News

  • Biological Sciences grad student develops computer codes to measure, track mitochondria

    Thursday, January 18, 2018 | By

    Mitochondria are essential to human and animal life, but analyzing their ever-changing configurations through a microscope is a challenge. As they continually fuse and fragment, they affect how cells, and therefore bodies, work.

    Studying the tube-shaped organelles that provide energy to cells has recently been made easier through the work of a Brock University graduate student. Andrew Valente, a student in the Department of Biological Sciences with an interest in computer coding, has developed a set of tools that researchers around the globe can freely access to better measure and understand the movements of mitochondrial networks.

    “I use a lot of open source software,” he says. “I thought it would be a good idea to adopt open source code because then we can have everybody looking at it and verifying that it’s working correctly.”

    In an open source software arrangement, anyone can study, modify and distribute software for any purpose, which encourages widespread collaboration and free, public use.

    Valente, from Thorold, is studying the structure and movement of mitochondrial networks, and is developing methods to track them for his master’s program.

    Valente and his MSc supervisor, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Jeff Stuart, are now collaborating with research teams in Italy and Germany, with several international students and postdoctoral fellows visiting Stuart’s lab to learn more about mitochondrial networks.

    Mitochondria create most of the energy that the body needs in order to live and support the functioning of organs. More than 220 illnesses are associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, according to MitoCanada.

    Read the full story here

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  • January 23: Exploring Careers in Oenology & Viticulture

    Wednesday, January 17, 2018 | By

    You’re invited!

    This intimate event will give students the opportunity to meet directly with oenology and viticulture industry professionals in a wide variety of positions. Students can improve networking skills, learn about possible career paths and secure employment (part-time, co-op/internship or post-graduate, full-time).

    DATE: Tuesday, Jan. 23

    TIME: 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

    LOCATION: Pond Inlet, Brock University

    REGISTER AT: careerzone.brocku.ca – Campus Career – Events

    For more information, please see Steven Trussler, OEVI Academic Advisor (IH 203) or email him at [email protected]

    OEVI Careers_Jan 23

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  • January 18: Coffee Break with the President

    Tuesday, January 16, 2018 | By

    President Gervan Fearon invites Brock faculty and staff to kick off the new year by joining him for a coffee break, Thursday, Jan. 18 in Market Hall. Employees are welcome to drop in anytime between 2 and 3 p.m. to enjoy complimentary coffee, tea, sweets and conversation. No registration is required.

    With the majority of employees back from their holiday breaks, Fearon looks forward to catching up and having conversations with colleagues and meeting new people.

    “The event is purposely informal,” he said. “There won’t be any formal speeches or agendas. I want to chat and engage in conversation with faculty, staff and colleagues about their holidays, to introduce myself and provide faculty and staff with an opportunity to share and engage in dialogue.”

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  • January 24: Celebration of Excellence

    Tuesday, January 16, 2018 | By

    The accomplishments of faculty and staff within the Faculty of Mathematics and Science will take the spotlight during an upcoming celebration.

    The fourth annual Celebration of Excellence will take place Wednesday, Jan. 24 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in Pond Inlet.

    Awards handed out during the ceremony include Distinguished Teaching, Distinguished Research, Distinguished Staff, Student Experience, Recruitment and Outreach, Distinguished Scholar and Lifetime Achievement.

    New this year is the Experiential Education Leadership Award, which will be presented to a faculty or staff member who has exhibited a passion for incorporating experiential education opportunities into their classes or placed an emphasis on providing first- and second-year students with experiential education opportunities.

    All are welcome and encouraged to attend.

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  • January 16: Master of Science thesis defence

    Tuesday, January 16, 2018 | By

    Daniel Hughes, a candidate in the Department of Earth Sciences, will present his Master of Science thesis defence by video conference on Tuesday, Jan. 16 at 10:30 a.m. in WH 147.

    His thesis is titled “Detecting spatial variation in hydrology and carbon export across a lake-rich permafrost landscape: Old Crow Flats, Yukon, Canada.”

    His examination committee members are Dr. Cheryl McCormick, Chair; Dr. Susanne Tank, External Examiner, (University of Alberta); Dr. Kevin Turner, Supervisor; Dr. Michael Pisaric and Dr. Francine McCormick, Committee Members.

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  • Grad’s cancer research continues at University of Cambridge

    Monday, January 15, 2018 | By

    “I wouldn’t be where I am today without my experience at Brock,” said Biological Sciences grad, Lucas Maddalena. “Having such a great relationship with my supervisors has been important for me, allowing me to keep growing as a student.”

    Maddalena credits the support of his Brock supervisors, Biological Sciences Associate Professor Jeff Stuart, whom he worked closely with during his time at the University, and Professor Jeffrey Atkinson in Chemistry.

