ZOOTAILS

August, 2023

The newsletter from the
Department of Zoology at UBC

https://zoology.ubc.ca/
 

Deadlines & Important upcoming dates

Vanier Scholarship -
due August 31

Who is eligible? Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada, and international students are eligible to be nominated for a Vanier Scholarship, which is valued at $50,000 per year for up to three years.

More information

CGSD/PGSD -
due mid-September

Who is eligible? Must be Canadian citizen or permanent residents of Canada to be eligible, CGSD is $35,000 per year for up to 3 years and the PGSD is $21,000 per year for up to 3 years.

 

More information

Save the date: Annual Fall Faculty Symposium - Tuesday September 5

Following the Zoology Graduate Orientation, this is a great way for new graduate students and the rest of the department to meet and mingle!

 

More information
 

Imagine Day -
September 5

We are looking for faculty, postdocs and graduate students who would like to share their “origin stories” with our undergraduate Biology students during our formal orientation session as well as those who would be happy to mingle for our roundtable sessions on Imagine Day!

Please email If you are interested

GRA Approvals in Workday

For faculty, if you have students being funded by GRAs, please remember to approve their appointment in Workday in a timely manner so their paycheques are not late! GRA appointments will be submitted in early August.

 

Contact Zoology Grad Program

Tuition deferral deadline - Application by August 31

For students who need a Term 1 tuition deadline deferral because you’re waiting to be paid by your GRA and/or TAships first, please apply for a tuition deferral directly with Enrolment Services here:

Tuition Fee Deferral Application
 

Departmental social events - join us!

ZOOLOGY ICE CREAM SOCIAL

August 15 from 2 pm - 4 pm
Biosciences courtyard

More details

ZOOLOGY BBQ SOCIAL

August 29 from 1 pm - 4 pm
Biosciences courtyard

More detals
 

News & Updates

    Faculty - In Memoriam of

Geoff Scudder

More information

Don McPhail

More information

    Faculty - professional development

Professional Development for New Faculty

Teaching Development Program for New Faculty August 18, 2023–April 24, 2024 | Multi-access
This cohort program supports faculty members across UBC campuses in their professional growth as teachers. The intended audience is faculty who are either new to teaching, new to UBC, or both, with an emphasis on those who are new to teaching.
Apply by August 18 https://ctlt.ubc.ca/tdp

New Faculty Teaching Orientation: Making Connections August 17 | 10:00 am–12:30 pm | Multi-access
This one-day orientation at UBCV serves as a space for new faculty to learn about the academic culture, policies, and practices of the institution, as well as the resources available to support their teaching, research, and service.
Register https://ctlt.ubc.ca/nfto

CTLT Summer Institute August 21–25 | In-person, Online & Multi-access
The CTLT Summer Institute focuses on the fundamentals of teaching and learning for new instructors and teaching assistants.
Browse all sessions https://ctlt.ubc.ca/summerinstitute

Faculty Primer
Here you will find a list of curated resources, workshops and people that can help with your teaching responsibilities. Learn more.

    Faculty - awards

Terrance Snutch receives Margolese National Brain Disorders Prize

 

More information

Kayla King wins the 2023 SMBE Mid-Career Excellence Award

 

More information

    Faculty - on the spotlight

Ben Matthews on Mosquito season

 

More information

NEON Spotlight: "Women in Ecology – Katie Marshall"

 

More information

 

    Graduate students - awards

At the 2023 SEB Centenary Conference in Edinburgh, UK Young Scientist Award Session (YSAS) for the Animal Section:

- Evan McKenzie in Phil Matthews' lab won the award.

- Charlotte Nelson in Colin Brauner’s lab was one of the 3 finalists.

More information
 

🗒️ FINANCE TIP🖊️

Changes to Faculty PD Funds: discontinuation of "Borrow Ahead" Practice for Faculty PD Funds
What is changing? Effective July 1, 2023, the University has decided to discontinue the "borrow ahead" practice, which previously enabled faculty members to borrow against their future professional development entitlements for up to a maximum of four years.

Learn more
 

Committees and other units - updates

ZGSA

The Zoology Graduate Student Association (ZGSA) is looking to recruit new council members for the 2023-2024 academic year. The ZGSA is a longstanding group of passionate grad students whose primary focus is being a connection between students, staff and faculty members within the department. We represent Zoology students by fulfilling a number of important roles within the department and by hosting a number of fun and collaborative events created by graduate students for graduate students! The ZGSA is also recruiting a new coordinator for the Peer Mentorship Program!

All of our positions come with Honorariums from the Department of Zoology.

If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity please check out our recruitment google form https://forms.gle/utdfiGS7TLGwGQJ39. Please contact us if you have any additional questions: zoology.zgsa@ubc.ca!

Graduate Program

  • NEW COURSE: BIOL 548K - Grad School as a Process with Trish Schulte - open to all Zoology graduate students.
     

  • UNCOMMON REGISTRATION REQUESTS:  for students planning to take directed studies or have course schedule conflicts for Fall 2023, please let Mimi know as soon as possible!

  • MIMI HAS MOVED:  to Biosciences 3325 (South Wing) - Mondays to Thursdays, 8am-4pm and working remotely on Fridays. Students are more than welcome to drop by but making an appointment is still the best way to catch her! For questions please contact zool.gradprgm@ubc.ca

ZEDI Committee

Safety Committee

  • SAFETY DAY AGENDA AND REGISTRATION
    The Safety Day Agenda has been finalized and attached. Registration is filling up fast, so register now to ensure you don’t miss Safety Day on October 3rd, 2023! All the information about the day can be found on the website.

  • ASBESTOS AWARENESS COURSE LAUNCH:
    A new SRS created “Asbestos Awareness” course is now online. This course was developed to enhance knowledge about asbestos and its management program on the Point Grey Campus. The Asbestos Awareness course is available through the WPL platform and further information about the Asbestos Management Program is available on the SRS Website.

  • ACTIVE WELLBEING TOOLKIT:
    Are you interested in fostering a team culture that prioritizes health and wellbeing while enhancing workplace engagement and productivity? UBC’s new Activate Wellbeing Toolkit will help you identify actionable and measurable steps to integrate health and wellbeing into your unit and portfolio strategic planning, contributing to healthier work and learning environments. Learn more at https://wellbeing.ubc.ca/awt.

Biology Office

  • BIOLOGY TEACHING ASSISTANT ORIENTATION - September 6th
    Biology TAs please mark your calendars for orientation on Sept 5th from 10AM to 3PM! All TAs are expected to participate. Faculty and instructors, please have your TAs sign up and participate. To register, click here: https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0iFbvYbogbcmx0i
     
  • CALL FOR TA TRAINING FOR BIOLOGY PROGRAM
    The Biology TA Development and Advancement (TADA) workshop series is looking for TA facilitators for our upcoming workshops (including the TA orientation). For more details, click here: https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_aa7mvkwhbyXbVkO
 

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