from biomolecules to the biosphere

Department of Biological Sciences Newsletter
“from biomolecules to the biosphere”
No. 35
November 20, 2015
Announcements
Vanier Recipient – Kyle Wilson (Post lab)
When PhD student Kyle Wilson left the comfort of his Florida
home two years ago to enrol at the University of Calgary in the
Faculty of Science’s ecology program, he knew he’d have to swim against the
current to earn research funding as a foreign student in Canada. What he didn’t
know, at the time, was that pursuing novel inland fish conservation research work
and engaging in meaningful outreach projects would land him one of the most
prestigious scholarships offered North of the border — the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship (Vanier CGS).
NSERC recipients
Paige Greenwood (Hynes lab)
Stephanie Mogensen (Post lab)
Emily Beaulieu (Wildering lab)
Isabella Skuplik (Cobb lab)
Mendal Perkins (Samuel lab)
Megan Goulding (M. Reid lab)
Scholarships
• ACA Biodiversity Grant Department Courier deadline – November 30, 2015 10:30am
• Alberta Innovates Scholarships (AITF) – deadline to apply is January 15, 2016
http://grad.ucalgary.ca/awards/alberta_innovates#quickset-field_collection_quicktabs_0
• The Faculty of Graduate Studies Graduate Award Competition is Now Open! http://
grad.ucalgary.ca/awards/opportunities/gac. Attend a workshop to learn more about how
to apply for different scholarships, complete the combined application form, and devel-
Important Dates
Winter course outlines are now due!
Nov 24 - 14h00 - 15h00 - BI 211 - New Dept Head Town Hall Meeting
Nov 28 - Home Brewed What?! 14h00-17h00 EEEL Building - See pg 7
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Dec 10 - 09h30 - 11h30 - BI 211 - Dept meeting - the budget and implications
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op a successful application. Apply by January 15, 2016 to your GPA, unless your program
has an earlier deadline. Please confirm your program’s deadline; late applications will not
be accepted.
• GAC Workshops:
Nov. 26, 2 pm – 4 pm, TFDL Gallery Hall
Dec. 2, 2 pm – 4 pm, Foothills HS 01500 (O’Brien Centre)
Dec. 8, 2015, 10 am – noon, TFDL Gallery Hall
Jan. 14, 2016, 2 pm – 4 pm,TFDL Gallery Hall
• Tri-Council Award Deadlines
CIHR/NSERC/SSHRC CGS Master’s: Application deadline: December 1 (portal is open)
http://grad.ucalgary.ca/awards/tricouncil#quickset-field_collection_quicktabs_2
Biological Sciences Program Open House Dates.
CMMB: Friday Nov. 20 4:30 - 6:30 pm BI 211
ECOL: Tues Nov. 24 4-6 pm BI 211
PLBI: Weds Nov. 25 4-6 pm BI 211
Seminars
EEB 601 Seminar - Mondays 12h00 in BI 211
Nov 23 - Steph Mogensen - Interactions between behavioural and physiological
traits at the individual and population level
BCEM 601 Seminar - Mondays 16h00 in BI 211
Nov 23 - Matt Hurd - Terpene Biosynthesis in Lippia dulcis: a sweet case of cytochrome P450 monooxygenase
Micro 601 Seminar - Wednesdays 12h00 in BI 211
Nov 25 - Annie An - Understanding the relationship between halophilic and
thermophilic microbial activities in a saline shale oil reservoir for souring control
EEB Seminar - Friday 12h00 in BI 211
Nov 27 - Jocelyn Poissant - Adaptive genetic variation in wild vertebrate populations: from quantitative genetics to genomics, and back again
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Graduate Student Affairs
Research Proposals
The Ph.D. Research Proposal for Mohsen Ramezanpour, in the area of
“Biochemistry”, was accepted by his Supervisory Committee on November 16,
2015.
The MSc Research Proposal for Margaret Cramm entitled “Deposition of thermophilic
spore-forming sulfate-reducing bacteria in different marine sediments over geological
timescales”, will be held on November 24, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. in Biological Sciences room
312.
The Ph.D. Research Proposal for Delyle Polet entitled “The Mechanical Logic of
Mammalian Quadrupedal Locomotion”, will be held on November 24, 2015 at 12:00 p.m.
in Biological Sciences room 389.
Ph.D. Candidacy Oral Examination - Candidacy Exams are Closed Exams.
Suriakarthiga Ganesan (Supervisor: V. Zaremberg), will be holding her Candidacy Examination, in the area of “Biochemistry”, on December 10, 2015 at 12:30 p.m. in Biological
Sciences room 186C. (Neutral Chair: G. Moorhead).
