Highlights for this issue

• SAVE the DATE! Thursday, May 1, SHIFT Graduate Student Professional Skills Conference
          Register today: This is a skill-sharpening event to provide Brock graduate students with an armload of practical skills for employment search and job creation. The conference opens at 12 noon and runs to 5:15 p.m., Plaza Building, and features a series of micro-training sessions such as resume clinics, mock interviews, professional coffee connects.
Conference facilitators include: Jennifer Polk (University Affairs blogger From PhD to Life), Keri Damen (Director, Entrepreneurship Programs, MaRS), Mario De Divitiis, (Executive Director, Leadership Niagara)
All conference attendees receive an invitation to the post-conference exclusive professional mixer for graduate students — meet some of the most influential thinkers from the University, Niagara and beyond.
Go online to find out more.

          Coffee Connect Mentors still needed: Graduate students have an opportunity to tap into an extensive professional network during their time on campus. Would you share 20 minutes over coffee with a Brock graduate student? As part of the SHIFT Conference (May 1, 2014) we are coordinating "mentoring moments" or a "Coffee Connect."  Would you donate time in the form of a conversation to share wisdom and insights on your career trajectory, or critical conversations that changed the course of your life?  Please visit the webform.

• NEW — Board of Trustees Spirit of Brock Medals: Applications are now open for the Board of Trustees Spirit of Brock Medals to recognize graduating students who best exemplify Sir Isaac Brock's spirit. One graduate level award will be made to each of the academic Faculties — Applied Health Sciences, Business, Education, Humanities, Mathematics and Science, and Social Sciences.
Students must fill out a paper application found on the Brock University Student Award Website or you may go directly to the form.
Students who have applied to graduate this Spring have been notified via email with the details of this award.
Deadline: Applications must be received in the Student Awards and Financial Aid Office no later than 4:30 p.m. on May 2, 2014.

• CONGRESS 2014
          Career Corner, May 24 to 30, in the Learning Commons: A professional development workshop series for graduate students and early career academics. The workshops are free and open to all Congress attendees and the general public. Please visit website for complete schedule.
          Research Matters Curiosity Shop — Graduate student volunteers needed to staff Curiosity Shop during Congress 2014 at Brock: Are you eager to network with cutting-edge researchers in these fields? Then this is THE opportunity for you! Brock's Research office is looking for volunteers to staff the "Curiosity Shop," a booth that is a part of an Ontario-wide campaign called "Research Matters" that raises the profile of research in the public.
The Curiosity Shop will be operating at Congress 2014, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 25 to May 30, 2014. At the Curiosity Shop, researchers will talk about their work and answer questions from the general public arising out of previous shops. We need volunteers to set up equipment, invite researchers to come to the booth, operate the camera, encourage researchers to talk about their work, and other other miscellaneous errands. If possible, we ask people to commit to one or more three-hour shifts, although less time (or more) is also welcome. Volunteers can win prizes and will also get a letter confirming their participation in this high-profile event.
Interested? Go to the Graduate Students' Association (GSA) office to sign up by April 28.
For information contact cmajtenyi@brocku.ca; 905-688-5550, x5789

• NEW — Call for Nominations to the Faculty of Graduate Studies Distinguished Alumni Award: This award recognizes graduates of Brock's master's and doctoral programs for outstanding achievement in and contributions to graduate studies, graduate education or graduate culture, at Brock or elsewhere, that has made a difference to their communities and beyond.
Deadline: June 1, 2014
For more information go online.

• NEW — Schedule for e-Bulletin
The e-bulletin will reduce its distribution schedule from May to August with issues planned for May 22, June 26, July 24 and August 28.
The distribution cycle of every second week will resume as of Sept. 11.

• NEXT ISSUE: Thursday, May 22, 2014

Scholarships/Awards/Grants

• Student international funding opportunities: Working with the researchers and students, Brock International will prepare and submit applications for interested candidates in the following:
Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program (ELAP): The Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program (ELAP) scholarships are facilitated through institutional collaborations and student exchange agreements between Canadian and Latin American or Caribbean institutions. These agreements are created between colleges, technical or vocational institutions and universities. Students or researchers remain registered as full-time students in their home institution during this exchange.
Deadline: April 30, 2014
For more information go online
Canada-CARICOM Leadership Scholarships Program: The Canada-CARICOM Leadership Scholarships Program provides students and researchers from the Caribbean Community with short-term exchange opportunities for study or research at the college, undergraduate and graduate levels.
Deadline: April 30, 2014
For more information go online
Canada-Chile Leadership Exchange Scholarship: Canada-Chile Leadership Exchange Scholarships provide students and researchers from Chile with short-term exchange opportunities for study or research at the college, undergraduate and graduate levels.
Deadline: April 30, 2014
For more information go online
Go online to view Brock International's list of international funding opportunities

