1

Department of Plant Science September 1, 2016 Dear Postgraduate Student, Welcome to the Department of Plant Science, McGill University. A copy of our departmental Postgraduate student handbook can be found on the Plant Science Website http://www.mcgill.ca/plant/graduate/requirements. This handbook contains a variety of information that shall be helpful during your graduate studies. We are extremely pleased that you have chosen Macdonald Campus of McGill University for your graduate studies, and we wish you every success in all your academic endeavours. Sincerely, Professor Suha Jabaji Graduate Program Director (September 2016-August 31, 2017) Email: suha.jabaji@mcgill.ca

2

Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Department of Plant Science

POSTGRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK

Table of Contents

Page Letter from the Graduate Program Director ………………………………………………………….…… 1 1. Plant Science Department: Faculty members and research areas .…………………..……………......… 4 2. General information ……………….. …………………………………………………………………... 5 3. Admission requirements …………………………………………………………………………………6 4. Registration …………………………………………………..…………………………………………. 6 5. Graduate programs and courses in Plant Science ………………………………………………………. 6 5.1. Master's program ……………………………………………………………………………... 6 5.1.1. Program requirements ………………………………………………………………. 6 5.1.2. Advisory committee ………………………………………………………………… 7 5.1.3. Thesis ………………………………………………………………………….……. 7 5.1.4. Transfer from M.Sc. to Ph.D. program …………………………………………….. 8 5.2. Ph.D. program ………………………………………………………………………………… 8 5.2.1. Program requirements …………………………………………………………….… 8 5.2.2. Advisory committee ………………………………………………………………… 8 5.2.3. Comprehensive examination ………………………………………………………9 5.2.4. Research program …………………………………………………………………. 12 5.2.5. Thesis ……………………………………………………………………………… 12 5.2.6. Transfer from Ph.D. to M.Sc. program ……………………………………………. 13 5.3. Advisory Committee meetings …………….…………………….………………………...…13 6. Teaching Assistantships ……………………………………………………………………………….. 14 7. Problems with advisor and/or advisory committee ……………………………………………………. 14 8. Various Departmental aspects …………………………………………………………………………. 14 8.1. Departmental keys ………………………………………………………….……………….. 14 8.2. Mailboxes ………………………………………………………………………………….... 14 8.3. Photocopying and office supplies ………………………………………….………………... 14 9. Research facilities ……………..…………………………………………………………..………….. 15 9.1. Lods agronomy research centre ……………………………………………………………... 15 9.2. Horticulture services building ……………………………………………………………….. 15 9.3. Greenhouse and phytorium operations ……………………………………………….….….. 15 9.4. Herbarium ……………………………………………………………………………….….. 15 9.5. Quarantine facility …………………………………………………………………………… 16 9.6. Applied biotechnology laboratory ………………………………………………………….. 16 9.7. Macdonald campus library …………………………………………………………………. 16 10. Emergencies/health ………………………………………………………………………………...… 16

10.1. Emergencies ………………………………………………………………………………... 16 10.2. Anti-tetanus protection ………………………………………………………………….…. 17 10.3. Student services……………………………………………………………………………...17

11. Vacation policy …………………………………………………………………………………….… 17 12. WHMIS training ………………………………………………………………………….…… 17

3

13. Travel registry………………………………………………………………………………..… 17 14. GREAT awards………………………………………………………………………………………..17 APPENDICES APPENDIX 1. Options with the Plant Science Programs (Neo, BioOpt, Env)………….………….…… 17 APPENDIX 2. Committees Composition Requirements ……...………………..………………………. 20 APPENDIX 3. Citing literature in scientific material……….…….….………………………………….. 21 APPENDIX 4. Handling of Pesticides and Other Toxic Compounds .…………………………….....….. 23 APPENDIX 5. Important Procedures to Follow as a Result of an Accident .…………………………... 24 APPENDIX 6. Laboratory Safety Responsibilities .…………………………………………………….. 25 Last updated by S. Jabaji, September 1, 2016

4

1. DEPARTMENT OF PLANT SCIENCE: Faculty members and research areas A description of research programs and publications for each faculty member can be found at: http://www.mcgill.ca/plant/faculty/ JACQUELINE C. BEDE, Ph.D., Toronto. Plant-insect interactions. Office: R2-026C. Telephone: 514-398-7860. Email: jacqueline.bede@mcgill.ca (On Sabbatical Leave Sept. 2016-Dec.2016) SYLVIE DE BLOIS, Ph.D., Université de Montréal. Landscape ecology; plant ecology; spatial and temporal heterogeneity; rural landscape dynamics; linear habitats; plant biodiversity and conservation. Office: R2-027b. Telephone: 514-398-7581. Email: sylvie.deblois@mcgill.ca JEAN-BENOIT CHARRON, Ph.D., Université du Québec à Montréal. (On Sabbatical Leave Sept2016-Aug2017) Chromatin regulatory mechanisms of stress tolerance in cereals, epigenetics, genomics, molecular biology, Brachypodium dystachyon, barley, wheat. Office: R2-022a. Telephone: 514-398-5634. Email: jean-benoit.charron@mcgill.ca DANIELLE J. DONNELLY, Ph.D., Simon Fraser. Plant tissue culture, anatomy and physiology of cultured plants. Office: R2-023a. Telephone: 514-398-7856. Email: danielle.donnelly@mcgill.ca PIERRE DUTILLEUL, D.Sc., Louvain. Applied statistics, environmetrics, experimental designs, temporal and spatial statistics. Office: R2-025a. Telephone: 514-398-7870. Email: pierre.dutilleul@mcgill.ca ANJA GEITMANN, Ph. D University of Siena. (Dean, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences) Cell biology, cytomechanics, biomechanical principles governing plant development and reproduction. Email: anja.geitmann@mcgill.ca VALERIE GRAVEL, Ph.D. Université Laval. (Department Lab Safety Officer) Sustainable horticultural production systems with a specific emphasis on sheltered or greenhouse crops. Office: R2-020c. Telephone: 514-398-8132. Email: valerie.gravel@mcgill.ca SUHA JABAJI, Ph.D., Waterloo (Department Graduate Program Director) Biotechnology of fungi for improving plant growth; mechanisms of biological disease control. Office: R3. Telephone: 514-398-7561. Email: suha.jabaji@mcgill.ca TIMOTHY A. JOHNS, Ph.D., Michigan. Ethnobotany, with emphasis on traditional uses of cultivated and wild plants. Office: MS2-039. Telephone: 514-398-7847. Email: tim.johns@mcgill.ca AJJAMADA C. KUSHALAPPA, Ph.D., Florida.

