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- Glen Tibbits
Jan 20,2026 | Digest No. 472
Jobs & Volunteer Expo
Looking for summer, career, co-op, volunteer and graduate program opportunities? The Jobs & Volunteer Expo has you covered, no matter what faculty and program you are in! The fair will take place on February 11, but you can access the platform to browse all booths and pre-book sessions with your favourite exhibitors starting Feb 4.
Pre-register now to receive the event link and check out tips and preparation workshops.
SFU Physics IDEA welcomes you to LGBTQ+ IN STEM MEETUPS
Biweekly Wednesdays @ 1:30,
P8445.2
- January 21st
- February 4th
- February 25th
- March 11th
- March 25th
- April 8th
FREE SNACKS! GAMES!
NO SIGN-UP!
SAAM Music Hour @ Sci-Space
January 19–23 | 12:30pm – 1:30pm | Sci-Space (AQ 3146)
https://events.sfu.ca/event/47087-saam-music-hour-sci-space
As part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) 2026 this January, Sci-Space invites you to join us in exploring the theme of healing and transformation through music and song. Throughout the week from January 19 - 23, drop by Sci-Space in AQ 3146 from 12:30pm - 1:30pm every day for SAAM Music Hour.
Science and Math Peer Academic Support: Online, and Burnaby & Surrey Campuses
Have questions about your general 1st/2nd year science courses? Need help on your assignments and upcoming midterms? The Science and Math Peer Academic Support are back virtually and in-person to help! Check out the schedule, starting on this Wednesday, September 10th, and how you can enroll here: https://www.sfu.ca/science/undergraduate-students/current-students/student-support/PeerAcademicSupport.html
BPK 343 and BPK 482 Enrolment Information
SFU is required by law to ensure that every student registered in a practicum that involves working with children or vulnerable adults undergoes a CRRA Criminal Record Check. The University must submit consent forms with payment to the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General. SFU is prohibited by law to permit students to work with children or vulnerable adults without a CRRA Criminal Record Check. List of BPK Courses requiring a CRRA Criminal Record Check is as follows:
- BPK 343 – Active Health: Assessment & Programming
- BPK 482 - Ergonomics and Rehabilitation
The Criminal Record Check is coded as a prerequisite for the above courses and cannot be waived by law.
Please refer to the process for Criminal Records Check on SFU Student Service website here: https://www.sfu.ca/students/criminalrecords.html
By law, SFU cannot accept CRC's done through other agencies including the RCMP. Students with criminal record checks conducted through agencies other than the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General are still expected to fulfill this requirement. Further, the process for a Criminal Record Check must be undertaken by SFU only.
Since the document is valid for 5 years, it would be a good idea to get it done far in advance of your enrollment for any of the listed courses as the processing time can vary.
2SLGBTQIA+ students Counselling Update
2SLGBTQIA+ students Counselling who prefer to work with a 2SLGBTQIA+-identified counsellor can now schedule a counselling session with Alex Vanderveen directly by email or phone. Details are described here: 2SLGBTQIA+ Students Support Options webpage
They are also facilitating two counselling groups in the Fall 2025 term :
2SLGBTQIA+ Questioning group: Starts September 25, 2025.
DBT skills group: Co-facilitated with Racheal Ligali, Mental Health Nurse. Starts September 16, 2025. Note: This group is not 2SLGBTQIA+-specific.
The Counselling services page provides links for additional specialized counselling support options.
Calling All Ergonomics Enthusiasts
The Association of Canadian Ergonomists (ACE) is now offering FREE student memberships! 💼💡
Join ACE, the authoritative voice of ergonomics in Canada, as we unite professionals to optimize human and organizational well-being. With a thriving community of over 500 members nationwide, ACE is dedicated to fostering accountability, collaboration, competence, diversity, and integrity.
Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to join a bilingual, professional network and gain access to invaluable resources and connections. Seize the chance to shape the future of ergonomics both nationally and internationally!
Study Down Under — SFU Campus Visit
Thinking about studying in Australia or New Zealand? Meet university representatives and OzTREKK admissions experts on campus to explore your degree options and get clear answers about admissions requirements, competitiveness, and next steps.
