MBE702 Seminar Evaluation: Benjamin Young
Signatures of disease resistance for the threatened Caribbean branching coral, Acropora palmata.

Coral reefs are important ocean ecosystems that provide biodiversity and economic stability. Despite this value, anthropogenic stressors have caused drastic decreases in global coral cover. In the Caribbean, White Band Disease has caused tremendous declines in the critical ecosystem building coral, Acropora palmata. With disease incidence on the rise, an in-depth knowledge of disease resistance dynamics is imperative for conservation efforts. This will allow the persistence of the critical ecosystem functions that A. palmata provides.
Previous observational work with A. palmata genotypes has shown large differences in disease resistance, with percent disease transmission ranging from 0% to 100%. In this study, RNA-seq was used to look at the differential gene expression of 12 A. palmata genotypes with different disease susceptibility in 2016 and 2017. Through the use of 7-day disease challenge experiments, baseline and disease-exposed corals where obtained for RNA-seq analysis.  Preliminary analysis indicates strong inter-annual variability between disease exposures in 2016 and 2017. Despite this variation, differential gene expression analysis reveals coordinated transcriptional responses that differ between baseline and disease-exposed corals. This work will contribute to scientifically driven restoration work by informing outplanting efforts of disease resistant genotypes, while also providing the benchmark for a field monitoring experiment of A. palmata on the Florida Reef Tract.

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Abstract
1 - 2:  Fails to describe work; inconsistent with talk; grammar and spelling errors.                                                                                                                    3 - 5:  Unclear; uninspiring; few errors.                                                                                                                                                       6 - 8:  Reasonable summary; interesting; minimal errors.                                                                                                                      9 -10: Easy to follow; inspiring text; very consistent with talk; no major errors.
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Introduction
1 - 2:  Lack of structure; audience feels lost; provides too much or too little background.                                                                                                      3 - 5:  Difficult to follow; inadequate information.                                                                                                                                      6 - 8:  Coherent; explanations could be improved; adequate information.                                                                                                                                       9 -10: Easy to follow; well structured; provides correct amount of background information for audience.
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Methods
1 - 2:  No explanation of methods; audience feels lost.                                                                                                                           3 - 5:  Difficult to follow; insufficient explanation of methods.                                                                                                                                      6 - 8:  Coherent but holes in methodology.                                                                                                                                               9 -10: Methodology clearly explained.
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Results (if applicable) and Discussion
1 - 2:  Unable to explain data; presentation of data is poor. Talk lacks conclusions.                                                                                                                                                                      3 - 5:  Incomplete results; graphs used ineffectively. Inadequate conclusions drawn from data.                                                                                                                                                                                                                   6 - 8:  Presentation of results could be improved; adequate graphs. Clear conclusions; demonstrates understanding.                                                                                                                        9 - 10: Great presentation of data; graphs appropriately explained. Well organized discussion; interprets the results in the context of relevant work.
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Ability to Communicate Importance of Research
1 - 2:  Unable to communicate importance of research and big picture ideas.                                                                                            3 - 5:  Importance of research unclear and not emphasized.                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6 - 8:  Places the research in the context of big picture ideas but leaves room for improvement.                                                                                        9 - 10:  Strong ability to communicate importance of the research and excites the audience.
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Acknowledgements
1 - 2:  Absent.                                                                                                                                                                                                  3 - 5:  Brief or incomplete.                                                                                                                                                                             6 - 8:  Adequate but does not go beyond the minimum.                                                                                                                              9 -10: Well thought out and describe contributions from both funding sources and individuals.
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Preparedness and Presentation Skills
1 - 2:  Very rushed; poor voice projection/eye contact; unprepared; reads entirely off slides.                                                                                                3 - 5:  Somewhat rushed; difficult to hear; poor eye contact; somewhat prepared.                                                                                                    6 - 8:  Reasonable pace/voice projection/eye contact; adequate preparation.                                                                                                                                                                                                    9 -10: Appropriate pace/voice projection/eye contact; well prepared; uses slides appropriately for guidance.
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Quality of Slides
1 - 2:  Dense text; unreadable figures; color scheme hinders readability.                                                                                             3 - 5:  Occasional use of dense text and unreadable figures; slide organization is poor.                                                                                            6 - 8:  Appealing slide design with appropriate text; readable figures; organized presentation.                                                                                                                                                                                              9 -10: Slides used extremely effectively; creative representation of material; easy to read.
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Ability to Answer Questions
1 - 2:  Unable to interpret or answer audience questions.                                                                                                                     3 - 5:  Difficulty answering most questions; fails to demonstrate understanding of topic.                                                                                          6 - 8:  Answers most questions well; adequate understanding of topic.                                                                                                                                                                                            9 -10: Answers all questions clearly and concisely; outstanding understanding of topic.
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