PATH Student Representatives:
Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies Committee (GPSC) - Madeline Lauener
Graduate Program Curriculum Committee - Zeshuo Li
Graduate Student Society - Saumadritaa Kar PATH Awards & Recognition Committee: Amirhossein Bahreyni
PALM Wellness Ambassador: Madeline Lauener (mlauener@alumni.ubc.ca)
Students
Announcements:
Advisory: UBC’s COVID-19 Rapid Testing Program Bulletin
Annoucement: Ensuring a safe start to the new academic year
UBC has implemented rapid-testing for all students, staff and faculty on campus. See more here. For more information on the Vaccine Card for specific activities click here.
All classes are scheduled to return to in-person this fall.
In case you haven’t seen this website, there is a ton of useful information regarding return to campus activities: UBC's Return to Campus
UBC is offering a Quarantine Bursary to incoming and current undergraduate/graduate/post-baccalaureate students who need financial assistance with quarantine expenses upon arrival in Canada.
Faculty of Graduate Studies:
GradUpdate - Graduate Pathways to Success Weekly Newsletter - In this issue: LinkedIn, Stats I (Exploratory Data Analysis), Bookable Project Rooms at Koerner, P/T GAA (Mentorship of Racialized Grad Students), Literature Reviews: Mapping the Scholarly Conversation, Graduate ISW, and more.
Don’t miss out on a great opportunity to receive free stats advice! During the current school term and under the supervision of a stats professor, stats grad students taking the STAT 551 practicum consulting course will consult with you on your project and provide you with a report of recommendations.
Anyone is eligible so apply now by submitting a 1-page project description (similar in format to https://www.stat.ubc.ca/sites/default/files/sample551project.pdf) to asda@stat.ubc.ca.
Submissions will be accepted until the end of October but the sooner you submit the more likely your project will be selected. See the relevant snippet at https://www.stat.ubc.ca/free-statistical-consultation-20192020 for further details.
Update on new initiative for students: Food Security Initiative (FSI)
The Food Security Initiative is a whole campus approach to promoting food security at UBC, which launched in February 2020. Research has shown between 30-40% of students experience food insecurity, ranging from worrying about having enough money for food to skipping meals or consuming poor-quality food. Some of their initial projects include a Digital Food Hub for students (launching Nov 2021), the UBC Meal Share Program which launches October 6th, a Food, Financial and Wellbeing Resource list (soon to be on the Digital Food Hub) and work with community partners.
Updates on Health and Wellbeing resources for students
There are many resources and supports available for graduate students. In addition to various support and therapy groups and counselling (Brock Hall Annex has a separate waiting room for graduate students), there is an online graduate support group and a graduate wellness series offering opportunities specifically for graduate students to connect with others experiencing similar challenges, learn coping strategies, and hear about resources.
UBC offers several 24/7 virtual supports through the Student Assistant Program as well as self-direct learning through Canvas and Therapy Assistance Online (TAO).
Updates from International Student Development
As of September 7, Canada is open to all fully vaccinated international visitors. Visitors still have to take pre-arrival tests and follow guidelines during travel. For more information on new measures for fully vaccinated travelers visit the Government of Canada website.
Upcoming Webinar for international students: Protect Yourself from Fraud and Counterfeit Currency
Presented by RCMP, Bank of Canada and Canada Border Services Agency
Moving to a new country to study is exciting. However, for some of you, it is the first time you are away from home and it can be stressful as you live and study in an unfamiliar environment. It is important for you to learn how to protect yourself from fraud. Do you know who to call and what to do if you think you have been scammed?
Presenters from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Bank of Canada and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will show you the common immigration fraud schemes and the top frauds international students should be aware of and how criminals are reaching out to victims. The webinar will also help you understand Canadian currency and what security features it holds, so you don’t get stuck with counterfeit bank notes. Join us in this webinar to learn more!
Date: September 22, 2021 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. PST.
