Update on CeNeuro2022

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Dear Participants of CeNeuro 2022,

We look forward to a rich and stimulating meeting this summer! To remind everyone, the date is set for July 24-27, 2022.

As uncertainty around the world continues, we cannot make a decision on the format at the moment. We desperately hope to be able to organize a hybrid meeting and welcome as many people as possible in person, in Vienna. However, we will re-evaluate this decision in mid/end of March and and if a hybrid meeting is not possible, we will still hold an online only meeting.

Regardless of the final format, please note that the deadline for abstract submission will be at the end of April. Thank you for your patience and understanding of the challenges associated with organizing such events at the moment.

We wish you a wonderful 2022,

–The CeNeuro2022 organizers – Henrik Bringmann, Luisa Cochella, Alexander Gottschalk, Manuel Zimmer.


Two new genes in C. elegans!

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After more than 20 years of careful manual curation of C. elegans, it is quite unusual to find new protein-coding genes. But in release WS283 we have no less than 2 new genes! We were alerted to the first one by Dr. Adam Norris from Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, USA. Working with WormBase curators, we were able to comprehensively annotate the new gene. As finding a new gene is such a remarkable event, Dr. Norris opted for writing a micropublication describing the new gene WBGene00306123 (Y97E10C.2). Iyengar, A; Diamantakis, S; Norris, A (2021), “A new gene on C. elegans chromosome V”

Buoyed by the first discovery, WormBase curators looked through our curation records and found a second new gene to annotate: WBGene00306124 (W04B5.9). Both of these new genes are in release WS283, and we look forward to learning even more about the biology of these new genes.

If you happen to spot what you think is a new gene – please email [email protected] to let our curators know about it!

Mentor Match Initiative 2022 – deadline approaching

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Dear LabHeads, 

Please share this information for postdoc and early career faculty prospective MENTEES so we can reach all interested community members. The request form will close DECEMBER 19. 

The Mentor Match initiative started in 2020 as a means to foster diversity, equity and inclusion in the C. elegans research community. Mentoring within the larger C. elegans community, in contrast to intra-institutional mentoring, provides an opportunity for mentees to gain from the collective experience of the community. The community already does this on an ad hoc basis, but a more open and accessible mentoring program is needed, especially for people who are members of underrepresented groups in our community.

If you are a C. elegans postdoc or early career faculty member who would like to be matched with a mentor in the field, please fill the survey request form here. The MENTEE request form will close DECEMBER 19.

The survey request form includes a link to a list of prospective MENTORS and relevant information about their experience. Many thanks to the 56 prospective mentors who are available for the 2022 match! 

For general information and logistics regarding the C. elegans Community Mentor Match Program, see this page (please ignore scheduling items on that page, if they are out of date)

With best wishes,

The C. elegans community mentor match committee for 2022

Thank you to Mark Edgley who is retiring!

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Mark Edgley has been a huge supporter of the CGC and worm community for decades. He single handedly moved the collection from MO to MN in liquid nitrogen tanks carefully nestled in the back of a rented Uhaul, and in the time since has had a hand in generating many thousands of strains for the community.  Today he retires. WormBase joins the CGC and others in thanking him for his tireless service.

Please send him a note of thanks and spread the word to your labs and colleagues to do the same.  His, and Don Moeman’s, retirements are a big loss for the community.

Mentor Match Initiative, 2022

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To foster diversity, equity and inclusion in the C. elegans research community, we propose a “mentor match” program to facilitate mentoring relationships for career development.

Rationale: Mentoring within the larger C. elegans community, in contrast to intra-institutional mentoring, provides an opportunity for mentees to gain from the collective experience of the community. The community already does this on an ad hoc basis, but a more open and accessible mentoring program is needed, especially for people who are members of underrepresented groups in our community.

(1) If you are willing to act as a MENTOR, please fill out this short (5 min) prospective MENTOR survey form by December 1.

·         The survey collects information that will help prospective mentees identify potential mentors and will help the mentor match committee make informed matches.

·         The survey includes a place for you to indicate your desired level of involvement.

·         Prospective mentor lists will be made public for prospective mentees to browse.

(2) If you or someone you know is NOT currently in academia and may be interested in acting as a mentor for worm people considering non-academic career paths, please add  their name and contact info here so that we can send them the prospective MENTOR survey.

(3) If you or someone you know is a retired lab head who may wish to act as a mentor, please put their name and contact info here so that we can send them the prospective MENTOR survey.

(4) Please forward this message to anyone you think may be interested in the program as a mentor or mentee. 

A MENTEE survey will be announced via Wormbase in December, as soon as the prospective mentors are in place.

For general logistics, instructions, and timeline for both prospective mentors and mentees( but please ignore out of date links on the wiki page and use the ones above).

With best wishes,

-The C. elegans community mentor match committee for 2022