UNews - School of Graduate Studies

Dr. Jackie Rice appointed to second term

caroline.zentner — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 16:21:58 +0000

Accomplished researcher and administrator Dr. Jackie Rice has been appointed to a second term as the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s Associate Vice-President (Research) and Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs.

Rice, who assumed the role when it was originally combined in 2020, will begin her second term on July 1, 2024.

A professor of computer science, Rice attended the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Victoria and received her BSc in 1993, her MSc in 1995 and her PhD in 2003. She has worked as a sessional instructor at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Victoria, an instructor at Camosun College in Victoria, a programmer/analyst for SHL Systemhouse, and a computer consultant at various times throughout her career. She has been teaching at post-secondary institutions since 1995 and came to ULethbridge in 2002.

An outstanding researcher who has championed the role of women in science, technology, mathematics and engineering (STEM) fields, Rice has also keenly supported public outreach activities and mentoring for young people. Her current area of research focuses on an examination of how people use programming languages and relating sociolinguistics characteristics to differences in the use of programming languages.

“Dr. Rice has played an integral role in advancing the impact and profile of the School of Graduate Studies and greatly enhancing the ULethbridge experience for researchers across our campuses,” says Dr. Dena McMartin, Vice-President (Research). “I am pleased to appoint Dr. Rice for a second term and to continue the positive momentum she has helped to foster for both our research engagement and graduate studies programming.”

First Graduate Mentorship Award posthumously granted to exceptional mentor and leader, Dr. Gülden Özcan

trevor.kenney — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 20:51:53 +0000

A tireless and unwavering leader dedicated to scholarly activism, Dr. Gülden Özcan was an erstwhile supporter of graduate learners, encouraging her students to take ownership of their graduate experience through disciplined exploration of their topics and to believe in their ideas.

Özcan, who passed away in May 2022, is the first to be honoured with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge School of Graduate Studies Graduate Mentorship Award. She will be recognized as part of the 2023 Fall Convocation ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, 10 a.m. in the 1st Choice Savings Centre gymnasium.

“In my exchanges with Dr. Özcan’s students, it became clear that she embodied all the qualities the Graduate Mentorship Award is meant to recognize: guiding students through all the steps of their graduate journey, from a student’s first inquiries onward, encouraging intellectual exploration, and genuine caring about student welfare,” says Dr. Marc Roussel, associate dean of the School of Graduate Studies.

Dr. Gülden Özcan

Students with the good fortune of having had Dr. Gülden Özcan as an instructor learned very quickly how devoted she was to ensuring their academic success. An unwavering leader who inspired and motivated learners to be creative thinkers and global citizens, Özcan was especially impactful as a mentor to graduate students.

Originally from Turkey, Özcan completed a BA at Baskent ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in Ankara and an MA and PhD at Carleton ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. She joined the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge in 2018 as an assistant professor in the Department of Sociology. During her short time as a faculty member, Özcan distinguished herself through her work, including involvement in radical theatre, with the Scholars at Risk program and in critical police studies. She also worked at challenging and disrupting systemic and social injustice issues on campus and was the first ever recipient of the SNAC+ (Support Network for Academics of Colour Plus) Excellence in Equity Award.

Her greatest strength was engaging the minds of her students, and should any express an interest in graduate studies, she was quick to take an interest in nurturing that desire. Özcan was known for acting as supervisor to students before they had even gained admittance to the graduate program, so committed was she to supporting their interests. Whether she eventually agreed to supervise a student or help find them a supervisor more aligned with their specific interests, she was a supportive presence in the important initial stages of their graduate school journey.

As a mentor and supervisor, she encouraged her students to take ownership of their graduate education. Graduate students, she believed, should not only think about what they want to get from their programs but should be heard when they express their vision for their graduate education. Accordingly, Özcan taught students to advocate for themselves and to believe in their ideas.

Özcan’s dedication to her craft, and especially her students, was no more apparent than when she became ill. Her first concern was for her students’ ongoing supervision, and beyond helping students find new supervisors, she continued to be a positive, committed and supportive presence in their programs as long as she was able.

About the Graduate Mentorship Award

This award recognizes faculty members who demonstrate excellence in graduate-level mentorship and who foster intellectual, professional and personal development of graduate students at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. Outstanding mentors inspire and motivate students under their supervision to be creative thinkers, to push their research, scholarly, and creative activities in new directions, and to make a positive impact on the community and the future as global citizens.

