SFU Graduate Studies

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers  (IEEE) is holding a symposium in Vancouver this July 24–27: The 20th IEEE International Symposium on Applications of Ferroelectrics, jointly held with the International Symposium on Piezoresponse Force Microscopy & Nanoscale Phenomena in Polar Materials.

Graduate students are invited to participate in the short courses on Sunday, July 24 and in the poster competition. Some financial assistance may still be available.

They’re also looking for student volunteers to help out at the symposium. Volunteers can request to be an attendant at specific sessions and will receive full admission to attend lectures and sessions around their volunteer schedule.

For information on how to get involved, contact Regan Belan, MSc candidate in chemistry, by email to rab11@sfu.ca

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Congratulations to recent SFU graduate Matthew Macauley (PhD 2010), who has received the 2011 Canadian Council of University Chemistry Chairpersons (CCUCC) Chemistry Doctoral Prize. This award is intended to recognize outstanding achievement and potential in research by a graduate student whose PhD thesis in chemistry was formally accepted by a Canadian university.

Matthew’s thesis supervisor at SFU was David Vocadlo. He’s now working as a post-doctoral fellow at the Scripps Research Institute with James Paulson.

He’ll be presenting his award lecture at the 2011 Canadian Society for Chemistry Conference & Exhibition in Montreal.

• Thesis: Insight into O-GlcNAc protein modification using chemical and biochemical tools
• CCUCC Chemistry Doctoral Award announcement
• Scripps Research Institute: Matthew Macauley
• CAZypedia: Matthew Macauley
• Department of Chemistry, SFU
• Chemical and Structural Biology Unit, SFU
• Supervisor: David Vocadlo

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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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Congratulations to the Department of Chemistry’s grad and undergrad students, faculty members and staff for putting on ChemQuest 2011, one of SFU’s contributions to the International Year of Chemistry 2011.

The Chemistry Magic show (above), which was created by Chemistry graduate students, featured explosions, elephant toothpaste, tennis ball cannons, and all kinds of brilliant chemical reactions, and thoroughly entertained their audience.

Approximately 600-800 children were in attendance throughout the event, and judging from their reactions, many have been turned into budding scientists.

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George Wade, associate dean of Graduate Studies, is travelling in Bolivia for the next 12 days as part of the Impossible2Possible expedition, where he and his fellow adventurers will run 250 km over the Salar de Uyuni, the largest salt flats in the world.

In partnership with Simon Fraser University and the International Year of Chemistry, i2P will conduct a series of experiments in this remarkable environment that will bring the principles of chemistry alive. These experiments, under the supervision of [George Agnes], a chemistry professor that is joining the expedition team, will be broadcast live to participating schools and posted on the i2P website.

As the mission’s science advisor, George will be supervising chemistry experiments each day which will be broadcast to thousands of high school students around the world. The students will also be able to do the experiments simultaneously in their classrooms and ask him questions in real-time.

Ray Zahab CTV In-Depth Interview from GOi2P on Vimeo.

• SFU press release: Chemist treks with Expedition Bolivia
• i2P live broadcast schedule
• George Wade’s curriculum for the expedition

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Applications are now open for the 2012-13 International Fulbright award in Science and Technology. The award includes tuition at a top US university for three years, a monthly stipend, travel support, and many other benefits.

Applicants must be Canadian citizens planning to complete a PhD in science or technology. More information for Canadians is available at the Fulbright Canada website. More information on the award is available through the Fulbright Science and Technology Awards website.

Apply online at the Foreign Fulbright Program application page. Application deadline: May 31, 2011.

• Full list of Fulbright awards for Canadian Master’s students
• Full list of awards for Canadian PhDs

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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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