Register via email to receive a link.
Faculty of Medicine:
FACULTY OF MEDICINE PEER MENTORSHIP PROGRAM: Sign-up deadline extended to Friday September 17!
Dear graduate students,
The Graduate & Postdoctoral Education Office is accepting applications for mentors and mentees to participate in our Faculty of Medicine Peer Mentorship Program for graduate students! Sign up by Friday September 17.
- If you’re a new MSc or PhD student, apply to be matched with a mentor! Mentorship offers a low-pressure space for asking questions and learning the ropes of UBC, graduate studies, and research or career pathways.
- Sign up here to be matched with a peer mentor (for first-year grad students): https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dcDdaoCUCMiB9Pw
- Students in IOP, Medical Genetics, MD/PhD, Neuroscience, Rehab Sciences, and SPPH (MSc/PhD) also have program-level mentorship opportunities – for information, click here or contact your program coordinator and/or student association.
- If you’re an MSc or PhD student in 2nd year or beyond, apply to mentor an incoming student. You’ll get access to professional development opportunities and be able to support others, expand your network, and practice mentorship skills that will serve you throughout your degree and into your career.
- Sign up here to volunteer as a peer mentor (for students in 2nd year or beyond): https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_diIuXGHuzGpEO1M
- Students in IOP, Medical Genetics, MD/PhD, Neuroscience, Rehab Sciences, and SPPH (MSc/PhD) also have program-level mentorship opportunities – for information, click here or contact your program coordinator and/or student association.
Training and orientation workshop dates begin next week! More details available at https://grad-postdoc.med.ubc.ca/current-students/student-wellbeing/peer-mentorship-program/. Please contact the Grad & Postdoctoral Wellbeing Support Coordinator at karen.ross@ubc.ca with any questions.
Writing in STEM Workshops:
Writing in STEM: Positioning Writers, Readers, and Ideas, Oct 5, 10 AM to 12 PM: https://libcal.library.ubc.ca/event/3634107
Writing in STEM: Evaluating Ideas Explicitly and Implicitly, Nov 16, 10 AM to 12 PM: https://libcal.library.ubc.ca/event/3634108
Professional Development & Workshops:
Library Research Commons Newsletter: Click here for a list of workshops and consults.
The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences would like to announce the following seminar:
Emerging roles for microglia as regulators of homeostasis
Dr. Jessica Rosin
Assistant Professor, Dentistry Department, UBC
Host: Shyh-Dar Li
Wednesday, September 22, 2021 at 12:00 pm
Join Zoom Meeting
https://ubc.zoom.us/j/69941776057?pwd=VmNsUjZVVnppWnlpSlh2dUUzMUFTZz09
Meeting ID: 699 4177 6057 Passcode: 826788
Greetings from your friendly BioTAP (TA Training in the Life Sciences) team! We have put together a Needs Assessment Survey to guide us in the development and facilitation of our workshops, such that we can make these workshops as relevant and helpful as possible for you. The deadline to complete this short (~7 minute) survey will be Friday, September 24th. We would greatly appreciate your feedback.
Complete the survey and enter to win a $25 UBC Bookstore gift card here:
https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2sNjR47NNmoFL4G
For information about BioTAP or to register in our workshops, please see our website: https://blogs.ubc.ca/biotap/ and join our mailing list.
We hope that you are having an excellent start of term and look forward to hopefully seeing you sometime soon in the future.
Registration for BioTAP's Facilitation Strategies for Effective Learning is now open. In this workshop, participants will learn classroom management strategies by working together to identify solutions to common challenges that arise in the classroom. Discussions will focus on both in-person and online facilitation strategies.