U of L adds new graduate programs in health services management

caroline.zentner — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 17:34:12 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is adding two new graduate programs for health and business professionals who want to expand their skills in health-care management.

The new programs, which will be offered at the U of L’s Calgary campus, include a graduate certificate and master’s in Health Services Management. Both are designed for health-care practitioners and entry-level managers who want to move to more senior positions.

“We are pleased to offer these new programs in an area of growing demand. Both programs will provide students with the necessary knowledge to become effective managers in the Canadian health-care system,” says Dr. Robert Wood, dean of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs. “The programs emphasize the combination of critical thinking, applied research, and managerial decision-making skills.”

The Graduate Certificate in Health Services Management consists of 15 credit hours of coursework. Students can transfer into the master’s program during or following the graduate certificate.

The Master of Health Services Management consists of 36 credit hours: required courses and an integrated project. The knowledge and skills learned in classes, along with experiential opportunities, are applied to a final project.

“The programs have been developed for professionals who work in the health-care sector and have a health-related baccalaureate degree or business management degree,” says Wood. “Students study on a part-time basis with weekend delivery and ongoing support through blended learning.”

Both programs have a June 1 application deadline, with the first intake in the fall of 2019. New students will be accepted every second year, with program completion between 18 and 24 months. The total number of students will be between 16 and 20.

In its development of the program, the U of L conducted a labour market analysis, surveyed potential students and interviewed major health-care providers. All point to continuing growth in jobs in health care.

The programs are jointly delivered by the Dhillon School of Business and the Faculty of Health Sciences. For more information or to apply, visit Graduate Certificate in Health Services Management and Master of Health Services Management.

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.

Kelley committed to helping students thrive

trevor.kenney — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 20:31:46 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge looked a lot different when Dr. Helen Kelley (MSc (Mgt) '94, Mgt '93) was on campus as a student, but even though its appearance has changed, Kelley says the spirit of support at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is something that’s always been here.

A longtime faculty member and contributor to Supporting Our Students, Kelley sees the program as delivering on the U of L promise to put students first.

“It was absolutely amazing,” says Kelley of her time as an undergraduate student. “I was able to interact a lot with faculty members and they encouraged me to take advantage of every educational opportunity. My initial experience at the U of L planted the seeds for going on to graduate school.”

The seeds grew. Kelley completed a master’s degree in management majoring in information systems, and a PhD in business administration majoring in information systems – the master’s at the U of L, the PhD at Western. It was during her pursuit of a PhD that Kelley gained a new appreciation for what the U of L offers.

“It was natural to compare the two schools and the experiences I had at each,” says Kelley. “The size of the U of L, the interaction I had with professors, the personalized approach – I felt the U of L was a hidden jewel. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge gave me so much as a student. Now I’m able to give back on a different level.”

Kelley returned to the U of L in 1999 as a faculty member. Today, she is the acting associate dean in the School of Graduate Studies, and pays her appreciation for the U of L forward in several ways as a longtime faculty member and administrator. Much of Kelley’s daily work involves exploring ways to enhance the overall experience of grad students on campus. For example, in 2012, Kelley chaired a working group responsible for the development and launch of THRIVE, a professional skills development program for U of L graduate students.

“Supporting Our Students (SOS) is a brilliant program, one that I’m thrilled to support,” says Kelley. “Students often face financial constraints. The cost of university can be stressful and even prohibitive for some. Our students deserve every chance to excel, and through SOS we as faculty and staff have a fantastic opportunity to help ease their way.”

The commitment of, “putting our students first” at the U of L is one reason Kelley cites for contributing to SOS, but bigger than that is the message the fund sends to students.

“It says we care. It says we value what students are trying to accomplish and we want them to achieve their goals,” says Kelley. “A bit of financial assistance provides students with many opportunities, which opens the door to success, but also to an all-around more enjoyable university experience.”

****

Join Helen and support our students today.

Roberts claims top prize at 3 Minute Thesis

trevor.kenney — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 20:24:36 +0000

Luc Roberts, Jenni Karl and Rachael Adams claimed the first, second and third-place prizes, respectively, at the School of Graduate Studies 3 Minute Thesis Competition, March 15.

Three Minute Thesis (3MT™) is an internationally recognized research communication competition. 3MT was developed by The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Queensland in 2008 to challenge thesis-based graduate students to give a compelling presentation on their research and its significance in three minutes or less.

