Greetings to all ICGI members!

This is the last call for those who desire to present a talk (or nominate a speaker) at the upcoming PAG-ICGI Workshop being held at 4:00 PM - 6:10 PM on Sunday, January 15, 2017, in Sunset - Meeting House at Town and Country Hotel and Convention Center, San Diego, California, USA. Note that our meeting room is same as last year but different from the previous years!

At this time, we solicit volunteers and nominations for PAG-ICGI Workshop Speakers. The speakers will be selected from the submitted and nominated talks if the request is received by next Monday, October 10, 2016.

Similar to last year, we anticipate 5 regular speaking slots (15-20 minutes each), and about 10-15 poster introductions, 1-2 minutes each.

Please email us (john.yu@ars.usda.govmailto:john.yu@ars.usda.gov, stelly@tamu.edumailto:stelly@tamu.edu) your request (or nomination) to present at the PAG-ICGI Workshop by October 10, 2016! Each committee-selected workshop speaker will receive an email, after acceptance, with instructions regarding submission of their workshop abstract.

Please follow the different instructions below for volunteering yourself or nominating a possible speaker.

A. Instructions for submitting your volunteered topic and draft abstract:

Send an email with the following SUBJECT LINE: 2017 PAG-ICGI Workshop candidate abstract, to these two email addresses: john.yu@ars.usda.govmailto:john.yu@ars.usda.gov, stelly@tamu.edumailto:stelly@tamu.edu

In your email, please include the following components: 1. Presenter (Your name): Family_name, First_name Institutional affiliation: ______ 2. Email address(es), separated by a comma. 3. List of co-authors (draft): 4. Abstract (draft) -- follow guidelines for PAG, please 5. Prioritize the ICGI workgroups to which your work relates most closely (top) Applied Genomics and Breeding Comparative Genomics and Bioinformatics Functional Genomics Germplasm & Genetic Stocks Structural Genomics

If you do not get a response acknowledging reception of the submission, please inquire! Note that the Subject Line is important -- we will use it to identify submissions, so we recommend that you use COPY/PASTE to fill in the Subject Line of your email.

We will attempt to make speaker selections by October 20, 2016, before the PAG abstract deadlines for posters and oral presentations.

B. Instructions for nominating someone else as a prospective speaker:

[1] Confer with the person you think would be an appropriate speaker about availability, their desire to speak (20 minutes) at the workshop, prospective topic title, and willingness if selected to provide a finalized abstract to PAG. It would be important to inform that individual that PAG provides no support for travel or any other expenses for workshop speakers. Speakers must register for the conference and confirm the travel plan. International travelers requiring a visa should allow sufficient time to obtain one.

[2] If the person you wish to nominate confirms their interest, send an email containing with the following SUBJECT LINE: 2017 PAG-ICGI Workshop speaker nomination, to these two email addresses: john.yu@ars.usda.govmailto:john.yu@ars.usda.gov, stelly@tamu.edumailto:stelly@tamu.edu

In your email, please explain why this person and topic are well suited to the ICGI workshop.

If you do not get a response acknowledging reception of the submission, please inquire! Note that the Subject Line is important -- we will use it to identify submissions, so we recommend you use COPY/PASTE to fill in the Subject Line of your email.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM PAG TO PROSPECTIVE WORKSHOP SPEAKERS:

Once speakers are added to the workshop, each speaker will be sent an automated email with instructions how to login and post their individual workshop abstract. This form will include an option and instructions for submitting a poster abstract as well. All speakers must register for the conference. Prior to the October 31, 2016 deadline, the rates for workshop speakers are the same as other attendees. However, workshop speakers are protected from paying the increased rates after October 31. If they are registering late, after October 31, they will need to request a discount code to avoid paying the higher rates. They should send an email to: pag@scherago.com --------------------------------------------

ANTICIPATED TIMELINE FOR CHOOSING WORKSHOP SPEAKERS

After collecting input from everyone, we will share the data and consult with ICGI workgroup chairs and co-chairs as best we can to help guide us identifying an attractive set of topics for the 2017 PAG-ICGI Workshop. Again, we will attempt to arrive at decisions by October 20, 2016, for everyone to finalize and submit their abstracts, and if not chosen, to submit a poster instead. The Poster Abstract Submissions Deadline is October 28, 2016. (Please note, however, that space for posters is limited, so it might be wise to submit poster abstracts well before October 20).

Thanks,

John Yu and David Stelly Organizer and Co-organizer 2017 PAG-ICGI Workshop ________________________ John Z. Yu, Ph.D. Research Geneticist USDA-ARS Adjunct Professor of Genetics Texas A&M University 2675 F&B Road College Station, TX 77845, USA 1-979-260-9237 (Office) 1-979-260-9522 (Lab) 1-979-260-9333 (Fax) john.yu@ars.usda.gov; johnyu@tamu.edu

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