MBI-Ny Nr 4 2017 – 31 august Dear MBIers, colleagues and friends! It is a difficult moment when the me eventually has come to move on - from a place that has become such an inmate part of life. I am grateful for the fantasc me I have had du- ring the past 13 ½ years at MBI. I had the privilege to work in an inspiring environment, with people that care about each other, are supporve and movated. MBI has been an amazing place. In mes when basic research has become more and more difficult to sustain, this department has managed to keep the spirit and the convicon that the type of research we conduct is essenal for real progress in scienfic discoveries. Our field is the key driver of modern life sciences and it has been a parcular pleasure to see how our stu- dents have absorbed this view and engaged in the mission to maintain a strong molecular biology environment at the faculty. I will always remember how much support and encouragement I have got from MBI during these years and I am confident that we will have successful and construcve collaboraons in the me to come. It is difficult to name all the wonderful colleagues that helped and inspired me. Nevertheless, I would like to use the opportunity to par- cularly thank three people that were instrumental for my successful work at MBI: Andrea, the soul of the depart- ment. Without her, MBI would never have been such a great place; Rein, an exceponally inspiring and supporve colleague, friend and mentor; and Grethe, who always made sure that teaching is not a burden, but a pleasure. Thank you all for being so wonderful colleagues. I wish you all the very best for the excing mes to come! Mathias Dear MBIers, We are in the beginning of a process that will eventually bring us a significant amount of change. Since start of the semester, Andrea and I have only had one meeng with Ørjan Totland and Terje Restad, our counterparts from BIO. Although we are not discussing the implementaon of the new department at a very detailed level yet, there seems to be no gap between us that cannot be bridged. We work well together, and I feel very reassured that Ørjan intends to be supporve of molecular biology through this process and be- yond. Once we become part of the new department, we will have to find new ways of retaining a cohesive and acve environment for molecular biology. At the same me we must find good ways of contribung within the context of the new department. I am very much open for hearing thoughts on how to achieve these goals in a flexible and construcve manner. I wish to thank all those affected by the refurnishing of the N-terminal area. Everyone quickly moved to their new office spaces. It should be menoned that such a quick operaon could not have been possible where it not for An- drea and Margun, who did a splendid job of rapidly puzzling together a new office-plan for us all. The Marine- holmen Economy Node who will fill the space opens Friday 1 st of September. I am looking forward to meeng our new colleagues, which are led by Trine Gravdal Lie. The new semester has just started and I am excited to see new students coming and older students connuing their development. Although the current staffing situaon is a challenge with respect to teaching, we will manage well this semester. It will sll take some me to fill the posions aſter Rein and Mathias, as well as the new CBU- posion, but work is progressing as quickly as the schedules of the involved people allow. (Forts neste side)
Transcript
MBI-Nytt
Nr 4 2017 – 31 august
Dear MBIers, colleagues and friends!
It is a difficult moment when the time eventually has come to move on - from a place that
has become such an intimate part of life. I am grateful for the fantastic time I have had du-
ring the past 13 ½ years at MBI. I had the privilege to work in an inspiring environment,
with people that care about each other, are supportive and motivated. MBI has been an
amazing place. In times when basic research has become more and more difficult to
sustain, this department has managed to keep the spirit and the conviction that the type of
research we conduct is essential for real progress in scientific discoveries. Our field is the
key driver of modern life sciences and it has been a particular pleasure to see how our stu-
dents have absorbed this view and engaged in the mission to maintain a strong molecular
biology environment at the faculty.
I will always remember how much support and encouragement I have got from MBI during these years and I am
confident that we will have successful and constructive collaborations in the time to come. It is difficult to name all
the wonderful colleagues that helped and inspired me. Nevertheless, I would like to use the opportunity to parti-
cularly thank three people that were instrumental for my successful work at MBI: Andrea, the soul of the depart-
ment. Without her, MBI would never have been such a great place; Rein, an exceptionally inspiring and supportive
colleague, friend and mentor; and Grethe, who always made sure that teaching is not a burden, but a pleasure.
Thank you all for being so wonderful colleagues. I wish you all the very best for the exciting times to come!
Mathias
Dear MBIers,
We are in the beginning of a process that will eventually bring us a significant amount of
change. Since start of the semester, Andrea and I have only had one meeting with Ørjan
Totland and Terje Restad, our counterparts from BIO. Although we are not discussing the
implementation of the new department at a very detailed level yet, there seems to be no
gap between us that cannot be bridged. We work well together, and I feel very reassured
that Ørjan intends to be supportive of molecular biology through this process and be-
yond.
Once we become part of the new department, we will have to find new ways of retaining
a cohesive and active environment for molecular biology. At the same time we must find good ways of contributing
within the context of the new department. I am very much open for hearing thoughts on how to achieve these
goals in a flexible and constructive manner.