Roberts led the way with his presentation, Translating Protein Movements into Novel Antibiotics. He will now move forward to participate in the Western Regional 3MT Competition on May 2, 2014 at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary.

Second-place winner, Jenni Karl, presented Early Development of Visually Guided Action: Within Reach but Beyond Grasp, while the third-place presentation by Adams was titled Landscape genetics of a North American songbird, the black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus).

Adams was also given the People's Choice Award.

For photos from the event, follow this link.

Students to participate in U of L's first Three Minute Thesis competition

trevor.kenney — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 16:59:00 +0000

Seven ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge graduate students will give compelling research presentations on Monday, Mar. 3 and Saturday, Mar. 15 – and will do so in fewer than 180 seconds.

The Three Minute Thesis is an internationally recognized research communication competition that was developed by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Queensland in 2008. It challenges thesis-based graduate students to give a compelling presentation about their research and its significance in three minutes or less. Hosted by the U of L’s School of Graduate Studies and Graduate Students’ Association, it is the first year this competition will take place at the U of L.

U of L graduate students will be judged on their ability to deliver a confident, insightful and impactful three-minute presentation by a panel. Students will have the opportunity to qualify for a regional competition at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary and a national competition to be held in May.

“The Three Minute Thesis is a competition where graduate students in research-based programs explain their research, and its significance, to a non-specialist audience,” says Dr. Helen Kelley, acting associate dean of Graduate Studies. “Disseminating new knowledge is an important skill we want our students to have. This competition allows our students the opportunity to practice explaining their research to the general public in a short time span.”

Kelley says that in addition to being an excellent experience for U of L graduate students, these events are an outstanding opportunity for community members to enjoy a series of presentations on compelling topics.

“I think this competition is an excellent opportunity for Lethbridge and area residents to hear some unique and exciting presentations about some interesting research our graduate students are working on,” says Kelley. “Certainly we have seen how similar initiatives, like the TED talks, have been able to inspire individuals from all walks of life. The presentations these students make will be interesting and definitely to the point.”

Presentation topics range from translating protein movements into novel antibiotics to male caregivers of spouses with dementia in rural Alberta.

The qualifying heat for the U of L Three Minute Thesis competition will take place Monday, Mar. 3 at 4 p.m. in AH176 (Anderson Hall). The finals for the U of L students will take place Saturday, Mar. 15 at 4:30 p.m. in MH1040 (Markin Hall), in conjunction with the U of L Graduate Students’ Association Meeting of the Minds Conference.

Both events are free and open to the general public.

New Biological Information Processing program presents incredible oppportunity

trevor.kenney — Tue, 24 Sep 2013 21:12:09 +0000

A new program in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience (CCBN) presents an incredible opportunity for the next generation of scientists.

The Biological Information Processing (BIP): From Genome to Systems Level program (www.uleth.ca/artsci/neuroscience/student-opportunities), funded by the Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) through its Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) program, is currently seeking exceptional graduate students and post-doctoral fellows.

“In this program, students learn from an unparalleled group of mentors who are world leaders in their fields,” says Dr. Robert Sutherland, program director, NSERC CREATE Biological Information Processing, and Chair of the Department of Neuroscience.

Graduate student Rajat Thapa (BSc '12) is working with neuroscience researcher Dr. Aaron Gruber as part of the BIP program.

Citing neuroscience, biology, epigenetics, cancer research and neurotechnology development as fields of supervisor expertise, Sutherland says the unique approach of the BIP program makes it attractive to students who are looking at gaining hands-on experience that is easily translatable to industry.

“The program stands apart from the standard academic track because it provides opportunities for science entrepreneurship, industry contact and the translation of science to industry,” he says. “It also offers a very competitive stipend to qualified applicants.”

Rajat Thapa (BSc ’12) is a graduate student working under the supervision of neuroscientist Dr. Aaron Gruber. His research focus is on decision making and he relishes the opportunity to not only learn alongside some of the world’s leading neuroscientists, but to put those lessons into practice.

“The program allowed me to jump right into research,” says Thapa, originally from Nepal. “The focus is on learning through independently leading a research project. It’s helping me gather tools in terms of methods, data analysis techniques and creative and critical thinking necessary to pursue the questions I hope to answer someday.”