5

Epidemiology and management of plant diseases. Office: R2-028b. Telephone: 514-398-7867. Email: ajjamada.kushalappa@mcgill.ca PHILIPPE SEGUIN, Ph.D., Minnesota. Forage crops: Management, physiology, and ecology. Office: R2-017a. Telephone: 514-398-7855. Email: philippe.seguin@mcgill.ca JASWINDER SINGH, Ph.D., Australia. Plant breeding, molecular biology, genetic engineering, and genomics. Office: R2-021a. Telephone: 514-398-7906. Email: jaswinder.singh@mcgill.ca DONALD L. SMITH, Ph.D., Guelph. Crop physiology, crop ecology, crop production and crop quality. Office: R2-027a. Telephone: 514-398-7866. Email: donald.smith@ mcgill.ca MARTINA V. STROMVIK, Ph.D., Illinois. (Department Chair, 2015-2019) Bioinformatics and genomics research on plant promoters, gene expression and functional anatomy. Office: R2-020b. Telephone: 514-398-8627. Email: martina.stromvik@ mcgill.ca ALAN K. WATSON, Ph.D., Saskatchewan (On Sabbatical leave Jan. 2017-Dec. 2017) Weed biology; biological control of weeds; bioherbicide development. Office: R2-026d. Telephone: 514-398-7858. Email: alan.watson@ mcgill.ca OLIVIA WILKINS, PhD., Toronto. Systems biology, gene regulatory network, abiotic stress. Office: R2-020b Telephone: 514-398-8703. Email: olivia.wilkins@mcgill.ca 2. GENERAL INFORMATION Details of policies relevant to graduate students are available at the web site for the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office is: http://www.mcgill.ca/gps/. Information for new students can be found at: http://www.mcgill.ca/gradwelcome/ . The current course calendar is available at: http://www.mcgill.ca/students/courses/calendars/current/ Routine matters relating to regulations of the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office, registration, adding/dropping courses, scholarship applications, locker assignments, etc., can be discussed with Ms. Carolyn Bowes (Graduate Program Coordinator) in room MS2-074 (Macdonald Graduate Studies office). Phone: 514 398 7560 Email: gradstudies.macdonald@mcgill.ca . Keys can be obtained from Lynn Bachand (Administrative Assistant) Phone 514 398 7571 Email: lynn.bachand@mcgill.ca . Lynn can also be contacted about TA-positions. We hold departmental staff meetings at intervals throughout the year, at which we discuss policy matters, course changes and other items of general concern. You will have a representative at those meetings. Problems, suggestions, etc., that you feel should be brought to our attention can be raised in our meetings

6

by your representative. 3. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS There are several admission requirements for admittance in our graduate programs. These are either set by our Department and/or the Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Studies Office. These include: 1. A CGPA > 3.0 out of 4. 2. Two letters of recommendations 3. A current CV 4. The application fee. 5. The admission application (http://www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply) 6. A statement of research interests. 7. A TOEFL score of at least 550 (paper-based) or 213 (computer-based) or a minimum overall score of

86 with each component score not less than 20 (internet-Based Test - iBT) (TOEFL scores are only required for international students who have not completed a degree in an institution where English is the language of instruction).

8. A supervisor in the Department.

Based on these requirements each file submitted for admission is examined by the Admission Committee of the Department, which will decide on recommendation of admission. It is the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office (downtown) who makes the final decision. 4. REGISTRATION Students should confirm their registration on MINERVA for the fall and winter terms for the duration of their program. For academic advising, see your supervisor. For registration requirements, see the Macdonald Graduate Studies office, in room MS2-074 Macdonald-Stewart building. 5. GRADUATE PROGRAMS AND COURSES IN PLANT SCIENCE A list of graduate courses in the Department of Plant Science can be found in the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office Course Calendar 2015-16 at: http://www.mcgill.ca/study/2014-2015/faculties/macdonald/graduate/courses/?filters=language%3Aen%20ss_dept%3A0076&solrsort=sort_title%20asc 5.1 Master's Program 5.1.1. Program requirements Candidates must complete a 45-credit course (a minimum of 12 credits per term) and research program established by their advisory committee. Research programs require approximately two years for completion. The program consists of:

1) Two 3-credit graduate level courses or their equivalent; 2) M.Sc. I: PLNT 664 Thesis proposal - (12 credits); [register first term] 3) M.Sc. II: PLNT 665 Thesis progress report - (12 credits); [register second term] 4) M.Sc. III: PLNT 666 Thesis (15 credits); [register third term] 5) Research Horizons (register for PLNT 690 the first term, PLNT 691 the third term); each

student must present a research proposal in the seminar series at the latest during his/her second term of registration; graduate student attendance is obligatory at these seminars; [register

7

only once for each] 6) Additional courses may be required at the discretion of the candidate's advisory committee.

Options: Three options are available with the Masters program, see Appendix 1 for details. 5.1.2. Advisory committee Each student will have an advisory committee (see Appendix 2), generally consisting of two members of the departmental teaching staff, including the student's research supervisor who serves as the chair. Advisory committees are expected to meet with the student every six months (twice a year), to discuss the student's course requirements and research progress. For each committee meeting, an electronic report(s) must be completed and emailed to the Graduate Program Director for approval. The form can be downloaded from the department website http://www.mcgill.ca/plant/graduate/requirements . The advisory committee’s primary function is to aid the student. Please make certain your committee meets, as this will ensure that your progress towards the degree is as rapid as possible. Committee meetings every 6 months are mandatory in the department. The composition of the advisory committee of each new graduate student in Plant Science must be approved by the Graduate Program Director. In case a change would have to be made to the composition of the advisory committee, a request in this effect should be submitted by the student’s research supervisor, with justification, to the Graduate Program Director, for the change to be approved. In the case of a disagreement with regard to the decision (approved/disapproved), an appeal procedure would be possible through the departmental Graduate Committee. 5.1.3. Thesis 1) The preparation and presentation of a thesis is a requirement of all Master's candidates. 2) The thesis should be prepared according to the guidelines prepared by the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies http://www.mcgill.ca/gps/students/thesis/guidelines 3) Make sure that all necessary documents (e.g., biohazard documents) are in order. Be in frequent contact with your supervisor, who will help make sure you have followed the guidelines and that the thesis is fit for review. However, it is not their job to correct all your typoes and grammar. Please help the process go more smoothly, by being meticulous and avoiding careless formatting. If possible, have a labmate or friend help spot problems in your text. 4) Prepare the thesis submission form, sign and ask your supervisor to sign. Note that if they do not think the thesis is ready for review, they may ask you to do corrections, so you need to plan ahead and not leave this to the last moment. They or you, may also call an advisory committee meeting, and have the advisory committee also check that the thesis is ready for review. By signing the thesis submission form (“Nomination of Examiners and Thesis Submission Form”), you certify (quote from the submission form): “The student certifies that the thesis meets GPS guidelines for preparation and submission and that:

