PHOTOS FROM THE 6TH ASC……………….2-3
Volume 6
Issu e 1
Sep t . 201 0
UNDERGRADUATE AWARD W INNER ......................... 4 POSTER TIPS…….……5
LIFE-LONG LEARNING .. 6
A TRIBUTE TO A FRIEND COLLEAGUE ............. 7
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MEET YOUR NEW GOVERNING COUNCIL ...... 8
The HQPA
THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE HIGHLY QUALIFIED PERSONNEL ASSOCIATION AS PART OF THE ADVANCED FOODS AND MATERIALS NETWORK
Insider
Welcome from the HQPA Governing Council Chair Hey there fellow Highly Qualified Personnel! It’s my pleasure to welcome you to another year at AFMNet with our first HQPA Insider this academic year. Though summer is over, you can revisit some of the good times from this year’s 6th Annual Scientific Conference in Halifax by viewing our photo coverage in this issue and on the AFMNet website. While you’re online, why not check out some of the scholarships and awards available? There are some fantastic opportunities to get some extra cash, so be sure to take advantage. Speaking of fantastic, don’t forget to register for this year’s Professional Development School. It’s an amazing opportunity for networking with other HQP and learning some great skills along the way. Check out the ad in this issue, and keep an eye on your email to stay
informed. Finally, we are starting a mentorship program this year targeted to HQP looking for a peer mentor and HPQ about to transition to the workplace. If you are interested, please email Dr. Michael Nickerson (Michael.nickerson@usask.ca) more information. I hope you enjoy this Insider issue. As you flip through, think about contributing - we are always on the lookout for great stories about our HQP. Don’t forget to “meet” the council at the back of this issue, and let us know if you have any ideas on how to make the HQP experience a better one. Best of luck this year! Amanda Naaum, HQPA Governing Council Chair
2011 Professional Development School January 26th-28th Toronto, ON Don’t miss out on the annual PDS, open to all HQP! Learn professional development skills, increase your marketability, and network with other HQP. Online registration starts soon. Watch for a link in an upcoming Friday FYI. Try your luck at blackjack, poker and roulette at this year’s social event, Monte Carlo Night! Don’t know how to play? Don’t worry, the dealers will teach you everything you need to know to win big!
Sessions will include: - Learn to Network - Resume & Interview Skills Workshop - Idea Generation - How to Start a Start-up Company - Focus Groups & Your Research Project
Check out this year’s Job Fair — Apply for a job or network with future employers
The HQPA Insider 6th Annual Scientific Conference
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The HQPA Insider 6th Annual Scientific Conference
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The HQPA Insider Undergraduate Research Supplement Award A little more than a year ago, I decided to make a change in my life. I no longer wanted to be one of the 400 students in a lecture hall that the professor would not recognize; neither did I want my undergraduate years to slip by with no sense of accomplishment other than a certificate hanging on my wall reminding me where I spent the past 4 years. And with that, I decided to take my first step. Without being sure of where this pathway would take me, I kept one goal in mind and began my journey. Just last summer, I volunteered for a sea turtle conservation project in Costa Rica to gain research experience and to demonstrate initiative for my application into the Biology and Pharmacology Co-op program at McMaster University. When I finally received the good news that I was accepted, our small program consisting of only 20 students allowed us to gain invaluable references and personal interactions with several professors that I never had before. As part of a course, I set out to seek a supervisor for a mini thesis project called a ‘Discovery Project'. Through this, I was able to gain a rare experience at a leading research facility at the Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute. As my experience and knowledge continued to grow, I finally mustered up enough courage to contact Dr. James Friel at the University of Manitoba to supervise me for my first co-op term. Thoroughly impressed with my resume at such an early stage in my academic studies, Dr. Friel agreed to supervise me without much hesitation and encouraged me to apply for the Summer Studentship offered by the Manitoba Institute of Child Health. Earning this studentship opportunity definitely made me more confident and brought pride to my lab group; so Dr Friel invited me to
attend the AFMNet 6th ASC and introduced me to the AFMNet family. Here, I was presented with a very exciting award—AFMNet’s Undergraduate Research Supplement Award. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank AFMNet for the award and to acknowledge Dr. James Friel for the genuine mentorship he has provided. I cannot even begin to express how much impact this award will have for my potential academic and career goals. It just goes to show that when you take the initiative, the results can be surprising. More importantly, knowing that my drive for excellence and interest in research is finally being recognized and acknowledged is the real award for me. -Kimmie Fung-
Kimmie Fung is an undergraduate student working towards an Honors Biology and Pharmocology Co-op degree at McMaster University.
