UG Newsletter
Undergraduate Newsletter Department of Biology March 2024 Issue
Welcome back we hope you had a good reading week and were able to relax and enjoy your time!
Thanks so much to Avery, Lizzy, Jenna, and Christina as well of course to Maria Aristizabal for coordination, and to George DiCenzo and Paul Martin for the very effective demo items! And I saw the QR code being accessed multiple times – Great! In summary, we got a lot of interest yesterday for sure.
March Open House
Many thanks to the DSC reps and teaching staff for all their effort to promote Biology to future students considering biology as a career path. This years March Open House was a very successful event. Thank you all!
Are you going into 4th year in 2024-2025?
BIOL 537 – Honours Thesis Course
Faculty Project Profiles and Application are now updated for 2024-2025 and can be found @ https://biology.queensu.ca/academics/undergraduate/courses/honours-thesis-course/Application deadline: March 18, 2024
BIOL 5XX – Advanced Honours Seminars: The BIOL 5xx Advanced Honours Seminars Application form is up-to-date for the 2024-25 academic year and can be found @ https://biology.queensu.ca/academics/undergraduate/courses/advanced-honours-seminars/. Application deadline: May 10, 2024
More Undergraduate Research Opportunities Through the Research Mentorship Courses BIOL538/539/540
Biology 538 (3.0), 539 (3.0) and 540 (6.0) offer individual students the opportunity to undertake a laboratory research practicum under the supervision of a biology faculty member. In addition to work in the host lab, students typically participate in specialized seminar series or lab-specific journal clubs and conduct research towards both a major paper and a seminar. These mentorships offer flexibility to accommodate both students and faculty. Further details are available @ Research Mentorship - Queen's Biology Department (queensu.ca)
BIOL 404 - Summer 2024
BIOL 404: April 29th to May 10th (the last date to add/drop the course is April 29th at mid-night)
Course details can be found @ https://130.15.90.125/BioLab/biol404.html
BIOL 404: Techniques in Molecular Biology (Units: 3.00) Intensive laboratory work (8h/day) to be carried out over two and a half weeks in May. Practical work includes DNA isolations, DNA cloning, PCR, production of proteins, biochemical and immunological analysis of proteins.
BIOL 418 - Summer 2024
BIOL 418: May 6th to May 17th (the last date to add/drop the course is May 6th at mid-night)
BIOL 418: Fisheries Techniques (Units: 3.00) This course will introduce students to many "hands-on" techniques currently used in fisheries. This will include fish identification, different capture techniques for fisheries assessment, bioacoustics, environmental monitoring, techniques for ageing fish, diet analysis, fish tracking (biotelemetry approaches), and data management.
The Gray Family Student Initiatives Fund (GFSIF)
This Fund was established though a gift to Queen’s University by Gordon Gray, BCom’50 in January 2004. The GFSIF was established to "provide annual support to any Arts and Science student, or group of students, who would like to write a report, attend a conference, do non-profit work, or other initiatives in the area of preservation of wildlife species.”. The grant guidelines stipulate that “Grants are meant to enable students to participate in non-credit opportunities that will provide them with meaningful lessons realized by working with others in helping conserve wildlife.”
In the upcoming fiscal year (May 2024 to April 2025) the amount available from this endowed account is approximately $10,000. We invite undergraduate students to apply to the GFSIF by submitting an application (up to two pages) with the following information: i) a description of their initiative; ii) how their initiative speaks to the intent of the grant; and iii) a budget outlining the amount requested. An awards committee, with representation from at least three departments/schools within the Faculty of Arts and Science, will rank the proposals and suggest fund allocations, which will then be forward to the Dean of Arts and Science for approval. Once approved by the Dean, the successful applicants will be notified in early March.
Please submit complete applications as a single PDF file to Brian Cumming, Department Head - Biology (cummingb@queensu.ca) by February 23, 2024.
Summer & Part-Time Job Fair – Tues, Jan 23 10:30 AM - 3:30 PM in Grant Hall
Looking for a job for the Summer months? Don't miss the Summer & Part-Time Job Fair at Grant Hall on January 23, 2024. Whether you are looking for full- or part-time work, in Kingston or elsewhere, this is your chance to explore opportunities and meet in-person with representatives from 40 employers, including QUBS! View the exhibitor guide for more information about employers attending the fair. At the Summer & Part-Time Job Fair, you can also access valuable career services, such as on-site resume review and one-on-one career advising.
This event is open to ALL students of ALL years. Registration is NOT required, but you are encouraged to register in MyCareer
BIOL212 students planting seeds for Population Module
ASURF – The Arts & Science Undergraduate Research Fund
Another important source for funding undergraduate research endeavours is offered by ASUS. As stated on the ASURF website, the “Arts and Science Research Fund (ASURF) was implemented to foster a community amongst undergraduate scholars and promote a greater investment in undergraduate research”. Check out ASURF!
