Contents
February 2026 Winners
Cristina Camardi – Catalyst Series II: Bridging Academia and Industry – Toronto Metropolitan University
Léa Kaufmann – 37th edition of the Journée Simon-Pierre Noël – Université deMontréal
Biochemistry and Medical Genetics Research Day (Manitoba)
Physiology Research Day (Alberta)
Toronto DNA Replication and Repair Symposium 2026
October 2025 Winners
Anna Galang – WICTO Connecting Through Chemistry Symposium, University of Toronto
WICTO (Working Towards Inclusivity in Chemistry Toronto) is a student-led organization under the Department of Chemistry at UofT that advocates for education on equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in STEM with a focus on chemistry. On Saturday, February 7th 2026, we hosted our 4th annual Connecting through Chemistry Symposium, which brought together students from universities across the Greater Toronto Area.
The symposium began with a plenary lecture given by Dr. Kalaichelvi Saravanamuttu and Dr. Rodrigo Narro Pérez from McMaster University. They spoke on the equity, justice, and anti-racism in science course that they teach and highlighted the barriers that exist within the field of science for marginalized groups. Another featured talk was given by Dr. Krystal Nunes from Toronto Metropolitan University on her pedagogy research group. Her work focuses on reshaping the students’ perceptions of failure at the undergraduate and graduate levels. With regards to professional development activities, we hosted two professional development workshops: EDI Tools for Transforming Chemistry Research and STEM Practices led by Dr. Alisha Szozda from Carlton University and Making Visually Effective Presentations led by University of Toronto graduate students Sofia Michailovich and Christine Hood.
We also organized two career panels, one featuring four industrial professionals who talked about their journeys into their careers after graduate school and the other featuring five chemistry instructors from high school teachers to university teaching stream professors who incorporate EDI into their teaching and pedagogical practices. Additionally, we held an interactive roundtable discussion with the panelists over lunch, providing an opportunity for more in-depth conversation between the panelists and participants. The symposium concluded with an evening poster session showcasing the latest research in various fields of chemistry, allowing participants to further connect with peers, facilitators, faculty, panelists, and other community members.
Anuradha Rai Chowdhury – ARRTI Speaker and 3MT Colloquium, University of Lethbridge
Our combined scientific and career development event is aimed at helping trainees supported by the Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute (ARRTI) develop both their research and professional skills. The event will feature an in-person seminar by a leading RNA researcher, providing students with the opportunity to learn about current research, ask questions, and network with fellow researchers. This will provide a valuable learning and networking opportunity for trainees at all stages of their careers. Faculty will also benefit from discussions and possible collaborations. This in-person seminar is particularly important for ARRTI trainees, given the university’s rural location and the limited number of in-person seminars currently hosted on campus due to budget constraints.
The second part of the event will highlight presentations by the ARRTI 3MT finalists. For the first time, ARRTI will host a 3MT competition for all trainees, judged by a panel of experts and non-experts. The five finalists from the preliminary competition will present at this final ARRTI event, and the winners will be declared. In the 3MT competition, trainees share their research in a concise, three-minute format, helping them practice clearly communicating their science to a wider audience. This experience supports skill development in science communication, presentation, and public engagement, while also allowing participants to observe how others present their work and learn about research taking place on campus. In addition to first, second, and third place prizes, a People’s Choice award will be presented, ensuring an engaging, interactive experience for all participants.
Riya Shanbhag – 51st annual symposium of the Association of Graduate Students in the Biological Sciences (AGSBS), York University
The 51st Annual Symposium, hosted by the Association of Graduate Students in the Biological Sciences (AGSBS), is the signature event for all Master’s and Ph.D. students in the Department of Biology at York University. Tentatively scheduled for early May 2026, this event serves a dual function: scientific knowledge exchange and professional career development.
AGSBS represents 193 graduate students across highly diverse biological disciplines, including Cell Biology, Animal and Plant Physiology, Neuroscience, and Ecology and Evolution, with a large focus on the molecular mechanisms underpinning these research fields. The Symposium is the largest operation of our student-led organization, providing an essential platform for our community to share their research with faculty and peers.