📍 Simon Fraser University (Burnaby)
📌 Academic Quadrangle South
🗓️ Friday, January 30
⏰ 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
👉 Register here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/study-down-under-fair-discover-your-degree-university-options-tickets-1965515077507?aff=Advisor
Meet Representatives From:
- Bond University
- Curtin University
- Deakin University
- Griffith University
- James Cook University
- Macquarie University
- Monash University
- University of Melbourne
- University of Notre Dame Australia
- University of Otago
- University of Queensland
- University of Western Australia
Questions? Please reach out to OzTREKK: events@oztrekk.com
Case Study Showdown: Public and Global Health in Action
Date: Sunday, January 25th
Time: 11 AM PST | 2 PM EST
Location: Zoom
Special Offers: Bring a friend discount (HERBUDDY)
Raffle Prize: Chance to win our newly released e-book!
You’ll walk away with:
A clear understanding of what an action plan is and why it matters
A networking opportunity and insights from a global health leader who has successfully designed and delivered initiatives across diverse settings
Hands-on experience applying concepts through a real-world case study
A customizable action-plan template and checklist to support your future projects
No prior experience or knowledge of case studies or action planning is required! We’ll be there to guide you every step of the way.
Event registration link: Case Study Showdown: Public and Global Health in Action
2026 Undergraduate Research Symposium
The UGRS is a University-wide celebration of undergraduate research that provides undergraduate students with the opportunity to gain important experience with academic conference participation in a supportive environment, and the chance to win one of the cash prizes for outstanding research.
Undergraduate researchers are invited to submit a proposal for a presentation or poster by January 27, 2026. As a student enrolled in an honours or capstone project, you are eligible to apply to present your research at the UGRS.
The UGRS is an interdisciplinary forum, and students from all disciplines are warmly welcomed.
Workshops to help student participants develop relevant skills will be provided. Student researchers are also encouraged to work closely with their supervisors on their proposals and presentations.
If you have questions, please send an email to ugrs@sfu.ca.
The McGill Biomedical Research Accelerator (MBRA) Program
The MBRA Program is seeking top students in the penultimate year of their undergraduate program and who are interested in biomedical research. The Program is a 15-week paid summer research and training opportunity in Montreal offered through the McGill School of Biomedical Sciences (SBMS) in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. The Program provides undergraduate students from universities across Canada the chance to discover their interests in biomedical researchby providing hands-on skill development in laboratory techniques, collaborative science, and opportunities for interdisciplinary learning and training.
Research Participants Recruitment
SFU WearTech Lab's Research Participants needed
Researchers at SFU’s WearTech Labs and Medtronic Canada are recruiting healthy adults (19+) for a study to help us learn more about pressure injuries and improve patient well-being in prolonged hospital visits.
Where: City Center 2 Building, Surrey (near Surrey Memorial Hospital; just past King George SkyTrain)
When: Sessions available Monday–Friday during office hours (with flexibility to arrange other times if needed)
Session Duration: ~1 hour
Compensation: $50 honorarium
Interested? Please fill out the pre-screening survey: https://www.surveymonkey.ca/r/TYJCQ8M
RUN LAB:NEW STUDY ALERT
We are seeking participants who: 1) are healthy individuals who self-identify as women; 2) aged 18 – 60; 3) regularly participate in physical activity; 4) had no previous reconstructive breast surgery or mastectomy; 5) are not currently pregnant or breastfeeding; 6) have no medical conditions affecting movement or pain perception; and 7) are able to understand written and spoken English.
This fully anonymized survey will take approximately 10–15 minutes to complete and will ask participants about demographics and physical activity levels during eligibility screening, and their breast discomfort during different types of physical activities, movements, and specific phases of soccer throughout the main section of the survey (following informed consent). Participants will be asked to describe the severity, location, frequency of discomfort, and any strategies used to manage or reduce it. All questions are mandatory and will be a mix of open-ended, close-ended, and multiple-choice questions. At the end of the survey, a word will be displayed. You can enter this word in a draw for a chance to win one of three $50 lululemon athletica gift cards.
If you are interested in participating, please follow this link or contact me at (ine_mylle@sfu.ca). Please also consider sharing this invitation within your network.
Healthy Lifestyle Intervention
Are you interested in improving your health through a month-long lifestyle intervention?
This research study involves a healthy lifestyle intervention that takes place during your everyday activities. Compensation includes up to $210.
If you are interested, click the link below for more information and the pre-screening survey.
Female team-sport athletes needed! Measuring menstrual cycle effects on athletic performance
Ever wonder if your menstrual cycle might impact your performance as an athlete? The Exercise Physiology and Performance Lab is recruiting female team-sport athletes to assess how menstrual cycle phase may impact athletic performance. You’ll be asked to track your cycle, then come in to the lab three times for exercise testing. Each participant will receive all their health and performance data, including jump assessments, cycling sprint performance, and energy system utilization, so you can learn more about how your performance may change across your menstrual cycle.
