Monday 03 December 2007

Biochemistry Year-End Party

The Biochemistry Department gathered at Hart House to celebrate another successful year together. Wonderful food, light-hearted entertainment and great company made the event a highlight for all.

Click here for some photos of the celebration.

Enjoying a deliciuos buffet at the Year End Party.

Thursday 25 October 2007

Small chaperones, aging and resistance to stress.

Dr. Robert Tanguay, Professor in the Department of Medicine, Université Laval, presented the above titled seminar in our George Connell Lecture Series.

Robert Tanguay (left) with host John Glover.

July and August

Biochemistry Baseball Team does the Department Proud

What's a long, warm summer in Toronto without baseball? Eager for the sound of cheering crowds (or at least the occasional yawn from 1 or 2 onlookers) students, staff and profs. from the MSB formed the Biochemistry team, aptly named "They Might be Mutants". We had a glorious winning season this year and lots of post-game socializing.

Come out and join next summer's team!

Click here for some game photos and videos.

The (sometime) awesome Mutants.

Thursday 12 July 2007

5th Annual Biochemistry Golf Day

A sunny, warm and windy day greeted 24 biochemists who formed 6 teams to play in our annual Golf Day. Pairing of novices with pros in a "best-ball" format made for a low pressure and very entertaining day at Dentonia Golf Course in Toronto.

Rounded out with some socializing and dinner, a great day was had by all!

Click here to take a swing through some photos of the event.

Trading in pipettes for irons on Golf Day

Thursday 21 June 2007

Benjamin Schachter Memorial Lectureship

The third annual Benjamin Schachter Memorial Lectureship invited back one of
the Department's graduates, John Challice, to speak on the topic, '"Leaving the Bench: From Scientist to Scientific Journalist and Publisher!"

John has been a scientific writer since his undergraduate days, writing for university newspapers both in Calgary and at U. of T. Following graduate work in the Department, he launched his own writing and publishing company, "Scripts: The Writers Group", before accepting a position with Prentice Hall as Assistant Vice President and Editor-in-Chief, Science. He is currently Vice President and Publisher Higher Education for the U.S. division of Oxford University Press.

A highly engaging speaker, John delivered an entertaining lecture that described the various turning points in his development as a writer and subsequently as a publisher. He also offered valuable advice for others who would like to embark on a similar career path as well as some thoughts on choosing careers outside of academia and industry.

From 1934-1939 Dr. Benjamin (Benny) Schachter worked in the Department of Biochemistry conducting research on female sex hormones, isolating and identifying conjugated oestrone sulphate (Premarin). He worked from 1939-1949 at Canada Packers, starting the Research and Development Department, researching hormones and vitamins and set up and headed a plant for the synthetic production of vitamin D3, essential to the war effort. From 1951-1972 Dr. Schachter founded and then operated Superior Biochemicals producing cortisone and other pharmaceutical and industrial chemicals. To honour Benny Schachter's memory, a donation was made to the Department by his family. The funds are being used to support an annual lectureship in his memory. The BGSU and graduate students select and host the speaker who is a graduate from our Department.

John Challice (second from right) with BGSU president Eden Fussner (right), his graduate supervisor Jacqueline Segall, and grandchildren of Benjamin Schachter, Cobi Druxerman (left) and Jonathan Schachter (right).

Tuesday 20 June 2007

Roula Andreopoulos promoted to Senior Lecturer

The Department was pleased to learn that Dr. Roula Andreopoulos has been promoted to the rank of Senior Lecturer.

Roula's primary duty is to coordinate BCH210 Introductory Biochemistry. With over 1,000 undergraduate students registered from a wide variety of programs, the organization of this course is quite a challenge - a challenge that Roula has taken on with energy and drive. Recently, Roula has honed her lecturing skills in BCH210 during the summer session to a diverse class of over 200 students.

Roula also acts as an Instructor in our BCH370 Laboratory Course in Biochemical Techniques. Congratulations to Roula!

Roula (centre) celebrates her promotion
with colleagues at the Hart House Grill.

Tuesday 29 May 2007

Dept. of Biochemistry Annual Research Day

Held on campus this year, the combination of a gorgeous sunny day, 230 enthusiastic biochemists, terrific science and a barbeque lunch in a beautiful setting combined to make for a very successful Research Day.

For Research Day photos, click here.

The Department of Biochemistry - 2007

Wednesday 18 April 2007

Dissociating the dual roles of AIF in neuronal death and survival

Dr. Ruth Slack, Professor in the Ontario Health Research Institute, University of Ottawa, presented the above titled seminar in our George Connell Lecture Series.

Ruth Slack enjoys post-seminar
refreshment with host Angus McQuibban.

Wednesday 21 February 2007

Departmental Ski Day

A beautiful sunny day and warm temperatures ensured that Ski Day was a big hit this year. About 35 students and faculty took a break from experiments and hit the slopes at Blue Mountain Resort in Collingwood (on Georgian Bay).

A big thanks to Sian Patterson and Karen Rothfels for organizing the event.

For some photos of Ski Day click here.

Riding the lift at Blue Mountain.

Saturday 13 January 2007

First Joint Open House hosted by Biochemistry and Medical Genetics & Microbiology

This year, the Departments of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics & Microbiology merged their annual graduate studies Open House events. The all-day Joint Open House featured presentations on research opportunities in Toronto and how to apply to grad school, as well as poster sessions by grad students and student-guided tours of research facilities. Delicious meals provided plenty of opportunity for visitors to get information from both faculty and grad students.

For photos of the event, click here

Chairs Howard Lipshitz (left) and Reinhart Reithmeier
are the picture of inter-departmental harmony at the Joint Open House.