Week of January 29th, 2024

Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Graduate Program & PDF Newsletter

Useful information for Graduate Students & PDFs in Pathology and their Supervisors.

EVENTS NEXT WEEK (see below for more information) :

January 29th - UBC Library “Open UBC Working Group” Meeting, Register here

January 30th - PaSA Meeting via Zoom

February 1st - UBC Library "Beginner R part 2", Register here

PaSA: PATHOLOGY STUDENT ASSOCIATION (pasa@pathology.ubc.ca)

Find Us: Twitter @UBCPathologySA| Instagram @ubcpasa|Facebook at UBC Pathology Students Association

SLACK: https://join.slack.com/t/pathologystud-ogs6617/shared_invite/zt-1arrr1g5h-cGsWP~ZuDFOGwJcuh4wxDA

Upcoming Meetings:

PaSA invites everyone to join the next PaSA Meeting which will be held on Tuesday, January 30th at 4:30pm via Zoom. 

Join Zoom Meeting
https://ubc.zoom.us/j/63631399673?pwd=OUwrMEY3L0s0NEJjMjVqVnZhRndIZz09 

Meeting ID: 636 3139 9673
Passcode: 628541

GRADUATE STUDENTS & PDFS

University of British Columbia:

UBC has requested we distribute the discrimination complaint process summary found here provided by the Equity and Inclusion Office.  Please take the time to review this important document.

Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies:

Your feeback requested - Graduate & Postdoctoral Learning Environment

As part of ongoing quality improvement of the UBC Faculty of Medicine’s graduate and postdoctoral education programs, the Evaluation Studies Unit (ESU) has been asked to conduct an evaluation of the quality of the learning environment.

By now you should have received an email from ESU containing a link to the Graduate & Postdoctoral Learning Environment Survey.

You are encouraged to participate in this survey as your feedback is used to improve the quality of the learning environment for current and future students and trainees. The last time this survey was conducted (2019), the Faculty of Medicine made significant changes because of the results, including hiring a dedicated embedded counsellor to support FoM graduate students, and introducing many other wellbeing-related initiatives.

Your survey responses will be kept confidential and will not be associated with your name or any other information that could be used to identify you. Individual responses will not be identified in the reporting of this survey data, or at any other time.

This survey opened on January 23 and will close on 13 February 2024.

GradUpdate In this issue: Waiting for Motivation? Do this Instead!, Social Media Strategy for Policy, Indigenous Career Fair, Writing Consultation (Woodward Library), Common Academic Expressions in English, Inclusive Teaching, and more.

Waiting for Motivation? Do this Instead!
Staying on Track in Grad School Series
Online | Tuesday, Feb 6 | 1 - 2:30 pm

Register

Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) is an academic competition that assists current graduate students with fostering effective presentation and communication skills. Participants have just three minutes to explain the breadth and significance of their research project to a non-specialist audience. This year’s competition dates have been set for 2024:

• Open Heats: Tuesday, March 5, from 3 – 5 pm or Thursday, March 7, 10 am – 12 pm
• Students from any discipline are welcome to present in the Open Heats. These are particularly helpful for students whose programs are not hosting heats. We’d love to see participation from Arts and Education!
• Semi-finals: Tuesday, March 12, 10 am – 12 pm and 3 – 5 pm, in-person (with online option)
• Final: Thursday, March 14, 5 – 7 pm, Thea’s Lounge (with online option)

Students are welcome and encouraged to book a 20 min personal presentation feedback session. Even if they are just considering presenting, this can help shape their 3MT! Jan 25 - Mar 6, various dates and times. Register.

Graduate Life Centre

The renovation of the first floor of Thea Koerner House (North Wing) was completed in the fall. We remain committed to realizing the full vision for the Graduate Life Centre which includes renovation of the other three remaining floors in the north wing.

The renovated Graduate Life Centre space is equipped with swipe card door access which allows graduate students to enter the vicinity during weekdays between 9am-9pm. The space includes flexible seating; a quiet study space with lounge chairs; a kitchen with fridge, microwave and kettle for student use. 

The Graduate Student Society now operates this space for graduate students and will bring it gradually to its full scope over the next few months. This includes the addition of vending machines and games for entertainment of children and adults alike. The second floor of the north wing continues to provide bookable spaces (e.g. Thea’s Lounge, Leon’s Lounge) that graduate students can request free of charge if meeting the eligibility criteria.

Stay tuned for more information about the space as it develops. Find more information on our website under “Graduate Housing and Community Needs.”