For more information, please email Sameen at sameen_kaviani@sfu.ca
Trained individuals needed - Measuring repeated sprint performance in athletes
Are you training for a sport, and love trying new work outs? Want to measure your peak power output, your fatiguability, and see how you stack up against your peers? The Exercise Physiology and Performance Lab is looking for trained individuals (training to compete in any sport!) to participate in this research study. You’ll be asked to come to our lab three times and participate in a cycling repeat sprint test. Each participant will receive their performance data, which includes measures of their cycling power, fatiguability, and more.
For more information, please email Sameen at sameen_kaviani@sfu.ca
BMI/Body Fat Measurement Study
Want to know your body composition? Participate in a research study and receive a free iDXA scan! SFU PhD candidate Amalea Ruffett is recruiting participants for a research study investigating how well six common and accessible proxy measurements for body fat – things like the body mass index, waist-hip-ratio, and other physical measurements on people – perform as measures of body fat against dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, which is one of the gold standard measures for body fat. Each participant will receive all of the health data taken during their appointment, including a free iDXA scan with body composition, metabolic health metrics, bone density, and more.
For more information go to https://beyondbmistudy.wixsite.com/participate or email Amalea at bmistudy@sfu.ca.
Recruitment for Paid Research Study
Now Looking for Families with Children 6-12 Years Old for Paid Research!
The All Families Lab and SECURE Lab at SFU are conducting a joint study on how children, couples, and families navigate challenging situations. We are looking for families who have been living together for at least 1 year and have a 6–12-year-old grade school child under their primary care.
Parents receive a $100 gift card to complete an initial survey and attend a 1.5 hr lab session with their child at the SFU campus. There will also be opportunities to participate in follow-up sessions for up to $140 more in gift cards.
Families who are interested can complete our eligibility form through this link: https://sfufas.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8uAHBVZ5b6oBZiu"
2026 USRA - NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
Attention BPK students! here's an excellent opportunity for you.
Explore the world of research as a Research Assistant for a BPK Faculty member. Gain hands-on experience and contribute to groundbreaking projects!
Click here for more information
Research Assistant Role at INN
We are hiring a Research Assistant to support SFU’s Institute for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (INN) on the Brain Resilience Study, a project examining how biological and social factors contribute to healthy aging.
This temporary full-time role (72 biweekly hours). Responsibilities include coordinating study activities, recruiting and scheduling participants, managing data collection, and assisting with neuroimage processing.
Candidates should have a bachelor’s degree in a related field, research experience, and strong organizational and communication skills.
To apply, send a cover letter and resume to inn@sfu.ca. Full details can be found here: https://www.sfu.ca/neuro-institute/research/current-opportunities.html
SCIENCE ALIVE IS HIRING : FOR STEAM INSTRUCTOR POSITIONS
We have roughly 12 positions available for our Diversifying STEAM Program (taking place in the Surrey School District and at SFU Surrey’s Sustainable Engineering Building). This program engages elementary aged students who come from demographics that have been traditionally under-represented in STEM. The positions are for the Winter term (Jan - Mar) and/or Spring term (Apr - July) with the possibility of extension. Please see the job descriptions and application link below (note hiring will occur on a rolling basis, so applicants are encouraged to apply early):
Coursys Application (there is one form for all positions available)
Ortho Active:Customer Experience Representative
Ortho Active is seeking as individual to join our growing team. This is an excellent opportunity to gain experience in a customer facing role which will provide ideal experience in a healthcare environment with a sports medicine, bracing and orthotics & prosthetics distributor. This is an office-based role in Coquitlam, British Columbia. The ideal candidate may be a recent graduate from kinesiology seeking an growth role, with an opportunity for learning, coaching and mentorship.
More info here
Teaching Opportunities for Grad Students!
Are you passionate about teaching? Prep101 offers part-time, online teaching roles perfect for you. No prior MCAT exam experience needed – we provide training and materials. Our flexible schedule ensures you can balance teaching with your studies. Join us in inspiring learners nationwide!
$50-70/hour for teaching!
Questions? Contact Michael: michael@prep101.com
The Indigenous Tutoring and Mentoring Program needs volunteer tutors, mentors, administrators, coders, and blog-writers!
The Indigenous Tutoring & Mentoring Program (ITMP) is recruiting volunteers to join our program! ITMP is a volunteer organization (https://www.sfu.ca/engagement-competition/past-projects/2021/itmp.html) that provides free 1-on-1 Zoom tutoring and mentoring to Indigenous youth (K-12) across British Columbia. It was founded by SFU students to increase educational attainment through friendly, student-focused and culturally-relevant services. Our program is expanding, and we’d love to have you on our team. Indigenous students are especially encouraged to apply, though all applications are welcome!
