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February 2023: Issue 25

  • FGSR Highlights 
  • Professional Development Opportunities
  • Scholarships and Funding
  • Culture and Diversity Calendar
  • Grad Spotlight
  • Congratulations!
  • Open Calls

FGSR Highlights

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) is a national competition where you communicate in a fun, effective manner your research to a general audience. You will receive training, mentorship and cash prizes. The U of R sends the winner to the Western Regionals for the chance to participate in the national competition. Take a look at last year's winning 3MT presentation.


3MT Insights with Former 3MT Champion Kwaku Ayisi - Tuesday, February 7 from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Presentation Workshop: No More Dead Fish Arms - Wednesday, February 15 from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.


Heat #1 - Tuesday, February 28 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

Heat #2 - Wednesday, March 1 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m

Are you an upcoming grad and starting to think about your employment opportunities in the technology sector? Interested in making networking connections with employers and exploring your options? 


If you answered yes to any of these questions, you’ll want to take part in Digital Futures Reverse Career Fair on Wednesday, March 1 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.. In this event you, the students, will be at the “other side of the table”, a unique opportunity to meet employers in the Tech sector in SK. The deadline to register is Feb 14.

Coffee with the Dean

Every month, FGSR Dean Dr. Aziz Douai meets graduate students to discuss issues important to graduate student success. Our upcoming “Coffee with the Dean” meeting will feature URWISE (Women In Science & Engineering) members and a representative from the University of Regina Women's Centre. Join us to celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science in CK 226 on Friday, February 17 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.; we will have coffee, tea and donuts. All are welcome. Register here

Having a good student-supervisor relationship is more important than you think for the success of your research. There is a lot to learn and there is little information out there. So don’t miss the chance to attend the panel event that will help you learn how to build a mutually respectful and successful student-supervisor relationship!

Graduate Student Virtual Meetup

Would you like to meet other graduate students but can't come to any in-person events? Do you just prefer online events? Come to the inaugural Graduate Student Virtual Meetup. You will get to meet other students from other disciplines in a small group setting. We can help you build your network and make some connections to other students. Please register to attend this event on Thursday, February 16 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. 

Diversity Graduate Students Association Potluck

The Diversity Graduate Student Association group invites you to come and join other students in celebrating Black History Month. In addition to games with prizes, snacks will be provided. Please feel free to bring something to share. Join us on Friday, February 17 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in ED 114. Please register if you can make it. 

The Diversity Graduate Student Association is for Black, Indigenous, and racialized graduate students. The hope is to provide community, support, education, and mentorship while making the University of Regina a more welcoming place.

INSPIRE Lightning Research Presentations

Calling out to all U of R graduate students! The Interdisciplinary Series for Professional Intellectual and Research Engagement (INSPIRE) will be hosting its inaugural Lightning Research Presentation Series on February 17th, from 10:30 to 12:00 p.m in CK 226. The event will consist of several short research presentations (5-8 minutes in length) followed by a two-minute question period. All graduate students at the UofR are welcome to join and/ or participate in the event If you have interest in presenting at this upcoming event, please email us at inspire@uregina.ca 

A New, Really Big Deal, U of R Housing's Really Big Deal

Grad Night at the Owl

Grad Night is your chance to take a break and talk to your colleagues. You now have the choice between free nachos, free veggie platter or free fried pickles. Come join us at the Owl on Wednesday, February 8 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm.

Call for Outstanding Supervisor Nominations

The Award for Outstanding Graduate Supervision recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated a record of excellent mentorship and supervision of graduate students at the University of Regina. The winner will be nominated for the Canadian Association of Graduate Studies (CAGS) Award for Outstanding Graduate Mentorship. The nomination deadline is March 31. Please nominate a supervisor!

Thesis Submission & Convocation Deadlines

Thesis submission deadlines: 

Winter term PhD thesis submission deadline: February 3, 2023.

Winter term Master’s thesis submission deadline: February 17, 2023.

For more information about thesis submission and defense email: grad.defense@uregina.ca


Convocation: 

2023 Fall (October) Convocation application deadline: July 31, 2023.

For more information about applying to graduate email: grad.defense@uregina.ca

Professional Development Opportunities

3MT Support & Deadlines

3MT Insights with Former 3MT Champion Kwaku Ayisi - Tuesday, February 7 from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Presentation Workshop: No More Dead Fish Arms - Wednesday, February 15 from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.


Heat #1 - Tuesday, February 28 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

Heat #2 - Wednesday, March 1 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m

Digital Research Skills Certificate

The non-credit Certificate in Digital Research Skills for graduate students formally recognizes graduate students who have taken DRS workshops designed to develop their digital research skills. The Certificate is offered to all graduate and postdoctoral students who are interested in developing their digital research skills and engaging in the graduate professional development community at the University of Regina.