Building on the success of our previous events, which had over 100 student attendees, the 2026 Symposium will focus on presenting top-tier research. Last year’s event featured three distinguished keynote speakers, short student talks, and a poster presentation session, providing essential opportunities for members to share cutting-edge discoveries and methods, and receive critical feedback on their work.
The 2026 agenda will feature one invited keynote speaker specializing in the molecular biosciences, numerous trainee talk opportunities, a robust career panel, and focused networking sessions. To maximize accessibility, we are adding a virtual half-day component featuring additional trainee talks and a career panel, ensuring participation for those unable to attend the full in-person symposium. Overall, the symposium event will provide a platform to share research, build community, and strategically prepare our graduate students for their next professional steps.
Mikhaela Slavin – Beyond the Bench: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Professional Development Day, University of Calgary
Beyond the Bench: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB) Professional Development Day will be a one-day seminar and workshop-based event to allow BMB trainees to explore diverse career paths as biochemists and molecular biologists. The objective is to provide a career development function for trainees in the BMB program to learn about job possibilities, important skills sets, and how to navigate challenges to find a fulfilling career in science. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB) is a research-based graduate program of ~80 students in the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary in Calgary, AB. Research areas range from biochemistry, cellular and developmental biology, genetics, immunology and bioinformatics with applications in basic science and clinical research.
This event will have four scheduled components: 1) Seminar, 2) Career Panel, 3) Skill-building Workshop, and 4) Networking Social. Altogether, these components will combine lecture-based learning, hands-on activities and an interactive experience to understand the qualities and skills required for a career in academia, industry (biotechnology, pharmaceutical, healthcare diagnostics), and science communications. We plan to invite speakers consisting of professors, postdoctoral fellows, and industry professionals, some of which are alumni of the BMB program to provide valuable insight in the transition from graduate school to the job market. To date, this kind of event has not been organized in our program, which is why this award will greatly benefit current graduate students in BMB to make even more of an impact in the academic and private sectors once they graduate.
Undergraduate Activities
Melissa Poirier – Research Nights – University of Manitoba
The Undergraduate Microbiology Students’ Club (MiSC) at the University of Manitoba recently hosted its annual Research Night series, a three-part professional development and networking event supported by CSMB. The series took place on November 4th, November 19th, and February 12th, and brought together undergraduate students and professionals from across the University of Manitoba and the National Microbiology Laboratory.
The evenings featured guest speakers from the University of Manitoba’s Fort Garry and Bannatyne campuses, as well as researchers from the National Microbiology Laboratory. Speakers presented their current research and shared insights into the work being conducted in their laboratories, exposing students to a wide range of topics in microbiology and related disciplines. Interactive question-and-answer sessions allowed students to engage directly with researchers and learn more about academic and professional pathways in the field.
Following the presentations, students had the opportunity for informal networking where they connected with speakers, faculty members, and peers while enjoying refreshments provided during the events. These conversations allowed students to build relationships with researchers, discuss potential research opportunities, and gain valuable career advice.
Support from CSMB helped make the events accessible and welcoming for all students by enabling MiSC to provide food and refreshments and recognize invited speakers. The Research Night series ultimately fostered meaningful connections between students and researchers while promoting engagement with the diverse microbiology research taking place at the University of Manitoba and at the National Microbiology Laboratory.
February 2025 winners
Deanne Nixie Miao – 2025 Biochemistry and Medical Genetics Research Day, University of Manitoba
Bao Nguyen – Chemical Biophysics Symposium 2025 – University of Toronto
The CBP2025 Conference successfully welcomed 125 participants for a vibrant weekend of scientific exchange on 9-11 May 2025. Thanks to the support of CSMB, we were honored to be able to host six keynote lectures delivered by the following
internationally renowned researchers:
- Dr. Teresa Head-Gordon (University of California, Berkeley)
- Dr. Isaac Li (University of British Columbia)
- Dr. Nirosha Murugan (Wilfrid Laurier University)
- Dr. Sandro Keller (Universität Graz)
- Dr. Jung Ho Lee (Seoul National University)
- Dr. Nico Van der Vegt (Technical University of Darmstadt)
The CSMB funding also allowed us to provide 5 student travel awards, as well as partially offset the registration costs for attendees, hence ensuring that the conference continues to be financially accessible, especially to student researchers. Thus, in addition to the keynote lectures, our conference also featured 13 contributed talks by graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. These presentations were thematically organized into sessions that align with the keynote lectures. This structure not only created a cohesive single-track program for the symposium, but also encouraged meaningful student-faculty interactions within and across different thematic sessions. Moreover, all keynote and oral presentations were held in a modern and spacious auditorium, further promoting interdisciplinary engagement for all CBP2025 attendees.
