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SSAR Leadership Profiles: Board of Directors Summary

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In this installment of the SSAR leadership profiles, we provide a summary of the Board of Directors and its members. We have written (or are currently working on) separate profiles for each Board of Directors position; please click the links associated with each position to learn more.

The Board of Directors consists of 15 members (click links to read profiles on each position):

  • President
  • President-elect
  • Immediate Past President
  • Treasurer
  • Secretary
  • Publications Secretary
  • Trustee
  • eight Directors

According to the SSAR Bylaws, the Board of Directors holds the following responsibilities:

  • The Board shall be empowered to manage the affairs of the Society and to designate all appointive officers for terms of two years.
  • The Board shall fill any vacancy occurring among the officers, except that of President, by an appointment for the unexpired term.
  • The Board shall be specifically responsible for the publications of the Society and shall set such policy as is needed to coordinate the contents of the various media so as to further the stated objectives of the Society and to insure the availability and distribution of the several items.

All members of the Board of Directors are elected officers. During election years, the Nominations Committee prepares a ballot, which then goes out to the general membership for a vote. Newly elected persons take office on January 1 following the election.

New tool to connect herpetologically-minded labs with prospective students and postdocs

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Faculty who are recruiting students for the 2021-2022 academic year (or postdocs to begin any time) can fill out this form:
https://forms.gle/ke5saLPeTQfEtHQP9

The form populates a view-only spreadsheet that prospective applicants can use to find labs that match their interests.

We plan to release a new form + spreadsheet for the 2022-2023 academic year in early 2021.

Prospective applicants to master’s, PhD, and postdoctoral positions can check out this spreadsheet of faculty who are currently recruiting:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vAa_zOlY9u2W-XdwmEj7FEi2BvCIiQAtZQ7L4J-J1t0/edit?usp=sharing

The spreadsheet has five separate tabs to help you navigate:

  1. All advertised positions
  2. Master’s positions
  3. PhD positions
  4. Postdoctoral positions where the PI already has funding
  5. PIs who don’t currently have funding for postdocs but who are happy to help with postdoctoral fellowship applications

Check back periodically for new entries, which are added to the bottom of the spreadsheet.

Advice for students navigating the application process:

Many programs will cover your tuition, and many will even pay you a stipend. Funding situations vary wildly by department, though, so you should reach out to people whose labs interest you to ask for details.

Sending the first email to a prospective advisor can be intimidating. If you have a mentor who can help you, it’s wise to get their help. If you need to figure out how to write the email on your own, this blog post has some useful tips: https://contemplativemammoth.com/2013/04/08/so-you-want-to-go-to-grad-school-nail-the-inquiry-email/

You will want to choose a lab that not only does research you find interesting, but that will also provide a supportive environment where you can thrive. Many factors go into a good graduate school experience. Bobby Espinoza, a professor at Cal State Northridge, has prepared a list of sample questions that you might want to ask of prospective advisors, their current students (very important!), and other people in the department to collect the information you will need to make an informed graduate school decision: Questions for Prospective Advisors & Programs.

Convocatoria a laboratorios trabajando en anfibios – por favor respondan antes del 30 de septiembre

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A todos los colegas trabajando en enfermedades de anfibios:

Como ustedes saben, laboratorios de investigación y diagnóstico alrededor del mundo corren pruebas de PCR para detectar la presencia de microorganismos patógenos causantes de enfermedades en anfibios. Entre ellos están los patógenos de reporte obligatorio a la OIE: las dos especies de quitridio y las múltiples sepas de ranaviruses que causan mortalidades en anfibios, tanto de vida libre como en cautiverio.  Los métodos usados en cada laboratorio varían, lo cual dificulta comparar resultados obtenidos en distintos laboratorios. Pocos son los laboratorios que cuentan con una certificación de organismos nacionales o internacionales, como los de la Organización Internacional de Normalización (ISO). Con el fin de proporcionar acceso a un control de calidad que sea práctico y accesible a todos los laboratorios trabajando con patógenos de anfibios, el equipo enfocado al diagnóstico del grupo de trabajo Bsal de Norteamérica, con el apoyo de Environment and Climate Change Canada, ha organizado una prueba de anillo (round robin, en inglés) para los laboratorios que corren pruebas PCR para patógenos emergentes que afectan a los anfibios. La prueba de anillo ayudará a los laboratorios participantes, ya sean de investigación o diagnóstico, a evaluar sus métodos y la calidad de sus resultados de forma voluntaria y confidencial.

