UNews - Dr. Erasmus Okine

New NSERC program links RNA research and industry partners

caroline.zentner — Fri, 08 Mar 2019 18:15:40 +0000

The next revolution in biotechnology will be rationally designed ribonucleic acid (RNA)-based systems, molecular machines and devices. To prepare the next generation of RNA researchers, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, Université de Sherbrooke and industry collaborators have come together to offer the new RNA Innovation program. This unique partnership aims to produce highly qualified personnel with skills in advanced RNA research, scientific leadership, and industry experience.

“We are very excited about the training possibilities offered to Université de Sherbrooke and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge students,” says Dr. Michelle Scott, grant co-applicant and Université de Sherbrooke professor, “These opportunities will be instrumental in helping prepare our students for future biotech jobs.”

Trainees will develop professional skills in management, leadership, communication and ethics. They will graduate with job-ready knowledge of applied and basic research and receive funding for on-site industry training and project development, while gaining access to leading industry-partner collaborations.

“We actively seek out graduates with advanced technical and professional skills, and are strong advocates for programs that help to develop those skills,” says Rory Degenhardt from Dow AgroScience and a strong supporter of the new program.

The RNA Innovation program is comprised of two key components, an entrepreneurial research and development challenge (deepYellow Challenge) and an extensive internship program (the Twinning Program).

In the deepYellow Challenge, trainees will collaborate as a team to solve a complex scientific problem proposed by the program’s industry partners. Through the Twinning Program, trainees will be matched with a specific industry internship, providing students with mentorship and personalized networking experiences. Contacts developed during this time will be extremely beneficial to the trainees for their future transition into the workforce.

“The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is committed to upholding excellence in both research and graduate education," says Dr. Erasmus Okine, the U of L's vice-president of research. "This program will contribute to the training of high-quality personnel and effectively ensure the sustainability of Canada’s future knowledge-based economy.”

“The students engaging with RNA Innovation will be on the leading edge of RNA research and will graduate with strong connections to industry partners and the skills that they are looking to hire,” says Dr. Hans-Joachim Wieden, a U of L biochemistry professor who led the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) CREATE application process.

Competitive funding opportunities are available for MSc, PhD, and post-doctoral positions at this time. Interested applicants should have a minimum GPA of 3.5 in their last two years of undergraduate studies, although applicants with a lower GPA are still encouraged to apply if they have sufficient research and/or industry experience.

The program is open to Canadian and international students and the deadline to apply is April 1. More information about the program and the application process can be found at RNA Innovation.

U of L establishes Office of Post-Doctoral Affairs

caroline.zentner — Thu, 01 Feb 2018 17:58:06 +0000

Post-doctoral fellows at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge will soon have a new administrative home with the establishment of the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs.

“We’ve had post-doctoral fellows on this campus for a number of years now,” says Dr. Robert Wood, dean of Graduate Studies and Post-Doctoral Affairs. “In the past, they were considered trainees. That changed recently with the passing of Bill 7 and now they are considered employees, creating some needs institutionally to provide further accommodation.”

Dr. Robert Wood

The U of L typically has between 35 and 50 post-docs (PDFs) on campus at any given time. Most are paid through a faculty member’s research grant but they may also be funded independently. They, along with graduate students, form the backbone of research activity at research-intensive universities like the U of L.

“Post-docs have had some difficulties in the past accessing campus services in an appropriate way and they’re becoming a larger and more important aspect of our community,” says Wood. “This office will help give some foundation to the kind of experience that we need to be able to provide to them. It’s not just about getting them here; it’s also about, once they’re here, making sure they have a stellar experience.”

Dr. Erasmus Okine

“Post-doctoral fellows are the next in line learning the trade to become an academic,” says Dr. Erasmus Okine, vice-president (research). “Top-class ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and professors looking for positions tend to look for universities with strong post-doctoral fellows and strong graduate programs because they can recruit them into their research programs and they form the basis of the next wave of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in our universities.”

Woods agrees that many PDFs aspire to academic careers but adds that a growing number pursue careers in industry and non-academic organizations in the public sector. The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs will help ensure their experience and training sets them up for success in any career trajectory they choose.