This year’s poster sessions at CBP included 53 posters representing diverse topics at the interface of physics, chemistry, and biology. Our welcoming and accessible venue effectively enhanced our interactive poster sessions experience, promoting dynamic discussions and networking. Notably, two outstanding student contributions — one oral presentation and one poster — were recognized with the CBP Student Presentation Awards, introduced in this year’s symposium to promote excellence in research quality and science communication.
Some additional CBP2025 highlights also included two engaging and educational workshops:
- “From Research to Market: Translating Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Life Sciences at UofT”
- “Academic vs. Industry: Navigating Career Paths and Building a Competitive Profile”
We also hosted a timely and fascinating panel discussion on “AI Revolutionizing Biophysics: Challenges, Breakthroughs, and Future Prospects.” A key improvement in this year’s program was the scheduling of workshops at different times, allowing participants to attend both without conflict and therefore maximizing engagement.
Finally, branded CBP2025 notebooks and mugs proved to be both practical and popular, enhancing the conference experience and continuing to represent CBP conferences in diverse academic and industry settings well beyond the event.
Overall, CBP2025 ran smoothly with no major disruptions. Nevertheless, post-conference, the organizing committee reflected on our operations and considered feedback from participants. Some areas that we have identified for improvement at our upcoming conferences are as follows, which we hope to address in the future with your recurring support, for an overall enhanced conference experience for all:
- Enhanced technical support for accessibility and pre-conference logistics for oral presentations, panels content preparation, and venue access
- Expanded registration, including extra spots for day-of registration
- Streamlined reimbursement forms for invited speakers
- Faster website updates and live website monitoring
- Additional poster boards to support continuous and simultaneous poster display throughout the conference duration
- Enhanced diversity in workshop topics
Once again, we sincerely thank the CSMB for your generous and important contribution to the success of CBP2025. We look forward to your continued support and hope to welcome you again at CBP2026 and beyond.
Josephine Esposto – Molecules, Cells & Systems (MCS) Research Centre Annual Symposium 2025 – Trent University
The Molecules, Cells & Systems (MCS) Annual Symposium is a free, student-organized conference that unites researchers at Trent University and across Ontario to explore the health and life sciences through an interdisciplinary lens. The Symposium is hosted by the MCS Research Centre at Trent University, which brings together PIs and their students from the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Forensic Science, Kinesiology, and Psychology. One of the main foundations of the Symposium is to promote interdisciplinary innovation and knowledge exchange between researchers studying diverse organisms to facilitate a more comprehensive understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of life. The Symposium features keynote presentations from leading experts in their respective fields, as well as undergraduate and graduate student presentations that promote research on campus. It also provides a venue where students can refine their oral presentation skills and network with their peers, which increases research capacity between students from different labs. Furthermore, our 2025 Symposium will continue the tradition of recognizing the outstanding work being conducted on campus through presentation awards, further reinforcing our commitment to excellence in research and science communication. The event will provide opportunities for attendees to initiate new research collaborations and strengthen existing partnerships. Specifically, it will provide undergraduate and graduate students with a unique opportunity to showcase their research, connect with peers and external sponsors, and engage with the broader scientific community. This Symposium is the only research meeting of its kind at Trent University and will cover a range of skills such as effective research communication, incorporating EDI into research, and career transitioning from academia to industry.
