UNews - supervisor

C-CRAFT ushers in new era of fluorine research

trevor.kenney — Wed, 29 Jan 2014 22:25:24 +0000

Advanced research experiments, state-of-the-art laboratories, guidance from a top expert in the field - these are the exclusive benefits enjoyed by chemistry students studying fluorine at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, home of the new Canadian Centre for Research in Advanced Fluorine Technologies, or C-CRAFT.

Doug Turnbull, left, and Nathan Kostiuk have taken advantage of the practical learning opportunities provided them by Dr. Michael Gerken.

Over the last several years, the U of L has evolved into one of Canada’s premier institutions for studying the chemistry and physical properties of compounds containing fluorine, a versatile and highly reactive element used in a wide range of industrial and commercial processes and products. Playing a key role in that evolution has been Dr. Michael Gerken, an associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry with 12 years of experience, and an internationally distinguished fluorine chemist.

By launching C-CRAFT, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ will be able to serve as a hub for fluorine scientists and industry researchers worldwide to study and develop useful applications for this reactive element, which can be useful for everything from developing plastics, to performing medical imaging, to promoting cleaner oil production. It will also further enhance the department’s ability to provide high-quality, hands-on research opportunities to undergraduate and graduate chemistry students.

The new C-CRAFT institute, led by this stellar group of faculty members, creates a hub for fluorine research at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

Among the students who have enjoyed those practical learning experiences is Nathan Kostiuk, a fourth-year chemistry student who has completed multiple for-credit independent study projects with Gerken, and who also worked for two summers as his research assistant. Helping facilitate Kostiuk’s investigations into fluorine has been his extensive access to the labs’ sophisticated research equipment, which include two nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers, a Raman spectrometer and an x-ray diffractometer.

“Being able to use these machines to conduct hands-on research is a huge advantage,” Kostiuk says. “Some things you can learn in a textbook, but it’s different when you can apply what you learn in a lab. What I do in the lab enhances what I learn in the classroom, and vice versa.”

Recently, Kostiuk and a graduate student in the Gerken lab analyzed sulfur tetrafluoride, or SF₄, a chemical compound that can be useful to processes for the pharmaceutical and specialty chemical industries. Using the x-ray diffractometer, a machine for studying the structure of molecules in great detail, he was able to discern the molecule’s behaviour in solid form. It was the first time that this insight had ever been made in science, and his findings were published last June in the prestigious international scientific journal, Angewandte Chemie (German for: Applied Chemistry), published by the German Chemical Society. The accomplishment was rare, since at most universities, undergraduates have less access to leading-edge research equipment.

“I was really happy with that achievement, especially since I was just a third-year student at the time,” says Kostiuk, who is planning to pursue a master’s degree in chemistry after graduating. “Now, other researchers around the world can use it to help their own research.”

Another student who has been actively putting his classroom skills to use in the fluorine labs is Doug Turnbull, a third-year chemistry undergraduate. Turnbull came to the U of L with a budding interest in chemistry he had developed in high school, and was delighted to learn about the high-calibre expertise and facilities available in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

"I had been interested in fluorine at a superficial level, because it's the most reactive element, but at Lethbridge I was given the unique opportunity to gain a real-world idea of what fluorine chemistry is,” Turnbull says.

Turnbull has been conducting experiments involving fluorine and rhenium, another chemical element in the periodic table, to study how various reactions affect the geometry of rhenium compounds. He says Gerken’s insights and encouragement have made the lab learning exciting, and provided him with the confidence to continue exploring.

“This can be a challenging type of chemistry and the learning curve can be daunting. Michael makes it such a comfortable experience that you don’t have those worries anymore,” Turnbull says. “As far as his knowledge and communication style go, he is an outstanding supervisor.”

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.”

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge to play role in flood recovery efforts

trevor.kenney — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 18:30:41 +0000

On Wednesday, June 26, 2013, the Alberta government formally requested the U of L house a number of evacuees while cleanup efforts to their communities continue.

It is expected that evacuees will start arriving at our campus later this afternoon. As you can imagine, this is a stressful time for individuals and families who have lost many of their possessions and remain unable to assess the damage to their homes.