    The research that began in Brock University’s labs has taken Maddalena (BSc ’12, MSc ’17) nearly 6,000 kilometres across the Atlantic to one of the world’s most renowned institutions. Maddalena crossed the pond this past fall in order to walk the halls of the University of Cambridge, where he has accepted a prestigious $300,000 scholarship to complete his PhD.

    The Thorold native was the only overseas recipient of the Cancer Research U.K. Cambridge Centre 2017 Non-clinical PhD Studentship Award, of which five were awarded in 2017. The scholarship covers three years of study, the typical length of a PhD program at Cambridge, and will support the costs of Maddalena’s research, as well as his living expenses.

    “It’s surreal. That’s probably the best word to describe it,” he said of this new chapter in his life, which has him researching within Cambridge’s Department of Medicine.

    His research continues the theme of his master’s work, which explored mitochondrial function and oxygen usage in the context of health and disease.

    Read the full story here

     

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  • Jan 15: Math Ed Seminar Series

    Friday, January 12, 2018 | By

    Math Ed Seminar Series

    Dr. Chantal Buteau
    Dr. Eric Muller
    Department of Mathematics & Statistics
    Brock University

    Dr. Joyce Mgombelo
    Faculty of Education
    Brock University

    DATE: Monday, Jan. 15

    TIME: 10am

    LOCATION: TA403

    Math Ed Seminar Series – Jan 15

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  • Jan. 12: Chemistry Seminar Series – Dr. John Golbeck

    Tuesday, January 09, 2018 | By

    Department of Chemistry – Seminar Series

    Dr. John Golbeck
    Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics
    Professor of Chemistry
    The Pennsylvania State University

    DATE: Friday, Jan. 12

    TIME: Noon

    LOCATION: H313

    Chemistry Seminar Series – Jan. 12, 2018

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  • Neuroscience student Ethan Foy wins Monster Pitch

    Tuesday, January 09, 2018 | By

    Monday proved to be a dream come true for Ethan Foy.

    The fifth-year neuroscience student from Oakville won a $14,000 prize package at Monster Pitch, an entrepreneurial pitch competition hosted by the Brock Innovation Group in partnership with the Goodman School of Business and BioLinc and sponsored by Spark Power Corp.

    More than a year ago, Foy began working on his business called LifePoints. He envisioned a mobile application that would offer monetary rewards to its users based on the time they spent at fitness facilities.

    He first applied for Monster Pitch last year and although he was not selected to present at the competition, he had started on a journey toward his vision. He also applied for — and received — the Deborah E. Rosati Entrepreneurship Award, which provided him with funding, space and mentorship to help him launch his business. Since receiving the award at last year’s Monster Pitch event, he has worked tirelessly to build his business.

    This year, he returned to Monster Pitch armed with a year of experience and with his mind set on winning. He did just that, walking away with much more than the $14,000 prize package.

    “The biggest thing I was looking to get out of Monster Pitch was being able to present in front of a world-class group of judges. I wanted to know where LifePoints stands in the eyes of the them and to get feedback from individuals who have seen a multitude of businesses,” he said.

    Read the full story here

     

     

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  • First female Associate Dean for Math and Science

    Monday, January 08, 2018 | By

    Cheryl McCormick is no stranger to the road less travelled.

    Her passion for STEM research (science, technology, engineering and math) has driven her forward in the once male-dominated field, and recently led her to a new position at Brock after more than two years as Director of the University’s Centre of Neuroscience.

    McCormick began her three-year term as Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Studies for the Faculty of Mathematics and Science on Jan. 1, becoming the first female appointed to the role.

    In her new position, she hopes to inspire other women to pursue a career in STEM research, particularly at Brock.

    McCormick’s main goal is to help promote the success of research at the University.

    Along with primary thesis supervision, she has supervised the research training of 13 graduate students and more than 70 undergraduates. Passionate about helping and recognizing the research of students, McCormick works with Science Without Borders research interns, participates in the Faculty’s Science Mentorship Program and assists with Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council-funded (NSERC) research.

    She has been with Brock’s Department of Psychology and Centre for Neuroscience since 2004, participating in various Department committees and speaker series. She also remains part of the Behavioural Neuroscience Committee, which she has served on for the past 14 years.

    McCormick is an associate member of the Department of Biology and has been a member of the Environmental Sustainability Research Centre since 2013.

    Along with departmental, faculty and University committees, McCormick has also served on numerous national and international research committees during her time at Brock. Most recently, she was a presenter for an NSERC grant workshop through the Office of Research Services and helped complete an internal review of graduate student scholarships for the Dean of Graduate Studies.

    She is the recipient of several awards, scholarships, internal and external grants and has been an invited symposia and colloquia speaker across Canada, the U.S. and abroad.

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