Copyright and Your Academic Work - Thursday, February 2 from 11:00 to 12:00 p.m.

Scoping and Systematic Reviews - Monday, February 13 from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m.

Graduate Teaching Enhancement Program

Teaching Development I - Thursday, February 2 from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.

Teaching Development II - Thursday, February 16 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.

iGPS & Grad Community Workshops

Digital Futures Reverse Career Fair - Wed., Mar. 1, 2023 1:00 p.m. - Wed., Mar. 1, 2023 4:00 p.m.

Coffee with the Dean - Fri., Feb. 17, 2023 9:30 a.m. - Fri., Feb. 17, 2023 10:30 a.m.

Student Supervisor Relationships 101 Thu., Feb. 2, 2023 6:30 p.m. - Thu., Feb. 2, 2023 8:00 p.m.

Graduate Student Virtual Meetup Thu., Feb. 16, 2023 12:00 p.m. - Thu., Feb. 16, 2023 1:00 p.m.

Diversity Graduate Students Association Potluck- Fri., Feb. 17, 2023 7:00 p.m. - Fri., Feb. 17, 2023 9:00 p.m.

Grad Night at the Owl - Wed., Feb. 8, 2023 4:00 p.m. - Wed., Feb. 8, 2023 6:00 p.m.

Associate Deans Office Hours – Every Wednesday, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.


Thesis Thursdays

Thursday, February 2, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Thursday, February 9, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Thursday, February 23, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.


Submitting a Research Ethics Board (REB) Application Using Converis Demonstration

Thursday, February 16 from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. - https://uregina-ca.zoom.us/j/97387101527

Friday, February 24 from 11:30 to 12:30 p.m. - https://uregina-ca.zoom.us/j/97387101527

Wednesday, March 1 from 2:30-4:30 - ED 548


U of R Career Webinars - Centre for Experiential and Service Learning

Job Search, Resumes, Interviews, Educational/Career Planning - For U of R Students

Seeking summer, part-time or full-time work? Re-evaluating your educational/career direction? Get inspired! See their schedule for free career webinars


Mitacs EDGE Training

Education, Development, Growth, Engagement (EDGE) by Mitacs Training offers professional training to complement your education and enhance your research experience by providing you with skills that are in-demand from today’s workforce. 


The following workshops are available:

  • Applying the principles of sound leadership and team building
  • Building your project network map
  • Framing your project in a masterful presentation
  • Incorporating reconciliation, equity, diversity, and inclusion into your project
  • Mastering the elevator pitch
  • Project and time management
  • Refined project communication plan


To register, students need to create an account or log in on EDGE. For any questions, please contact us at training@mitacs.ca  

Ongoing Supports & Services


Immigration and Visa inquiries (in partnership with UR International): Thursdays from 10-11 a.m. Zoom meeting link here


Advising and Career Education (ACE) / Centre for Experiential and Service Learning (CESL)

Career Education: student.employment@uregina.ca

Website: www.uregina.ca/careercentre

Scholarships and Funding

Regional Graduate Student Scholarships

Applications are now being accepted for the Regional Graduate Student Scholarships. If you are a student in the first year of your thesis-based graduate degree and your project is on an energy related topic, then you are eligible for one of the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologiest (CSPG) Regional Graduate Scholarships. The application deadline is February 10, 2023.


Find out more information about upcoming scholarship reminders and deadlines at the links below:


Remember that there are many more scholarship opportunities on our Scholarships web page. Please go through each and every link to find what you are fully eligible for.

Culture and Diversity Calendar

Culturally significant dates and celebrations include: 


Black History Month

1- World Hijab Day

3- Setsubun (Buddhism)

11 – International Day of Women and Girls in Science

18 – Maha Shivratri (Hinduism)

20 – World Day of Social Justice

20 – Family Day

21 – International Mother Language Day

22 – Pink Shirt Day (Canada)


For more information on other culturally significant days, please visit FGSR Diversity Calendar.

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If there is an event, celebration, or milestone you would like to see highlighted in upcoming issues of the Grad Digest, please let us know! You can contact us via email: grad.engagement@uregina.ca

Grad Spotlight

Cultivator Build a Startup

It was great to see so much interest at Cultivator's Build a Startup workshop last month. A big thank you to Ryan Serbu of Cultivator and David Crossman, Co-Founder of Citrus and Hack Regina, for sharing their insights with us.

Congratulations!