In an effort to help transition evacuees to their temporary homes, the U of L is seeking volunteers from its campus community to welcome and familiarize evacuees with the campus. Employees who are able to volunteer during work hours will continue to be paid. Volunteers should consult with their supervisor before committing. If you are able to help, please contact Natasha Buis Deering at 403-329-2762 or at Natasha.buisdeering@uleth.ca.

Mike Mahon
President and Vice-Chancellor

Connecting experts with stakeholders

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

"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.

U of L launches Experts Database

trevor.kenney — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 16:34:43 +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.

Medal winner looking ahead

trevor.kenney — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 17:11:10 +0000

Whether cleaning hallways or helping to clean up the environment, international student and recent master's medal-winning graduate Olufemi "Femi" Aiyegbusi (MSc '13) finds a way to create a lasting impact.

Aiyegbusi, a Nigerian student who completed an undergraduate degree in economics at Obafemi Awolowo ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in Nigeria in 2005, came to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge to pursue a master's of science in management. His wife, Titi Babalola Aiyegbusi, who is currently working on a master's degree in English, also made the trek to Canada.

Throughout his time at the U of L, Aiyegbusi has supported his family and paid for his education by working as a campus caretaker. Facilities Caretaking Manager Judy Jaeger regards him as one of her best workers and an exemplary student.

Olufemi Aiyegbusi, left, with Facilities Caretaking Manager Judy Jaeger.

"Femi appreciates where he is from and where he is going," says Jaeger. "He is very determined and always thinks of others and how his actions will impact them. He is a great person."

Femi credits his thesis supervisor, Dr. Rossitsa Yalamova, as being a significant force in his success in the master's program.

"Dr. Yalamova was my supervisor and primarily drove me to participate in all the summer schools and conferences," says Femi. "I also wrote and presented papers with her staunch guidance. She personally mentored and exposed me to the field of complex systems and agent-based modelling, and (together with my readers) played a very crucial role in the crystallization of my research trajectory. I was blessed with a committee that genuinely cares about my success."

In summer 2012, Aiyegbusi successfully competed for a full scholarship to attend the Global Sustainability Summer School at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Change Research in Germany. He was one of 20 students selected worldwide and says the experience was a turning point in his master's research.

"It was a really great experience for me," says Aiyegbusi. "I was exposed to so many ideas and perspectives from people in many different disciplines – physics, biology, economics, humanities, sciences, the arts…"

He says the feedback and perspective offered from these multiple sources prompted him to make significant changes to his project work.

"I went there with a 70-page thesis, and I ended up discarding most of it. The people I met asked me so many questions about my work and whether I'd thought about this or that, I really felt I had to make some major changes."

The thesis, The Alberta Carbon Market: An Exploration of Alternative Policy Options through Agent-Based Modeling, attempts to build a framework examining scenarios and recommending solutions for economic growth coupled with low carbon emissions. Carbon markets or carbon trading are voluntary systems that set limits on carbon emissions, allowing member companies to "sell off" emissions credits to other firms when they come in below limits, or to buy additional credits from others if they are high.

While at the Potsdam summer school, Aiyegbusi completed a crash course in computer programming and, using a tool called NetLogo, was able to create a model that would test his theories, allowing him to make recommendations for carbon emissions policy and legislation.

"This has the potential to be a good strategic tool for companies wanting to manage their emissions," says Aiyegbusi. "It's good to get the research out there to people who will use it."

While his thesis focused on the Alberta carbon market, he hopes to eventually see his research applied to the larger, more complex European markets.

"I chose to base the study initially on Alberta, as I felt it would be nice to do something for this community, and we need to understand simple systems first," he says. "Also, there are policy recommendations that could be of benefit to lawmakers. I thought it would be good to have research that informs legislation."

Faculty of Management professor Dr. John Usher, one of the readers for Femi's thesis, characterizes him as "intensely motivated and very focused."

"His MSc course work outputs in my class were thorough and innovative," says Usher. "His thesis work demonstrated both a keen analytical mind and a big-picture strategic orientation to his interest in carbon trading."

Aiyegbusi convocated in May and received the School of Graduate Studies Medal of Merit.