1) If relevant, any and all ethics and compliance certificates required have been properly obtained and copies are on file with the appropriate offices. 2) If relevant, appropriate permissions have been obtained to include copyrighted material in the thesis. 3) If relevant, appropriate permissions have been obtained from co-authors of manuscripts included in the thesis for such inclusion. “

5) Once you and your supervisor have both signed, bring or send your submission form to the Graduate

8

Program Director for signature. The Nomination of Examiner Form MUST have the approval and signature of the Graduate Program Director before you submit your thesis 6) Submit electronically your thesis and required forms and documents to the Thesis Office on the downtown campus (mastersthesissubmission.gps@mcgill.ca). Please also cc gradstudies.macdonald@mcgill.ca and your supervisor. 7) The thesis will be evaluated by one examiner, normally a faculty member who is not on the student's Advisory Committee (see Appendix 2). 7) Sometime during the final term of registration, the student will orally present his/her thesis to the Department as part of the requirements for PLNT 666 (MSc III). The final requirements for this course will be satisfied when the examiners’ reports have been returned with a recommendation Pass for the thesis, and all editorial revisions have been made. Note: A M.Sc. defense is not required. 8) Students should refer to the Calendar of Dates http://www.mcgill.ca/gps/thesis/guidelines/initial-submission to the determine deadlines for submitting their thesis, and to the graduate seminar instructor (TBA) to schedule their thesis presentation. 5.1.4. Transfer from M.Sc. to Ph.D. program M.Sc. students who meet the Ph.D. entrance requirements and show adequate potential as evidenced in their M.Sc. graduate program, may be considered for transfer to the Ph.D. program. Students wishing to be considered for transfer from M.Sc. to the Ph.D. program must make a formal application to the Plant Science Admissions Committee according to the following guidelines: 1) Applications must be received by the committee in sufficient time to allow for a decision to be made

within the first year of the student's M.Sc. program. 2) Applications shall consist of the following: i) A letter from the student explaining why a change to the Ph.D. program is requested. ii) Copies of all transcripts, including marks obtained for all graduate course work. iii) A detailed research proposal which includes a progress report summarizing M.Sc. research

completed to date. iv) Letter(s) of support from the student's thesis supervisor and research advisory committee. 3) The student must take a written qualifying exam, in order for the committee to evaluate the student’s

academic ability. 4) The academic ability, based on the application and the results of the qualifying exam, of the student

shall serve as the basis for justifying transfer from the M.Sc. to the Ph.D. program, not the magnitude of the project. Thus, M.Sc. projects that have developed into "Ph.D.-sized" projects shall not be sufficient reason to justify transfer to the Ph.D. program. Approved transfers will not be made retroactively.

5) Students whose applications for transfer to the Ph.D. program have been approved will be admitted to Ph.D.2 upon completion of their first year of graduate studies. A seminar presentation describing the proposed research to the Department must be done even if one had been done during the M.Sc.

5.2. Ph.D. Program 5.2.1. Program requirements Candidates must complete a program of study established by their Advisory Committee. Research programs require approximately three years for completion. The program consists of:

1) Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination: PLNT 701. Students must register in the first term and must complete the exam within 15 months of registration in the program; 2) Thesis is required

9

3) Attendance at Research Horizons PLNT 690, PLNT 691; Graduate student attendance is obligatory at these seminars (Appendix 4);

4) Additional courses may be required at the discretion of the candidate's supervisory committee; 5) Students who have taken their M.Sc. degree at McGill University are required to spend at

least one semester in study at another research institution. Options: Three options are available with the Ph.D. program; see Appendix 1 for details. 5.2.2. Advisory committee Each student will have an advisory committee (see Appendix 2), generally consisting of three members of the departmental teaching staff, including the student's research supervisor who serves as the chair. Advisory committees are expected to meet with the student every six months (twice a year), to discuss the student's course requirements and research progress (see Section 5.3). Committee meetings every 6 months are mandatory in the department. The composition of the advisory committee of each new graduate student in Plant Science must be approved by the Graduate Program Director. In case a change would have to be made to the composition of the advisory committee, a request in this effect should be submitted by the student’s research supervisor, with justification, to the Graduate Program Director, for the change to be approved. In the case of a disagreement with regard to the decision (approved/disapproved), an appeal procedure would be possible through the departmental Graduate Committee. 5.2.3. Comprehensive examination (PLNT 701) Ph.D. Comprehensive Examiner for 2016/2017 is Prof. Pierre Dutilleul 1) The comprehensive examination is required for all Ph.D. students. The examination is designed to

assess students’ potential to succeed in the Ph.D. program, by evaluating their research plans and by testing their knowledge of plant science and related disciplines, their knowledge of the scientific literature and their analytical and conceptual abilities.

2) The comprehensive examination must be completed within 15 months of registering for the Ph.D. program.

3) The examining committee for a student’s comprehensive examination will be chaired by the Department of Plant Science Comprehensive Examination Supervisor and will have four other members, as follows:

a) The student's Ph.D. supervisor; b) A member of the student’s Ph.D. advisory committee who holds a tenure-track or tenured faculty position in the Department of Plant Science; c) A person who holds a tenure-track or tenured faculty position in the Department of Plant Science who is not a member of the student’s Ph.D. advisory committee; d) A person who holds a tenure-track or tenured faculty position in a McGill University department other than Plant Science and who is not a member of the student’s advisory committee;

4) If the Department of Plant Science Comprehensive Examination Supervisor is the Ph.D. supervisor of the student, another senior faculty member will chair the committee.

10

5) The student must be informed of the composition of the examining committee prior to the beginning of the written examination.

