Please see http://bmigsa.ca/ for details about your council and contact information of BMIGSA Coucil members.

Everyone is welcome!

The BMI Bulletin #108 is now available!
Download BMIBulletin108

Featured in this issue:

• Announcement of the new BMI Graduate Student Association executives for 2013-2014
• The answer to “why tomatoes don’t taste as good as they used to”
• How the conditional editing feature in Excel can help you with data analysis
• The science behind the ‘health benefits’ of coconut oil
• The new pen recycling initiative at RGN
• A new delicious and crowd-pleasing recipe from our OISB-resident chef

To see previous issues of the Bulletin, visit the BMIGSA website at www.bmigsa.ca

Happy Reading!

BMI Bulletin Team

Important Dates

May 3rd @ 4pm - Deadline for candidacy submission

May 3rd @ 4:30pm - Mandatory meeting for all candidates (RGN Rm 4161)

May 6th - Announcement of candidates on website/Campaigning period begins

May 7th @ 4:30pm - BMIGSA Meeting (RGN Rm 4161, candidates are welcome to attend)

May 16th, 11am-1pm - Election Day (1st Floor Lounge/Courtyard RGN – alongside BMI Poster Day BBQ)

May 21st – Students in BMI may contest the election procedures/results in writing to the Chief Electoral Officer up until this date.

Election Results

Thank you to all who participated in this year’s BMIGSA elections! Voter turnout was 39%.

President

Sylvain Lanouette - Elected

I wish to have the chance to contribute for a second year President to the efforts of the BMIGSA in building a better student experience in our department. I had the opportunity to work with the BMIGSA council as President during the last year, after two initial years as VP Academics. In the coming year, I would focus our efforts in favouring new recurring social activities that would appeal to our student body, expand the career-oriented events organized at the RGN and develop better relations with the BMI department.

Academic

Rebecca Hood - Elected

I am a PhD student studying rare genetic disorders in the Bulman/Boycott lab. My current research is focused on understanding the genetic basis underlying Floating-Harbor syndrome. I have been involved with council for the past 2 years as an OHRI rep./member at large (being involved in various activities including pub nights) and this past year as VP Academic. In my second year as VP Academic, I will continue to work on ensuring that students get the best experience and learning opportunities during their time here.

Archives

Ellias Horner - Elected

I am a first year Master’s student in the biochemistry program working under the supervision of Dr. Blais. I have helped the BMIGSA over the past year as a member at large and moving forward would like to become more involved. I am running for VP Archives where I would be responsible towards maintaining records and transcription of minutes during monthly meetings. I hope to bring my excellent organizational skills as I contribute to ensuring all information from our council is properly maintained and prepared for ease of transfer to future councils.

Communications

Jamie Whitcomb - Elected

I’m a first year PhD student in the Nemer lab with a BSc from Acadia University. I have enjoyed participating in BMI and Faculty of Medicine volunteer opportunities such as Career Day, the Graduate Student Recruitment Day and BMI BBQs. Therefore, I now hope to play a greater role in the department and help add to the graduate student experience.  As VP Communications, I would act as liason between the BMIGSA, the graduate students and the other GSAs so that all are aware of important information and can work together effectively. I look forward to a great year!

External

Rami Darwich - Elected

I am a second year Ph.D. student in the biochemistry program working under the supervision of Dr. Mona Nemer.   After a one year post as a VP-Internal in the BMIGSA, I would like to serve the council and the student body in a new position.   I am running for VP-External, a position that demands that the VP represents BMIGSA at the monthly GSAED meetings.   I have a horrible singing voice and an eccentric sense of humour but love to share them anyway so get ready as I !!!!!!

Finance

Rajen Patel - Elected

I am a Ph.D candidate working on antigen presentation by dendritic cells in the Sad lab. We look at mechanisms of CD8 T cell activation in the context of chronic intracellular bacteria. I’m originally from Montreal and I did my masters training at the University of Ottawa. My hobbies include running, biking, travelling and I’m a big fan of James Bond movies. I’m hoping to continue working as your VP finance to help maintain funds for all the BMIGSA events we have planned for the coming year.

Internal

Megan  Tu - Elected

I’m a Ph.D. student in the Makrigiannis lab studying the role of the Ly49 receptor in NK cell-mediated cancer immunosurveillance. For the last two years I was on council as VP Communications, I acted as a liaison between the BMIGSA and students – it was my responsibility to ensure that students were made aware of upcoming events organized by the BMIGSA. I’m also involved with various events such as helping with the planning of the BMI Holiday party and organizing the summer BBQs. I’m interested in being VP Internal for the upcoming year and being the student representative in the BMI departmental meetings. I look forward to another great year on the BMIGSA!

