Highlights for this issue

• NEW — Scholarship Information Sessions: Fourth-year undergraduate and current graduate students are invited to information sessions about external scholarships. The sessions will focus on the application process and deadlines for NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR and OGS.
Go to the FGS website for a list of dates, times and locations of the sessions.

• NEW — The Board of Trustees Spirit of Brock Medal: The award recognizes graduating students who have demonstrated characteristics of: leadership, courage, innovation, inspiration and community involvement. The Chair of the Board of Trustees, or designate, will present the medals at convocation.
During Fall Convocation only one student is selected at the undergraduate and one at the graduate level.
Students must fill out a paper application found on the Brock University Student Award Website Award Search at
Deadline: Applications must be received in the Student Awards and Financial Aid Office no later than 4.30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 5.

• NEW — Important news for graduate students from the Research Ethics Office:
         The Research Ethics Office is going green: Researchers may submit new REB applications electronically (as PDF or Word attachments), provided that they include digital or scanned signatures. Alternatively, Principal Investigators (i.e., faculty only) may email REB applications with a note in lieu of signatures, provided that the application package is sent from their Brock University email address. Hard copies will be accepted until January 2015.

          Mandatory training for graduate students conducting human participant research: Starting January 1, 2015, all graduate students involved with human participant research projects are required to complete the CORE tutorial before commencing research. A copy of the students’ certificate of completion from the CORE tutorial should be attached to the ethics application.
This applies to all graduate student investigators (including PhD students) completing an exit project (thesis, major research paper, dissertation, etc.) that involves human participant research requiring Research Ethics Board clearance. It also applies to graduate students conducting course-based research or working as research/laboratory staff, project managers, and research assistants, where they will be responsible for recruiting or interacting with human participants.
More information is posted online 
CORE Tutorial 

• NEW — Call for Applications to the Jeanne Sauvé Public Leadership Program: This unique fellowship opportunity consists of  
-       Year one - a full-time intensive residential phase in Montreal for the entire group of a dozen select Fellows.
-       Year two - a part-time field phase tailored to each individual Fellow’s activities in their respective communities and countries.
Deadline for submission of applications: Monday, Sept. 1 2014 12 midnight (ET)
Deadline for submission of the three recommendation forms: Extended to Monday, Sept. 15, 12 midnight (ET)
Go to the program website for complete details.

• 2014-2015 Vanier CGS competition has been launched: The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS) program attracts and retains world-class doctoral students and helps establish Canada as a global centre of excellence in research and higher learning. Vanier Scholars receive funding of $50,000 per year for three years (non-renewable). More details about Brock's internal application process and deadline will be available soon.
 

• Fulbright Canada awards competition now open: Canada-U.S. Fulbright Program operates on the principle of reciprocal exchange and provides the opportunity for outstanding Canadian students to study and/or conduct research in the United States. Award recipients include Canadian citizens who are graduate students, prospective graduate students, or junior professionals. Graduate students can apply to the following:
          Traditional Fulbright Student Award: US$15,000 for one nine-month academic year. These all-discipline awards can be taken up at any college, university, think tank, or government agency in the United States.
          Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program: $400 to $600 stipend per month (commensurate with average cost of living in host city), room and board, visa services, health insurance, and a bursary to complete two courses per semester. The award is for Canadian Francophone students and teachers, aged 21 to 29, who want to teach and study in the United States.
Awards Deadline: Saturday, Nov. 15
(The competition is for awards taken up for one nine-month academic year starting September 2015)
See more details on the Fulbright website
 

• The Policy on Graduate Student Rights and Responsibilities: The policy was recently passed by Senate and is posted online as part of the 2014-15 Graduate Calendar. This document outlines fundamental or core graduate student rights and responsibilities. The intent of the document is to increase awareness and understanding, and to encourage dialogue among graduate students, faculty, staff and administrators in order to promote a collegial, respectful and academically sound relationship.
For more information please visit

• NEXT ISSUE: Thursday, September 18, 2014

Scholarships/Awards/Grants

• NEW — SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowships: The 2014 competition is now open for SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowships. The Fellowships support the most promising Canadian new scholars in the social sciences and humanities and assist them in establishing a research base at an important time in their research careers.
Deadline: Wednesday, Sept. 24
For more information, visit SSHRC’s website. 

• Student international funding opportunities: Visit Brock International for a listing of scholarship and awards programs

• 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

• The Graduate Students' Association announces the following:

• NEW — GSA Bingo Night, Thursday, Sept. 4, 5 to 9 p.m., Alphie’s: Each graduate student will receive one free drink, and one free order from Alphie’s “tapas” menu, courtesy of the GSA. More food and drinks are available for purchase. Lots of prizes to be won, with grand prizes of $100 gift cards redeemable at Alphie’s, Syndicate Restaurant & Brewery and/or Taps on Queen Brewhouse & Grill.   

• Subscribe to GSA news update: Brock graduate students can stay tuned with what's happening around the campus by going to the GSA webpage and entering their Brock email address and student ID to subscribe to GSA emails.

Academic and Professional Development

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

•  NEW  - Research IS On Tap (RIOT) Season Opener, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 4:30 to 6 p.m. @ Alphie's: The season opener will entail a sampling of programming from spoken word to song and elevated conversations!  Our aim is to cultivate a culture of play, creativity and innovation across disciplines within Brock’s research community (graduate students, faculty and the broader research community), rehearse presentational skills, particularly those storyteller skills; speaking to the inspiration, passion and implications of our research projects. Hosted by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Students' Association. Please visit this link to register (registration is limited)  Refreshments courtesy of the GSA. 