6th ASC Quotes... Great opportunity to reunite with friends and colleagues and also form partnerships with other scientists. This conference provides HQP the opportunity to share and develop ideas for new areas of research, establish local and international collaborations, and embrace the need for Canadian innovation and commercialization. - Denise Young, HQP
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The HQPA Insider Tips from our 1st place poster winner! As a young researcher, you quickly learn the value of clear and effective communication. I was taught early on that you should be able to sum up your research into a story that can be told to your Grandmother and fellow researchers alike. As HQP we are fortunate to have opportunities to practice this skill in an inter-disciplinary manner with researchers with a variety of experiences. One such opportunity is the Annual Scientific Conference, which was held this year in Halifax. The work I presented at the ASC looked at the relationship between psychiatric perturbations and gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. This work stems from the clinical observation that many patients that suffer from anxiety and depression also suffer from functional GI disorders such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Unfortunately, it is unclear which is of the two conditions (psychiatric or GI) initiates the disease process; i.e. the chicken or the egg? My work at McMaster University in Hamilton takes a top down approach and looks at changes in GI function and microbiota that occur following the induction of depression. This is part of a larger project lead by Martin Kalmokoff at Dalhousie University entitled “Examining the impact of diet and the intestinal microbiome on gut health and general well-being”. The concept of a link between the central nervous system and the GI tract, more commonly referred to as the “Brain-Gut-Axis” is gaining attention worldwide and interest in this area has allowed me to present my work at a variety of international conferences. Some tips I have picked up along the way are to know your audience and speak in a manner that suits their
level of expertise; make sure the “big picture” is clear since you may be talking to individuals outside of your field; make your poster visually appealing to attract passersby, but do not crowd the space and take away from the data; highlight key aims and conclusions from the work using colour or banners; be concise and use diagrams when possible; be prepared to explain your work in one sentence, 30 seconds, and 5 minutes to suit different levels of interest; and finally, get excited and have fun! This is your time to share your passion and your work with a new audience and you never know where it will take you. - Amber Park
Amber Park (left) is currently a PhD student at McMaster University working on the project “Examining the impact of diet and the intestinal microbiome on gut health and general well-being.”
Write for the Insider! Do you have an interesting story to share? Do you have a lab-mate, professor or supervisor who you admire? Have you recently travelled? Do you like to write about research, food, and/or a day in the life of an HQP? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, this is your chance to get your story told! Send us your story ideas to be featured in an upcoming issue of the Insider. E-Mail Andrea: aks975@mail.usask.ca, Nuria: nacevedo@uoguelph.ca, or Megan: mrose025@uottawa.ca
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The HQPA Insider Life-long Learning Through AFMNet Some 22 years after completing a Master of Science degree at the University of Manitoba, I returned in January 2010 to undertake a Ph.D. program. With this adventure came the question from many – “why”? The reasons that led me to undertake this new phase in my life seem logical, at least to me! It is amazing what can happen when one takes advantage of the many opportunities that life presents – and my involvement with the AFMNet project – the Canadian Consumer Panel – is one such example. I began a Master of Science degree in the Department of Foods and Nutrition after completing a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Winnipeg. It was a challenging initiative for me as I entered the program with majors in English and History! This latter training, however, has proved to be very useful as effective oral and written communications are keys to success in any discipline and have been incredibly useful in my career. Upon completion of my M.Sc., I received a prestigious Medical Research Council scholarship to continue my scientific studies. At the same time I also received an offer to work for the Canola Council of Canada. I decided to postpone the Ph.D. and to accept the position which turned out to be one of the most incredible opportunities of my life. This job offered domestic and international travel and speaking engagements – and provided many networking opportunities – another key to any successful career. To meet and learn from others is indeed a valuable exercise at any stage in one’s life! Beginning with my master’s and continuing with my work in canola research administration and promotion, I have been very fortunate to have built a successful career in many aspects related to the development, commercialization and marketing of functional foods (FF) and nutraceuticals. From the Canola Council, I moved to Saskatoon where, over an eleven year period, I worked in marketing, taught at the University of Saskatchewan and served as Business Development Officer for the National Research Council’s Plant Biotechnology Institute. I founded the Saskatchewan Nutraceutical Network which accelerated my career in the FF/NHP area. I then moved back to Winnipeg to undertake the position of Research and Market Development