Please join us in congratulating fellow graduate students who have successfully defended their PhD dissertations: 


Ali Mahmud A Alarbah, PhD in Petroleum Systems Engineering

Thesis Title: Novel synthesized transition metals liquid catalysts for heavy oil recovery

Supervisors: Dr Saman Azadbakht and Dr Amr Henni


Aria Rahimbakhsh, PhD Petroleum Systems Engineering

Thesis Title: Effects of high permeability channel parameters on VAPEX performance: A numerical and experimental approach utilizing the reservoir-on-the-chip

Supervisor: Dr Farshid Torabi


JinJu Liu, PhD in Petroleum Systems Engineering

Thesis Title: Characterization of fracture networks using tracer tests in a hydrocarbon reservoir

Supervisor: Dr Daoyong (Tony) Yang


Sharandeep Singh Pandher, PhD in Statistics

Thesis Title: Efficient estimation for time series models

Supervisors: Dr Shakhawat Hossain and Dr Andrei Volodin


Shikai Yang, PhD in Petroleum Systems Engineering

Thesis Title: Ensemble-based framework and its applications to characterizing growth and propagation dynamics of wormhole networks and steam chambers in a heavy oil reservoir

Supervisor: Dr Daoyong (Tony) Yang

Open Calls


Cultural Creativity Session at the ta-tawâw Centre


Please come out to the ta-tawâw Student Centre (RIC 108) to learn some Indigenous bead-work skills and create some simple projects (or more advanced if you wish). We will provide instructions and materials for you. The Cultural Creativity sessions run each Tuesday from 4 - 6 pm and Friday from 1 - 4 pm, with our instructor Connie Mussell.


Postdoctoral Fellowships for Black Scholars


Black scholars are among the most underrepresented in postdoctoral positions, tenured faculty positions, and in University leadership. Toronto Metropolitan University is implementing this program with the goals of building a more diverse and inclusive academe, and supporting the flourishing of Black scholarship.


UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Become an SDGs Multiplier Free Certificate


This free, three-hour training will help you reflect, share, act on the SDGs, and get a Certificate at the end. You will review the wider context of the SDGs and experience brainstorming strategies for working towards the goals. At the end of the session, you will be able to organize and facilitate your own SDG training workshop for others. 


Training will take place on February 10 from 1:00-4:30 at Luther College. Sign-up to ensure your spot as space is limited: SDG Expo & Multiplier Training Tickets, Fri, 10 Feb 2023 at 1:00 PM | Eventbrite. Email colleen.strauch@uregina.ca if you have any questions.


What are Universities For? Exploring roles, challenges, conflicting tensions, and promising re-imaginings


There are 10 free spots for graduate students. Registrations for the fee-based symposium are hard capped at 180 (Symposium registration is $325* & includes breakfast, lunch, & dinner for each day: May 4,5, & 6; *with opportunities for sessional and graduate student subsidies) Registration for the free pre-symposium panel May 3, 2023 at Darke Hall is capped at 450. This session is hosted by President Jeff Keshen and will be moderated by the award-winning journalist, Nahlah Ayed and recorded for CBC IDEAS. Registration information for both events can be found here.


Cultivator's 4th Birthday and 24 Hour Startup Pitches


Our 4th Birthday takes place on February 4th to watch the pitches of 24 HourStartup and celebrate another year of success with Cultivator. Lots of food and drinks and opportunities to connect with the Saskatchewan tech ecosystem.


How to Make a Livable Wage While Being a Student


The increasing costs associated with post-secondary education and living expenses have become a paramount concern for international students throughout the country. International students are faced with paying exorbitant tuition fees, which are approximately three times higher than those of domestic students, despite often being integral contributors to crucial sectors such as essential services. While income inequality is a pervasive societal problem, as individuals, we can undertake certain measures to enhance our financial stability as students. The workshop will take place on February 4th, Saturday, from 7 pm to 9 pm at the University of Regina. The registration fee for the course is 20$. Email Tayef Ahmed at infotayef@gmail.com and he will ensure that you are registered for the course. If students face financial barriers, he will waive the fee.



NSERC's Science, Action! Video contest


The Science, Action! video contest offers graduate students a chance to win cash prizes for their video about NSERC or FRQNT-funded research. Working with a professor who holds or has held an NSERC or FRQNT grant, graduate students are challenged to film or animate short, creative videos that tell a simple story about fascinating science. The video must show the benefits of research in the natural sciences and engineering fields and make the connection between basic sciences and the Sustainable Development Goals. There are six prizes of $4000 available!  


Mitacs, Open Projects Request for Graduate Researchers

Open Projects or (Request for Researchers (RFRs) service at Mitacs is dedicated to Businesses and not-for-profit organizations looking for the right researcher to support them in their innovation projects. Mitacs works with domestic and international partners to circulate your opportunity throughout our post-secondary networks to find you candidates who are the best fit and put their skills and knowledge into practice. If you find the right project, Mitacs will connect you to the company to discuss and develop the Mitacs research proposal. If you are a researcher (undergrad, grad student or postdoc), explore the available projects using the filters, and apply using the link at the end of the project description. For more information, please contact Fatima Dargah fdargah@mitacs.ca


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FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES AND RESEARCH

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