Ale Aleuy (Supervisor: K. Ruckstuhl & Co-Supervisor: S. Kutz), will be holding his Candidacy Examination, in the area of “Ecology” on December 10, 2015 in Biological Sciences
room 389. (Neutral Chair: Marie Fraser).
Chinmayee Das (Supervisor: M. Vijayan), will be holding her Candidacy Examination, in
the area of “Physiology”, on December 17, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. in Biological Sciences room
389. (Neutral Chair: D. Syme).
Thesis Oral Examinations - Exams are “Open” unless otherwise noted.
Matthew Oldach (Supervisor: P. Vize), will be holding his M.Sc. Thesis Oral Examination,
in the area of “Ecology”, on December 7, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. in Biological Sciences room
389. (Neutral Chair: S. Noskov).
EXIT SEMINAR AT 1:00 P.M. IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES ROOM 211.
Muhammad Jamshed (Supervisor: M. Samuel), will be holding his Ph.D. Thesis Oral Examination, in the area of “Developmental Biology”, on December 9, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. in
Biological Sciences room 389. (Neutral Chair: C. Shemanko).
EXIT SEMINAR AT 1:00 P.M. IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES ROOM 211.
Ryan Groves (Supervisor: P. Facchini), will be holding his M.Sc. Thesis Oral Examination,
in the area of “Biochemistry” on December 9, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. in Biological Sciences
room 312. (Neutral Chair: K. Ng).
EXIT SEMINAR AT 9:00 A.M. IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES ROOM 211.
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Christian Barron-Ortiz (Supervisor: J. Theodor), will be holding his Ph.D. Thesis Oral
Examination, in the area of “Evolutionary Biology”, on December 10, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. in
Biological Sciences room 499. (Neutral Chair: J. Cobb).
EXIT SEMINAR AT 1:00 P.M. IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES ROOM 211.
Johanna Halbauer (Supervisor: D. Muench), will be holding her M.Sc. Thesis Oral Examination, in the area of “Cell Biology”, on December 15, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. in Biological Sciences room 312. (Neutral Chair: S.L. Wong).
EXIT SEMINAR AT 9:00 A.M. IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES ROOM 211.
Alexander Tinius (Supervisor: A. Russell), will be holding his Ph.D. Thesis Oral Examination, in the area of “Evolutionary Biology”, on December 15, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. in Biological Sciences room 389. (Neutral Chair: G. Moorhead).
EXIT SEMINAR AT 1:00 P.M. IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES ROOM 211.
Congratulations to….
Dr. Igor Zdravkovic, who successfully defended his Ph.D. Thesis Oral Examination, in the area of “Biochemistry”, on November 5, 2015!
Sarah Johnson, who successfully defended her M.Sc. Thesis Oral Examination, in
the area of “Ecology”, on November 6, 2015!
Dr. Stephen Hausch, who successfully defended his Ph.D. Thesis Oral Examination, in the area of “Evolutionary Biology”, on November 10, 2015!
Dr. Scott Farrow, who successfully defended his Ph.D. Thesis Oral Examination,
in the area of “Biochemistry” on November 12, 2015!
Stevi Vanderzwan, who passed her M.Sc. Thesis Oral Examination, in the area of
“Ecology”, on November 19, 2015!
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Miguel Torres, who passed his Ph.D. Candidacy Examination, in the area of “Biochemistry”, on November 17, 2015!
Please note: Pre-defense seminars are a degree requirement for a M.Sc. and Ph.D. students in Biological Sciences. Typically the seminar will take place immediately preceding
the Oral Defense Exam.
Positions / Opportunities
Furnished walk-out basement suite for rent
Furnished walk-out basement suite in a quiet location in Tuscany Estates is available for short or long term
rent. If you are a busy professional or a student with minimal time for cooking – this might be the ideal
rental for you. The suite is in immaculate condition with 2 bedrooms, living room with TV and a full bath
room. Laundry and cooking facilities are on main floor. Cable TV and Vi-Fi available. The location has a very
good transport network to the LRT station, University of Calgary and the Foothills and Children’s hospitals
(10 minutes of driving to the University and Foothills hospital). Utilities included in rent. Looking for a nonsmoker with a quiet life style. No pets allowed. Please apply with 2 references.
Rent: $800/month
Phone: 403-547-7769
e-mail:mt123887@gmail.com
Job Title:
Competition #:
Position Type:
Department: Competition Closes:
Assistant Professor, Biology
D6590DM
Tenure Track
Science and Technology
November 30, 2015
The Department of Biology invites applications for an Ecologist in a tenure track position, at the rank of Assistant Professor, which will commence July 1, 2016.
Qualifications:
Qualifications include a completed PhD. Preference will be given to applicants with evidence of teaching
excellence and postdoctoral experience. Applicants interested in the teaching/scholarship/service pattern
should have the ability and intent to pursue a research program.
