News and Events:

  • ICoN1
  • Travel Grants
  • NSF Press Release 07-064
  • Meeting notes Feb-07


    • 1st International Conference on Nitrification

    July 5-10 2009

    University of Louisville, Kentucky, USA



    The first International Conference on Nitrification (ICoN1) is meant to be the start of a tradition of bringing together investigators and students at all levels to discuss the most recent concepts in nitrification research. The meeting will present and discuss reports on the ecology, physiology, biochemistry, molecular genetics, genomics, metagenomics, transcriptomics and evolution of ammonia- and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria and archaea, and their roles in the nitrogen cycle.

    Systems biology approaches will be discussed to understand the mutualistic relationships of nitrifiers as well as genetic circuits and metabolic pathways that contribute to nitrification. The meeting will utilize both lecture talks as well as round-table discussions, break-out sessions and poster presentations. True to the global nature of the Nitrogen cycle, we expect participants from a wide range of disciplines from both academic, industrial and policy institutions from all over the world.

    Please register here to attend ICoN1.

    The Steering Committee of the Nitrification Network is also pleased to invite you to prepare and submit an abstract for a poster presentation.

    For more information please contact the steering committee of the Nitrification Network.

      Conference Topics
      • Biochemistry, physiology & metabolic pathways
      • Ecology and industrial applications
      • Evolution and comparative genomics
      • Regulation of genes and genomes, structural and functional genomics

      Structured poster sessions will offer additional opportunities for discussion
      Organizing Committee
      • Dr. Daniel J. Arp, Oregon State University, OR, USA
      • Dr. William J. Hickey, University of Wisconsin, WI, USA
      • Dr. Alan B. Hooper, University of Minnesota, MN, USA
      • Dr. Mike S.M. Jetten, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
      • Dr. Martin G. Klotz, University of Louisville, KY, USA
      • Dr. Hendrikus J. Laanbroek, NIOO-KNAW, The Netherlands
      • Dr. Jeanette M. Norton, Utah State University, UT, USA
      • Dr. Satoshi Okabe, Hokkaido University, JAPAN
      • Dr. James Prosser, University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom
      • Dr. Christa Schleper, University of Bergen, Norway
      • Dr. David A. Stahl, University of Washington, WA, USA
      • Dr. Yuichi Suwa, AIST, JAPAN
      • Dr. Michael Wagner, University of Vienna, Austria
      • Dr. Bess B. Ward, Princeton University, NJ, USA


Nitrification Network - Fostering Partnership

2008 Travel Grants



The Nitrification Network - Fostering Partnership program provides limited funds to individuals wishing to visit a hosting laboratory to expand their research on nitrification.



All researchers working in an area related to nitrification will be considered. Preference will be given to graduate students and post-doctors who might not have the facilities or the expertise to fully develop the potential of a project in their home laboratories. Individuals wishing to change or expand their research focus on nitrification may be also considered.



Funding of up to $1500 will be provided to cover the cost of the airline ticket to visit the hosting laboratory. A maximum of ten awards per calendar year will be funded. 



The application should be composed of:

    1. A one-page proposal from the applicant stating the rationale for the visit including a description of the project or collaboration to be established and its significance, the advantages that the applicant will find in the hosting laboratory (e.g. expertise, instrumentation, facilities, etc), and the anticipated enduring impact of the visit, dates of the visit, and a brief description of the research activities of the home and the host laboratories.

    2. A brief resume from the applicant.

    3. A statement from the principal investigator of the home laboratory indicating their support of the proposal.

    4. A statement from the principal investigator of the hosting laboratory indicating their support of the proposal.


All documents should be emailed to Luis Sayavedra-Soto (sayavedl@science.oregonstate.edu), preferably in portable document format (PDF) form. 



All complete proposals will be evaluated by the Steering Committee of the Nitrification Network, who may request additional information. Applicants will be notified by email of the committee's decision within a month after receiving the proposal, or immediately if funds have been exhausted for 2008. 

At the end of the proposed activity, the awardees are required to submit a one-page summary of the results to Luis Sayavedra-Soto (sayavedl@science.oregonstate.edu) with permission to post the success of the award in the News and Events section of the Nitrification Network web site.



For more information contact the Nitrification Network







NSF Press Release 07-064: Nitrate in Lake Superior: On the RiseSplit Rock Lighthouse on the north shore of Lake Superior as viewed from the deck of the research vessel Blue Heron. Scientists are taking water samples for nitrate and other substances in the lake.

Picture Credit: Robert Sterner



Notes to the meeting held Februray 2007

The Nitrification Network web site was made available to the public April 2007.


The first Nitrification Network meeting took place in February 16-17 th, 2007 at Oregon State University. The investigators and their collaborators launched the project. Minutes to the meeting. The following Mission Satement and Charter were agreed upon:

Mission Statement

    The mission of the Nitrification Network is to advance, facilitate and promote the study and understanding of nitrification.

Charter

    1. The inception of Nitrification Network was facilitated by a grant award made by the US National Science Foundation. Hence the Charter mandates that all federally funded activities of Nitrification Network will by guided by the rules of engagement that are advised and restricted by the policies of the US National Science Foundation.

    2. Charter members commit to interacting with openness towards collaboration. All members agree to honor confidentiality regarding the sharing of information, data, strains, clones, etc.

    3. While members agree that there is no right to reserve ideas and scientific projects for future work; collegiality, courtesy, and respect for the intellectual contributions of others shall be a general guide for all interactions of Nitrification Network members.

    4. Members of the Nitrification Network agree on the importance of fostering and mentoring students, post-doctoral associates and junior faculty for the successful continuation of present and future scientific pursuits and will provide opportunities for their professional growth and advancement. Such opportunities may include but not be restricted to joint attempts to obtain funding for research projects and training as well as joint publications.

    5. Participation in Nitrification Network will not exclude collaborations outside of the network; however, confidentiality of shared data and information within the network shall be honored.

    6. Nitrification Network is international in scope and invites the participation of colleagues from around the world.