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Chair A Joffre Mercier Professors Emeriti Alan W. Bown, Arthur H. Houston, Ralph D. Morris, Peter Nicholls, R. Peter Rand, Donald J. Ursino Professors Michael Bidochka, Douglas H. Bruce, Vincenzo De Luca, Yousef Haj-Ahmad, Fiona F. Hunter, A. Joffre Mercier, Andrew G. Reynold Associate Professors Robert L. Carlone, Alan J. Castle, Gary Pickering, Miriam Richards Assistant Professors Charles Després, Debbie Inglis, Jean Richardson, Adonis Skandalis, Gaynor Spencer, Jeffrey Stuart, Glenn Tattersall Adjunct Professors Peter Bolli, Margaret Cliff, Peter Fernandez, Helen Fisher, Ken Giles, Javier Gracia-Garza, Isabelle Lesschaeve, Wendy McFadden-Smith, Dan Rinker, Lorne W. Stobbs, Antonet Svircev, Lining Tian Cross-Appointment Professors Stefan Brudzynski, David Gabriel, Dan McCarthy, John Middleton, Sandra Peters, Evangelia L. Tsiani Laboratory Instructors John Ciolfi, Jacinta Dano, Diane Eaton, Ellen Maissan, George Melvin |
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Administrative Assistants Caroline Barrow 905-688-5550, extension 3388 Beulah Lewis-Alexander 905-688-5550, extension 3115 Mackenzie Chown, F234 http://www/BrockU.ca/biology/graduate/ The department offers a selection of studies leading to the master's degree and the doctoral degree in the life sciences. Emphasized are Cell and Molecular Biology, Ecology and Evolution, Neurobiology and Physiology, and Plant Sciences and Oenology and Viticulture. |
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Admission Requirements Applications for admission to the MSc program, on either a full-time or a part-time basis, will be accepted from students holding the BSc (honours) degree or its equivalent from a recognized college or university, with not less than 70 percent or second-class honours standing and having adequate concentration in the life or physical sciences or mathematics. Those holding the three- or four-year BS or BSc degrees and meeting the above academic standards but lacking sufficient concentration will be considered for admission to the qualifying year program. Program Requirements Every MSc candidate must prepare and defend a thesis which demonstrates a capacity for independent work of acceptable scientific calibre. The student will be guided in all aspects of his or her graduate program by a supervisory committee. Candidates must also complete a minimum of one and one-half credits at not less than 70 percent. These must include BIOL 5P95 and at least one-half credit from BIOL 5P85, 5P86, 5P87 or 5P88. Courses are chosen in consultation with the Supervisory Committee. In addition to graduate courses, courses numbered 4(alpha)00 to 4(alpha)89 may, on decision of the candidate's Supervisory Committee, be accepted towards fulfilment of the formal course requirements. If a fourth-year course is offered jointly with a corresponding fifth-year course, students may not use both courses towards fulfilment of formal course requirements. The thesis supervisor may not offer all the courses in a candidate's program. Additional credits may be required of candidates with insufficient preparation in the area of research specialization. Language, statistical and computer proficiency examinations are not normally required but the department may require demonstration of proficiency in these areas in particular cases. |
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Admission Requirements Students will be eligible for admission to the PhD program upon attaining an MSc degree in Biological Sciences (composed of but not limited to biochemistry, biology, genetics or microbiology) from a recognized university. Alternatively, students who have successfully completed one year in the Biological Sciences MSc program may apply to be transferred to the Ph.D. program. Program Requirements A minimum of three years (36 months) of resident, fulltime study is required. Students registered full time will be expected to complete all degree requirements within five years. Students will normally be supported by the research operating grants of supervising faculty, or by provincial or federal scholarships, and will be expected to participate in the running of undergraduate laboratory courses in biology at Brock, for which a graduate teaching stipend will be received. In addition to BIOL 7F90, students proceeding from a B.Sc. must satisfactorily complete at least five half courses beyond the baccalaureate degree in biology or related fields. These courses will include BIOL 5P95 (taken in the first year of the program), BIOL 7P95, one credit from BIOL 5P85, 5P86, 5P87 or 5P88, and one-half credit from BIOL courses numbered 4(alpha)00 or higher. Students proceeding from an MSc must satisfactorily complete at least two half courses. In either instance, one of these courses will be BIOL 7P95, graduate seminar, and any other 5(alpha)00 course that is not cross-listed with any 4(alpha)00 course. Depending on their background, candidates may be required to take extra courses from either the graduate or undergraduate calendar. Continued enrolment in the Doctor of Philosophy program requires the successful completion of an oral comprehensive examination at a convenient time within the second year of the program. The comprehensive examining committee will be composed of the student's supervisor, two members of the student's supervisory committee, one additional member from the Department involved in the program and one member from a Department in the Faculty of Mathematics and Science not participating in the program. All students must enroll in BIOL 7F90 and complete a research project that culminates in a thesis and demonstrates a capacity for independent thought and work. The thesis will be evaluated initially by the student's supervisory committee, and finally by a committee composed of the supervisory committee, a representative of the Dean of Mathematics and Sciences, the Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences or the Chair's delegate, and an external examiner. The latter shall be a person knowledgeable in the field of the thesis, and considered by the supervisory committee to be at "arms-length" to the candidate. The candidate will present a public seminar on the topic of the thesis, and then be examined in closed session on the thesis and related topics. Adequate performance of the seminar and examination to the satisfaction of all members of the final committee will be required for recommendation of granting of the degree. Facilities The department is well equipped with state of the art laboratory equipment for molecular, microbiological, physiological and biochemical research. A greenhouse, plant growth chamber and facilities for terrestrial and aquatic animals are available to students. The department now runs the Wildlife Research Station in Algonquin Provincial Park, a multi-use facility where graduate students from several Universities conduct ecological research. The department's specialized equipment holdings include the following: A walk-in plant tissue culture room and associated tissue culture facility; An aquatic animal research facility including laminar flow tanks; Zeiss fluorescence microscopes and state of the art computer imaging systems; A confocal microscope; A two-photon laser scanning microscope; Computer controlled electrophysiological research stations for stimulation and recording of muscle, nerve and whole animal electrical activity; Microplate readers, fluorescence imagers and a real-time PCR facility; Biophysical spectrometers for high sensitivity absorbance, linear dichroism, circular dichroism, photoacoustic and picosecond time-resolved fluorescence; A parallel computing PC cluster for mathematical modeling of biological systems. Associated with the Department of Biological Sciences, is the Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI). CCOVI is housed in Inniskillin Hall; the research facilities include a biotechnology laboratory, viticulture laboratory, a state of the art sensory evaluation laboratory, pilot winery and a 43,000 bottle wine cellar which includes the Canadian Wine Library. |
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A selection of the following courses, determined in part by student interest, will be offered each year. Further information about the courses to be offered in any year may be obtained from the Chair of the department. Selected Topics in Biophysics A course offered using the combined biophysical resources of Brock, McMaster, Guelph and Waterloo universities. Participation in four symposia. Information concerning the course and the selection of individual symposia can be obtained from the departmental course co-ordinator. MSc Thesis The preparation and public defence of a thesis which will demonstrate the candidate's capacity for independent study. Mechanisms in Plant Biochemistry (also offered as BTEC 5P10) Molecular and chemical control of plant disease processes and development. Focus on the detailed signaling mechanisms and outcomes of signal transduction to a plant phenotype. Emphasis on case studies that highlight the different phases of this process, including the identification of signals, signal perception, signal transduction and reaction to the signal transduction cascade to produce a phenotype. BIOL5P03 Advanced Topics in Photobiology A graduate seminar/lecture course covering topics in photobiology. A series of lectures designed to introduce some of the major research areas in photobiology will be followed by student seminars on selected topics (usually two or three papers on one subject). Bioinformatics (also offered as BTEC 5P06) Genome sequencing projects. Gene discovery. Analysis of gene expression. Analysis of DNA/RNA/Protein sequence data, including mutagenic processes, molecular evolution and systematics, codon usage, reconstruction of ancient molecules and prediction of higher level structure. Advanced topics in animal and plant signal transduction pathways (also offered as BTEC 5P09) Perception of stimuli to effects on gene expression. Emphasis on the molecular/biochemical tools used to study these pathways. Advanced Sensory Evaluation of Wines This course will focus on the measurement techniques used in the sensory evaluation of wine and food. Other topics covered include the physiology of taste and olfaction, chemistry of aroma and flavour, origins of off-odors in wines, and advanced readings in current topics in sensory evaluation and sensory science. Advanced Developmental Neurobiology A seminar course on the principles of neural development. Topics include cell lineage and early determinative events, trophic functions, growth and plasticity, synaptogenesis and gene expression in the establishment of the nervous system. Current Topics in Animal Physiology Topical subjects in animal physiology, covering recent and/or controversial research in respiratory, thermoregulatory, and cardiovascular physiology and their neural control. Topics may vary from year to year depending on student interests. Advanced Systems Neurophysiology Neuronal networks and integrative mechanisms in the nervous system. Selected topics include the visual system, rhythm generators and motor function, and learning and memory. Selected Topics in Biophysics A course offered using the combined biophysical resources of Brock, McMaster, Guelph and Waterloo universities. Participation in two symposia. Information concerning the course and the selection of individual symposia can be obtained from the departmental course co-ordinator. Advanced Mutagenesis in Disease and Biotechnology (also offered as BTEC 5P50) This seminar course will explore the various mechanisms of mutagenesis of the genetic material, how they contribute to disease, and how they can be adapted to produce new biomolecules. Advanced Molecular Virology A seminar course on virus-host interaction, productive cycle, effect of virus on host cell and