A complete dossier including letter of application, curriculum vitae, one-page statement of teaching philosophy, one-page statement of research interests (if applicable), teaching evaluations (summaries only) if available , and contact information for three (3) references should be submitted quoting competition #D6590DM.
Letters of reference are NOT required at time of application.
MOUNT ROYAL UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES
e: webapply@mtroyal.ca
For further information, contact Ruth Seltner, Chair, Biology Department at 403.440.8734 or r
seltner@mtroyal.ca
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ACWA is looking to recruit a Research Lab Manager with experience in environmental chemistry.
The full job posting can be found at UofC HR website at:
http://careers.ucalgary.ca/jobs/4545411-acwa-research-lab-manager-department-of-biological-sciencesfaculty-of-science
One of our grad students is participating in this
event. Come by and see their photography
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“from biomolecules to the biosphere”
“Piled Higher and Deeper” by Jorge Cham
www.phdcomics.com
CFD & BGSA Graduate Student
Ski Trip 2016
February 26th-28th, 2016
Fernie Ski Resort
PRICE
Limited spaces available!
Tickets for sale until Friday Jan 22nd from
1 Lift Ticket
$210
Shaun Moore (shmoore@ucalgary.ca)
Bus and Room Only
$160
/Ramya Singh (ramsingh@ucalgary.ca )
Includes 2 nights accommodation
and at TGIF every Friday!
2 Lift Tickets
$270
+ round-trip bus travel!
Cheques made payable to “Council of Foothills DGA”
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Home-brewed What?!
^ĐŝĞŶĐĞĂŶĚWĞƌĐĞƉƟŽŶ
of the Opium Poppy
^ƉĂƌŬLJŽƵƌĐƵƌŝŽƐŝƚLJĂŶĚĞdžƉůŽƌĞƚŚĞƉŽƐƐŝďŝůŝƟĞƐ
Speaker:
Dr. Peter Facchini
November 28th, 2015
EEEL Building
lecture 3 - 4 p.m.
Hands-on
Discovery Sessions
(2 - 5 p.m.)
- How can plants make medicines and chemicals
like rubber?
- How can plants detoxify tailings from oil sands?
- How does the DNA in strawberries make
them bigger and juicier?
- How do carnivorous plants trap
insects for their food?
First Annual Public Lecture and Discovery Sessions
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ZĞŐŝƐƚƌĂƟŽŶͬZ^sW͗ƵĐĂůŐĂƌLJ͘ĐĂͬďŝŽ
“from biomolecules to the biosphere”
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“from biomolecules to the biosphere”
Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre: the U of C’s
seaside campus (www.bamfieldmsc.com)
• Small class sizes
• Hands-on field/lab experience
• Wide variety of specialized course topics count toward your degree
Vancouver Island
• Condensed summer courses (3 or 6 weeks)
Vancouver
BMSC
Victoria
• Full fall program (5 courses, 13 weeks)
• Scholarships available (from BMSC and UofC)
• Students from member universities have priority access to courses
Questions? Contact your BMSC Student Ambassadors at the U of Calgary 
Sara Smith (sara.smith@ucalgary.ca)
Dana Poscente (djposcen@ucalgary.ca)
Louise Hahn (lhahn@ucalgary.ca)
Application deadline for summer courses: March 1, 2016
Application deadline for Fall Program: March 31, 2016
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Bioinformatics
for Medicine
Computers are transforming
medicine and biomedical research.
Bioinformatics, a combination of
computer science, biology, and
mathematics, is at the forefront
of this revolution.
JOIN
US!
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We give you the tools.
You decide on your future.
“from biomolecules to the biosphere”
Apply at:
http://cumming.ucalgary.ca/bhsc/program/bioinformatics
BACKPACKING WITH A PURPOSE
Operation Groundswell is a non-profit organization that runs international volunteering programs, focusing on social justice issues and working alongside local activists, organizations, and communities. We are looking for globally conscious and
socially active students who want to spend their summer exploring some of the
most complex and beautiful countries in the world!
If you’re into cultural exchange, meaningful community service, and off-the-beaten
path adventure, apply by December 17th to secure an interview for your firstchoice program!
*Financial assistance is available for all students on five- and six-week programs.
Check out where we go:
www.operationgroundswell.com
Summer programs are open in the following countries and regions:
India – Education or Gender Rights
Southeast Asia – Conservation or Youth Empowerment
Middle East – Human Rights
Ghana – Global Health
Tanzania – Social Innovation
Uganda: Development or Youth
Empowerment
Guatemala – Fair Trade Justice or
Peace & Conflict
Peru – Environment
Can’t travel in the summer? Join
us for our alternative breaks in the
winter and spring!
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