•  NEW  - Training for Graduate Students (only 5 spaces available) — Community Conversation Moderator/Facilitator 'experiential' Training, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 6:30 to 9 p.m., Mahtay Café (downtown St. Catharines): Are you a graduate student interested in gaining meaningful public speaking experience? Becoming a Conversation Café moderator is an excellent opportunity to develop transferable skills and competencies that you will use both in your academic future and in your life.  The training evening begins with this conversation starter…What is your vision for a (nearly) perfect society? If you could create your own vision of humanity, what type of economic system, social structure, education and government would you propose? How would you ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to wellbeing? Is it possible to achieve your visions?  For details, please contact Stacia Heaton (sheaton@brocku.ca)

•  NEW -  NSERC Discovery Grant workshop, Tuesday, Sept. 2, from 2 to 4 p.m., in Cairns 207: Join Josie Reed and four current members of Evaluation Groups — Jeffrey Atkinson (Chemistry), Cheryl McCormick (Biological Systems and Functions), Joffre Mercier (Genes, Cells and Molecules), and Michael Pisaric (Geosciences). Please attend if you are applying for a Discovery Grant this fall or if you are planning ahead for a future competition. Graduate students and postdocs who are considering an academic career are welcome to attend. 

•  NEW -  Grant Writing Workshops for SSHRC Insight Grant Applicants: Social Sciences focused applications will be covered on Thursday, Sept. 4, 1 to 4 p.m., Plaza 600F with Tressie Dutchyn, Research Officer. Humanities focused applications will be covered on Friday, Sept. 5, 1 to 4 p.m., Plaza 600F with Kevin Kee, Associate VP Research.
These will be working workshops that will be an opportunity to fine-tune the most important sections of your grant application. Please RSVP to orsadmin@brocku.ca by
Sept. 1.

 • Calling all Writers! We are recruiting graduate level students (Masters/PhD) for volunteer writers: contributing creative & stimulating content.  Writers will have some editorial range yet provide a voice for the graduate student experience. Writers must submit sample of writing.  For more details, please contact kperry@brocku.ca

 • 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.

Please continue to visit our website for professional development programs and workshops.

Conferences

• Call for Papers, International Science, Technology and Engineering Conference (ISTEC), December 18 to 20, 2014, Sakarya University, Doha, Qatar: ISTEC aims to provide a multinational platform where the latest trends in science and technology can be presented and discussed in a friendly environment with the aim to learn from each other.
Deadlines:
Abstract: Until December 5, 2014
Final Registration: Until December 6, 2014
Full Article: Until December 13, 2014
Registration Fee: Until December 14, 2014
For more details

• Call for Papers, International Distance Education Conference (IDEC), December 18 to 20, 2014, Sakarya University, Doha, Qatar: IDEC aims to provide a multinational platform where the latest trends in distance education can be presented and discussed in a friendly environment with the aim to learn from each other.
Deadlines:
Abstract: Until December 5, 2014
Final Registration: Until December 6, 2014
Full Article: Until December 15, 2014
For more details

Upcoming Thesis Defences

All are welcome to attend but seating is limited.

• NEW — Jessica McGuire, MSc student in Applied Health Sciences (Kinesiology), will defend her thesis on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 9 a.m. to 12 noon, Walker Complex 203.
Title: "Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation of the wrist flexors"

• NEW — Sofia Ramos, MSc student in Applied Health Sciences (Kinesiology), will defend her thesis on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Walker Complex 203.
Title: "Changes in mitochondrial PLIN3 and PLIN5 protein content in rat skeletal muscle following acute contraction and endurance training"

• NEW — Madina Naimi, MSc student in Applied Health Sciences (Health Sciences), will defend her thesis on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 1 to 4 p.m., South Academic 452.
Title: “Investigating the biological effects of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) Extract on skeletal muscle glucose uptake”

• NEW — Patrick Turnbull, MSc student in Applied Health Sciences (Kinesiology), will defend his thesis on Thursday, Sept. 4, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Walker Complex 203.
Title: "Skeletal muscle protein content of lipolytic inhibitor G(0)/G(1) switch gene-2 protein: the effect of endurance training"

• NEW — Miranda Cloudt, master’s student in Applied Health Sciences (Kinesiology), will defend her thesis on Friday, Sept. 5, 1 to 4 p.m., Walker Complex 203.
Title: “University students’ perceptions of myocardial infraction patients”

• NEW — Kaytlin (Aly) Bailey, MA student in Applied Health Sciences (Heath & Physical Education), will defend her thesis on Monday, Sept. 8, 1 to 4 p.m., Walker Complex 204.
Title: “Exploring body-related experiences among individuals with spinal cord injury”

• NEW — Lindsey Short, PhD student in Psychology, will present her thesis defence on Tuesday, Sept. 9, at 2 p.m., WH 147.
Title: “The role of experience in the organization and refinement of face space”

• NEW — Kelsey Ioannoni, MA student in Sociology, will defend thesis on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 9 to 11 a.m., WH147.
Title: “Social organization on the Web: How sex workers' rights organizations engage in activism and advocacy work online”

• NEW — Jasmine Bender, MA student in Psychology, will defend her thesis on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 1 to 3 p.m., WH147.
Title: “Children's lie-telling and self-awareness as an honesty promoting technique”

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

News & Events

• NEW — Brock’s Strategic Mandate Agreement

• NEW — It’s wrong to think that getting a PhD today is a waste of time (Montreal Gazette, Sat. Aug. 2, 2014) 

• NEW — Abdullah Mahboob – 3MT profile

• NEW — The St. Catharines Standard featured Brock PhD student Bryan Giordano in an article about research focused on mosquitoes and the transmission of West Nile virus. 

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