April 19, 2022 | Digest No. 297
BPK Year End Party
The BPKSA is VERY EXCITED to announce the return of an in-person Year End Party on Tuesday April 26th 11 am - 1pm in the BPK Courtyard. We will be having an outdoor BBQ, games and over $1000 in prizes to giveaway. We hope to see you all attend and get to spend some time with each other outside the classroom. Grab some food at our outdoor BBQ, get to meet some amazing people, talk to fellow students/grads and faculty members, and play some fun games to win prizes!! We wish you all the best for studying for your exams and we hope to see you all there to kick start the summer!
Please RSVP using the Websurvey so we can be cognizant of Dietary Restrictions and how many guests to anticipate. I appreciate your time especially during finals season.
MCAT Week - The Princeton Review
Our virtual MCAT Week is coming up this month and we’re hoping to see you there!
We’ll be hosting free 1-hour sessions during the week of May 2nd, where Princeton Review expert instructors will break down the MCAT for you – each day a different section! You’ll have the chance to go through some sample questions and figure out the best ways to approach the different sections of the MCAT!
BONUS: we’ll be hosting an MMI Information Session for those interested in learning more about MMI and engaging in mock interviews with a counselor.
Register for all of these events for free
Find the 6-digit course ID for the event/s you’d like to attend.
BPK Research Day Recap
The 12th Annual BPK Research Day was held on Friday, April 8th, 2022 in a hybrid format. Our online components took place on AirMeet, and in person events were held at SFU’s Big Data Hub. This was BPK’s first event where we were able to gather in person since early 2020, and we could not be happier to be back! Through the day we showcased the excellent and diverse research being conducted by our graduate and undergraduate student researchers, as well as our faculty and post-docs.
This year, we partnered with SFU Science in Action to share our BPK Research Day 3-Minute Thesis competition and Lightning Talks with elementary school students in our local community. We were so pleased to have Grade 6 students from Laity View Elementary, Serpentine Heights Elementary, and Ecole Westridge Elementary join us.
Overall, our event attracted over 230 attendees, representing SFU students, staff, faculty, post-docs and alumni, as well as local elementary school students.
Our day began with two back-to-back virtual poster sessions showcasing 34 poster presentations from 16 BSc, 8 MSc, and 10 PhD students. Nine judges (faculty members and post-doctoral fellows) donated their time to evaluate the posters: Tom Claydon, Martha Holmes, Dawn Mackey, Vera-Ellen Lucci, Sina Mehdizadeh, Damon Poburko, Sabrina Lee, Andrew Blaber, Victoria Claydon.
Congratulations to Todd Nelson (Hoffer Lab) alongside Julia Hughes and Daman Dhunna (T. Claydon Lab) who tied for best BSc student poster presentation. Erin Williams (V. Claydon Lab) won best MSc student poster presentation, and Pawel Kudzia (Donelan Lab) won best PhD student poster presentation. Congratulations as well to Ananya Sridar (Ruben Lab) for winning the Rodrigo Maeda Memorial Award for the best poster presentation delivered by an international student.
In the afternoon, we transitioned to our in-person events. We began with our short form presentations, which included an exciting three-minute thesis competition, and Faculty/Post-Doc Lightning Talks. Thank you to Randy McIntosh, Martha Holmes, and Andrew Blaber for delivering wonderful Lightning Talks, and congratulations to MSc candidate Erin Williams (V. Claydon Lab) for winning first place three-minute thesis, as voted by the audience.
Next, we heard outstanding oral presentations from four PhD students: Olivia Aguiar (Robinovitch Lab), Patrick Mayerhofer (Donelan Lab), Sneha Ralli (Brooks-Wilson Lab), Ravichandra Venkateshappa (T. Claydon Lab). Their presentations were followed by an engaging and insightful keynote address on wearable technology from Dan Eisenhardt, a two-time founder and CEO of Sports AR technology startups FORM and Recon Instruments (acquired by Intel, June 2015), and co-founder of Rhino Ventures.
Lastly, the Science Communication Contest returned this year with submissions in the form of “Science Snapshots”, “Visual Abstracts”, “UpGoer Five”, and “#LOLmythesis”. Congratulations to Pawel Kudzia (Donelan Lab) for bringing first place back to the Locomotion lab.
We are grateful to the BPK Department, SFU Graduate Student Society, BPK Student Association, and BPK Graduate Student Association for their generously donated funds to make Research Day possible. Local companies also showed their support by donating door prizes that were raffled off throughout the day. Thank you to Dageraad Brewing, Nesters Market, Renniasance Coffee, and Waqara Apparel.