Social

Rashida Rajgara - Elected

My name is Rashida & I’m a Master’s student working on the transcription factor Sox7 & its role in myogenesis, under the supervision of Dr. Skerjanc. The past year I served the Council as a member at large part-taking in most of the events organised, but this year I’m hoping to become more involved by running for VP Social. If elected I promise to maintain our current streak of interactive social events such as the pub nights, Halloween & Christmas party. Novel activities for this year include more BBQ’s, dance lessons, sporting events and more …

Webmaster

Doo Yang - Elected

I am a Ph D student in bioinformatics.
Thanks to my research, I have experiences in administering computer servers and programming.
I have been taking care of BMIGSA website since 2011.
I’d like to be given another opportunity to serve as a webmaster.

View description of roles and responsibilities

Please contact elections@bmigsa.ca if you have any questions about the electoral process.

Click to download the schedule.

Hi!
Mark down March 28th on your calendars: Career Day is back this year to help you explore your career possibilities following your graduate studies.
The event will take place in amphitheater RGN2005, from 9H30 to 15H30.

This year again, we will have a full day of talks by exceptional presenters:
9H30 – Luc Poitras, to present his work as Laboratory Coordinator at the Faculty of Science
10H00 – Christian Beaulé: after completing a few post-doctoral fellowships is now Research Development Officer at the university
10H45 – John DeJong, who will present to us his work at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
11H15 – Claire Cayen will present the resources available to us at the university’s Career Services
13H15 – Katey Rayner, recent recruit of the Heart Institute will present her path as a young and successful young academic researcher
13H45 – Nazim Ahmed, co-founder of DNA11, an unusual biotech company from Ottawa
14H30 – Darren Yip graduated with his PhD from u of O a few years ago and is now a successful science teacher
15H00 – Nicole Arbour will inform us about her thrilling career in science diplomacy as team leader for the Science and Innovation network at the British High Commission

For epidemiologists, once again, a dedicated session will be held concurrently during the afternoon, from 13H15 to 15H00 in room 2022. Epidemiology students are also cordially invited both to the morning talks and to the lunch, held in the Atrium.
13H15 – Carlyn Matz, Evaluator at the Fuels Assessment Section, Air Health Science Division Health Canada
13H45 – Franco Momoli, Clinical Epidemiologist at the OHRI & CHEO
14H30 – Academic researcher – TBA

For more details, please consult the schedule attached.
Also note that, due to limited staff at the CASS, it will not be possible to hold our CV clinic. Miss Claire Cayen will however give all the relevant information about CV evaluation services available all year long downtown. You can also consult: http://www.sass.uottawa.ca/carrieres/ressources/cv/.

We hope to see you all on March 28th for Career Day 2013: What’s next?
Career Day Organizing Committee

GSAÉD Elections: Don’t forget to vote from March 18th to March 20th – you could win 1 of 12 8GB USB thumb drives!

========
If you are a grad student, vote from March 18th to March 20th to elect your Executive and your Representatives to the University Senate and Board of Governors. Polling stations locations, dates, and times for the General Elections are available here. The names of the candidates in the 2013 General Elections are available here. Do not forget to bring your student card in order to vote. Questions? Contact us at elections@gsaed.ca.

Focus

• Taste of Sicence: Genes and your taste buds
• PivotTable: an Excel data analysis tool

Events

• Career Day

Good afternoon:

The submission deadline for the UOJM has been extended to March 18th. I have updated the promo poster (attached). Would you be able to distribute this to the BMI information boards?

Thanks!

Hi everyone,

Get ready for a great night out after a day of seminars!
Two tickets to see Bill Nye are up for grabs as door prizes for this event.

If you have the chance, please post the attached poster around your institutes.

Hope to see you there!

I’m sure you have seen the posters in the hallways advertising our new
Salsa Workshops. Get ready to dance and have some fun! The first workshop
begins next week.

When? – March 6, 13, 20 and 27 from 4:30-5:30
Where? – RGN 3035
How much? – 16$ for all 4 workshops (paid in full on March 6th at the
door), 5$/workshop drop-in rate paid at the door

Never danced? No problem! The professional instructor will teach the
basics of salsa dancing and revisit the basics as the workshops advance.
Students, post-docs and staff are all welcome.

Hope to see you there!