6) The comprehensive examination consists of three components: a research proposal, a written examination and an oral examination.

a) Research proposal: The student must prepare a formal written proposal for his/her Ph.D.

research. i) The proposal must:

(1) Specify the hypotheses and objectives of the proposed research; (2) Review the most pertinent literature; (3) Outline a detailed research plan and research schedule; and (4) Indicate progress made in the accomplishment of the proposed research.

ii) If research results have already been obtained, a summary of these may be appended to the proposal. iii) The proposal should be prepared in advance of the written examination and should be submitted at least one week in advance of the oral examination (i.e., at the same time as the written examination answer is submitted). iv) Assessment of the research proposal will focus on the clarity and completeness of the document, the feasibility of the proposed research plan and the potential of the proposed research to lead to original contributions to knowledge.

b) Written examination: Two weeks in advance of the oral examination, the student will be given two examination questions and will be given one week in which to prepare a written answer to one of these two questions.

i) The questions will be set by the student’s Ph.D. supervisor in consultation with

members of the student’s Ph.D. advisory committee and will require the approval of the chair of the student’s Ph.D. comprehensive examination committee (i.e., normally the department Comprehensive Examination Supervisor).

ii) The questions will be related to plant science, but will require use of information and literature from disciplines other than the principal discipline(s) to be used in the student’s proposed research.

iii) The questions will be designed to test the student’s ability to seek, retrieve and synthesize information from the recent scientific literature, and to use that information in a critical and/or creative way. For example, a question may require the student to propose a solution to a problem, to design an experiment or research program, or to discuss a scientifically controversial issue.

iv) In choosing between the two questions, the student should consider which question will permit him/her to best demonstrate the abilities to be assessed.

v) The content of the student’s written answer must not overlap with the content of the student’s research proposal.

vi) In preparing the answer to the selected question, the student may freely consult books, journals and electronic sources of information but may not discuss the content of the examination with anyone else, in person or via electronic means.

vii) The student’s answer should not exceed 15 typed pages (double-spaced in a 11- or 12-point font, excluding references).

11

c) Oral examination: An oral examination is held, normally during the second week

following the completion of the written examination.

i) Members of the examining committee question the student in order to assess:

(1) The student’s ability to defend his/her research proposal and written examination answer; (2) The student’s ability to reason; (3) The student’s breadth and depth of scientific knowledge. It is normally expected that the student’s will be able to demonstrate:

(a) A broad general knowledge (i.e., at least introductory undergraduate level) in plant science and related disciplines, and (b) More advanced knowledge in disciplinary areas related to the student’s proposed research, and familiarity with recent scientific advances in those areas.

ii) Students may be questioned on appropriate topics discussed in the Research Horizons seminar series. The oral examination normally lasts about three hours.

7) Following the oral examination, the examining committee will assess the student’s proposed

research, scientific knowledge and research abilities and assign one of two marks based on the student’s overall performance in all three components of the comprehensive examination: PASS (unconditional pass on all parts of the examination, no further requirements; some recommendations may be made) or FAIL (student has failed all or part of the examination).

a) If the initial mark assigned is PASS, then a grade of “P” will be submitted for the course

PLNT 701. b) If the initial mark assigned is FAIL, then, according to University regulations, the student

must be allowed one repeat of the comprehensive examination (in whole or in part).

i) A student who fails the examination will be advised of the specific deficiencies relating to the failure as well as which parts of the examination must be repeated.

ii) A student who has received an initial mark of FAIL and who wishes to repeat the comprehensive examination must notify the Department Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination Supervisor in writing within 21 days.

iii) The examination committee may assign readings and/or additional coursework in specified area(s) to help the student prepare for re-examination. Any additional coursework must be passed at the graduate level.

iv) The nature and number of readings and/or coursework, and the format of the re-examination will be determined on an individual basis.

v) If a second examination is required, it must be held within 6 months of the first, unless this is precluded by the availability of additional required courses. In this case, the examination must be held within 12 months. In the interim, a mark of "HH" (continuing) will be entered into the student's record.

12

vi) In so far as possible, the second examination committee should have the same membership as the first examination committee.

vii) An initial failure in the comprehensive examination is considered "Unsatisfactory Progress" in the Ph.D. and may result in termination of stipends paid by research supervisors.

8) In the event of a second failure, a grade of "F" will be reported, and the student will be required to

withdraw from the Ph.D. program. There will be no other opportunities to repeat the comprehensive examination. The results of comprehensive examinations will be formally confirmed in writing to the student.

9) Failure to pass the Ph.D. comprehensive examination shall not be sufficient cause for a student's admission to the M.Sc. program. Students wishing to complete an M.Sc. degree must make a formal application for admission to the M.Sc. program.

10) Supervisors who wish to request exceptions to any aspect of these guidelines for a particular student should do so in writing to the Department Graduate Program Director, as early as possible (preferably prior to the student’s admission to the Ph.D. program).

11) Plagiarism on a comprehensive exam will be reported to the Disciplinary officer, Associate Dean (GPS). Quote from McGill’s comprehensive policy (http://www.mcgill.ca/study/2013-2014/university_regulations_and_resources/graduate/gps_gi_guidelines_and_policies_phd_comprehensives_policy ):

“McGill University values academic integrity, which is fundamental to achieving our mission of

the advancement of learning. Therefore, all students must understand the issues associated with academic integrity (see www.mcgill.ca/students/srr/honest for more information). Plagiarism in a Ph.D. comprehensive examination contravenes McGill University's academic goals and standards. Consequently, any student found guilty of plagiarism under the Code of Student conduct and Disciplinary Procedures (see the Handbook on Students Rights and Responsibilities available at www.mcgill.ca/secretariat/policies/students) in a Ph.D. comprehensive examination may face very serious penalties, even expulsion from the University without the degree.”

5.2.4. Research program The time required to complete a Ph.D. research program will vary, depending on the project, but at least three years is normally required. 5.2.5. Thesis 1) The preparation and presentation of a thesis is a requirement of all Ph.D. candidates. 2) The thesis should be prepared according to the guidelines prepared by the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies http://www.mcgill.ca/gps/students/thesis/guidelines 3) Make sure that all necessary documents (e.g., biohazard documents) are in order. Be in frequent contact with your supervisor, who will help make sure you have followed the guidelines and that the thesis is fit for review. However, it is not their job to correct all your typoes and grammar. Please help the process go more smoothly, by being meticulous and avoiding careless formatting. If possible, have a labmate or friend help spot problems in your text. 4) Prepare the thesis submission form, sign and ask your supervisor to sign. Note that if they do not think

13

the thesis is ready for review, they may ask you to do corrections, so you need to plan ahead and not leave this to the last moment. They or you, may also call an advisory committee meeting, and have the advisory committee also check that the thesis is ready for review. By signing the thesis submission form (“Nomination of Examiners and Thesis Submission Form”), you certify (quote from the submission form): “The student certifies that the thesis meets GPS guidelines for preparation and submission and that:

1) If relevant, any and all ethics and compliance certificates required have been properly obtained and copies are on file with the appropriate offices. 2) If relevant, appropriate permissions have been obtained to include copyrighted material in the thesis. 3) If relevant, appropriate permissions have been obtained from co-authors of manuscripts included in the thesis for such inclusion. “

5) Once you and your supervisor have both signed, bring or send your submission form to the Graduate Program Director for signature. The Nomination of Examiner Form MUST have the approval and signature of the Graduate Program Director before you submit your thesis 6) Submit electronically your thesis and required forms and documents to the Thesis Office on the downtown campus (doctoralthesissubmission.gps@mcgill.ca). Please also cc gradstudies.macdonald@mcgill.ca and your supervisor. 7) Students should refer to http://www.mcgill.ca/gps/thesis/guidelines/initial-submission to determine deadlines for submitting their thesis. 8) Once the thesis has been reviewed by the internal and external reviewers, the Ph.D. defense will be scheduled. Please see Susan Gregus in the Macdonald Graduate Studies office regarding procedures. 5.2.6. Transfer from Ph.D. to M.Sc. program Students wishing to transfer from the Ph.D. to the M.Sc. program must make a formal application to the Plant Science Graduate Admissions Committee as mentioned earlier, but as appropriate for this transfer. If approved, students will be transferred to the appropriate year of M.Sc. studies, with no loss of residency time. However, these students must then complete all coursework and the 45 credits required for the M.Sc. degree. 5.3. ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETINGS: General instructions for graduate student advisory committees:

1) First committee meeting (to be held within the first semester): a. The proposal should be given to members of the committee one week in advance. b. Students should bring the electronic report form to the meeting (can be obtained from the

Department of Plant Science web site http://www.mcgill.ca/plant/graduate/requirements/.) c. Students are normally required to give a brief (10-15 minute) presentation. d. The report form should be filled out as well as an outline of objectives that should be met before the

next committee meeting (approx. 6 months). These objectives must be approved by the committee, the student and the Graduate Program Director. If the student challenges the objectives, then s/he must provide a written statement explaining the reasons.

2) Second and subsequent committee meetings (approx. every 6 months thereafter) e. For the next meeting, and every meeting thereafter, the progress achieved toward the recorded

objectives will be evaluated. f. Prior to the meeting, the student should record their accomplishments and progress using the report

14

form (http://www.mcgill.ca/plant/graduate/requirements/.) c. Steps 1a to d should be followed as outlined above, as well, a copy of the previous committee

meeting report should be brought to the committee meeting. ***If a student receives two consecutive unsatisfactory evaluations, without sufficient explanations, they may be required to withdraw from the program.*** 6. TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIPS Instructors of undergraduate courses involving laboratory exercises, and having significant numbers of students, may require assistance in the form of laboratory teaching assistants. This provides an opportunity for graduate students to gain teaching experience. Graduate students are paid at a predetermined rate per hour for preparation of materials, assisting in the laboratory, marking laboratory reports and other course-related duties assigned by the instructor. Stipends paid by the student’s supervisor may be reduced accordingly if the student accepts a TA-ship. In the case of non-Canadian or non-landed immigrant students, only copy of the Student Authorization is necessary to receive remuneration (as of July 26, 1995, a work permit is no longer required). Please see Ms. Lynn Bachand for questions regarding TA-positions (Administrative Assistant) Phone 514 398 7571 Email: lynn.bachand@mcgill.ca . 7. PROBLEMS WITH ADVISOR AND/OR ADVISORY COMMITTEE Problems that a student has with his/her advisor or advisory committee should be raised with the Graduate Program Director (Professor Suha Jabaji). The Graduate Program Director will act as ombudsperson in finding a solution to these problems. In the case of students of the Graduate Program Director, the student should contact the Chair of the Department to act as ombudsperson.

VARIOUS DEPARTMENTAL ASPECTS 8.1. Departmental keys Students do not require a key to enter the building complex. All doors are open during working hours (7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.) during the week. On Saturday and Sunday and in the evenings, entry can be made only through the main door of the Macdonald-Stewart Building. Keys will be required for the offices or laboratories that are routinely used by the student. These can be obtained from Lynn Bachand for a deposit of $5.00 per key. This $5.00 will be returned to you when you return the key. Greenhouse keys are available from Lynn Bachand at a charge of $15.00 per key. Lynn Bachand (Administrative Assistant) Phone 514 398 7571 Email: lynn.bachand@mcgill.ca . Before a key will be issued, permission must be obtained from the person in charge of the laboratory concerned. When in doubt, consult your supervisor. Students should carry their University identity (ID) card at all times. It is required for entry to the building complex from 7:00 p.m. until 7:00 a.m. and on weekends and holidays, and for borrowing library books. 8.2. Mailboxes Each Plant Science graduate student is assigned a surname-marked box. These serve to distribute to the student not only mail which may arrive in the department, but also messages, etc. Notices/seminar announcements will be posted daily opposite the conference room (R2-013). 8.3. Photocopying and office supplies

15

The departmental photocopy machine, located in R2-017, is normally for academic use only. Postgraduate students having reason to photocopy material associated with their research project may use the machine with permission from their research director who will supply a resource card to operate the copier. Material for personal use must not be photocopied on the departmental machine. Photocopy service is also available in the Library. Departmental office supplies are not available to students. 9. RESEARCH FACILITIES 9.1. Lods agronomy research centre (the seed farm) The Lods Research Centre is the site of agronomy field research. The majority of the equipment and supplies necessary to support this research is housed in the buildings at the Centre.

1) Most of the equipment at the Lods Centre is heavily committed to the research program of major users. All equipment requests should go to Paul Meldrum (514-398-8663 paul.meldrum@mcgill.ca), and should be given to him at least one week in advance, if possible. It may not always be possible to obtain equipment exactly when you require it. For the larger equipment, in most cases, an experienced technician will operate the equipment for you. Others will be permitted to use this equipment only if it can be clearly demonstrated that they have adequate experience. As functioning equipment is vital to the pursuit of the research at the Centre, the technicians are quite particular in deciding who uses this equipment.

2) The drying facility of the Lods Centre has many users within the department. Again, requests to use this facility should go to Paul Meldrum (514-398-8663 paul.meldrum@mcgill.ca) and be made well in advance. The major users of the facility, such as those working in the forage and corn testing programs, are given priority due to the very large number of samples which have to be dried. Users of this facility must clean up after themselves or they will be denied access.