Manager for the University of Manitoba’s newly established Richardson Centre for Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals (RCFFN). Being in an academic setting and surrounded by high profile researchers was the catalyst for thoughts of returning to graduate school to complete the elusive Ph.D. that I put “on hold” some 16 years past. All of these remarkable experiences have led to where I am today – working on a Ph.D. One of the main reasons for this decision was the opportunity to work with Dr. Peter Jones at the RCFFN – I feel like I have done a 360º returning to the Centre! Dr. Jones made me an offer I couldn’t refuse – to work on a unique consumer related project – the “AFMNet Consumer Monitor: Tracking Consumer Attitudes towards New Products for Health and Wellbeing in Canada,” a national Canadian consumer longitudinal panel with approximately 20,000 people from all regions. My thesis will include an investigation of the FF ingredients omega-3 fatty acids and, new to the Canadian food marketplace, phytosterols. The panel is significant in that it is monitoring how consumer attitudes towards food, diet and health and acceptance of new food innovations both change over time and vary across consumer sub-groups. Our research will determine the factors influencing such changes and differences and will analyze the implications of the identified trends in consumer attitudes. And of interest to me with my former experiences, our results will be actively disseminated to support business and policy decision-making. I look at my involvement in the AFMNet Consumer Panel as an exciting opportunity to gain knowledge and experience in the area of social sciences – and with this, to understand better how Canadians’ view FF/NHP. Having worked in so many aspects of FF/NHP, the AFMNet Consumer project is the logical next step for me both professionally and personally. Kelley Fitzpatrick Graduate Student, PhD program Richardson Centre for Functional Nutraceuticals University of Manitoba
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The HQPA
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Insider Synergy A Tribute to a Friend and Colleague When I moved to Toronto to start grad school four Septembers ago, I knew that I was going to have a fantastic supervisor (Dr. Ahmed El-Sohemy), an interesting thesis topic (nutrigenomics), and that I would learn a lot about genetics, biostatistics and epidemiology. But I did not know that I was going to gain one of the best friends of my life. Dr. El-Sohemy had let me know that there was another student starting at the same time as me, whose name was Karen Eny, and he suggested that I buddy up with Karen to learn the ways of the lab and the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto. This idea was fantastic! As Karen’s co-pilot, I not only got to navigate through lab techniques, new computer programs, departmental activities and grad school coursework with the most competent and skilful partner possible, but learning with Karen meant that I had a lot of fun! I produced better work than I thought I could, and I felt more at home in a new city, all because of Karen, who is always warm, funny, and exceptionally clever. Karen and I bounced ideas off each other, edited each other’s work, and encouraged each other when we were nervous or overwhelmed. Together we discussed research papers, trouble-shot lab experiments, planned out potential career paths, and danced at each other’s weddings (she actually introduced me to my husband in our 2nd year of grad school – another thing I will be eternally grateful to Karen for!). Karen and I are both graduating now, and will not be working in the same lab any longer. This makes me very sad,
and anxious, but I know we’ll forever be in contact. I’ll always want to know her opinion when I read an interesting piece of research (she is so brilliant!), and in the future I will jump at every chance to work with her again. Be good to your fellow grad students and the members of your research team. You can have a powerful synergy together, and the connections you make now can turn out to be some of the most important ones in your life. I am sincerely grateful to have met and studied alongside Karen Eny, whom I shall always be proud and honoured to have as one of my closest friends.