Research Day was organized by the following committee members: Erin Williams (Graduate Chair), Stephen Robinovitch (Faculty Chair), Allison Campbell, Pavreet Gill, Farhaan Khan, Marina Khonina, Rebekah Lee, Raffaele Massarotto, Jaylene Pratt, Stephanie Rayner, Rose Sheikh-Bahaie, Kyle Simpson, Tiffany Stead, Ekaterina Stogova, Catherine Taylor, Ravichandra Venkateshappa, Ryan Wu, Peter Young.
Thank you to Nicole Yoo, Jordan Hui, Darleen Bemister, Tom Claydon and Dawn Mackey for your help during our preparation for this event as well.
Winners:
Three-Minute Thesis Competition:
- Erin Williams (V. Claydon Lab)
Poster Competition:
- 1st Place BSc (tied): Todd Nelson (Hoffer Lab), Julia Hughes and Daman Dhunna (T. Claydon Lab)
- 1st Place MSc: Erin Williams (V. Claydon Lab)
- 1st Place PhD: Pawel Kudzia (Donelan Lab)
- Rodrigo Madaea Memorial Poster Award: Ananya Sridar (Ruben Lab)
- SciComm Competition: Pawel Kudzia (Donelan Lab)
- LOLMyThesis Contest: Cardiovascular Physiology Lab (V. Claydon Lab)
BPK Student Volunteer Opportunity! - EIMC
The Exercise is Medicine Club is in search of an executive team! EIMC was a club at SFU in pre-Covid times but is currently undergoing a revival. They are looking for executive members, who will be helping with general administrative duties like room booking, event planning, and funds/facility management. Please send an email to eimc_sfu@hotmail.com or DM @eimc.sfu on Instagram if you’re interested in joining as either an executive or general member!
"Exercise is Medicine on Campus (EIMC) a club of like-minded individuals who believe that physical activity promotes optimal health and is vital in the prevention and treatment of many health conditions. In the club we’ll be hosting many events and initiatives to keep the student and faculty at SFU moving! Exercise is Medicine is a global health initiative managed by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), learn more at exerciseismedicine.org."
Bodycomp Imaging - Whole Body DXA Scan Appointment
Bodycomp Imaging is inviting all SFU BPK and HSci students in for a special student deal of 50% off a whole body DXA scan appointment. DXA scanners provide you with the most accurate assessment of your body composition available. In addition to your scan, you will also get a thorough report of your fat, lean tissue, and bone measurements as well as a personalized nutritional and exercise consultation based off your report values to help you reach your health goals. To learn more, please visit our website
Study Hall @ Home
Study Hall @ Home is a supportive virtual space hosted by Peer Educators who are available to provide students with study tips, academic support, and resources. Students can drop in for as long as they like, or stay the whole time. The Study Hall is open on Wednesday morning from 9-11am and Friday evenings from 6-8pm.
The Active Health & Rehabilitation concentration
Are you a KIN Major student who wants to be in Active Health and Rehab Concentration?
Email the BPK Advisor to have the Active Health and Rehab Concentration added to your academic plan.
Academic Advising
*** All in-person advising is cancelled. Remote advising will continue. Log into Science's new Advisor Link with your SFU Computing ID and password and book academic advising appointments online.
** Please have Academic Transcripts on-hand for appointments. Follow this link for instructions: https://www.sfu.ca/students/records/advising-transcripts.html
BPK Advising hours are as follows:
Day |
Appointments |
Monday |
10am – 11:40am |
Tuesday |
10am – 11:40am 2pm – 3pm |
Wednesday |
10am – 11:40am 2pm - 3pm |
Thursday |
10am - 11am 2pm – 3:40pm |
Zoom Drop-in advising for quick (< 10 minutes) questions
| Day | Zoom Drop-in |
| Monday | 1:30pm - 2:30pm |
| Wednesday | 3:15pm - 4:15pm |
If you are not available for drop-in times, or are unable to make an appointment, you may contact the academic advisor here. When contacting the advisor, please always include your full first and last name, your student number, and attach your advising transcript. Download your advising transcript from your student centre at go.sfu.ca. Follow this think for instructions: https://www.sfu.ca/students/records/advising-transcripts.html
SUMMER 2022 COURSES - SEATS AVAILABLE
List of Courses>>
HUM 101W - Introduction to the Humanities
An introduction to issues and concepts central to the study of the Humanities. Through exposure to primary materials drawn from different periods and disciplines, students will become acquainted with a range of topics and ideas relating to the study of human values and human experience.