3) The hours of the technical staff are from 8:30 in the morning to 4:30 in the afternoon. We prefer that others working at the Centre carry out the majority of their work during these hours so that technical staff can ensure that all machinery is locked away safely and the gate is locked. If you are using trucks or equipment after hours, please obtain a key, which allows access to the complex so that this equipment can be locked away.

4) The Lods Centre is equipped with a burglar alarm. Those working outside of regular hours should ask for the entry code and enter via the workshop or office complex doors.

5) It is the responsibility of students who are carrying out field research at the Lods Centre, to keep their research areas neat and relatively free of weeds. In addition, work areas inside the buildings should be tidied and cleaned after use. Unlabelled bags and boxes left in the buildings will be discarded.

6) If there are any questions or problems, please bring them to the attention of Paul Meldrum 514-398-8663 paul.meldrum@mcgill.ca.

9.2. Horticulture services building The Horticulture Services Building is located at the east end of the campus. Facilities for fruit and vegetable storage and grading are housed here. The apple orchard is located near the building, as are the fields where experiments on vegetable and small fruit production are carried out. Research requests on the Horticulture Farm can be made to: Paul Meldrum, 514-398-8663 paul.meldrum@mcgill.ca .

16

9.3. Greenhouse and phytorium operations For information concerning greenhouses, see Guy Rimmer (R2-026b). He can be contacted at: guy.rimmer@mcgill.ca He is also in charge of phytorium growth chambers. Reservation forms for greenhouse benches or growth chambers can be obtained from him, or from the following website: http://www.mcgill.ca/plant/facilities . 9.4. Herbarium The McGill University Herbarium is housed in room R1-038 of the Raymond Building. It contains over 120,000 specimens from around the world, with a particularly good collection of eastern Canadian and Arctic plants. Students are welcome to use the Herbarium, but only after special instructions from the interim Curator, Dr. Valerie Gravel. 9.5. Quarantine facility This controlled environment containment facility, under the supervision of Dr. Martina Strömvik and all precautions are taken to prevent contamination of laboratory workers and the outside environment. 9.6. Macdonald campus library Tours of the Library may be arranged at any time throughout the year. Graduate students are especially urged to have a guided tour of the Library when they first arrive on campus. For more information or to arrange a tour, please contact the Library, telephone number 398-7879. 10. EMERGENCIES/HEALTH 10.1. Emergencies For all types of emergency situations (fire, medical, criminal acts, hazardous materials spills, major floods, etc.) call 7777. Please see Appendices 8, 9 and 10. 10.2. Anti-tetanus protection All departmental personnel, including graduate students, coming in contact with soil must be protected against tetanus infection. If you have not received an anti-tetanus inoculation within the past 10 years, you must obtain such protection. Inoculations are provided free of charge by the CLSC clinic at 180 Cartier, Pointe Claire. Call 514-697-4110 for an appointment. 10.3. Student services Please see the Macdonald Student Services website for other useful information including counselling services: http://www.mcgill.ca/macdonald-studentservices/our-services 11. VACATION POLICY Graduate students are normally entitled to a vacation leave of university holidays and an additional fifteen (15) working days in the year. Funded students taking additional vacation leave may have their funding reduced accordingly. Graduate students should inform their supervisor well in advance of their vacation plans.

17

12. WHMIS Graduate students are required to take the laboratory safety training (WHMIS). Detailed information and course dates may be found on: http://www.mcgill.ca/ehs/training/whmis/. All new incoming graduate students must attend the Research Ethics and Conduct seminars that are held in the fall session of every year. Consult the Macdonald Research Website for exact dates. 13. Travel Registry It is mandatory for graduate students travelling to attend any international conferences, workshops or field research activities must inform Carolyn Bowes carolyn.bowes@mcgill.ca to submit a Travel Registry form for you to complete on Minerva. 14. GREAT Travel Awards If you would like to apply for a GREAT Travel Award, see Susan Gregus in the Macdonald Graduate Studies office for an application form to complete, sign (you/your supervisor) and return to Susan.

18

APPENDIX 1 Graduate options available with the Plant Science M.Sc. and Ph.D. programs are listed here. Please see the current graduate course calendar for additional information. BioOpt – Option in Bioinformatics (http://www.mcgill.ca/mcb/academic/graduate/) Candidates must complete a course and research program established by their advisory committee. Additional courses may be required at the discretion of the candidate's supervisory committee. M.Sc. in Plant Science - Bioinformatics Option/Concentration (48 credits) Required Courses (3 credits)

COMP 616 (3) Bioinformatics Seminar PLNT 690 (0) Research Horizons in Plant Science PLNT 691 (0) Research Horizons in Plant Science Complementary Courses (6 credits) 6 credits to be chosen from the following courses: BINF 621 (3) Bioinformatics: Molecular Biology BMDE 652 (3) Bioinformatics: Proteomics BTEC 555 COMP 618

(3) (3)

Structural Bioinformatics Bioinformatics: Functional Genomics

PHGY 603 (3) Systems Biology and Biophysics Additional courses at the 500 or 600 level may be required at the discretion of the candidate's advisory committee. Thesis Component – Required (39 credits) PLNT 664 (12) M.Sc. Thesis 1 PLNT 665 (12) M.Sc. Thesis 2 PLNT 666 (15) M.Sc. Thesis 3 Ph.D. in Plant Science - Bioinformatics Option/Concentration Required Courses (3 credits) COMP 616 (3) Bioinformatics Seminar PLNT 690 (0) Research Horizons in Plant Science PLNT 691 (0) Research Horizons in Plant Science Complementary Courses (6 credits) two courses to be chosen from the following: BINF 621 (3) Bioinformatics: Molecular Biology BMDE 652 (3) Bioinformatics: Proteomics BTEC 555 COMP 618

(3) (3)

Structural Bioinformatics Bioinformatics: Functional Genomics

PHGY 603 (3) Systems Biology and Biophysics Additional courses at the 500 or 600 level may be required at the discretion of the candidate's advisory committee. Comprehensive – Required PLNT 701* Doctoral Comprehensive Exam * Must be taken within one year of registering. Thesis – Required

19

Env – Environment Option (http://www.mcgill.ca/mse/programs/envroption) Candidates must complete a course and research program established by their advisory committee. Additional courses may be required at the discretion of the candidate's supervisory committee. M.Sc. in Plant Science Environment Option/Concentration (48 credits) Required Courses (6 credits)