Opportunity for Kinesiology Students:Volunteer classroom assistant
UBC professor of sports law, regulation and governance Dr. Mark Moore is looking for a volunteer classroom assistant to help with his Sports Law course this term Thursdays 2-5pm at Allard Hall UBC. This unique course blends kinesiology, sociology of sport, sports law regulation and governance, and sports management. The assistant will provide technical help for interviews with guests from the professional sportsworld, as well as student presentations, and help select and play topical sports multimedia clips in class, distribute course materials in-class or on the course website for student exercises, etc.
Interested students please email - mooresportslaw@proton.me as soon as possible with your interest, availability, and familiarity with classroom technology such as zoom, Canvas, excel.
Dr. Moore is a former professional hockey player, co-owner of Nike Sports Camps hockey division, and the author of popular books and academic articles on sports.Past course guests include Hall-of-Fame NHL/Team Canada goaltender Ken Dryden, neurosurgeon Charles Tator OC, former MLBPA head Don Fehr, Vancouver Whitecaps CEO Axel Schuster, NFLPA general counsel Tom DePaso, and many others.
Undergraduate Volunteers needed !
Dr. Julian Guttman, a cellular microbiologist in the Department of Biological Sciences is looking for undergraduate student volunteers. Volunteering duties include stocking the lab, autoclaving, cleaning dishes, etc… The volunteers have to be available for a minimum of 2 hours per week.
If you are interested in these volunteer positions, please send your unofficial transcript and CV to Dr. Guttman’s Volunteer Coordinator, Petra McLeod, at petra_mcleod@sfu.ca
Application deadline is Jan. 14, 2026.
Join MINDmatters!
Make a difference to the BPK community. Share your ideas and energy with the MINDMatters Committee and help create an engaged, healthy, and vibrant learning community.
Volunteer with SportAbility: Make a Difference in the Lives of Athletes
SportAbility BC is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting adapted sports and physical activity for individuals with disabilities. We are the provincial sport organization for para (sledge) hockey, Boccia, powerchair soccer and para soccer. We are seeking passionate and dedicated individuals to volunteer their time and skills to support our programs and events.
Volunteer opportunities include: coaching, refereeing, scorekeeping, recreational program leads and event planning! All opportunities are flexible and give volunteers an opportunity to work hands on with para athletes.
Volunteering with SportAbility is a rewarding experience that allows you to:
- · Make a positive impact on the lives of athletes with disabilities.
- · Develop valuable skills such as leadership, communication, and teamwork.
- · Connect with a supportive community of like-minded individuals.
If you are interested in volunteering please feel free to reach out to sportdevelopment@sportabilitybc.ca or fill out a volunteer application here.
The Canadian Red Cross (CRC) is looking for more volunteers for their HELP (health equipment loan program) team!
Do you want to gain health-care experience, work with other like-minded students and also make a big impact in your community? - If so, the Canadian Red Cross HELP team is the place for you. As a volunteer, you will communicate with healthcare professionals (OT, PT, Doctors etc.) to help get medical equipment to those who cannot afford to buy it, or simply just want to borrow it after things like injuries and surgeries. Scheduling has lots of flexibility, as the CRC recognizes how important education commitments are. Locations include but are not limited to Burnaby and Surrey. There is currently no fixed deadline to apply.
Learn more about the HELP team at REDCROSS.CA or contact Simran (simran.virk@redcross.ca; 236-339-0224).
Fraser Health Crisis Line Recruiting Volunteer!
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.
Join Flavourful Science: Igniting Curiosity Through STEAM Education!
Flavourful Science, a non-profit organization, brings excitement to STEAM topics through food-based experiments. Our Vancouver School Program (VSP) has reached 900+ elementary students across 15 schools, with rave reviews from teachers.
New Initiative Alert: SFU students will lead workshops for elementary students in Burnaby. Volunteer with us to inspire the next generation!
Get Involved: Contact mosesj@sfu.ca for details
Website: http://flavourfulscience.ca/
Instagram: @flavourful_science
Volunteer Opportunity at UBC Sports Law
Dr. Mark Moore, renowned Sports Law Professor at UBC, is on the lookout for a volunteer classroom assistant. Dive into the world of sports and law alongside an expert.
📅 When: Thursdays, 2-5 pm
📍 Where: Allard Hall, UBC
You'll assist with guest interviews, multimedia clips, student presentations, and engaging negotiation exercises. Familiarity with Zoom, Canvas, and Excel is desired. Position opened until filled.