Leah Cahill (left) and Karen Eny (right) both defended their PhDs this summer at the University of Toronto. Here they show us the fun side of grad school!
Here’s what some brilliant minds have to say about friendship: “I get by with a little help from my friends.” -The Beatles “I count myself in nothing else so happy as in a soul rememb'ring my good friends.” -William Shakespeare “A man's friendships are one of the best measures of his worth.” “ -Charles Darwin “Great discoveries and improvements invariably involve the cooperation of many minds. I may be given credit for having blazed the trail, but when I look at the subsequent developments I feel the credit is due to others rather than to myself.” -Alexander Graham Bell “The only way to have a friend is to be one.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson “I'll lean on you and you lean on me and we'll be okay” -Dave Matthews Band Contributed by Leah Cahill
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Insider The 2010/2011 Governing Council Amanda Naaum, Chair Home Town/Country: Windsor, ON Current Position: PhD student with Robert Hanner, University of Guelph Research Area: Food traceability/authenticity with real-time PCR Fun Fact: When I’m not in the lab I like to be in the kitchen or on the golf course.
Bibiana Garcia-Bailo, Vice Chair Home Town/Country: Born in Zaragoza, in northeastern Spain Current Position: PhD student with Dr. Ahmed El-Sohemy,University of Toronto Research Area: Nutrigenomics Fun Fact:: I come ALIVE during karaoke!
Andre Dias, Training Officer Home Town/Country: Toronto, ON Current Position: Masters student with Dr. Ahmed El-Sohemy, University of Toronto Research Area: Nutrigenomics Fun Fact: I'm actually not a 23 year old grad student; I'm a 1000 year old voodoo shaman dabbling in nutrigenomics as I have tried, and been bored by, everything else in life.
Milana Abramovich, Training Officer Home Town/Country: Israel Current Position: Masters student with Dr. James Friel, University of Manitoba Research Area: Human Milk Fun Fact: I shaved my head on stage during a rock concert 10 years ago to win a vacation and an autograph, getting a nickname of G.I. Jane for a few months (I was in the army back then).
Megan Rose, Communication Officer Home Town/Country: Casselman, ON Current Position: PhD student with Dr. Maxwell Hincke, University of Ottawa Research Area: Dietary peptide- and amino acid-based interventions to improve human gut health and immunity Fun Fact: I have two major addictions... Chocolate and Shopping
Andrea Stone, Communication Officer Home Town/Country: A farm near the Gardiner Dam in Saskatchewan Current Position: Research Technician for Dr. Michael Nickerson, University of Saskatchewan Research Area: Salt reduction in processed foods Fun Fact: I like jumping around and dancing crazy to relieve stress!
Nuria Acevedo, Communication Officer Home Town/Country: Argentina Current Position: Post-doctoral Fellow with Alejandro Marangoni, University of Guelph Research Area: Nanotechnology of Fat Food Products for the enhancement of human health Fun Fact: My favourite activity is going with my dog, Luca, to the beach and enjoying the sun, water and getting dirty on the sand (actually, that is Lucas’s preferred activity)!
ACCESS-A-MENTOR PROGRAM ∗
The peer-to-professional mentoring component provides needed support and guidance to HQP transitioning into their new careers, so that they can immediately impact the workforce and foster greater leadership in their respective fields. To be eligible, you must have received a job offer or are relatively new in the workplace. ∗ The peer-to-peer program involves HQP-HQP mentoring to better prepare and support new HQP within AFMNet for life as a student or young researcher. ∗ For more information or for those interested in taking part in the program please contact Dr. Michael Nickerson (Michael.nickerson@usaskca).