Dr. Gerlinde Metz, a professor of neuroscience and a Tier 1 Board of Governors Research Chair, first came to the U of L as a post-doctoral fellow. She was funded through what was then known as the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (now Alberta Innovates-Health Solutions) as a post-doc and then was a senior scholar from 2003 to 2015.

Dr. Gerlinde Metz

“The opportunities and facilities of the Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience and the funding provided by AHFMR at that time helped me make the decision to stay at the U of L,” says Metz.

Dr. Michael Kyweriga

“Because there are so many granting agencies and different contracts for post-doctoral fellows, having the Office of Post-Doctoral Affairs will be very useful to improving the life of a post-doc,” says Dr. Michael Kyweriga, president of the U of L Post-Doctoral Association (ULPA). “We really appreciate the proactive approach Dean Robert Wood takes to ensure our post-doctoral fellowships go smoothly.”

The Office of Post-Doctoral Affairs will be housed in Research Services and supervised by Wood.

While most post-docs work in science departments, others from social sciences and humanities disciplines have also completed fellowships at the U of L.

“It’s something that I’d like to see expand across the faculties and disciplines,” says Wood.

U of L researchers receive $2.6 million in NSERC funding

caroline.zentner — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 16:13:41 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge researchers in biology, chemistry and biochemistry, geography, mathematics and computer science, physics and psychology will be able to pursue diverse areas of inquiry thanks to $2.64 million in funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC).

Canada’s Minister of Science, Kirsty Duncan, announced today $515 million in support for fundamental research through the NSERC 2017 competition for the Discovery Grants program, scholarships and fellowships.

“The Government of Canada is committed to investing in fundamental research and engineering that will improve and enrich our country’s knowledge economy,” says Duncan. “We believe in encouraging scientists’ cutting-edge ideas that will lead Canada to greater social and economic growth. I am particularly proud of the support offered to postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows who, thanks to today’s investment, will be exposed to advanced training experiences that will prepare them for the jobs and opportunities of tomorrow.”

“At the core of every research project, every laboratory and every discovery, there are people,” says Dr. B. Mario Pinto, NSERC president. “NSERC empowers these people to build an innovative, prosperous and inclusive society. NSERC Discovery Grants, scholarships and fellowships provide thousands of top researchers, students and fellows with the foundation they need to concretize their research ambitions and explore the unknown.”

“We are very proud of our researchers and this level of funding from NSERC clearly demonstrates the valuable work being done at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge,” says Dr. Erasmus Okine, vice-president (research). “The funding is also spread throughout a number of disciplines, reflecting the strength of research activities across campus.”

Thirteen faculty members will receive Discovery Grants worth $2.16 million over five years. Their research projects include topics like human cell division. Dr. Roy Golsteyn (Biology) is investigating prairie plant extracts that inhibit cell division to better understand how cell division occurs. Dr. Philip Bonnaventure (Geography) studies mountainous terrains with the goal of advancing knowledge of the relationship between climate, topography and geology in these regions. Dr. Jacqueline Rice (Mathematics and Computer Science) will conduct research into how people use artificial languages, like those used for writing software, with the goals of improving software quality and readability.

Dr. Chris Hopkinson (Geography) is the recipient of a Discovery Accelerator Supplement worth $120,000 over three years. He is using satellite data and a Dynamic Ecosystem Landcover Transitions Assessment (DELTA) program to examine how forests and wetlands respond to disturbances in the climate system.

Drs. Fangfang Li (Psychology) and Saurya Das (Physics and Astronomy) will each receive Discovery Development Grants for research projects dealing with speech production in children and Quantum Gravity theory, respectively.

In addition, four students, namely Ryan Kung, Taylor Sheahan, Douglas Turnbull (Chemistry and Biochemistry) and Matthew Robbins (Physics and Astronomy) will receive $63,000 each over a period of three years in scholarships and fellowships.

“We pride ourselves in creating opportunities for our students to excel in their research endeavours. Their ability to seize these opportunities while working under the tutelage of world-class supervisors is rewarded in these scholarships,” says Okine.

Fiat Lux address challenges U of L community to envision the future

caroline.zentner — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 22:31:09 +0000

A 50th anniversary calls for some reflection and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, set on traditional Blackfoot territory, has much to be proud of.