Date: Tuesday, September 28, 2021
Time: 1-2:45 pm
Location: Online via Zoom
To secure your spot, register here: https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3dsbEhv1VPKoZQa
The SBN’s Building Biotech Expo is the leading networking event with the best and the brightest of the BC Biotech and Life Sciences industry. This year, we've pivoted our flagship event virtually to align with Global Biotechnology Week. This annual event continues to attract and unite 100+ students every year, along with professionals from the life sciences, pharmaceutical and clinical sectors among many others. We’ve also had the pleasure of hosting several prominent organizations as exhibitors. The result is a gathering of students and professionals, eager to share ideas and forge a strong biotech community that will help shape BC’s biotech future.
Why attend Building Biotech?
Meet with movers and shakers of some of the hottest areas in the global and local biotech sphere. If you are interested in building your network of like-minded peers and industry professionals in the life sciences and biotech area, then you should join us at our Annual Building Biotech Expo this Friday, October 1st 2021 for this exclusive opportunity.
The full day event will include:
- Keynote speakers from the Discovery Foundation and the Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology (SCWIST)
- Formal networking with students from different backgrounds and industry mentors.
- A chance to virtually visit exhibitors and leaders in BC’s life science and biotech industry during the reception.
General admission is $10. Early bird tickets ($7.5) are limited and will be available until September 17th.
We look forward to seeing you there.
The Student Biotechnology Network
2021 Gairdner Symposium - click link here
Date: Monday, October 25, 2:00– 3:45pm PST
Location: Zoom
Hosted by Dr. Michael Hayden, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia
Awards:
Faculty of Medicine Graduate Student Awards:
ELIGIBILITY
Full-time graduate students who are registered in any UBC Faculty of Medicine graduate program, or full-time graduate students whose main supervisor has a primary appointment with the UBC Faculty of Medicine are eligible to apply for the Graduate Student Awards.
All applicants must be in good academic standing with the University, and must be making satisfactory progress towards their degree as defined by the UBC Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
STAGE I
A Declaration of Intent is required from all graduate students applying to the following two Graduate Student Awards:
- Harry and Florence Dennison Fellowship in Medical Research
- Mary Adele Norman Postgraduate Award in Medical Research
Submit a completed Declaration of Intent in either PDF or Word format via the Online Portal.
Stage I is NOT required for applicants of the other Graduate Student Awards. If you are not applying for the two above awards, you may proceed to Stage II.
Once all Declarations of Intent for the two above named awards are reviewed, applicants will be notified as to whether or not they are invited to apply to the larger competition for those awards.
Declarations of Intent are due: September 23, 2021 at noon Pacific Time
STAGE II
To apply to the competition you must submit a Complete Application by the deadline, which consists of:
1. Application for the Fellowship
a.) Complete, sign and scan the Application Form in either PDF or Word format.
b.) Submit the Application Form via the Online Portal.
2. Post-secondary transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
Electronic copies of transcripts must be submitted, and do not require initialing, but must be shared with the GPE Office via OneDrive by the graduate program assistant.
3. Sponsor Assessment Form from two sponsors
One form should be filled out by the proposed or current supervisor of the candidate, and the other from by an individual familiar with the candidate’s academic and research abilities. Sponsors will be asked to comment on the candidate’s research potential and achievements, interpersonal skills, and academic abilities. To facilitate a blind review process, please ask your sponsors to not use your name, gender specific pronouns, or similar identifying characteristics in their letters. They should refer to you as “The Trainee” as needed.
Please download the Sponsor Assessment Form PDF or Word and submit to:
med.research@ubc.ca
Please refer to the Instructions and FAQs for complete formatting and submission guidelines.
Complete Applications are due: October 20, 2021 at noon Pacific Time
Coordinator's Corner:
We are accepting feature photo submissions for upcoming newsletters! Email Heather with your photo at heather.cheadle@pathology.ubc.ca.
If you have changed your email address since the start of your Program, please email it to me to ensure you continue to receive Program Communications. Please also be sure to update your email in SIS to continue to receive important communications including awards notifications.
*New - Helpful instructions for course registrations.
.jpg?1631554900104)