En breve, 16 muestras serán enviadas de manera gratuita a cada laboratorio participante, para que corran las pruebas de PCR para detectar Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, B. salamandrivorans y Ranavirus sp. Las muestras consistirán en hisopos de algodón con esporas de una o ambas especies de quitridio y/o partículas de FV3 (especie tipo del género Ranavirus). Tanto las esporas como las partículas de FV3 estarán inactivadas, y presentes en varias concentraciones o completamente ausentes (muestras en blanco). Un juego de muestras será envida a la persona que funja como contacto para el laboratorio participante y quien se encargará de corren las pruebas y reportar los resultados. Cada laboratorio participante se comprometerá a cubrir el costo interno de correr las pruebas y a reportar sus resultados 3-5 semanas después de recibir las muestras. Los laboratorios participantes correrán las pruebas de PCR e interpretarán los resultados en base a sus propios procedimientos, los que ocupan rutinariamente en el cumplimiento de sus labores. Las pruebas pueden correrse una o varias veces, dependiendo del procedimiento de cada laboratorio, aunque se recomienda sean corridas en triplicado. Los participantes reportarán sus resultados como “positivo” or “negativo” y, si usan el qPCR, incluirán los respectivos valores de Cq (Ct), y lo que estiman es la concentración de patógeno(s) en cada muestra. Un pequeño grupo de participantes recibirá un juego de estándares para correrlo en paralelo con sus estándares habituales. Una vez que se cierre la prueba de anillo, los resultados de todos los participantes serán analizados, comparando cada laboratorio con todos los demás, y con la composición y concentración original de cada muestra. Cada laboratorio recibirá un reporte comparando sus resultados con los resultados de los demás participantes en forma anónima, de manera que los resultados de otros laboratorios se mantendrán completamente confidenciales. Una vez que todos los participantes hayan tenido tiempo de revisar sus resultados, un resumen general, presentado de manera que impida la identificación individual de los laboratorios, será divulgado por medio de la página de internet del equipo de diagnóstico del grupo de trabajo Bsal de Norteamérica.

Aun cuando este no es un momento muy propicio para organizar pruebas de anillo, al estar en mundo en medio de una pandemia, esperamos contar con la participación de laboratorios que hayan podido mantener sus funciones durante este momento tan difícil. Planeamos enviar las muestras a principios de noviembre, 2020, y contamos con que los participantes reporten sus resultados a principios de diciembre.

Por favor comuníquense con María Forzán (maria.forzan@liu.edu O mariaforzan@hotmail.com) si están interesados en participar, o si tienen alguna pregunta o sugerencia sobre la forma en que hemos organizado la prueba de anillo.  Es VITAL QUE RESPONDAN a esta llamada ANTES del 30 de septiembre, 2020, cuando finalizaremos la lista de participantes y empezaremos a prepar la cantidad de muestras necesarias.

 

Para información sobre el programa piloto que organizamos en el 2016, visiten nuestra página de internet: www.diagnostics.salamanderfungus.org

 

Calling amphibian labs to participate in a round robin – please respond by 9/30

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Dear colleagues in amphibian health,

As you know, researchers and diagnosticians around the world are running PCR tests looking for the presence of emerging amphibian pathogens, particularly those notifiable to the OIE. Standardization of methodologies is difficult, and it is even more difficult for laboratories to acquire a certification such as that granted by organizations like the American Association of Diagnostic Veterinary Laboratories or ISO committees. The Diagnostics Working Group of the North American Bsal Task Force, with funding support from Environment and Climate Change Canada, is following up on an effort to provide an accessible method for quality control/quality assurance (QC/QA) to laboratories working on amphibian pathogens. We will conduct a PCR ring test (round robin) for emerging amphibian pathogens that will allow participating laboratories to confidentially evaluate the quality of their results, be it for diagnostic or research purposes. Participation is voluntary and open to all laboratories currently running tests for the target pathogens.