I wish to thank all those affected by the refurnishing of the N-terminal area. Everyone quickly moved to their new
office spaces. It should be mentioned that such a quick operation could not have been possible where it not for An-
drea and Margun, who did a splendid job of rapidly puzzling together a new office-plan for us all. The Marine-
holmen Economy Node who will fill the space opens Friday 1st of September. I am looking forward to meeting our
new colleagues, which are led by Trine Gravdal Lie.
The new semester has just started and I am excited to see new students coming and older students continuing their
development. Although the current staffing situation is a challenge with respect to teaching, we will manage well
this semester. It will still take some time to fill the positions after Rein and Mathias, as well as the new CBU-
position, but work is progressing as quickly as the schedules of the involved people allow. (Forts neste side)
Research and research training
New PhD - Marianne Goris
We congratulate Marianne Goris who defended her PhD-thesis 30. June. Marian-
ne’s thesis was entitled:
Functional investigation of the human N-terminal acetyltransferases Naa60 and
Naa80
New publications
Muhammad Tanveer Khan, Sussie Dalvin, Frank Nilsen, and Rune Male. Microsomal triglyceride transfer protein in
R.D.V.S. Morais, D. Crespo, R.H. Nóbrega, M.S. Lemos, H.J.G. van de Kant, L.R. de França, R. Male, J. Bogerd, R.W.
Schulz. Antagonistic regulation of spermatogonial differentiation in zebrafish (Danio rerio) by Igf3 and Amh. Mol
Education and student affairs
Once the positions are filled, it will be very exciting to get to know our new colleagues, also with respect to their
teaching and science. Also, Thomas and Mathias will continue to have activity here at MBI, which will benefit our
department scientifically and help us maintaining activity in a transition period and – hopefully – well beyond that.
Although I am sad that very valued colleagues have left, I am very glad that they have chosen to continue some of
their project at our department.
From 1st of September I will take over as Acting Head of MBI, together with Rune Male which will be my deputy. I
would like to take the opportunity to wish the very best for Andrea, Margun, Thomas and Mathias. Thank you for
all you have done for us these years, which went by so quickly.
Øyvind
Semesterstart høst 2017
En vellykket semesterstart med klassemottak og fadderuke er avviklet, og de fleste emner hos oss er nå i full gang med undervisningen. Vi har hatt to grupper i klassemottaket, kyndig ledet av de tre erfarne MOL-studentene Victo-ria Smith Arnesen, Inga Elda og Emina Mjcic.
PhD mid-term review Welcome to Martin Jakubec’s PhD mid-term review September 1st 12:15 in the N-terminal (seminar room in 5th
floor). Title: The role of the lipid environment in the misfolding of α-Synuclein
Christine Darbakk, Victoria Arnesen, Inga Elda, Anni Sofie Geithus, Helene Lorgen Leithe, Helene Bing, Ingrid Oline Tverang-er, Kamilla Ormevik Jansen, Malene Skuseth Slinning, Stian Torset, Julie Røkke Osen, Kristine Haugen Furre, Tina Sture og Odd-Erik Bakkebø. Dagny Sanden Døskeland var ikke tilstede da bildet ble tatt.
Heliks på Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/heliks/
Heliks på Instagram: https://instagram.com/heliks_molbio/
Foto: Heliks
Staff news
MBI professorship
The series of trial lectures by candidates for the MBI professorship as well as interviews with the same candidates,
have now been completed. The candidates will be ranked on the basis of the combined assessments of the trial
lectures, interviews and reference checks, along with the assessments of their formal qualifications and scientific
profile — which were completed by the external committee last spring.
CBU assistant professorship
The series of trial lectures by candidates for the MBI professorship as well as interviews with the same candidates,
have now been completed. The candidates will be ranked on the basis of the combined assessments of the trial
lectures, interviews andreference checks, along with the assessments of their formal qualifications and scientific
profile — which were completed by the external committee last spring.
Heliks
Vår eminente studentorganisasjon Heliks, er også godt i gang med forberedelsene for semesteret. Første post på programmet er bli-kjent-fest 1. september. Videre utover semesteret står bl.a. fjelltur, stipendøl, vaffeltorsdag, Halloweenfest og julebord på programmet.