• SSHRC 2014 Impact Awards: The competition includes the Talent Award ($50,000) to recognize outstanding achievement by an individual who, at the nomination deadline, holds a SSHRC doctoral or postdoctoral fellowship or scholarship (including, but not limited to, a Canada Graduate Scholarship, Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship or Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship). Find out more about the SSHRC Impact Awards.
If you are interested in nominating someone or being nominated for one of these awards, please contact Carolyn Paterson, Office of Research Services, at cpaterson2@brocku.ca or ext. 4291.

• 2014 Canadian Transportation Research Forum (CTRF) Student Paper Competition: The primary focus of the paper must be directly related to a specific transportation practice or policy. Papers must be original work written by the student applicant only. Prizes may be awarded in each of the following categories: Past President's Award $250 (undergraduate); A.M. Stevens Award $500 (master's); Jim Davey Award $1,000 (doctoral).
There may be more than one award in any category depending on the quality of the papers.
Deadline: Saturday, May 31
Details online

• Brock Library Open Access Publishing Fund: Open to Brock faculty, graduate students and postdocs. The purpose of this grant is to assist researchers in disseminating their research broadly via an Open Access (OA) journal. A minimum of four awards will be granted, to a maximum of $2,500 each [Total funds = $10,000]. This Grant is intended to support researchers with limited or no funding. If an alternate funding source is available that permits payment of submission fees (e.g. a research grant), that source must be used before applying to the OA Publishing Fund.
For more information contact: Barbara McDonald, Ext. 3949

Other Opportunities

• Graduate Students' Association announces the following:
          Relay for Life: The GSA is very excited about participating in this year's Canadian Cancer Society Relay For Life. The event will be held at Brock on June 20 to June 21. Join the GSA in the fight against cancer by supporting its team.
For more information go online

• Prometeo Project: The government of Ecuador is funding this new initiative that aims to
strengthen research and teaching capacities in Ecuador. It targets Ecuadorian and foreign professionals with a wide, well-known experience in their area of study. The opportunity allows researchers to conduct academic and scientific projects in several host institutions across Ecuador.
Details online.

• Publishing Springer Science Review: The Springer Science Review invites submissions of thesis literature reviews from PhD students in the research area of biomedical sciences, earth sciences, geography, energy, environmental sciences and life sciences. More information is available on the Springer Review website

Academic and Professional Development

Academic and professional development program for graduate students provided in partnership with nine campus units.

• Promote your workshops to graduate students with us: If you are hosting a workshop or event related to graduate student professional development that may interest graduate students from within or outside of your faculty, please send us notice to have your event posted on our calendar OR submit the event directly by simply uploading the details into the online form.
The number of participants can be monitored and capped through our online registry. Specific learning outcomes and the competencies that align with your workshop or information session can also be tracked.

• REMINDER — Call for Visual art-works (of all kinds): Are you a graduate student and visual artist looking to express your creative talents? In your investigation of life, do you have images that capture your research interests? The Academic + Professional Development partners are looking for visual art works that convey the concepts of curiosity, intrigue and innovation or simply reflect the graduate student experience.

• CALENDAR OF EVENTS — Please continue to visit our website for updates on academic and 
professional skills training workshops and events. 
Contact: Karin Perry 
Program Coordinator 
Academic + Professional Development X 6129, or gradplus@brocku.ca

Conferences

• CONNECT 2014: The Centre for Pedagogical Innovation (CPI) is sponsoring registrations for Brock graduate students and TAs to attend CONNECT 2014 Canada's National Learning and Technology Conference on May 8 to 9 at the Scotiabank Convention Centre, Niagara Falls. This conference will CONNECT 2,000 attendees with the goal of exploring how technology can be used to enhance teaching and learning. Sponsorships are limited and do not include food.
For information contact CPI at cpi@brocku.ca or call x 3933.