Queen’s Work Study Program
The Queen's Work Study program provides eligible students the opportunity to receive priority for certain part-time positions during a specified period of study. Many of these opportunities can be focused on undergraduate research experience in the various labs. Check out the details and the application @ Queen’s Work Study Program | Registrar & Financial Aid Services (queensu.ca)
Queen’s Summer Work Experience Program (SWEP) – Career Services
BIOL 300 PM Sasha Main and friends 2
Career Services operates the Summer Work Experience Program (SWEP), a unique Queen's program that helps faculty members create challenging and rewarding summer jobs. Open to all year levels, a SWEP position will get you engaged full-time in an active research program for up to 16 weeks during the summer months. SWEP positions are competitive, so make sure to do your research about the positions you are applying for, and to show your interest and enthusiasm. Keep updated with the details as they develop SWEP positions for next summer. Bookmark the below link for convenient access.Summer Work Experience Program (SWEP) | Career Services (queensu.ca)
Eckert desert trip 2023 3_DesertEcologyFieldCourse
More Undergraduate Research Opportunities Through the Research Mentorship Courses BIOL538/539/540
Biology 538 (3.0), 539 (3.0) and 540 (6.0) offer individual students the opportunity to undertake a laboratory research practicum under the supervision of a Biology faculty member. In addition to work in the host lab, students typically participate in specialized seminar series or lab-specific journal clubs and conduct research towards both a major paper and a seminar. These mentorships offer flexibility to accommodate both students and faculty. Further details are available @ Research Mentorship - Queen's Biology Department (queensu.ca)
REMINDERS
Did you know? … In order to encourage students to explore subject matter outside their program of study and to promote interdisciplinary study, all upper-year Arts and Science students will be permitted to designate up to 6.0 units of degree-credit courses for pass/fail grading, thereby minimizing any risk to the students’ GPA. Such courses designated for pass/fail grading will be referred to as Personal Interest Credits (PICs). https://www.queensu.ca/artsci/students-at-queens/the-personal-interest-credit
Wondering about how many courses you can take from other Faculties and Schools towards your degree plan/program?
A maximum of 6.0 units from courses offered by other Faculties and Schools may be counted towards the Program and/or Plan requirements of any degree in the Faculty of Arts and Science, in addition to any such courses allowed as either Core or Option course requirements.
All course codes listed in section 7 of the Academic Programs page are Faculty of Arts and Science courses. https://www.queensu.ca/academic-calendar/arts-science/academic-programs/
What is the “APR”?
The APR is the Academic Progress Report. It is a handy tool that reviews your degree requirements, track plan progression, and it tells you what you have satisfied and what you still need to complete for your core degree plan requirements. Click here to Run an APR: https://www.queensu.ca/artsci/undergrad-students/academic-requirements-reports-in-solus. Students are expected to run their APR both prior to and after registration. The APR will help to flag potential concerns with respect to your registration and degree requirements.
Course Mapping Worksheet! This worksheet will help you set up a detailed road map for your courses so you can stay on track to meet your degree requirements.
Need help with your studies?
Please visit Student Academic Success Services (SASS) at http://sass.queensu.ca/. SASS offers academic support to students who wish to develop their skills in critical thinking, reading, learning, studying, writing and self management.
Do you need to find a place to study on Campus?
Check out this PDF layout of study spaces in the Biosciences complex!
Looking for a job?
Wondering about career options or maybe considering Graduate School…then you need to visit: https://careers.queensu.ca/students
Wondering how to contact your course program associate regarding work associated with the lab component of core courses?
BIOL 102: biol102@queensu.ca
BIOL 103: biol103@queensu.ca
BIOL 200: biol200@queensu.ca
BIOL 205: biol205@queensu.ca
BIOL 206: biol206@queensu.ca
BIOL 212: biol212@queensu.ca
BIOL 300: biol300@queensu.ca
Biology Degree Plans
Review your degree plan requirements and make sure you are selecting courses you need. Degree plan requirements can be found at: https://www.queensu.ca/artsci/
Biological Foundations List - IMPORTANT!
It is very important to keep this GPA requirement in mind throughout your program, starting with first year. To be admitted to 400 and 500 level Biology courses, you will need a minimum GPA of 2.0 in any previously taken courses from Biological Foundations list.
The Biological Foundations List is BIOL 102, 103, 200, 212, (201, 202), 205, 206, 300, 330, 334, 339, and 341 (302, 303).
To be admitted to BIOL 400 and 500 level Biology courses you will need a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in any previously taken courses from this list.
Helpful Links
Information on Applying for a Course Prerequisite Waiver
Arts and Science Academic Deadlines
Arts and Science Calendar
QUBS Quick Links
Website: https://qubs.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/QUBioStation
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/qubsoutreach
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/QUBScam
Looking for a job? Quick Link
Looking for study and travel opportunities? Quick Link
BIOLOGY Undergraduate Office
Monday to Friday 9:30am – 12:00pm & 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Rm. 3109d, BIOSC Complex
ug.biology@queensu.ca
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