Ariane Lapointe-Belleau – Journée scientifique étudiante/Student Research Day (JSE) – Université Laval
Charlotte Martin – Toronto RNA Enthusiasts’ Day (TREnD) – University of Toronto
Forough Chelangarimiyandoab – Physiology Research Day 2025 – University of Alberta
October 2024 winners
Fatemeh Rezaei – CSMB-PRinCE 2025-Trainee Session, University of Ottawa
Event website: https://event.fourwaves.com/csmb-prince-2025/pages
- Event description / Description de l’événement
The trainee session for the CSMB-PRinCE conference, taking place in Ottawa during May 26-29, 2025, aims to foster professional development and networking among early-career researchers from across Canada. This trainee session will include a career panel and trainee talks, focusing on the unique challenges and opportunities encountered during and after graduate school. We intend to organize a mixer after this, where the trainees can network, and exchange ideas based on the insights they gained from the talks. We believe that this will help them build their professional and scientific network. While other mixers have been planned for this conference, they are usually in parallel with trainee presentations or short in duration, hindering the ability of trainees to interact and build strong connections. A team-building exercise such as a science trivia night and ice breaker activities such as a game of darts will be part of this event to encourage informal discussion among the trainees. Gift cards worth $25 will be awarded to each member of the winning trivia team, adding an element of fun and engagement. Overall, this session is designed to be a catalyst for networking, professional growth, and community-building among emerging scientists. - Student involvement / Implication des étudiants
The organization of the event showcases a high level of student involvement, driven entirely by the trainee committee. The vision for the event was developed by the trainee committee which has been responsible for identifying speakers, funding opportunities and setting up the requirements for the event. The main CSMB organizing committee has been updated regularly on the progress of the trainee committee, but the majority of the decision-making and coordination is handled by the trainee group. The students of the trainee committee will be chairing the trainee session and ensuring the smooth conduct of the event during the conference in May 2025. Additionally, trainees will chair the sessions, actively leading discussions and ensuring that the event runs smoothly. This hands-on involvement provides trainees with valuable leadership and event management experience. As mentioned earlier, the event will also feature trainee talks, where the trainees will be sharing their personal experiences in graduate school and these talks will be carefully selected to ensure the presence of diverse voices. This approach not only highlights varied journeys but also fosters peer-to-peer insights that resonate across different backgrounds and disciplines. - Scope of event | Portée de l’événement
This trainee session offers a valuable opportunity to broaden perspectives and facilitate connections among participants who may not typically engage with each other. The career panel, complemented by a Q&A session, delivers important insights into various career paths and the practical applications of research, promoting networking among trainees. This engagement is essential for fostering collaboration and exchanging ideas, ultimately enriching the overall experience for everyone involved. By encouraging open dialogue and connections, the event is designed to create a supportive environment that empowers trainees to explore new possibilities in their careers. Moreover, the trainee talks will also provide participants with the opportunity to share their experiences, such as how they developed their projects, including challenges they faced and strategies for overcoming obstacles. These peer-led presentations promote shared learning and create opportunities for trainees from different disciplines and backgrounds to connect through common experiences, thus fostering collaboration. In addition to the structured presentations, the event incorporates activities beyond traditional research talks. The planned mixer event at the end offers a relaxed setting for trainees to connect informally. This social activity encourages interactions and helps break down barriers, fostering lasting relationships. - Added value of funding / Valeur ajoutée du financement
In previous conferences, the trainee sessions organized by the trainee committee, we identified a critical need for rapport-building exercises among trainees, as many faced challenges in networking with their peers. To address this, we plan to organize a mixer that encourages casual interactions, enabling trainees to form personal connections before transitioning to scientific collaborations. The CSMB grant will be used to cover the costs of appetizers and secure an appropriate venue for the mixer. While trainees can purchase additional food and drinks, financial support is essential for creating a welcoming and inclusive space specifically dedicated to networking. Without this funding, it would be difficult to offer such an environment for informal interactions. The mixer will be a key component in enhancing the overall conference experience, providing trainees with opportunities to develop professional networks and build supportive peer relationships, which are crucial for their long-term career development. This grant will allow us to create a meaningful and inclusive event that strengthens the emerging scientific community. - Equity, diversity, inclusion / Équité, diversité, inclusion
A key component of the event’s commitment to EDI is the inclusion of a diverse set of speakers and panelists, who will represent various genders, ethnicities, and professional backgrounds. This ensures that multiple perspectives are shared, enriching the learning experience for all participants. Accessibility is another major focus of the session. The chosen venue is fully equipped to accommodate individuals with disabilities, with features such as automatic doors, accessible washrooms, and ramps. These considerations make sure that all trainees, regardless of their physical abilities, can fully participate. The University of Ottawa’s strong commitment to accessibility ensures that the necessary resources will be provided to enhance engagement for all attendees, including those who require additional support. Additionally, we will use clear and straightforward language throughout the session to make the content easily understandable for everyone. Moreover, in fostering a safe and inclusive environment, we will implement a code of conduct that emphasizes respectful interaction among attendees. One of the central components of the event is the trainee talks, which will be carefully curated to ensure that a diverse range of voices and experiences are represented. These talks will highlight the varied challenges that graduate students from different backgrounds, disciplines, and circumstances encounter during their academic journey. By showcasing a broad spectrum of personal and professional experiences, we aim to create a platform where all trainees can see themselves reflected and feel that their unique challenges are recognized.