organism, interferon, DNA and RNA tumor viruses, viral vectors, gene therapy and recombinant viral vaccines. Immunology A seminar course on humoral and cellular immunity; structure and synthesis of immunoglobulins; origin of antibody diversity; transplantation immunity and the importance of the major histocompatibility complex; autoimmunity and allergic reactions. Advanced Recombinant DNA Techniques The purpose of this course will be to acquaint students with recent technical developments in the methodology and application of various recombinant DNA techniques at an advanced level. Fungal Genetics An examination of transmission and molecular genetics of fungi. Recent advances in gene manipulation and the contribution of studies on these organisms to general genetics principles will be covered. Bacterial Genetics (also offered as BTEC 5P59) Molecular and transmission genetics of bacteria. Bacterial genetics from early description of transformation and transduction to current developments in molecular genetics. Advanced Seminar in Population and Behavioural Ecology A seminar course dealing with fundamental concepts of population and behavioural ecology. The topics selected vary from year to year partly in response to student interests. Advanced Natural Selection and Adaptation A seminar course with an emphasis on reading and discussion of current literature encompassing empirical studies of natural selection and adaptation. The course will also include an examination of both the theoretical and empirical foundations underlying current research in the field. Advanced Insect Behaviour Exploration of selected topics in the field of insect behaviour. Topics include programming and integration of behaviour, orientation and dispersal, feeding behaviour, chemical, visual and acoustical communication, defensive behaviour, reproductive behaviour and the eusocial insects. Advanced Seminar in Insect Biology Current topics in the field of insect biology. Possible course themes include: behavioural ecology of insects, insect systematics, coevolution of plants and insects, speciation processes, evolution of insect mating systems, insect metamorphosis. Biophysical Techniques (also offered as BTEC 5P67 and CHEM 5P67) An advanced seminar/lecture course on experimental techniques in biochemistry. The focus is on understanding the theory, applications and limitations of a variety of techniques students will encounter during their graduate studies. Techniques will range from advanced spectroscopy (absorption, fluorescence, NMR, X-ray diffraction) to molecular biochemistry (DNA and protein sequencing, gel electrophoresis, radioisotope labelling). Sociobiology Advanced examination of how natural selection shapes social behaviour, with particular emphasis on the evolution of cooperation and altruism. The interplay among social interactions between individuals, physical interactions and intrinsic factors defining societies. Selected Topics in Contemporary Biology An investigation of a specific area or group of related topics in contemporary biology. Candidates for graduate degrees may present one such special topic course toward the completion of the formal course requirements for the MSc degree. Approval of the departmental Graduate Studies committee is required prior to registration. Selected Topics in Contemporary Biochemistry An investigation of a specific area or group of related topics in contemporary biochemistry. Candidates for graduate degrees may present one such special topic course. Approval of the departmental graduate studies committee is required prior to registration. Advanced Physiology of Excitable Cells In-depth study of neurons, muscle and/or neurosecretory cells at the cellular and subcellular levels. Topics will deal with ion channel activity, patch-clamp recording, intracellular messenger systems, mechanisms of neurosecretion and neural plasticity. Current Topics in Ecology and Evolution This course will cover three or four current topics in ecology and evolution and involve critical analysis and discussion of current literature. Topics will vary depending on student interests but will include concepts in behavioural ecology, community ecology, ecosystem ecology, population ecology, sexual selection, adaptation, and phylogenetic analysis. Approval of the departmental graduate studies committee is required prior to registration. Current Topics in Plant Biology An investigation of a specific area or group of related topics in contemporary plant biology. Approval of the departmental graduate studies committee is required prior to registration. Current Topics in Neurobiology and Physiology An investigation of a specific area or group of related topics in contemporary Neurobiology and Physiology. Approval of the departmental graduate studies committee is required prior to registration. Current Topics in Cell and Molecular Biology An investigation of a specific area or group of related topics in contemporary Cell and Molecular Biology. Approval of the departmental graduate studies committee is required prior to registration. Graduate Seminar An obligatory graduate course in biological sciences. Students will present seminars on one or two topics approved by the graduate co-ordinator and supervisory committee and unrelated to their thesis topic. Attendance throughout the academic year, September-April, is required. PhD Research and Thesis Preparation, public defence, and examination of a thesis that demonstrates the candidate's ability for independent thought and study at the appropriate level. PhD Graduate Seminar An obligatory graduate course in biological sciences. Students will present seminars on one or two topics approved by the graduate co-ordinator and supervisory committee and unrelated to their thesis topic. Attendance throughout the academic year, September-April, is required. |
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2004-2005 Graduate Calendar
Last updated: September 23, 2004 @ 09:12AM