Faculty of Medicine:

The Faculty of Medicine are excited to announce the annual event Building the Future- Research Trainee Day and Lecture Series! This event will bring members of the Faculty of Medicine together to share and learn the diverse and innovative research work of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.

GENERAL ATTENDEE REGISTRATION (Deadline: February 29, 2024)

• Registration is now open for all! To register, please click HERE.

If you have questions regarding this event, please contact  med.gradpostdoc@ubc.ca.

Professional Development:

The Canadian Journal of Undergraduate Research (CJUR) is currently seeking highly articulate and self-motivated graduate students and researchers from all fields to join our journal’s review board.

Reviewers will have the opportunity to give feedback on student submissions and help in deciding whether a submission moves to publication.

More Information and Registration Form https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3qRafhhqu6JZvp4.

The Equity & Inclusion Office is hosting a campus-wide townhall to share current progress on UBC’s Strategic Equity and Anti-Racism (StEAR) priorities. 

StEAR Roadmap for Change update: Reporting on equity and anti-racism progress

POSTPONED - UPDATE TBA | Audience: Students, faculty and staff

Join this campus-wide townhall to learn about the progress of UBC’s Strategic Equity and Anti-Racism (StEAR) efforts and hear directly from UBC leadership about the work underway in their portfolios.

Learn more and register here

UBC Library Research Commons Newsletter - January

UBC Library Public Events -  “Open UBC Working Group” Meeting on January 29th,  Register here; "Beginner R part 2" February 1 Register here

GRADUATE STUDENTS

Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies:

Deadline Reminder for Spring 2024 Graduation

PhD:

FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2024 - Last Day for Final Doctoral Oral Examination

FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2024* - Acceptance of final, approved doctoral dissertation by Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

MSc:

FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2024 - Last Day for Final Master's Oral Examination

FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2024* - Acceptance of final, approved master's thesis by Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

* It normally takes a minimum of five business days for your thesis to be reviewed after you submit it to cIRcle. Please plan ahead for this and check your email in case you are asked to make corrections. Your submission is not complete and you will not meet deadlines until your thesis has been approved, and you have received an official email receipt.

Student Support Services

Grad Student Support Group

In-person | Wednesdays, Jan 10 - Apr 3 | 3 - 4:15 pm Register

Awards

Friedman Award for Scholars in Health

The Friedman Award for Scholars in Health is open to any UBC graduate student or medical resident studying in the area of health. ‘Health’ is interpreted very broadly, and includes health promotion and disease prevention, mental health research, laboratory sciences related to medicine or health, public health, health services research, or any area intended to impact human health. Applicants do not need to be studying in a health-related degree to be eligible to apply.

Awards of up to $50,000 each will be granted for 6 to 12 months of study outside of Western Canada. Friedman Scholars are expected to travel to other areas of Canada and the world to seek new perspectives, initiate new collaborations with experts in their fields and be exposed to different cultures. The award amount will be at the discretion of the adjudication committee.

Application Deadline: 13 March 2024 at 4:00 pm PT

For further information about this award opportunity, including eligibility requirements and application procedures, please visit: https://www.grad.ubc.ca/awards/friedman-award-scholars-health.

PALM Doctoral Trainee Virtual & In-Person Conference Graduate Awards

The PALM GPS Program invites applications for PhD graduate students to present their work at international conferences. The number of awards during COVID will depend on available funds, but each virtual award will be valued at ~$250.00 each and each in-person award will be valued at ~$1,000.00. A total of $2,000.00 will be funded annually for conference registration. The awards will be split over 2 cycles; cycle 1 for January through June, and cycle 2 for July through December.  More information including eligibility and the application are included here.

Cycle 1 application deadline: April 1, 2024

Indigenous Graduate Fellowships

Each fellowship provides a stipend of $18,200 per year for doctoral students or a stipend of $16,175 per year for master’s students. And as a reminder, effective from the 2023-2024 academic year onwards, the IGF is also offering opportunities for (i) Indigenous PhD students in their fourth year to apply for a fifth year of funding and (ii) research master’s and PhD students to apply for research funding.

Deadline: February 16, 2024

More information

Professional Development

Upcoming research computing training

AI-powered coding with GitHub Copilot - Marie-Helene Burle (SFU)

Tuesday, January 23, 2024 @ 11:00am via Zoom Meeting

To register copy and paste this url into your browser: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf3emSTXhCkVkcJInybD3ktmfAi1p-c4ylLLG6YwRPNanQs2g/viewform?pli=1

Graduate Instructional Skills Workshops

Check out additional upcoming ISWs.