Briefly, a set of 16 blinded randomized samples will be shipped to each participating laboratory, at no cost, to undergo testing for Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, B. salamandrivorans and Ranavirus sp. The samples will consist of cotton swabs infused with inactivated zoospores of the chytrid fungi and/or inactivated Ranavirus sp (Frog virus 3), at varying concentrations, as well as blanks. A set of samples will be shipped to a contact person in each participating laboratory who will agree to perform the tests (and absorb their reagent costs) and upload their results to a website portal within 3-5 weeks of receiving the material. Tests will be run and interpreted as per each laboratory’s standard operating procedures. They may be run singly or in triplicate (the latter being recommended). Participants will report their results “positive” or “negative” and, if run by qPCR, include their respective Cq (Ct) values and estimated copy numbers. A subset of participants will be asked to run the tests both with their in-house standards and those provided by us. Once the round robin is closed, results will be compiled, tabulated and analyzed by comparing each laboratory’s results against the known composition of the samples and against other laboratory’s results. Each laboratory will be informed of where its results stand  in comparison to other laboratories, but the standings of individual laboratories will remain confidential. A summary of all results (maintaining confidentiality regarding individual laboratories) will be posted on the Diagnostics Group page of the Bsal Task Force’s website after all participants have had a chance to review their individual feedback. 

We realize this may not be an ideal time to conduct this round robin, with the world in the midst of a pandemic, but we hope those laboratories who are able to continue testing will consider participating. We expect to ship the sets of blind samples in early November 2020, and expect laboratories to provide their results by early December, at the latest. 

Please contact me (María Forzán, maria.forzan@liu.edu OR mariaforzan@hotmail.com) if you are interested in participating, or if you have any questions or comments regarding the way in which the ring test is to be conducted.  It is CRUCIAL THAT YOU REPLY to this message BEFORE September 30th, 2020, so the total number of participating laboratories can be determined and the appropriate number of testing tubes prepared.   

For information on a pilot round robin conducted in 2016, please go to our website: www.diagnostics.salamanderfungus.org

And the winners of the student poster competitions are…

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The 2020 winner of the Victor Hutchison Graduate Poster Award is:
Danielle Bradke (University of Georgia), “Sensitivity of capture-recapture using seining to detect changes in Diamondback Terrapin survival in response to management”

The SSAR graduate student poster awards honor Victor Hutchison for his extensive contributions to herpetology and the development of future herpetologists. Because the coronavirus pandemic forced cancellation of the 2020 JMIH, we held the 10th annual SSAR Victor Hutchison Student Poster competition in a novel virtual format (Zoom) on 24 July 2020. This year we gave one overall award rather than multiple awards in different categories, owing to the relatively small number of participants. The winner is receiving a check for US $250 and an SSAR book.

The 2020 winner of the George B. Rabb Undergraduate Poster Award is:
Calvin Vick (University of Central Arkansas), “Female lizards alter behavior but not climbing speed while gravid”

SSAR’s George B. Rabb Undergraduate Poster Award is sponsored by Zoo Atlanta and honors our colleague George Rabb (1930-2017), former Director of the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, IL, and highly respected advocate and spokesman for wildlife conservation. 2020 marked the 2nd year of this competition, which was held in a novel virtual format owing to the coronavirus pandemic and cancellation of JMIH. The poster presentations were given via Zoom on 24 July 2020. The winner is receiving a check for US $250 and an SSAR book.

—

This year’s judges were:

Betsie Rothermel, Chair (Archbold Biological Station), Nicholas Caruso (Virginia Tech), Allyson Fenwick (University of Central Oklahoma), Jennifer Lamb (St. Cloud State University), Chris Thawley (Neumann University)

2020 SSAR Virtual Poster Competitions Committee: Neil Balchan, John Bellah, Jack Friend, Michelle Koo, Joe Mendelson, Calvin Vick, Greg Watkins-Colwell. With special thanks to Marty Crump (President), Jessica Tingle (Chair, Student Participation Committee), and Betsie Rothermel (Chair, Poster Awards Committee), for supporting the program.

Newly updated Herp Circular: A bilingual classic publication on amphibian monitoring

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SSAR has just released a new update on a bilingual Herpetological Circular:

Lips, K.R., J.K. Reaser, B.E. Young, and R. Ibáñez. 2020. Amphibian monitoring in Latin America: a protocol manual (Mintoreo de anfibios en América Latina). Herpetological Circulars No. 30. Vers. 2.

This and other Herp Circulars are available as free PDF downloads on the SSAR website: https://ssarherps.org/publications/books-pamphlets/herp-circulars-pdfs/

 

 

SSAR Leadership Profiles: Nominations Committee

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For this installment of the SSAR leadership profiles, Student Participation Committee Member John Bellah interviewed Dr. Tiffany Doan, the current chair of the Nominations Committee.

Official duties

The primary objective of the SSAR Nominating Committee is to identify and nominate enthusiastic candidates to stand for election to SSAR offices. Historically, SSAR officers are expected to be individuals who will work for the Society while in office.

