Graduate Studies Student Update

Hilary Brown & Kathryn Nicholson

December 13th, 2013

Awards & Distinctions• 2013 Vanier Scholarships:

Mauricio Rodriguez-Torres (Anatomy and Cell Biology)Jonathan McLeod (Biomedical Engineering)

• 2013 CIHR National Student Poster Competition:Gold medal: Physiology and PharmacologySilver medals: Anatomy and Cell Biology, Epidemiology

and Biostatistics, Physiology and Pharmacology Honourable mention: Anatomy and Cell Biology,

Microbiology and Immunology, Physiology and Pharmacology

Graduate Studies Student Update

Awards & Distinctions• 3-Minute Thesis Competition:

1st place, Western University; Ontario Participant’s Choice winner: Michael Taylor (Epidemiology and Biostatistics)

2nd place, Western University: Shelly Sandiford (Biochemistry)

Finalists, Western University: Katherine Lee (Physiology and Pharmacology), Selma Saadaldin (Medical Biophysics)

• Conference Poster Competition Winners:Canadian Society for Immunology (Microbiology and

Immunology) Canadian Lipoprotein Conference (Biochemistry)

Graduate Studies Student Update

Research Highlights• Omar Mohamed El-Halfawy (Microbiology and Immunology): First author on paper examining Burkholderia cenocepacia and a potential new mechanism for antibiotic resistance, featured in London Free Press and PLOS Blog

• Ryan Gillespie (Physiology and Pharmacology): Paper on gene in bone cells that has implications for metabolism, featured in

Nature Reviews

• Donna Cveetkovic (Physiology and Pharmacology): First author on paper examining kisspeptins, which can turn non-invasive

cancer cells into invasive cells, published in Endocrinology

Graduate Studies Student Update

Scholarly ActivitiesGraduate Studies Student Update

Activity Department

20th Annual Research Day and Murray Barr Lecture Anatomy and Cell Biology

Alternative Careers in Science Workshop Anatomy and Cell Biology

BME Symposium Biomedical Engineering

Diabetes Research Day Physiology and Pharmacology

Student Thesis Presentation Day Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Annual Infection and Immunity Research Forum Microbiology and Immunology

Charitable ActivitiesGraduate Studies Student Update

Event Department Recipients of Funds

Volleyball Tournament Schulich-Wide Arthritis Society

Open Mic Night Schulich-Wide Children’s Health Foundation ($300)

Trivia Night Schulich-Wide Children’s Health Foundation ($600)

Pancake Day Physiology and Pharmacology United Way ($700)

Walk to Fight Arthritis Physiology and Pharmacology Arthritis Society ($4,200)

Lake Ontario Swim (Samantha Whiteside) Microbiology and Immunology Because I am a Girl

($18,000)

Holiday Party Biochemistry Women’s Community House

Volunteer ActivitiesGraduate Studies Student Update

Activity Department

Let’s Talk Science Schulich-Wide, Pathology, Medical Biophysics, Biochemistry

London Brain Bee Neuroscience / Brain and Mind Institute

Take Your Kid to Work Day Neuroscience / Brain and Mind Institute

Strong Bones, Strong Minds, Strong Muscles Schulich-Wide

Discovery Day at Western Schulich-Wide

GradCast (Radio Show on CHRW)

University-Wide, Physiology and Pharmacology

Schulich Students’ Council Plans (2013 – 2014)

• Development of Graduate Students’ Council website• Ongoing talks with Schulich Communications about increasing

Grad student profile in Schulich• Encouragement of cohesion among graduate departments

within the Schulich through organization of volunteer and social activities

• Increase in interaction and collaboration with other Schulich Students’ Councils (Medicine & Dentistry)

Graduate Studies Student Update