UG Newsletter
Undergraduate Newsletter Department of Biology September 2022 Issue
Welcome to the September issue, and welcome back to the community of Biology! We trust that you are refreshed, settled in, and ready to pursue more endeavours for this year and beyond.
Part of the September newsletter is the start of highlighting important program reminders. It is best to consider or adjust your program at this stage of the academic year to meet the needed requirements, especially after a hectic course selection period. Please feel free to contact us (Rachel Batson or Ken Ko) for advice and help.
The September issue also marks the start of this year’s career-building opportunities, such as fellowships and research awards. Check them out and ready your submissions for these lucrative endeavours!
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Summer 2023 NSERC Research Award Opportunity
NSERC Undergraduate Summer Research Awards (USRA): Canada’s Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) underwrites these internationally-recognized, prestigious awards to stimulate student interest in research and to help cultivate tomorrow’s scientists. USRAs involve independent research and are taken up in NSERC-funded laboratories. The awarding of USRAs is carried out internally through Queen’s Biology.
The 2022-23 application forms and details are being updated and will be ready later in the fall through Awards and Opportunities. We will let everyone know once we have the new application form uploaded. You are free to use last year’s form as a guidance for composing your application for the upcoming competition. Like previous years, the due date for applications will be mid-January 2023.
The award is $6000.00 plus a supervisor top up and required fringe benefits (vacation pay is included). The top up typically enhances the entire award to match or exceed the amounts paid by other positions, such as SWEP.
Terms:
• Students must work 16 consecutive weeks (35 hours per week).
• Students are not permitted to do thesis research while holding an award.
• Students are not permitted to take courses during working hours throughout the term of their award.
Eligibility:
• Must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
• Must be registered in an honours degree program in BIOL at the time of application and must be in at least year 2 of study.
• Must have obtained at least a “B” (or B-) (65-79%) average in their previous years of study.
• If you are registered in health sciences (M.D., D.D.S., and B.Sc.N.) or have a higher degree in the natural sciences or engineering you are NOT eligible. Graduating BIOL students are eligible providing they have not started a program of graduate studies.
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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 using the link below. ASUS is readying the next round of applications for the Fall term (starting September 2022).
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 through the link below.
Queen’s Work Study Program | Registrar & Financial Aid Services (queensu.ca)
Queen’s Undergraduate Internship Program (QUIP) At-a-Glance
♦Internship program available to undergraduate students in Faculty of Arts and Science, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, School of Computing, and Faculty of Health Sciences
♦Internships are 12-16 months, paid, full-time, career-related, and professionally supervised
♦Students with a GPA of at least 1.9 can register in the program by getting approval from their Undergraduate Chair and submitting a online form to Career Services
♦Students attend workshops and receive internship search support from QUIP Coordinators
♦Students go on internship after 2nd or 3rd year of studies and return to complete their degree
Please remember that the QUIP Information Sessions, geared specifically for Arts and Science students, will be held from 6:00-7:00 pm on Thursday, September 8 via Zoom and Monday, September 19 in Ellis Auditorium. This is an opportunity for you to learn more about the Queen’s Undergraduate Internship Program (QUIP) and what the experience could bring to your degree. You will also hear from interns on their experience and have your questions answered! Register for an information session through the Events Calendar of MyCareer.
Queen’s Summer Work Experience Program (SWEP) – Career Services
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)
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Planning considerations for the 2022-2023 academic year
Now that registration is “beginning to settle” and attention turned onto courses, it is prudent to take a moment to assess your program. After the first week of classes, you should have a better sense of your courses and the adjustments needed to maximize your academic performance in your program of choice. Aspects to reflect on would be course workload, and the balance between core and interest. Many upper year courses can be scheduled flexibly between third and fourth year.
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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 “AAR (now with a new name and new look >> APR)?
The APR (previously known as AAR) is the Academic Progress (previously Advisement) 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.
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Biology Degree Plans
Review your degree plan requirements and make sure you are selecting courses you need. Degree plan requirements can be found at: http://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, & 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.
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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.
Looking for a job?
Wondering about career options or maybe considering Graduate School…then you need to visit: https://careers.queensu.ca/students
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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
Helpful Links
Information on Applying for a Course Prerequisite Waiver
Arts and Science Academic Deadlines
Arts and Science Calendar
Frequently Asked Questions
QUBS Quick Links
Website: https://qubs.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/QUBioStation
Twitter: https://twitter.com/QUBS_Director
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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