 13-16th
DPPS Course
Control of reproductive development in plants-molecular, agricultural and ecological aspects
More details

Tuesday 13th, 1000
Special seminar
Kazuyuki Kuchitsu, University of Tokyo, Japan
Regulation of plant development and stress responses by the ROS-calcium signaling network and autophagy
Seminar room 2402, Biocentre 3, Viikinkaari 1
Hosts: Anna Kärkönen & Michi Wrzaczek

Wednesday 14th, 1315
Invited Plant Seminar
Thomas Georg Roitsch, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Assimilate partitioning in higher plants: importance for development, stress responses and biotechnological applications
Lecture room 2, Viikki C building, Latokartanonkaari 5
Host: Anna Kärkönen

Wednesday 14th, 1415
Plant Club
Riikka Mäkilä, Department of Biosciences and Institute of Biotechnology
Characterization and identification of novel factors regulating cambium
Mantas Survila, Department of Biosciences
The interplay between class III peroxidases and cuticular envelope: defense mechanism of resistance to necrotrophs
Shreya Saha, Department of Food and Environmental Sciences
Protein determinants on potyviral translation
Lecture room 2, Viikki C building, Latokartanonkaari 5

Thursday 22nd September, 1400
Special seminar
Philip M. Moullineaux, University of Essex, UK.
The roles of BBX32, HY5 and an elusive gene in controlling dynamic acclimation to sustained increases in light intensity
Seminar room 2012, Biocentre 2, Viikinkaari 5
Host: Mikael Brosché

Friday 23rd September, 1200
Thesis defence
Lauri Vaahtera (Department of Biological Sciences & ILS)
Apoplastic ROS and transcriptional response in plant stress signaling
Opponent: Prof. Philip M. Moullineaux, University of Essex, UK.
Auditorium 1041, Biocentre 2, Viikinkaari 5

Monday 26th September, 1515
Viikki Biocentre Monday Lecture
Anna-Liisa Laine, University of Helsinki
Diversity of within host infection: Causes and consequences
Auditorium 1041, Biocentre 2, Viikinkaari 5
Host: Ville Paavilainen

Thursday 29th September, 1400-1600
ViPS PI meeting 2/2016
Seminar room 2402, Biocentre 3 (Viikinkaari 1)
Flash presentations by: Pedro Aphalo, Anna-Liisa Laine, Fred Stoddard, Jussi Heinonsalo & Anne Ojala

Friday 30th September, 1400
Wine-Science Seminar
Lauri Lindfors: Exchange at University of Osaka – applying diameter change measurements on Arabidopsis to study root growth dynamics and response to ABA
Kajar Köster: Short and long term effects of forest fires on carbon pools – Plans as a Academy Fellow
Room 332, 3rd floor, Forest Sciences Building, Latokartanonkaari 7