SFU Graduate Studies

Congratulations to Jessica C. Selinger, who has received a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship for $150,000 to support her PhD program in the Locomotion Lab, Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology.

Jessica researches the fundamental principles that underlie the neuronal control of legged locomotion. Her research at SFU will be focused on developing a myoelectric control system for a knee-mounted biomechanical energy harvester, an extension of an existing Locomotion Lab project that can generate storable electricity from the natural motion of walking.

Her goal is to control the device with sensors that measure the electrical activity of the user’s contracting muscles. This proposed control system has the potential to harvest additional energy from the body, be more comfortable for the user, and be adaptable to changing environments and movements.

Advances in energy harvesting technology could revolutionize the meaning of portable power. The restricting weight and limited working time of battery power can be overcome by granting humans the ability to serve as their own renewable power source. The applications for such a device are vast—from powering vital communication equipment for soldiers and rescue workers to powering medical devices such as drug-pumps and prostheses.

• Locomotion Lab
• Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology

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Congratulations to the recipients of the first round of professional development grants awarded by SFU’s Graduate Student Society.

• Sarah Carr‐Locke, Archaeology
• Csilla Egri, Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology
• Ben Gehrels, English
• Jasmine Kastner, Health Sciences
• Helen Lalancette, Education
• Erica Olson, REM
• Kirk Plangger, Business
• Masha Tkatchouk, Criminology
• Cheng Zhang, Engineering

Students each received $500 to support their conference and research travel. See full press release.

SFU graduate students who are planning to travel for conferences or research between September 1 through December 31, 2011 are invited to apply for the next round of awards. For more information, see www.sfugradsociety.ca or email Sarah Chown, GSS Professional Development Coordinator, prof‐dev@sfugradsociety.ca.

Application deadline: August 2, 2011.

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The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) is now accepting applications for Junior Fellows at the Janelia Farm Research Campus. This is a post-doctoral fellow position with an appointment period of up to three years which may be renewed for an additional two years.

In particular, they’re looking for researchers in to perform interdisciplinary research in these key areas:

the identification of general principles that govern how information is processed by neuronal circuits, using genetic model systems in conjunction with imaging, electrophysiological, and computational methods; and the development of imaging technologies and computational methods for image analysis.

Application deadline is July 1, 2011 at 2 pm. Apply online.

See also: HHMI Graduate Program (PhD), which will reopen later this year. If you’re close to completing your Master’s degree and you’re interested in applying to this PhD, please consider beginning the process now as it is an unconventional application process.

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Update: This post is moving to a new home: [See our new website.]

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada has announced the Innovation Challenge Award for graduate students in the natural sciences or engineering.

This national competition recognizes and rewards the power of an entrepreneurial spirit within Canada’s brightest young minds. There are three awards: one $10,000 grand prize and two $5,000 runner-up prizes. Honourable mention prizes may also be awarded if applications are deemed meritorious.

Eligible nominees must:

• have conducted research within the natural sciences or engineering at the Master’s or PhD level at an eligible Canadian university.
• have submitted, or expect to submit, their thesis between May 15, 2010 and May 1, 2011 (students must successfully defend their thesis before the award is offered).
• be Canadian citizens or permanent residents in Canada at the time of nomination

Two nominations may be made by each Canadian university. To be considered for one of SFU’s nominations, please submit the following to melaniem@sfu.ca by Monday, March 28, 2011:

• A one-page summary, reviewed and signed by the your supervisor, that describes your research and the primary commercial product or service that could be implemented or developed through application of the research results
• Your up-to-date curriculum vitae that provides information on your contributions to publications (including patents) and collaborative research activities, and including full contact information.

SFU’s Innovation Office will select the nominee(s) that will be put forward from SFU, and assist with the completion of the required documentation, including a detailed six-page proposal, for submission to NSERC by their deadline of May 2, 2011.

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PhD student Mark Snaterse (left) was in the Vancouver Sun on February 11 for his co-invention of a cruise control system for runners.

The idea behind Cruise Control for Runners comes from the discovery that sound tempo can be used to control running speed. “This works much like cruise control in a car, where sound takes the throttle’s role,” says Snaterse. “You can set the preferred speed for your run – say, 10 km in 50 minutes – before you head out.“During the run you just need to synchronize your steps with the sound, almost like you’re dancing. The tempo of the sound is automatically adjusted so that you reach your running goal. Given that you can keep up, of course.”

The large backpack-size prototype currently being used for testing would end up much smaller as a product, possibly even an iPhone app, researchers say.

SFU’s Innovation Office (IO) has reviewed the technology and filed a U.S. provisional patent.

• SFU Press Release
• SFU Locomotion Laboratory
• Vancouver Sun: SFU Scientists invent cruise control for runners

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Update: This post is moving to a new home: [See our new website.]