Zixuan Yuan, UBC Life Sciences Symposium 2025, University of British Columbia
Event website: https://ubclss.weebly.com/
- Event description / Description de l’événement
The 2025 UBC Life Science Symposium (LSS) is a dynamic, one-day interdisciplinary event organized by graduate students at the University of British Columbia (UBC). This symposium serves as a platform for students, postdocs, and researchers to showcase their innovative work in the life sciences. It is the only event of its kind that includes participants from all UBC life sciences departments or faculties. Attendees can expect engaging student presentations, a keynote seminar, career development and EDI workshops, poster sessions, and awards for outstanding trainees. The LSS 2025 is designed to facilitate knowledge sharing, promote interdisciplinary collaboration, and enhance networking opportunities within the community. In 2024, the first UBC LSS attracted over 200 participants from nearly 20 UBC departments, and gained support and recognition from various biotechnology companies. We hope to organize another successful symposium in 2025 with a greater focus on EDI in research and professional development for the next generation of researchers. By fostering scientific excellence and championing EDI, this symposium provides a valuable opportunity for participants to connect and expand their horizons within the vibrant UBC science community. - Student involvement / Implication des étudiants
The UBC Life Sciences Symposium is a completely student-led initiative, with student involvement being a cornerstone of its success. The organizing committee is comprised of dedicated graduate students from various departments affiliated with UBC including Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, Zoology, Genome Science and Technology, and Microbiology and Immunology. This diverse representation not only enriches the planning process but also ensures that a wide range of perspectives and expertise are integrated into the event. Student participation is integral to every aspect of the symposium, from initial brainstorming sessions to logistics and marketing. Members of the committee take on specific roles that align with their skills and interests, such as obtaining funding, coordinating speakers, and overseeing event logistics. This hands-on experience allows students to develop critical skills in event management, public speaking, and networking, which are invaluable for their future careers in science and beyond. Ultimately, this student-led initiative not only empowers the organizers with leadership capabilities but also shapes the future of scientific communication and collaboration at UBC, positioning our institution as a leader in fostering innovative and inclusive scientific discussion. - Scope of event | Portée de l’événement
The primary goal of the UBC Life Science Symposium (LSS) is to bring together trainees from diverse backgrounds who would not normally have the opportunity to engage with each other. Designed as an interdisciplinary event, the LSS features speakers and presentations from various branches of life sciences. Trainees, including graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, often focus on specialized areas within their disciplines, but the symposium provides a unique opportunity to explore related or entirely different fields, fostering valuable cross-disciplinary connections and networking opportunities. As the only UBC-wide event open to all UBC-affiliated researchers without departmental or faculty restrictions, the LSS encourages broader engagement. The poster session, a key component of the conference, invites trainees to present their research, enabling attendees from various backgrounds to engage in meaningful discussions, exchange ideas, and discover common research interests that may not arise in their usual circles. The inclusion of industry professionals in the social mixer further enriches these interactions, creating opportunities for trainees to explore shared interests and potential collaborations. Along with the trainee talks, this poster session offers trainees the chance to win awards. This competitive element encourages participants to enhance their presentation and question-answering skills, which are essential for success in both academic and non-academic careers. At the LSS, trainees can interact with speakers, peers, and invited industry professionals from diverse sectors of the life sciences. These interactions not only facilitate learning but also provide valuable opportunities for mentorship and career guidance. Trainees can explore different career paths and establish important contacts both within and outside of academia. Additionally, participants can attend workshop sessions, including professional headshots, communication skill-building activities, and graphical abstract development, all aimed at advancing their professional growth. The UBC LSS Student