Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Welcome Timothee Fouqueray


Timothee has recently joined us for a two month stay.



He writes:

"After a two-year intensive course in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geology and Humanities, I've been accepted in my current school, the Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon (France), which fortunately really cares of its students! As a graduate student, my studies go from theoretical works to concrete projects, such as the one I'm beginning in my UCLA internship. During the 5 months of my stay here, I'll try to understand the maternal effects on the anogenital distance (a proxy of masculinization and early exposure to testosterone) of yellow-bellied marmots, that is to say how much of an individual anogenital distance is explained by the breeding value of its mother. And I'll have the chance to go in the field, in RMBL, to observe my new favourite rodents until the end of June !

If you want one, there's in attached file a picture of my school."




Sunday, February 10, 2013

Did you know...

...that according to a NY Times article, baristas in Sterling Coffee Roasters in Portland, Oregon, shout out "Marmot!" when an attractive customer is in line.  It seems the baristas stand at attention like marmots following the cry!

Saturday, February 2, 2013

In Alaska it's Marmot Day

Did you know that Alaska doesn't celebrate Groundhog Day, but they have an official state holiday called Marmot Day.  You can read about the history of the State Bill here.  Happy Marmot Day!

Happy Groundhog Day

Happy Groundhog Day to all!

Seems it's cloudy all over (including LA!) and early spring is predicted!

Meanwhile, the LA Times visited our annual lab groundhog day party yesterday and wrote a feature article!