A bit about Dr. Moore: A former pro hockey player, co-owner of Nike Sports Camps, and author. Past classes featured legends like Ken Dryden and Charles Tator OC.
📩 Interested? Drop an email to Dr. Mark Moore: moore@allard.ubc.ca
Quirks & Quarks Graduate Award for Best PhD Thesis at the October 2025 convocation.
This award recognizes the best PhD Thesis by a convocating doctoral student from SFU's Faculty of Science.
Natalie's PhD thesis carefully and comprehensively examined how features of the environment influence the risk for falls and fall-related injuries among older adults. She collected and analyzed video footage of nearly 2000 real-life falls experienced by older adults who lived in two long-term care homes in the Vancouver region.
Click here to read more about Dr. Natalie Shishov's contribution to the BPK dept
Bastions of BPK Award at convocation in October 2025
The prestigious Bastions of BPK Graduate Student Convocation Award recognizes exemplary BPK MSc and PhD graduates who, throughout their degrees, have had a profound and positive impact on the culture and community within the BPK graduate student body and Department. Through their leadership, mentorship, engagement, volunteer and committee work, kinship is cultivated, and ideas and initiatives are brought to life. BPK Bastions are strongholds of the BPK community, whose contributions have enriched graduate student life and fortified the BPK department, leaving a lasting legacy.
Congratulations, Erin, and thank you for all of the positive contributions you have made to BPK!
Click here to read more about Dr. Erin Williams contribution to the BPK dept
The Evolution of the Running Shoe and What Comes Next: Chris Napier Interview
Nike’s success prompted other brands to develop super shoes, kick-starting a foot race that continues to this day, with each brand manufacturing a stack height tall enough to accommodate its foam-and-plate technology, according to Chris Napier, a sports physiotherapist and director of the Simon Fraser University Run Lab in British Columbia.
Simon Fraser University (SFU) Faculty of Science is proud to announce the first recipients of the Faculty of Science Innovative Seed Grant.
$20,000 in seed funding has been awarded to SFU Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology (BPK) professor Tom Claydon and co-investigators BPK professors Victoria Claydon and Damon Poburko, BC Children’s Hospital clinician Shubhayan Sanatani and Dalhousie physiology and biophysics professor Alexander Quinn to launch a pilot study on the relationship between autonomic conflict and cardiac arrhythmia.
Autonomic conflict and associated cardiac arrhythmia have been linked to sudden cardiac death and may contribute to unexplained cardiac arrest, particularly in people with Long QT Syndrome (LQTS). However, this area is under-studied and the underlying cellular mechanisms that contribute to cardiac events are poorly understood.
The new study, published in the journal Movement Disorders, looks at why levodopa – the main drug used in dopamine replacement therapy – is sometimes less effective in patients.The drug is typically prescribed to help reduce the movement symptoms associated with the neurodegenerative disorder. While it is effective in improving symptoms for the vast majority of patients, not everyone experiences the same level of benefit. In order to find out why this is the case, an SFU collaboration with researchers in Sweden has used magnetoencephalography (MEG) technology to determine how the drug affects signals in the brain.
“Parkinson’s is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disease worldwide and it is the most rapidly increasing, in terms of incidence,” says Alex Wiesman, assistant professor in biomedical physiology and kinesiology at SFU.
SFU Research Featured in Golf Digest! 📰⛳
We’re thrilled to share that SFU research has been featured by Golf Digest in both an article and a podcast episode—a major recognition in the world of sports science!
The article, published on April 25, is titled
👉 What a new study reveals about a method that beats the putting yips
And the accompanying podcast episode dives deeper into the findings:
🎧 Should you try armlock putting? This study says yes
Wearable technology aided by artificial intelligence can warn and prevent falls for patients recovering from stroke and spinal injuries.
Simon Fraser University researchers are using cutting edge technology, in combination with artificial intelligence and machine learning, to support safer rehabilitation for patients. The work is highlighted in a research paper in the journal Clinical Rehabilitation, co-authored by Gustavo Balbinot, an SFU assistant professor in neurorehabilitation.
Balbinot leads the Movement Neurorehabilitation and Neurorepair laboratory, which focuses on rehabilitation after stroke or a spinal cord injury. For those patients, a potential fall can have very serious, long-term consequences, so the research is focused on optimizing safety during the rehabilitation process.
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 see any suspicious postings or hiring practices, please notify us immediately at bpk_engage@sfu.ca.