Helsedirektoratets tilsynet høsten 2016 knyttet til GMO-aktivitet ved Molekylærbiologisk institutt og Institutt for biologi er nå avsluttet fra direktoratets side etter at MBI har iverksatt tiltak for å rette opp de avvikene som ble på-pekt i tilsynsrapporten:
Avvik 1:
Ved BIO og MBI ble det avdekket et avvik knyttet til utilstrekkelig opplæring/implementering av internkontrollsyste-met. Avviket var basert på at ansatte involvert i laboratoriearbeid ikke hadde fatt noen spesiell opplærering i risiko-vurdering vedrørende arbeid med genmodifiserte organismer. Det var meget varierende kunnskaper på dette fel-tet. Den enkeltes forståelse av begrepet risikovurdering og hvordan slik vurdering utføres var vag, og kunnskapen om hvor man kan finne informasjon som kan til støtte for slike vurderinger var begrenset. Flere hadde heller ikke noen klar forståelse av de ulike sikkerhetsnivåene som gjelder for innesluttet bruk av genmodifiserte organismer.
HMS-kurs for ansatte og studenter
Det har vært avholdt HMS-kurs for master studenter og nyansatte. Kurset var todelt—del1, førstehjelp og brann-
vern fant sted fredag 18.august med 11 deltakere—10 studenter og en ansatt, mens del2—HMS på laben mandag
21.august, hadde 12 deltakere. HMS-kursene er en del av den obligatoriske HMS-opplæringen ved UiB, og også et
viktig verktøy i implementeringen av våre lokale arbeids– og sikkerhetsrutiner ved instituttet.
HMS-hjørne
Mathias og Andrea, kolleger ved MBI i 13 år. Andrea blir i 50%
stilling ved MBI ut året.
Margun, Solfrid Sture (Marguns nye leder ved fakultetets øko-
nomiseksjon Marineholmen, som fra 1. september tar plass i
nyoppussede lokaler i de tidligere ekspedisjonslokalene våre)
Vemodig siste dag ved MBI for Mathias og Margun.
Tiltak gjennomført for å sikre bedre opplæring og bevissthet knyttet til risikovurdering og arbeid med GMO:
Retningslinjer for arbeid med GMO ved Molekylærbiologisk institutt er revidert slik at behoveet for risiko-vurdering ved ny GMO-aktivitet kommer tydelig frem (se side to).
Velkomstbrosjyren vår er revidert på to områder:
Risikovurdering / Risk assement er tydelig nevnt som metode der det fokuseres på at sikkerhet ved arbeid i laboratoriet må vurderes.
Eget avsnitt om arbeid med GMO – der det også vises til at GMO aktivitet skal risikovurderes og doku-menters.
Skjema for internkontroll av GMO-aktivitet og beskrivelse av innmeldt og godkjent aktivitet, leveres nå ut sammen med Velkomstbrosjyren. Forskningsgruppeleder skal her oppgi evtentuelle endring i GMO-aktivitet. Nyansatte eller nye masterstudenter returnerer skjemaet sammen med signatur for lest velkomstbrosjyre.
Risikovurdering generelt og arbeid med GMO spesielt omtales konkret og problematiseres i velkomstmøte og under opplæring i laboratoriet. Dette for å sikre at nye ansatte og nye master studenter vet 1) hvordan vi arbeider med tiltak for å redusere risiko og hvordan vi gjør dette (ROS) og 2) hva arbeid med innesluttet bruk av GMO er og at krav til fasiliteter og rutiner avhenger av sikkerhets /inneslutningsnivå.
HMS-avdelingen ved UiB avholdt kurs i enkel risikoanalyse for ansatte på MBI og BIO 20. april 2017. Alle laboratorieansvarlige ved MBI deltok på dette. De laboratorieansvarlige ved MBI som er ansvarlig for mottak av nyansatte og nye masterstudenter i laboratoriet og har hatt nytte av dette kurset.
Veiledere og medveiledere i laboratoriet skal ved mottak av nye i laboratoriet bevisstgjøres deres rolle som rollemodell. Laboratorieansvarlige har fått i oppgave å ta veileder eller medveileder med på mottaks-møte for å sikre at de er kjent med og bruker begrepene risikovurdering, risikoreduserende tiltak etc under planlegging av forsøk og gjennomføring av disse.
Risikovurdering vil også inkluderes som tema i HMS-kurs som gjennomføres som del av laboratorieemne-ne våre på bachelornivå.
Anmerkning 1 Helsedirektoratet gav også MBI en anmerkning vedrørende behov for å innføre et tillegg/nye rutiner til nåværende system for kvalitetssikring av risikovurdering vedrørende innesluttet bruk av genmodifiserte organismer.
Tiltak: Molekylærbiologisk institutt har som nevnt over innført nye rutiner for å ha kontroll med instituttet innesluttede bruk av genmodifiserte organismer (tiltakspunkt: Skjema for internkontroll av GMO-aktivitet). Ved ny aktivitet vil instituttets HMS-utvalg følge opp og kvalitetssikre den risikovurderingen som gjennomfø-res for at krav til aktuelt inneslutningsnivå følges.