HUM 102W - Classical Mythology
Remote & Asynchronous
An introduction to the central myths of the Greeks and Romans. The course will investigate the nature, function, and meaning of myths in the classical world and their considerable influence on western civilization.
If you have any questions regarding enrollment or the programs that the Department of Humanities offers, please don't hesitate to reach out by emailing humadvis@sfu.ca.
INDG 305 (1) - Treaties in Canada microcredit course
This course introduces students to First Peoples’ perspectives on treaty-making, treaty interpretation, and treaty rights. By focusing on the history of treaty relations between settlers and the First Peoples of Turtle Island, this course provides students with critical insight into contemporary relationships and political contexts in Canada. Students will learn about the pre-confederation treaties, the Numbered treaties, as well as the modern treaty process.
Currently waitlisted, although with sufficient interest more seats will be made available. No prerequisites.
Summer 2022: Explore Linguistics courses and the world of words, communication and culture
Many Linguistics courses are ideal for lower division breadth requirements and also open up opportunities for future areas of study.
This summer, explore Linguistics courses and the world of words, communication and culture.
CA329 Selected Topics in Dance II
Summer 2022 Intersession
- Topic: Jamaican Dance Progression: Practice and histo)pography
- Instructor: Webster McDonald
* The prerequisite for CA 329 may be waived for students interested in this course. Interested students should contact Henry Daniel (HDANIEL@SFU.CA).
- Schedule: Tue/Thu 13:30-16:20, May 10 to June 20
- Location: Goldcorp Centre for the Arts, 149 W. Hastings St., Vancouver
To approach Jamaican dance without the specific sites for race and identity; especially via colonial, post-colonial/post-script lenses would only further sweep some of the historical/social and political linchpins under proverbial carpets. This course engages with the seminal works of Nettleford’s Caribbean Cultural Identity: In case of Jamaica, W.E.B. Dubois’s dialectic surrounding double consciousness, Kamau Brathwaite’s-The development of creole society in Jamaica(1770-1820), Olive Lewin’s-Rock in come over, a plethora of dancehall scholarship and astrid erll’s memory in culture that will provide the connective tissue needed to delineate the ways in which intergenerational memory collectively circulates within religious topography. Using a ‘timeline’ approach the course draws on movement traditions via two categories:
1. Spiritual/social/political/Cultural Memory (19th century): Kumina, Bruckins, Revival
2. Retention/Black Consciousness/ Resistance/ Gender Performativity (20th-21st century): Ska, Rock Steady, Reggae, Dancehall
Contact SCA Advisor (sca_adv@sfu.ca) if you have any questions about the course
Student Learning Commons - Workshops
The Student Learning Commons offers a suite of workshops under the following categories; Learning, Writing, and English as an Additional Language (EAL). Workshops range from 60 to 90 minutes and provide valuable information in engaging formats. Each semester we present a slightly different collection of workshops. You can also search by date in our workshops calendar.
Most Student Learning Commons workshops, including workshop recordings viewed online, are eligible for inclusion on your Co-Curricular Record. To receive Co-Curricular credits, fill out the CCR Reflection Form.
Note: Students cannot receive Co-Curricular (CCR) credits for a workshop if the workshop is already being used to receive academic credit in a course.
UM Skaggs School of Pharmacy Doctor of Pharmacy Program
At the University of Montana Skaggs School of Pharmacy, we offer a four-year PharmD program for which we pride ourselves on providing a student-centered environment with small classes to ensure students are part of our pharmacy academic community here in Missoula. This is evident by the very low attrition rate and high rate of on-time graduation. Our dedicated, experienced and highly-qualified faculty, staff and administrators are devoted to training and inspiring the next generation of skilled, empathetic and culturally sensitive pharmacy leaders. Our students have high match rate for pharmacy residencies and fellowships as well as successful job placement in Montana and around the country.
The School is known to provide a high rate of student scholarships and, as of the last year, also offers an out-of-state tuition academic merit award for students with high GPAs for prerequisite classes, an award that can be as high as $15,000 per year. The attached pdf contains important highlights of our PharmD program.
