Message from the Chair

Samantha Price, chair.dpcb@sicb.org

The Division of Phylogenetic and Comparative Biology is ready for our biggest and best SICB Annual Meeting yet. Inspired by our 2023 Special Session in Honor of David Wake “What Amphibians Have Taught Us About Organism-Focused Evolutionary Biology,” we are planning a series of special sessions over the next few years focusing on specific clades. I am super excited for this coming year, as Katherine Corn our SPDAC Rep and I, with help from our PO Leigha Lynch, have put together a truly ‘fintastic’ set of speakers on bony fishes. Look out for some fabulous fish themed stickers! If you would like to put together a special session spotlighting your favorite clade in 2025, let us know!

We are also looking forward to hosting the annual David and Marvalee Wake Award for Best Student Presentation talk and poster sessions and the Ask-an-Expert booth. The Ask-an-Expert booth needs you! For more info about volunteering see Ryan Felice’s post.

We are thrilled to announce the outcome of our election earlier this year: our new Chair-Elect will be Dr. Leigha Lynch! Leigha is currently serving as the DPCB Program officer and we are so happy to have her continue her leadership in the division as our next Chair. Congratulations Leigha! 

Finally, we will be looking to fill two positions in DPCB: a new SPDAC representative (to start in mid-2024) and a new Secretary-Elect (to start January 2025). Please contact me if you are interested.

Message From the Program Officer

Leigha Lynch, dpo.dpcb@sicb.org

Special Session in Fish Evolution

The upcoming 2024 SICB Annual Meeting is our largest yet and I’m very excited by all the contributions from DPCB members. This year we will be presenting the first DPCB Chair’s Special Session entitled “What bony fishes have taught us about organism-focused evolution.” This session will be among the first of many, highlighting the research of SICB members who study evolutionary processes through an organism-focused approach. Confirmed speakers include Stacy Farina, Tal Perevolotsky, Kassandra Ford, Andrew Esbaugh, Kara Powder, Michael Burns, and Kory Evans, as well as an opening presentation by our chair, Sam Price. This session will take place the first day of the conference, Wednesday, January 3 from 1:30-3:30pm and will follow the Wake Award BSP session.

David and Marvalee Wake Award for Best Student Presentation

Our annual best student presentation award session will be held the first day of the conference, Wednesday, January 3 from 8-10am. The competition was fierce for a spot in this session as we had many excellent applicants. Join us for some incredible talks and don’t forget to check our best student presentation contestants in the poster session as well!

Divisional Social

We are mixing up our social this year! We have paired with the Division of Botany and Division of Ecology and Evolution to host a mid-morning social. Please join us Thursday, January 4th from 9:45-10:45am in the Waterfall Suite (just outside the exhibit hall) for breakfast and coffee. We hope this extended coffee and social break will allow members to discuss the upcoming conference and talk with the amazing BSP and special session speakers. 

Message from the Secretary

Ryan Felice, secretary.dpcb@sicb.org

The Ask-An-Expert Booth Returns!

We are in search of Experts to volunteer with the 2024 Ask-An-Expert Booth. This year marks the fifth “Ask-An-Expert” booth: a flexible, open session where SICB members can seek assistance from Experts one-on-one. Each year, the Booth has been a wonderfully approachable and fun way of connecting SICB members with resources and recommendations for genomics, phylogenetics, comparative methods, and more. To date, over 130 SICB members of all career stages have stopped by the Booth to consult with an Expert or receive methods pro-tips and troubleshooting advice.

We are searching for postdocs, senior PhD students, and early-career researchers who are interested in serving as Experts this year. This is a one-hour commitment during one of the poster sessions.

In the past, we have featured experts in the areas of:

•       Phylogenetic comparative methods
•       Systematics
•       Ecological modelling
•       Geometric morphometrics
•       Data visualization
•       R and Python troubleshooting
•       Applying for jobs
•       Writing grants
•       And more!

If you are interested in getting involved as an Expert, email Ryan Felice at secretary.dpcb@sicb.org.

SPDAC Representative Message

Katherine Corn, katherine.corn@wsu.edu

The SPDAC is hard at work on programming to support students and postdocs. At SICB 2024, we will again be holding our “Social within a Social” at the SICB opening reception for first-time SICB attendees to help everyone build community. Please stop by, meet a new SICB member, and help them feel welcome at our society!

In the coming year, we are partnering with the SICB Journals, ICB and IOB, to feature postdoctoral researchers in a Postdoc Spotlight series on the official SICB Journals Blog! This can come in many forms, from an interview, discussion of recent research, feature on art, and more. If you are interested, please reach out to Suzanne Miller at icbjournal@sicb.org.