• Call for Papers, 2nd Annual International Interdisciplinary Conference, AIIC 2014, July 8 to 12, 2014, Azores Islands, Portugal: The conference will be a kind of academic bridge between different cultures, scientific attitudes, academic stages and is aimed at gathering researchers from all around the world, thus contributing for a global flow of the newest scientific thoughts and promotion of the interdisciplinary concept.
Full paper submission deadline: June 10
Email: contact@aiiconference.net
More Information available online

• Call for Papers to the International Educational Technology Conference (IETC 2014), CHICAGO, September 3 to 5, 2014: IETC 2014 seeks a diverse and comprehensive program covering all areas of educational technology. The program includes a wide range of activities designed to facilitate the exchange of expertise, experience, and resources with colleagues. These include keynote and invited talks, full and brief paper presentations, panels and round table discussion sessions.
Abstract Deadline: Saturday, July 5
Full Article Deadline: Sunday, July 20
Registration Fee Deadline: Tuesday, August 5
More information available online

• Fifth International Conference On New Horizons in Education INTE 2014, Paris, France, June 25 to 27, 2014: The conference provides a multinational platform where the latest trends in education can be presented and discussed in a friendly environment with the aim to learn from each other. Prospective presenters are encouraged to submit proposals for papers and posters/demonstrations that offer new research or theoretical contributions.
Abstract Deadline: June 13, 2014
Full Article Deadline: June 16, 2014
Registration Fee Deadline: June 16, 2014
More Information available online

Upcoming Thesis Defences

All are welcome to attend but seating is limited.

• NEW — Amanda Jones, MA student in Child and Youth Studies, will defend her thesis on Wednesday, April 16, 1 to 3 p.m., Cairns 336.
Title: "Bridging the conceptualization of youth with intellectual disabilities to sentencing under the YCJA"

• Shawn Eckford, MA student in Applied Health Sciences (Sport Management), will defend his thesis on Thursday, April 17, 1 to 4 p.m., in South Block 361.
Title: "An analysis of minor hockey officials and perceived organizational support"

• NEW — Xinyao (Joseph) Zhou, MSc student in Management, will defend his thesis on Thursday, April 17, 2:30 p.m., Taro 207. 
Title: "Macroeconomic news and exchange rates: Evidence of unstable effect"

• NEW — Nicolas McLeod, MSc student in Chemistry, will defend his thesis on Tuesday, April 22, 9 a.m., MC H313.
Title: "Synthesis, catalysis and stoichiometric reactivity of Mo Imido Complexes"

• NEW — Sergey Vshyvenko, PhD student in Chemistry, will present his thesis defence on Thursday, April 24, 9 a.m., Cairns 207. 
Title: "Synthesis of unnatural analogues of pancratistatin and narciclasine"

• NEW — Hayley Morrison, MA students in Applied Health Sciences (Health & Physical Education), will defend her thesis on Thursday, April 24, 1 to 4 p.m., in Walker Complex 203.
Title: "Finding and Implementing relevant resources in Adapted Physical Activity (APA): It's easier said than done..."

• NEW — Lauren Ireland, MA student in Applied Disabilities, will defend her thesis on Thursday, April 24, 1:30 to 3:15 p.m., WH 147.
Title: "Examining predictors of quality of life of adults with intellectual disabilities after deinstitutionalization"

• NEW — Manuel Paez, MSc student in Earth Sciences, will defend his thesis via video conference, on Monday, April 28, 1 p.m., in MC H313.
Title: The cenozoic gonyaulacacean dinoflagellate genera operculodinium wall, 1967 and protoceratium bergh, 1881 and their phylogenetic relationships"

• NEW — Micheal Boateng, MA student in Geography, will defend his thesis on Thursday, May 8, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., in Plaza 600F.
Title: "Rethinking fiscal decentralization in developing economies: A case study of Ghana"

Please check department program websites to confirm dates, times and locations in the event of changes to the information.

News & Events

• NEW —  Brock professors honoured by Faculty of Graduate Studies

• NEW — Three Minute Thesis tests graduate students' preparation, presentation

• NEW — Career Servies launches online resume, cover letter workshops

• NEW — Mercier will give keynote address at Mapping conference

• NEW — SHIFT: MAKE IT HAPPEN helps graduate students prepare for jobs

• NEW — Share your research: That's what keeps the Humanities alive
Op-ed article by Kevin Kee, Associate Vise-President, Research, Brock University, published in the Globe and Mail, April 2, 2014

• NEW — CIHR awards Brock University researchers more than $585,000

• NEW — Brock University geneticist renewed as Canada Research Chair

The Faculty of Graduate Studies e-Bulletin is distributed every two to four weeks. Past issues are posted online.