Committee itself represents a wide range of expertise and perspectives, ensuring that the symposium attracts and engages a diverse array of trainees. By inviting a variety of speakers and participants, the symposium promotes interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration. The presence of a keynote speaker from outside UBC enhances this outreach, providing attendees with insights from leading experts in the field. Overall, the 2025 UBC Life Science Symposium offers trainees the opportunity to attend talks that explore cutting-edge research, novel techniques, and emerging trends. This exposure broadens their understanding beyond their immediate research focus to cultivate a rich, inclusive environment that encourages collaboration and innovation on a broader scale. - Added value of funding / Valeur ajoutée du financement
- Participant benefits: Part of the CSMB award will be allocated to provide benefits for trainees, such as trainee talk and poster awards, lunch, and snacks. Additionally, we will offer poster printing reimbursement for students who may not be able to otherwise afford to print their poster. These grants will enable trainees to attend the symposium, overcoming financial barriers that might otherwise hinder their participation. 2. EDI Workshop: With the support of the CSMB award, we can sponsor a panel of local scientists dedicated to improving EDI in science. This will enrich the symposium program by bringing in experts who can offer diverse perspectives and cutting-edge insights into including EDI in research. 3. Symposium Materials: The CSMB award will help cover the costs of producing high-quality symposium materials such as printed programs, posters, and promotional materials. These materials contribute to the professional presentation of the event and enhance the overall experience for attendees.
- Equity, diversity, inclusion / Équité, diversité, inclusion
The 2025 UBC Life Sciences Symposium is working hard to create an inclusive and equitable scientific community by actively incorporating these principles into its program: 1. Diverse Speaker Lineup: The symposium actively seeks to include a diverse range of speakers from various backgrounds, genders, ethnicities, and career stages. 2. Inclusive Topics: The LSS strives to cover a broad spectrum of topics within the life sciences, including those that address health disparities (ex. gender, race, etc.), social determinants of health, sex differences in research, and other EDI-related issues. 3. Representation on the Committee: The UBC LSS Student Committee is composed of individuals from diverse backgrounds, genders, and ethnicities. This committee diversity ensures that the symposium is organized with inclusivity and diverse perspectives in mind. 4. Inclusive Environment: The symposium is committed to providing a safe and respectful environment for all participants. For those who can not afford to print posters, we will provide financial aid so that they have equal opportunity to share their research. We actively enforce a code of conduct that promotes inclusivity and prohibits harassment or discrimination of any kind. The LSS promotes the use of inclusive language and will also be accessible to individuals with disabilities throughout the event to create a welcoming atmosphere for all attendees. Additionally, all dietary considerations will be reflected in the food provided to ensure all attendees are included.
February 2024 winners
Christopher Chin Sang – Toronto DNA Replication and Repair Symposium
Event date: April 19, 2024
The Toronto DNA Replication and Repair Symposium is a one-day, student-oriented annual
research symposium that assembles local genome stability researchers to share their work and
promote academic and professional development of graduate students in Toronto. Despite the
sizable number of students within this research community, no formal meeting of these
researchers had ever taken place in Toronto prior to the establishment of this symposium in
2018, limiting collaboration and career development opportunities for the trainees in our
community. We follow a traditional research symposium format with oral and poster
presentations given by graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, as well as networking
opportunities available during breaks. All oral presentations will be given exclusively by trainees
with the exception of the keynote speaker presentation. The symposium is organized by a team
of nine graduate students with supervision from five faculty members in the genome stability
field (Daniel Durocher, Grant Brown, Haley Wyatt, Alberto Martin, and Shane Harding). In
addition, we have confirmed Dr. David Pellman from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute as our
keynote speaker for the symposium this year. We have successfully held the symposium in both
2018 and 2019, and after a pandemic halt, we were able to re-establish the symposium in 2023.