ENVR 610 Foundations of Environmental Policy (3) ENVR 650 Environmental Seminar 1 (1) ENVR 651 Environmental Seminar 2 (1) ENVR 652 Environmental Seminar 3 (1) PLNT 690 Research Horizons in Plant Science (0)

Complementary Courses (3 credits)

ENVR 519 Global Environmental Politics (3) ENVR 544 Environmental Measurement and Modeling (3) ENVR 580 Topics in Environment 3 (3) ENVR 611 Economy of Nature (3) ENVR 620 Environment and Health of Species (3) ENVR 622 Sustainable Landscapes (3) ENVR 630 Civilization and Environment 1 (3) ENVR 680 Topics in Environment 4 (3) or other course at the 500-level or higher recommended by advisory committee and approved by Environment Option Committee

Thesis Component – Required (39 credits)

PLNT 664 M.Sc. Thesis 1 (12) PLNT 665 M.Sc. Thesis 2 (12) PLNT 666 M.Sc. Thesis 3 (15)

Ph.D. in Plant Science Environment Option/Concentration Required Courses (6 credits)

PLNT 690 Research Horizons in Plant Science (0) PLNT 701 Doctoral Comprehensive (0) ENVR 610 Foundations of Environmental Policy (3) ENVR 650 Environmental Seminar 1 (1) ENVR 651 Environmental Seminar 2 (1) ENVR 652 Environmental Seminar 3 (1)

Complementary Courses (3 credits)

ENVR 519 Global Environmental Politics (3) ENVR 544 Environmental Measurement and Modelling (3) ENVR 580 Topics in Environment 3 (3) ENVR 611 Economy of Nature (3) ENVR 620 Environment and Health of Species (3) ENVR 622 Sustainable Landscapes (3) ENVR 630 Civilization and Environment 1 (3) ENVR 680 Topics in Environment 4 (3)

Thesis - Required

20

Neo – Neotropical Option (http://www.mcgill.ca/neo/) Candidates must complete a course and research program established by their advisory committee. When in residence in Montreal attendance at the invitational seminar (PLNT 690) is required. Candidates must also participate in the STRI seminar series when in residence in Panama, and in the MSE-Panama Symposium Presentation in Montreal. Additional courses may be required at the discretion of the candidate's supervisory committee. M.Sc. in Plant Science (Thesis) - Neotropical Environment Option/Concentration (48 credits) Required Courses (6 credits) BIOL 640 (3) Tropical Biology and Conservation ENVR 610 (3) Foundations of Environmental Policy PLNT 690 (0) Research Horizons in Plant Science Complementary Courses (3 credits) 3 credits, one of the following courses: AGRI 550 (3) Sustained Tropical Agriculture BIOL 553 (3) Neotropical Environments BIOL 641 (3) Issues in Tropical Biology ENVR 611 (3) The Economy of Nature ENVR 612 (3) Tropical Environmental Issues ENVR 680 (3) Topics in Environment 4 POLI 644 (3) Tropical Environmental Politics SOCI 565 (3) Social Change in Panama Thesis Component – Required (39 credits) PLNT 664 (12) M.Sc. Thesis 1 PLNT 665 (12) M.Sc. Thesis 2 PLNT 666 (15) M.Sc. Thesis 3 Ph.D. in Plant Science - Neotropical Environment Option/Concentration

Required Courses (6 credits)

BIOL 640 (3) Tropical Biology and Conservation ENVR 610 (3) Foundations of Environmental Policy PLNT 690 (0) Research Horizons in Plant Science Complementary Courses (3 credits) 3 credits, one of the following courses: AGRI 550 (3) Sustained Tropical Agriculture BIOL 553 (3) Neotropical Environments BIOL 641 (3) Issues in Tropical Biology ENVR 611 (3) The Economy of Nature ENVR 612 (3) Tropical Environmental Issues ENVR 680 (3) Topics in Environment 4 POLI 644 (3) Tropical Environmental Politics SOCI 565 (3) Social Change in Panama Comprehensive – Required PLNT 701* Doctoral Comprehensive Exam * Must be taken by the student within one year of registering. Thesis – Required

21

APPENDIX 2 COMPOSITION REQUIREMENTS OF COMMITTEES

M.Sc. Advisory Committee Ph.D. Advisory Committee Ph.D. Comprehensive

Committee Ph.D. Defense Committee

The student’s research supervisor(s) At least one member of the university tenure track staff Note: Could also include an additional member, but the number of members should not exceed 3.

The student’s research supervisor(s) At least one members of the departmental tenure track staff and one member from the university tenure track staff Note: Could also include an additional member, but the number of members should not exceed 4.

The Department Ph.D. comprehensive examination supervisor. The student’s research supervisor A member of the student’s Ph.D. advisory committee who holds a tenure-track or tenured faculty position in the Department of Plant Science A person who holds a tenure-track or tenured faculty position in the Department of Plant Science who is not a member of the student’s Ph.D. advisory committee A person who holds a tenure-track or tenured faculty position in a McGill University department other than Plant Science and who is not a member of the student’s advisory committee Note1: If the Department of Plant Science Comprehensive Examination Supervisor is the Ph.D. supervisor of the student, another senior faculty member will chair the committee. Note 2: The three members apart from the comprehensive supervisor and the student’s supervisor must not all be pre-tenure. At least one must have tenure.

The pro-dean The Department chair or his designated representative. Thesis supervisor The internal examiner An external member who should not have been involved in supervision of candidate Another tenured or tenure-track member of the Department Note1: The committee should not include more than 2 people who have been actively involved in supervision of the candidate. Note2: The committee should comprise no less than 5 and no more than 7 members. If the committee has 7 members, at least 2 should be from outside the Department and not have been involved in supervision of the candidate. Note3: The external reviewer of the thesis should not be a recent collaborator of either the student and his/her supervisor.

M.Sc. Thesis Review Ph.D. Thesis Review

Examiner: A member of the university tenure track staff not on the supervisory committee. Note: The examiner can be a co-author on manuscripts only if his/her contribution to the work is not part of the thesis.

Internal Examiner: A member of the university tenure track staff not on the supervisory committee. External Examiner: 1 name (external to the department) must be submitted. Note: The internal examiner can be a co-author on manuscripts only if his/her contribution to the work is not part of the thesis.