With the success of his thesis work, Aiyegbusi has also been accepted to present a paper at the 2013 meeting of the Administrative Sciences Association of Canada. He will also attend another summer school in the UK on greenhouse gas capture and storage.

Aiyegbusi has additionally distinguished himself by earning a full scholarship to complete a PhD program at top-ranked Bocconi ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in Milan, Italy, and will commence studies in September 2013. He hopes to eventually pursue a career in academia.

Spencer returning as Canada Research Chair

trevor.kenney — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 15:30:41 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's first graduate in the Earth, Space and Physical Science PhD program is coming back to the U of L through the Canada Research Chairs program.

Astrophysicist Dr. Locke Spencer, who has been working at Cardiff ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in Wales, is receiving $500,000 in funding over the next five years as a Tier II Canada Research Chair in Experimental Astrophysics.

The funding will support the development of instruments that will provide new insights and improved understanding of our universe. The focus of Spencer's research program will include the development of instrumentation unique within Canada, as well as the creation of new observation and data processing techniques that will be used for future large-scale international projects.

"I am very excited to continue research in this field and to start a new chapter of it at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge," says Spencer, a former Calgarian who attended the U of L for his masters and doctoral studies.

"My U of L graduate training has opened many doors for me and I am truly humbled at the prospect of embarking through this one. Through conducting research in Cardiff I have extended my skills and network to include a variety of leading international projects and collaborations. This CRC funding/position provides the opportunity to bring this experience to Canada and continue to build on the strong international reputation which we have."

During his initial time at the U of L, Spencer worked closely with graduate supervisor Dr. David Naylor in the development and eventual deployment of Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver (SPIRE), an instrument on the Herschel space telescope. SPIRE picked up heat signals that are not visible by optical telescopes, and will help to answer the age-old question astronomers have been asking for centuries: "What's out there?"

Spencer continued his involvement with the Herschel/SPIRE project while extending his research towards other projects including working with the Planck space telescope as a post-doctoral researcher at Cardiff.

Naylor says space astronomy projects typically have a cradle to grave lifespan of around two decades from concept studies, through engineering models to flight instrumentation, and the operation and post operation phases.

He adds Canada has rightly earned international recognition for its contributions to several space astronomy missions.

"With a number of far infrared space astronomy missions under development it is essential that Canada builds research capacity to exploit these emerging opportunities if it is to remain at the forefront of the field," says Naylor. "The U of L has recognized the long term nature of these opportunities and has made a strategic investment in the astronomical instrumentation group. Having spent the last years working with scientists on the Planck space project, Dr. Spencer brings a depth of expertise and a network of collaborators which will allow the U of L to further build upon its reputation."

Spencer's studies will advance the understanding of the evolution of the Universe through next-generation far-infrared space-based astrophysical instrumentation and will position Canada as a significant contributor to international research projects.

U of L Vice-President (Research) Dan Weeks says Spencer's research will build capacity in an area of research strength at the U of L.

"Through the efforts of researchers like Dr. Naylor and Dr. Spencer, the U of L has become an international leader in building instrumentation that provides our world with the tools to better understand our universe," says Weeks. "An example of this leadership is the fact that the U of L hosted the first and only SPIRE consortium meeting to be held in Canada last year."

The Canada Research Chairs program stands at the centre of a national strategy to make Canada one of the world's top countries in research and development.

In 2000, the Government of Canada created a permanent program to establish 2000 research professorships – Canada Research Chairs – in eligible degree-granting institutions across the country. The Canada Research Chairs program invests $300 million per year to attract and retain some of the world's most accomplished and promising minds.

"Our government is committed to attracting and retaining the world's best and brightest researchers, supporting innovation, creating jobs, and strengthening our economy," says Canada's Minister of State Gary Goodyear. "By investing in programs such as the Canada Research Chairs, we are fostering cutting-edge research and the generation of new innovations for the marketplace, for the benefit of Canadians."

The U of L is a comprehensive academic and research university as mandated by the Government of Alberta. Last year the U of L was named by Research Infosource as Canada's Research ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of the Year – Undergraduate Category.

