Contents
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’Ă©vĂ©nement
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 Ă©tudiants
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 | PortĂ©e de l’Ă©vĂ©nement
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 / ĂquitĂ©, diversitĂ©, inclusion
A key component of the eventâs 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’Ă©vĂ©nement
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 Ă©tudiants
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 | PortĂ©e de l’Ă©vĂ©nement
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 / ĂquitĂ©, diversitĂ©, 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 â 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 yearâs 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 â bioinformatics, biochemistry, cell signaling and disease, and immunology. Representatives from four biotech companies â 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 yearâs 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/â
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 âlab team seminarsâ 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 âviewing partiesâ, 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, JournĂ©e Phare – UniversitĂ© Sherbrooke
Event date: November 30, 2023
JournĂ©e Phare is an annual conference, entirely free, on fundamental and applied health sciences. Traditionally organized by UniversitĂ© 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-prĂ©sidente de la JournĂ©e Phare Ătudiante Ă la Maitrise | Laboratoire Fortin DĂ©partement de Pharmacologie FacultĂ© de MĂ©decine et des Sciences de la SantĂ© UniversitĂ© de Sherbrooke | Carole-Anne Martineau Co-prĂ©sidente de la JournĂ©e Phare Ătudiante Ă la Maitrise | Laboratoire BisaillonDĂ©partement de Biochimie et GĂ©nomique Fonctionnelle FacultĂ© de MĂ©decine et des Sciences de la SantĂ© UniversitĂ© 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 Studentsâ 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/