“It’s amazing to see what has been accomplished in the last 50 years,” said U of L President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Mike Mahon, at the annual Fiat Lux address.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has gone from consisting of one person—acting president Dr. Russell Leskiw (LLD ’93)—on Jan. 1, 1967 to a bustling comprehensive and research-focused post-secondary institution with more than 8,500 students and more than 40,000 alumni who are making their mark in the world.

However, 50 years in the life of an institution represents adolescence and Mahon urged the university community to cast its gaze to the future.

“We need to discuss who and what we want to be in our adulthood,” he said.

Just as Dr. Sam Smith (LLD ’90), the first U of L president, didn’t impose his views on what the fledgling U of L should hold as its philosophy and values, Mahon invited everyone to engage in discussion about what the U of L’s next 50 years might look like.

Leading the way, Drs. Erasmus Okine, vice-president research, and Andy Hakin, vice-president academic and provost, proposed five broad topic areas to help focus those discussions: student environment, academic programming, research culture, connection to community and facilities development.

“Notwithstanding the economics of current times, it’s time to think about what the future holds,” said Hakin. “We feel that there is a sense of growing momentum within the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ—we are hitting our stride.”

Dr. Andy Hakin

“I have been most impressed by the collective effort to begin the conversations about how to achieve the vision where the U of L will be renowned for excellence in teaching, research and service,” said Okine. “We should all be willing to engage in this conversation. How do we produce accomplishments that transcend individual faculties and orient us as a Destination ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ?”

Regarding student environment, conversations could centre on what it means to be a university focused on the student experience. How can the U of L produce the best possible environment for student growth?

Building the student experience is paramount, said Hakin, and it can start at a science camp or any one of the many activities that bring people to campus. Each and every interaction can help build a positive student environment. The U of L is also a global institution, with students from more than 80 countries and U of L students furthering their studies at institutions in all corners of the world.

Hakin went on to say the best way to retain students is to give them learning experiences that involve and engage them in their academic programs. With liberal education as a foundational value of academic programming, the U of L community also needs to ponder possible future directions for professional programming.

With respect to research culture, Okine affirmed an unwavering commitment to liberal education and preserving the breadth of scholarship that distinguishes the U of L academic community and confirms the U of L identity in the Albertan and Canadian landscapes.

Dr. Erasmus Okine

“The new research plan is transformative, further emphasizing and connecting academic directions with research objectives to grow in quality, impact and capacity of research and creative enquiry,” said Okine.

Preparing the next generation will mean providing students at all levels with high quality research experiences through enhancing community outreach, industry engagement and knowledge mobilization.

The U of L was built by community and the future will further build on the strong connections established over the last 50 years. The ties to community include the Coutts Centre for Western Canadian Heritage in Nanton, the Centre for Oral History and Tradition, the Pronghorns, sport and recreation services, relationships with Indigenous communities, health and wellness initiatives and the many connections created through our Faculty of Fine Arts. In line with the recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the U of L will continue to strengthen its relationships with Indigenous communities. U of L research expertise positions it to offer innovative services and programs in physical and mental health, education, music, drama, art and science.

The area of facilities development brings many exciting possibilities beyond the completion of the first phase of the Destination Project. Waiting in the wings is Phase II, the redevelopment of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall. Okine envisions establishing a dedicated place to support social science and humanities research as well as supporting creativity and research in the Fine Arts to create a community brought together through new collaborations. More residence spaces will further help to build the campus community. Hakin mused about additional tools like AGILITY or having a one-stop shop for all student services.

“Our people, our creative explorers, are our strongest resource,” said Hakin. “Where do we go from here? We need your vision for our future.”

Hakin and Okine welcome all ideas, comments and suggestions and they encourage members of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community to send an email to provost@uleth.ca.

UNews - Dr. Erasmus Okine

New NSERC program links RNA research and industry partners

Related Topics

U of L establishes Office of Post-Doctoral Affairs

Related Topics

U of L researchers receive $2.6 million in NSERC funding

Related Topics

Fiat Lux address challenges U of L community to envision the future

Related Topics