Course Opportunities

Recommended Course Opportunities:

PATH 548L (3 CREDITS)  - EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN & CONSIDERATIONS FOR DATA  COLLECTION, PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS & INTERPRETATION

(Runs Apr – June) This course will provide students with insight about study design, data collection, data presentation, data analysis, and data interpretation. Course Coordinators: Dr. Helene Cote & Dr. Andrew Roth

Course Objectives:

• Design a study and an analysis plan
• Identify sources of error, variability, and bias
• Present data transparently and informatively
• Perform simple statistical analyses using statistical software
• Read the scientific literature critically
• Know when and how to interact with a biostatistician

If you would like to register, please contact the Graduate Program Coordinator Heather Cheadle.

POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWS

Awards

A comprehensive List of awards for PDF's can be found here: https://www.postdocs.ubc.ca/awards-funding

Applying for funding

Please visit Funding Opportunities for a listing of funding opportunities that may be available to you.

Some funding opportunities require institutional endorsement of applications. Unless otherwise specified, please follow the procedures outlined in the UBC Signature Policy: Application for Research Funding.

Support for Postdocs

For the most up-to-date information pertaining to postdoctoral fellows, visit the PDFO website where you will find answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to appointments, immigration, professional development, Tri-Agency funding, and more.

The PDFO has transitioned all upcoming professional development events to an online format. Information about upcoming professional development sessions can be found on the PDFO website. Additional online PD resources can be found on the PDFO website.

SUPERVISORS

International Students: Considerations regarding increased financial requirement for study permits

Programs should note a significant difference between regular study permit applications and the ones under SDS.

Regular study permit applicants: Applicants can use various options to show proof of funds to meet the $20,635 + tuition + travel costs, such as bank account statements, award letters issued by UBC, receipts from deposit payments etc. If a research program were to issue an award letter totaling $40,000 to an applicant, the applicant can reference the award offer in their letter of explanation to IRCC with details about the amount of the first year tuition fees, the cost of flight ticket plus living cost of $20,635 to ensure visa officers understand they meet the minimum financial requirement (if that is the case).

SDS applicants: The amount of $20,635 is required as a GIC, i.e. the applicant must have access to the funds as part of the study permit application process. The funds then get committed into the GIC and will be drawn down monthly as part of a payment plan. An award letter from UBC, as mentioned in the above example, will not be sufficient for SDS as the issue becomes one of timing and having access to funds earlier. UBC is in no position to transfer money to an applicant for use in a GIC. Programs should not incorrectly assume that citizens of eligible countries for the expedited SDS pathway always have access to this faster option! In short, if the applicant cannot purchase $20,635 GIC, they should be advised to apply for a study permit via regular route, bearing in mind the timing of the offer and the processing times.

The Student Direct Stream (SDS) is offered by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and is an expedited study permit process for students meeting all eligibility requirements. As of winter 2022, UBC offers pre-payment of tuition for eligible international students starting in any future term.  To be eligible, applicants must reside in certain countries and show full pre-payment of tuition for their first year of studies, among other documents. Review the specific requirements on the IRCC website.

Postdoctoral Fellows seeking Positions

We are posting potential student CV's on our website on our Students Seeking Supervisors page. If you are looking for students, please feel free to review the CV's and check back here often.  Among our posted CV's we have strong  students from Canada and other countries, including students from McGill,  SFU, U of Ottawa, UCSD , and  UBC , who are looking for Supervisors.

If you are contacted by a strong student, but are unable to recruit them, please ask the student whether they would like their CV added to our website and refer them to the Graduate Program Coordinator . 

PROGRAM COORDINATOR & GRAD ADVISOR CORNER

👀 Please explore our Program Website for guidance, including  tips on planning your MSc Examination here.

🍵WEEKLY Program Coordinator Virtual Open Office Hours* - If you need advice, have an issue, or just want to chat, Heather will be hosting a one-hour virtual open office every week on Thursday from 1:00am - 2:00pm . Feel free to stop by here: 

Join Zoom Meeting
https://ubc.zoom.us/j/62812937886?pwd=Q0V2eGtJNTVidnJiSU5pVkQ3R2tFQT09

Meeting ID: 628 1293 7886
Passcode: 680021

I am also available in-person in my office at UBC Hospital Koerner Pavilion in room G109A on Mondays.

PALM Student Representatives:

If you know someone who wants to receive this newsletter, advertise an event, or if you have any ideas for how to improve the newsletter, let us know at heather.cheadle@pathology.ubc.ca . We are always accepting content including photos for upcoming newsletters -- just email us!