After a GREAT year at the Biological and Environmental Science Department at the University of Gothenburg, I am back at McMaster University.  I can’t thank my Swedish colleagues enough for such a wonderful year.  First, the CYP lab, headed by Dr. Malin Celander, was a great place to spend a year and I so enjoyed working with Johanna Grans and Britt Wassmur.  Johanna taught me how to cannulate a trout and prepare primary hepatocyte cultures, an in vitro assay tool that I have been looking to bring into my lab for a while.  I was fortunate enough to spend time at the wonderful Sven Loven Marine Science Centre at Kristineberg and work with Ola Svensson and Eva-Lotta Blom.  Our research on sand gobies taught me a lot about a new species and completing behavioural experiments.

I must say that I was ready to come back home.  My students need some of my time and two are preparing to complete their theses.  I think they were happy to see me too! My welcome back included a few surprises, of course.  Like the shark in my office. I am not sure the photo does it justice.  It was festive (note the hat!) but also HUGE!  So large that my meeting table couldn’t hold it and it needed an extra chair and straps to keep it in place.  I’ve been told it will have a new home today….