Graduate Studies celebrates student research

trevor.kenney — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 22:38:03 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's School of Graduate Studies celebrated the achievements of some of its top student researchers at the 10th Annual Celebration of Graduate Students' Research Excellence on Wednesday, Jan. 23.

A total of 33 students were recognized for the outstanding calibre of their research projects, all of which have been granted significant external funding support.

"The evening was a celebration of the excellent research our graduate students continue to be involved in," says School of Graduate Studies Dean, Dr. Robert Wood. "To see major awards from agencies such as the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Alberta Innovates – Technology Futures and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council given to our students, demonstrates the work they are doing is of national importance."

Of the awards being recognized at the celebration was a $35,000 Alexander Graham Bell Graduate Doctoral Scholarship NSERC award to Ashley Moore (Biological Sciences), working under the supervision of Dr. Anthony Russell.

Chenyuan Hu (Mathematics and Computer Science, Dr. Hua Li supervisor), Andriy Bilichak (Biological Sciences, Dr. Igor Kovalchuk supervisor), Farhad Faghihi (Chemistry & Biochemistry, Dr. Paul Hazendonk supervisor) and Aki Matsuoka (Biological Sciences, Dr. Igor Kovalchuk supervisor) all received funding in excess of $30,000 from Alberta Innovates – Technology Futures.

"The level of research our graduate students undertake is exceptional, and these awards reflect not only the commitment from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ to continue to build its research portfolio, thereby making it a destination university for graduate students, but the commitment of our faculty to actively engage and support graduate student research opportunities," adds Wood.

The complete awards list can be found here.

Copeland relates to struggles

trevor.kenney — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 17:50:04 +0000

Like many professors, kinesiologist Dr. Jennifer Copeland fulfills many roles at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. Educator, supervisor, mentor and colleague represent a portion of her contribution to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community. But for the past nine years, she's also taken on another title, that of donor.

Every year, Copeland contributes money to the Supporting Our Students (SOS) campaign, which allows faculty and staff to give money directly to support student scholarships and bursaries. Since 2005, the initiative has raised more than $1.5 million.

Having contributed to the U of L community in such a tangible way through teaching and interacting with students, Copeland certainly doesn't need to prove her support and yet she still feels a responsibility to give to SOS.

"I feel strongly that now that I'm in a position to be of help to students who need financial assistance, I want to make the most of that opportunity," says Copeland.

Copeland understands how long and difficult a road it can be to realize your educational goals. In earning her bachelor's, master's and PhD designations, she put in more than her share of hours as a student.

"I was in school for a long time, so I'm familiar with the financial challenges of being a student," she says.

One element of the SOS campaign that is even more meaningful to Copeland is the fact that she typically hears directly from the students she's supported through her contributions.

"I usually get a card from the student who got the bursary, thanking me – that's always really fun. You always know the money is going to do good, but to put a name to where your money went is quite nice," she says.

Copeland contributes to the SOS campaign through a direct payroll deduction that accumulates over the year. The campaign also allows her to direct her contributions to particular funds and scholarships. While she has sent her donation in different directions over the years, at the moment Copeland's money goes to a women scholars' bursary fund.

"Helping women who are potentially struggling financially to finish their education is something close to my heart," she says simply.

It can be easy to forget about what it actually costs to pursue a post-secondary education, but Copeland is aware of the barriers that many students confront and looks to ease that financial burden.

"I'm aware of the financial challenges they face, the cost of textbooks and other struggles," she says. "We support the students in a lot of ways through our jobs, but to assist students financially is yet another way to show how much we care in a really concrete way."

Laurendeau finds mutual benefit in supervisory role

trevor.kenney — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 21:32:57 +0000

In this episode of the 45th anniversary series, sociology professor Dr. Jason Laurendeau and new alumna Rachel Shields (MA 12' ) discuss Laurendeau's positive approach to working with both undergraduate and graduate students.

As a master's supervisor, Laurendeau finds his work with students is not a one-way street. While also playing the role of mentor and instructor, Laurendeau says he likes the opportunity he gets to learn from his students and apply their thoughts on sociological concepts to his research work.

Check out the video below to hear how this relationship is a win-win for both the professor and student.

UNews - supervisor

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