We hope to bring together the graduate students in the genome stability community once again
in 2024 through this symposium.
Eva Momchilova – MBB Colloquium 2024 – SFU
Event date: April 26, 2024
The annual Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Colloquium from Simon Fraser University was held on April 26, 2024 at the Scandinavian Community Centre in Burnaby, BC. As in previous years, this all-day event was entirely organized and managed by the MBB Graduate Caucus, which is fully comprised of graduate trainees elected to their positions every year. This year’s MBB Colloquium event was the largest yet, with more than 100 attendees and 35 trainee presentations. Students presented their research projects in a presentation or poster style, and the topics were representative of the diversity of research in MBB and related departments – bioinformatics, biochemistry, cell signaling and disease, and immunology. Representatives from four biotech companies – NanoVation Therapeutics, StemCell Technologies, Acuitas Therapeutics and CCRM also attended the event and engaged with attendees about featured products or services.
Every year, the Caucus invites a keynote speaker from outside our institution who shares their research work or reflects on their career. This year, the Caucus was delighted to host keynote speaker Dr. Annie Ciernia from the University of British Columbia. Dr. Ciernia presented her work on how the gut microbiome and epigenetics impact neurodevelopment and behaviour later in life.
The organizing committee of the SFU MBB Colloquium wishes to thank the CSMB for their kind support of this research event.
Michael Fish – Tri-University Protein Symposium (TUPS) 2024
Event date: May 31, 2024
The Tri-University Protein Symposium was revived this year after a long hiatus due to COVID-19 for TUPS 2024, hosted by Wilfrid Laurier University. TUPS brings together protein researchers of all kinds from Wilfrid Laurier University, University of Waterloo and University of Guelph to share recent advances in protein research and foster collaboration across institutions. This year’s keynote speaker was Dr. John Rubinstein (University of Toronto, SickKids), a pioneer in electron cryomicroscopy (cryo-EM) who shared work on the proton pumps of the mammalian brain. Sessions included early career research talks from new faculty members at each institution, trainee talks and trainee posters. A workshop on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) applications in protein research was also shared by Nicoya Lifesciences.
October 2023 winners
Brittney Remnant, Toronto RNA Club – University of Toronto
Event date: Monthly meetings
Sign up for news about our upcoming seminars through our website https://torontornaclub.com/”
The Toronto RNA Club unites researchers from the Greater Toronto and Southern Ontario area, including the University of Toronto (UofT), York University, Toronto Metropolitan University, Western University, Waterloo University, and McMaster University among others, in a monthly seminar series that focuses on all aspects of RNA-related research. Our goals are to build community amongst RNA researchers at all levels (PI to undergraduate), forge new collaborations, inspire trainees, and share new discoveries and methods. These seminars are organised by a group of trainees from UofT and York University, along with faculty mentors (Drs. John Calarco, Julie Claycomb, and Haissi Cui). We are in our 10th year, and after 3 years of virtual seminars due to the pandemic, we moved back to a mostly in person and hybrid format for 2023-2024. This year, we rotated through a variety of Canadian and international speakers including Dr. Megan Filbin and trainee Liheng Zhou (Metropolitan State University of Denver), Dr. Mark Bayfield (York University), Dr. Tamir Tuller (Tel Aviv University, hybrid), Dr. Scott Yuzwa and postdoc Dr. Danyon Harkins (University of Toronto), Dr. Marlene Oeffinger (IRCM, Montreal Clinical Research Institute), Dr. Natoya Peart (University of Waterloo), and Dr. Hong Han (McMaster University). This year, we continued to implement our well-received “lab team seminars” format, in which PIs introduce the topic, and then a trainee from the lab gives a seminar on their research project. We also maintained some hybrid seminars, at the request of our community members around the world! After each of the in person seminars and those hybrid seminars for which we had “viewing parties”, we had pizza to encourage everyone to socialise, share new ideas, and build connections. All in all, this past year was a huge success, thanks to support from CSMB and the RNA Society, as well as the continued engagement by our outstanding RNA community.