Students who have a background in neuroscience, cell biology, imaging science, physiology, biochemistry and computation are urged to apply for acceptance to the School of Graduate Studies (www.uleth.ca/graduatestudies/apply) at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and simultaneously to the NSERC CREATE Biological Information Processing Program. The application deadline for MA, MSc and PhD candidates for the Spring 2014 cohort is Oct. 1, 2013. Post-doctoral candidates can apply at anytime.

“The world-class expertise that the students have access to will benefit them throughout their subsequent careers,” says Sutherland. “To have this collection of researchers right here in Canada, in southern Alberta, is quite remarkable, and our belief is that we can provide our students with the toolkit necessary to produce the next generation of innovators in neuroscience.”

Grad studies applications go online

trevor.kenney — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:04:23 +0000

Calling the introduction of the online graduate studies application process a win-win scenario undersells just how many wins will be realized now that the new system has been launched.

Now available, the new online application system sees an end of a process whereby paper application forms, colour-coded by program, had been submitted for the past 30 years.

Initiated through the Recruitment and Retention Integrated Planning project, the online application system will not only be of significant improvement for students looking to enter graduate programs at the U of L, but it will greatly enhance the efficiency of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ staff and faculty who must accept and review the applications and supporting documents submitted.

"By bringing this from paper submissions to an electronic method, we expect it will cut anywhere from two to six weeks of turnaround time off the application process," says Alice Miller, team leader of the online graduate application review.

Applicants to the School of Graduate Studies (www.ulethbridge.ca/graduatestudies) will now be able to upload their supporting documents online, pay for their application fee online with a credit card, have letters of reference completed online by their referees and have their application packages reviewed online from anywhere in the world.

As well, supervisors of graduate students can submit their supporting application forms online, manual data entry will be significantly decreased for U of L staff and applicant activity can be tracked by staff throughout the admission process.

Additional cost savings will accumulate by moving away from paper forms, by reducing mailing expenses (international costs are extremely high) and by automating manual processes.

Miller says the increase in graduate student applications as a result of a move to an electronic application process could be substantial, and is a key driver behind the project. As the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ looks to further strengthen and grow its graduate programs, improving the conversion rate of applicants to registered graduate students can best be accomplished by making the application process as quick, easy and seamless as possible.

Following the launch of the online application system, training will be made available for faculty members who are involved in the graduate application and review processes.

The School of Graduate Studies currently offers programs in more than 60 disciplines for the following degrees:

Master of Arts (MA)
Master of Counselling (MC)
Master of Education (MEd)
Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
Master of Music (MMus)
Master of Science (MSc)
Master of Science in
Management (MSc (Mgt))
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

For more information, please contact Graduate Studies at sgs@uleth.ca or admissions@uleth.ca

This story first appeared in the June 2013 edition of the Legend. For a look at the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Connecting experts with stakeholders

trevor.kenney — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 17:50:55 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge launched a new experts database today that will link the U of L's world-class expertise with journalists, academia, government, industry, students and members of the general public from around the world.

"The U of L is an institution with a global reach," says Chris Horbachewski, Vice-President (Advancement), whose department sponsored the project. "The new database will serve many purposes by making expertise publicly accessible to communities near and far."

The U of L Experts Database allows users to find researchers through a number of search criteria including research expertise, name, faculty, department and spoken language. Further, it allows users to browse for experts by specific topics. The database provides contact information for the expert and in many cases provides a link to the researcher's website.

Vice-President (Research) Dr. Dan Weeks says the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, as a comprehensive research institution and leader in many research disciplines, is now better able to share its expertise. He says the database will be an important tool to connect researchers with industry, policy makers and community members.

"Ensuring that new knowledge and university expertise is available for public benefit is important for our society," says Weeks. "Our office has focused on ensuring that our community is aware of the research that is taking place at the U of L. This new database will make important connections between our researchers and many other stakeholders."

In addition to its mandate from the Government of Alberta to conduct pure and applied research in a wide range of disciplines, the U of L has a comprehensive teaching mandate that offers a full range of graduate programs.

Dr. Robert Wood, Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, says the new experts database will be a valuable tool for matching potential graduate students with faculty supervisors.

"Our graduate programs emphasize faculty mentorship, and for many of our programs it is necessary for prospective students to identify a supervisor at the time of application," says Wood. "This product will certainly help prospective graduate students to gain a better understanding of our faculty members' research and creative activity."

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Experts Database can be found at http://www.uleth.ca/experts-database.

UNews - School of Graduate Studies

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