The PCAT is NO longer required but only recommended since it can provide beneficial data during the application process. This can be especially true for applicants with a lower GPA for whom PCAT scores may help applicants secure an interview and admission to the program. The current requirements for PharmD admission interview are:
a. Complete or be in the process of completing a total of at least 64 semester credit hours which must include all courses from the program's established prerequisite course list or equivalents (see appendix for the specific list of the UM courses and their U equivalents).
b. Complete each prerequisite course with a course grade no lower than a C-;
c. Have a 2.5 minimum cumulative GPA; as determined by UM policy;
d. Complete 20 observation hours, preferably in a pharmacy; and
e. Complete the Pharm.D. Program application through PharmCAS, per instructions on the UM Skaggs School of Pharmacy website. The final PharmCAS deadline is May 2, 2022.
The effect of passive cycling on cardiac function and spasticity
Will a machine pedaling your legs help your heart?
We are conducting a research study to find the answer. We are looking for men and women aged 19-50 years with and without Spinal Cord Injury to take part in a study examining the effects of passive and active cycling on the heart.
You can help improve the treatment of spinal cord injuries, strokes, and other neurologic illness.
Your participation in this study will involve tests of your heart function, and will take about 1.5 hours. This will be done while you sit in a wheelchair and have your feet pedaled by a bicycle-like machine.
Contact: Matthew Dorton
mdorton@sfu.ca
Exercise Physiology Tenure-Track Job at Bishop's University
We at Bishop’s University, located on the unceded land of the Abenaki people and the Wabenaki Confederacy, invite applications for a tenure-stream position at the rank of Assistant Professor in the Sports Studies Department, starting July 1, 2022. Bishop’s University is a public and secular institution offering undergraduate and graduate courses in English.
Student Safety Engagement Program is Looking for Volunteers
The Student Safety Engagement Program (SSEP) is a student-led platform, offering flexible hours for students to gain volunteer experience and promote personal development. The program is currently recruiting dedicated undergraduate student volunteers to serve as safety ambassadors, through a partnership with the SFU Safety & Risk Services department.
The SSEP strives to create a personalized volunteer experience relevant to post-university environments with initiatives geared toward individual strengths and interests, and is active on all three campuses.
Whether you want to explore career paths, gain experience, or simply become more engaged on campus, the SSEP can be tailored to your interests while supporting the broader SFU community.
Explore volunteer opportunities in:
- Community Presence
- Speed Watch
- Lost & Found and Information
- Safety Audits
- Auto-Theft Prevention
- Bike Presence
- Safe Walk
- Educational Outreach and Events
Fraser Health Crisis Line Volunteer Opportunity
Are you looking for a volunteer opportunity? Why not start now!
The Fraser Health Crisis Line is recruiting volunteers to provide assistance to people in the region who are experiencing emotional distress. No previous experience is needed as extensive training and ongoing support is provided. If you are interested in learning more about this challenging and rewarding opportunity,the first step is to review the information on our website and then attend a Zoom Information Session. Please go to www.options.bc.ca and click on Get Involved -> I Want to Volunteer -> Crisis Line. Here you will find the dates and Zoom links for the up-coming sessions.
Many volunteers report that their Crisis Line experience was significant in helping them reach their educational and/or career goals, including acceptance into Graduate Programs, Policing, Medical School, E-Comm 911, Social Work, Mental Health and related fields. Volunteers also tell us that they find the Crisis Line to be a rewarding and fulfilling experience, as they are truly making a difference.
Student satellite project prepares for liftoff
SFU News - April 4, 2022
Donya Divsalar, an SFU master of science candidate in biomedical physiology and kinesiology, is quoted.
Canadian Mark Pathy set to make history in commercial flight to space station
The Globe and Mail - April 7, 2022
Andrew Blaber, an SFU professor of biomedical physiology and kinesiology, and director of SFU's Aerospace Physiology Lab, is quoted.
Burnaby Beacon - April 8, 2022
Andrew Blaber, director of SFU's Aerospace Physiology Lab, Donya Divsalar, an SFU master student at SFU's Aerospace Physiology Lab, and Kevin Burville, an SFU alumni and co-founder of SFU Aerospace is featured.
DISCLAIMER: The Department of BPK is forwarding these opportunities as we receive them, however we strongly encourage you to research and obtain information regarding the reputation of organizations, the terms and conditions of employment or service, as well as to understand your rights and responsibilities. The Department does not endorse any specific individuals, organizations, products, programs or services. If you have questions on the above please contact bpk_engage@sfu.ca. If you see any suspicious postings or hiring practices, please notify us immediately.