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 help@wormbase.org 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the C. elegans Community Mentor Match Program, see this page (please ignore scheduling items on that page, if they are out of date)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

WormBase is hiring at OICR: Software Developer 1

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WormBase is hiring a Software Developer 1 to be located at the Ontario Institute for Research in vibrant downtown Toronto!

Join a small and flexible team pushing the limits of a ground breaking online resource that supports a global biomedical research community. In addition, you’ll have the chance to work on the Alliance of Genome Resources — a new project building the next generation of Model Organism Databases from the ground up! If things like killer UI/UX, AWS everything, and coding all in an Agile environment makes your heart race, consider submitting your resume!

Read the full job description and apply here.

WormBoard Election

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Dear Lab Heads, 

Please forward this email to everyone in your lab! 

Election of WormBoard members is occurring this year as described here: https://wiki.wormbase.org/index.php/WormBoard

Please go to this website:  https://forms.gle/BLGz9mhTmtxLD1vW6 and follow instructions to cast your ballot for the indicated representative slots. 

Each member of the worm community may cast one vote. 

Please forward this message to everyone in your group. 

Voting will close June 7 2021.  

Best wishes, 
Jane Hubbard (for the election committee)