22

APPENDIX 3 CITING LITERATURE IN SCIENTIFIC MATERIAL

Finding resources: The resources that you will use to research your project are dependent on the type of assignment given. The McGill Libraries offers support and resources (see http://www.mcgill.ca/library/). Citing literature: Information or ideas which are not your own must be given credit in your research paper or presentation. If you quote “word-for-word”, quotation marks must be placed around the direct copy of information from either a paper or electronic source and the reference must be cited. However, most of the information in your research paper will be a critical analysis of published ideas or research. This information must be paraphrased and the responsible author or authors must be cited. In a scientific paper, there are many ways to cite material. In general, the following format is used: In the body of the text:

To date, few transcription factors involved in the regulation of plant secondary metabolic pathways have been isolated and characterized (Grotwold et al., 2000; van der Fits and Memelink, 2001).

In brackets after the relevant information, the last name of the author and publication year are written (see example above) and the full reference is provided in the “literature cited” section. If more than 2 authors contributed to the work, then just the first author is listed followed by et al., an abbreviation of the latin et alli which means “and others”. The full references are listed in the “literature cited” section in alphabetical order.

Gortewold, E, Sainz, MB, Tagliana, L, Herdendez, JM, Bowen, B and Chandler, VL (2000) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 97: 13579. van der Fits, L and Memelink, J (2001) Plant J 25: 43.

In a presentation, quotations, figures or ideas from another source are acknowledged in the slide and cited in a “reference” slide at the end of the talk. For further examples on how to cite papers for a scientific presentation, please see:

§ http://www.zoology.ubc.ca/bio1/citingandlisting.htm Academic Integrity McGill University values academic integrity. Therefore all students must understand the meaning and consequences of cheating, plagiarism and other academic offences under the Code of Student Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures (see https://www.mcgill.ca/skillsets/academic-integrity for more information). What is plagiarism? Taking credit for another person’s words or ideas without proper citation is plagiarism. Inverting a

23

word or the order of a sentence is still plagiarism. In a scientific paper, ideas and research findings must be paraphrased and the original author(s) acknowledged by citation. For information on plagiarism and how to avoid plagiarism in your work, it is highly recommended that you read https://www.mcgill.ca/skillsets/academic-integrity

24

APPENDIX 4 HANDLING OF PESTICIDES AND OTHER TOXIC COMPOUNDS

General precautions 1. As a general precaution, treat all pesticides as toxic materials. 2. Read the label carefully, including all information attached before handling or applying

pesticides. 3. Never smoke, chew tobacco or eat while handling or applying pesticides. Do not carry such items

in clothes used for spraying. 4. Avoid spilling pesticides on skin or clothing. If an accident occurs, remove contaminated clothing

immediately, and wash contaminated skin thoroughly with soap and water. Wash clothing before re-use.

5. Avoid inhaling spray droplets, dust or fumes. 6. Always wash thoroughly with soap and water after applying or handling pesticides. 7. Always wear protective clothing. 8. Avoid contamination of water supplies with pesticides when filling, applying or cleaning

equipment. 9. If symptoms of illness occur during or shortly after handling or applying pesticides, get patient to

hospital immediately. Take a label of the pesticide with you. Storage of pesticides All pesticides should be stored in specified pesticide storage cabinets which are equipped with separate ventilation systems. Store pesticides in their original labelled containers and keep them tightly closed. Laboratory and Radiation Safety Graduate students who use radioactive materials in their research projects are required to take the Radiation Protection course given by the McGill University Environmental Safety Office. It is the responsibility of research supervisor to insure that their students are properly trained in the safe use and handling of radioactive and other hazardous materials specifically required for their research projects. Further information on laboratory safety procedures is available in the McGill Laboratory Safety Manual, available from the Environmental Safety Office, Local 4563. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are required by law to be available to those handling hazardous materials. Before handling any dangerous materials ensure that you have read the MSDS. If you are unable to locate the required MSDS, contact Environmental Safety at local 4563. All hazardous waste, ie. chemicals, radioactive materials, pathogenic microorganisms, sharps, etc., should be disposed in accordance with the requirements specified in the McGill Lab. Safety Manual.

25

APPENDIX 5 IMPORTANT PROCEDURES TO FOLLOW IF AN ACCIDENT HAPPENS

§ Employee (including students who are being paid by McGill) must report an accident

immediately to their supervisor.

§ Employee completes an Accident/Incident/Occupational Disease Report in conjunction with the supervisor (forms available from Lynn Bachand, R2-019).

§ If employee needs immediate medical attention, employee is sent to hospital. Before leaving

for the hospital, the employee is advised by the supervisor that s/he has to mention to the physician that this was a work accident and to obtain a CSST medical certificate.

§ The employee is required to present him/herself to the supervisor after the hospital visit with

his/her medical certificate. Certificate should be given to Lynn. If there is a spill of a chemical in a lab, an Accident/Incident Report (see Lynn for form) should be completed immediately and a list of the names of all the people who were in the lab at the time should be included.

26

APPENDIX 6 LABORATORY SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES

The responsibility for the management of laboratory safety and adherence to safe lab practices rests within units and departments. All personnel, including directors, supervisors, employees and students have a duty to fulfill their obligations with respect to maintaining a healthful and safe work environment. 1. Laboratory Directors are responsible to:

1) Ensure that activities conducted within their area of responsibility comply with University policies and relevant legal requirements;

2) Ensure that all personnel and students working within their unit are provided sufficient information, training and supervision to carry out their work safely;

3) Ensure that all lab personnel are equipped with the required personal protective equipment (PPE) and to ensure that such PPE are maintained properly and used correctly;

4) Ensure that safety devices and engineering controls are adequate, appropriate, and in good working order;

5) Ensure that all personnel receive appropriate and adequate information and training to be able to respond to emergency situations;

2. Laboratory personnel are responsible to:

1) Be familiar with the University and departmental safety instructions, whether written or oral, and to comply with these instructions when conducting laboratory work;

2) Wear the appropriate personal protective equipment when present in the lab and when conducting work with hazardous materials or operations;

3) Report all accidents, dangerous incidents or suspected occupational illnesses to their immediate supervisor without delay;

4) Refrain from manipulating any hazardous materials prior to undergoing appropriate safety training and receiving safety instructions;

3. Visitors, contractors and non-laboratory personnel are responsible to:

1) Inform the lab director or designate of their intentions to enter the lab

2) Abide by the instructions of the lab director or designate regarding restricted access and the use of personal protective equipment;

Adopted by the University Laboratory Safety Committee, November 18, 2004 WEB – McGill Environmental Health and Safety (EHS): http://www.mcgill.ca/ehs