Instagram: toronto.rna
X (Twitter): TorontoRNA
Carole-Anne Martineau, Journée Phare – Université Sherbrooke
Event date: November 30, 2023
Journée Phare is an annual conference, entirely free, on fundamental and applied health sciences. Traditionally organized by Université de Sherbrooke’s students, the event reunits each years hundreds of students, professors in research and clinical medicine and members of biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries to share ideas and discoveries. Our mission consists in the promotion of health science research, the sharing of ideas and expertise but most importantly the promotion of collaboration between participants. We strongly encourage students’ participation both undergraduate and graduate. We work to shed light on students’ research progress and their communication skills.
| Juliette Latulippe Co-présidente de la Journée Phare Étudiante à la Maitrise | Laboratoire Fortin Département de Pharmacologie Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé Université de Sherbrooke | Carole-Anne Martineau Co-présidente de la Journée Phare Étudiante à la Maitrise | Laboratoire BisaillonDépartement de Biochimie et Génomique Fonctionnelle Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé Université de Sherbrooke |
View the activity report
Redaet Daniel, Career Week Networking Social – University of Ottawa
Event date: March 15, 2024
February 2023 winners
23rd Annual McGill Biomedical Graduate Conference (AMBGC) at McGill University
Title of activity: 23rd Annual McGill Biomedical Graduate Conference
Organizing group: Experimental Medicine Graduate Students’ Society (EMGSS)
Location: Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal QC
Attendance: 96 student presenters (including 10 oral presenters), 22 judges, 1 keynote speaker, and 40-50 unregistered attendees who viewed presentations.
Description:
The McGill Biomedical Graduate Conference took root as a small but 100% student-led initiative by the 2000 EMGSS Student Council. Since then, it has ballooned into a vibrant, multidisciplinary conference that brings together biomedical scientists across Montreal and international research sites. The goal that has threaded each of these 23 conferences together is to provide students with a supportive and academically rigorous conference experience for graduate trainees without the inhibitory registration costs that are often associated with academic conferences. This year, we had the pleasure of hosting poster and oral presentations from trainees at the Lady Davis Institute, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal, Goodman Cancer Research Institute, and the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre. Research topics ranged from Oncology to Genetics to Bioinformatics to Clinical Therapeutics. Our oral presenters gave excellent talks that included exploration of genetic factors driving cancer metastasis, the natural evolution of SARS-COV2, and the role of extracellular vesicles in Major Depressive Disorder, among seven others. A conference highlight included an in-person keynote address from Dr. Samuel Sternberg (Columbia University) whose talk walked us through the discovery and development of CRISPR-associated transposases. EMGSS is proud to have supported and celebrated student excellence in research with $5500 in awards for the best oral and poster presentations. We were able to carry out the entire conference without charging our participants, a feat only made possible by the generous support of our sponsors, including the Canadian Society for Molecular Biosciences.
66th Annual Canadian Society of Molecular Biosciences (CSMB) Meeting at the University of Ottawa
https://event.fourwaves.com/csmb2023/pages
BIG23 Research Day Conference in Vancouver
https://www.bigresearchday.com/
The BIG23 Organizing Committee is comprised of students in the Bioinformatics, Interdisciplinary Oncology and Genome Sciences and Technology programs at UBC and SFU.
Location of the event: UBC, Life Sciences Center
We had approximately 310 in-person participants and 10-20 participants joining online.
BIG Research Day is the annual conference of the Bioinformatics, Interdisciplinary Oncology and Genome Science and Technology programs at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and Simon Fraser University (SFU). For our 12th annual research day, the theme is Post-transcriptional and Post-translational Modifications in the clinical setting. The keynote speaker is Dr. Christopher Burge, a Professor of Biology and Biological Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). This highly anticipated event brings together over 300 students and researchers with the goal of promoting scientific communication among scientists in a highly interdisciplinary setting. BIG Research Day is an all-day event which includes talks from invited speakers and graduate students, as well as poster presentations.
LSCE (Life Sciences Career Expo) 2023 at the University of Toronto
https://event.fourwaves.com/lsce2023/pages
Science Policy 101 in Ottawa
Event date: 2023-05-18
https://www.ottawasciencepolicynetwork.ca/