Specifically, the Nominations Committee selects candidates to serve elected positions on the Board of Directors (BoD), according to a set of guidelines and operating procedures. The BoD consists of Officers (President, Treasurer, Secretary, Immediate Past President, President-elect, Publications Secretary), Directors (eight positions), and Editors. All, except Publications Secretary and Editors, are elected positions. The President who served prior to the current President is designated the Immediate Past President and the President-Elect assumes the role of President at the end of the current President’s two-year term. The Directors serve 4-year terms. The Director roles are staggered, meaning half of the Directors are replaced every 2 years. The Nominations Committee normally strives to have at least two people running for each office (except for Treasurer and Secretary, who generally run unopposed).

Activities throughout the year, including at the annual meeting

Most of the work for this committee occurs when officers’ terms are about to expire, every other year. Alternate years are considered off-years for the Nominations Committee unless a position opens unexpectedly. During the year leading up to the election (even years, e.g. 2020, 2022), the committee identifies individuals to serve elected positions on the BoD. Once candidates are identified and have agreed to run for office, their names are forwarded to the SSAR Secretary. The official ballot is presented to the BoD by the Nominations Committee Chair at the annual SSAR meeting. SSAR membership can then make additions to the ballot at the Board or Business meetings. Once the final ballot has been approved, voting begins no later than 1 month after the annual meeting.

Interactions with other SSAR committees and leaders

The Nominations Chair primarily interacts with the BoD when presenting the nominees at the annual SSAR meeting. The nominations Chair also works with the current SSAR President when selecting new members for the Nominations Committee.

Path to joining the Nominations Committee

The Nominations Committee is composed of five people who are all directly appointed by the current President, and who typically have served on other committees or in other roles. For example, Dr. Doan has served as the Nominations Committee Chair since 2017. Prior to this she was the chair of the Victor Hutchinson Award and Siebert Award committees, an editor for Journal of Herpetology, and a two-term Director.

Future of the committee

Overall, Dr. Doan does not see the committee changing very much in the future. In contrast with most other committees, the role of the Nominations Committee is specified in the SSAR constitution, so any changes would require changes to the constitution. The nominations committee strives for diversity and inclusivity when selecting candidates.

 

Members with ideas or suggestions for nominations are encouraged to contact Dr. Doan at (tiffperu@yahoo.com).

Tiffany Doan

SSAR Investments Go Fossil Fuel Free

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Marked declines in herpetological biodiversity are being documented worldwide. SSAR exists to advance research, conservation, and education concerning these species. Therefore, after working out complex logistics with our investment manager, SSAR is pleased to announce that it has divested from oil and gas investments to develop an eco-friendly investment portfolio in line with our mission. When you support SSAR, we want you to know that we are doing our best to spend and invest those funds wisely to support the causes that you value.

JMIH 2020 Cancelled

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Dear SSAR Members,

The JMIH 2020 has been cancelled.  All registrations will be refunded at 100%. Refunds can be requested using the refund request form posted on the meeting website.  Alternatively, you may donate your registration funds to offset the costs of cancellation.  

This has been a difficult decision, involving both public health and financial considerations.  Ultimately, the four Presidents of the JMIH societies (Susan Walls, HL; Dave Ebert, AES; Chris Beachy ASIH; and myself, SSAR), in consultation with our respective Boards/Executive Committees, unanimously decided that the right thing to do for the sake of public health was to cancel at the present time.  

Some may wonder why we did not cancel several weeks ago.  Cancellation of the 2020 JMIH was going to cost approximately $240,000 to $300,000, due to contracts with the hotels and vendors. We believed that if we could lower this extraordinary expense, negotiation between our meeting planning group Burk and Associates and our conference partners in Norfolk was worthwhile.  We have ultimately agreed to a “cancellation with postponement” and will hold the JMIH 2023 in Norfolk.  As a consequence, our financial penalty has been greatly reduced.  

I know it is a great disappointment to all who intended to present their research and interact with colleagues during the 2020 JMIH in Norfolk this summer, but we feel that cancellation was the responsible decision–both to our members and to public health overall.  The 2021 JMIH will be in Phoenix in July, but SSAR will have its stand-alone meeting in Ann Arbor, 5-9 August 2021.  I hope to see you all in Ann Arbor.  I wish you all safety and good health.

Best wishes,

Marty Crump

President, SSAR

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