MBP Olympics 2010 on Vimeo.

“The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part; the essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well.” Pierre de Coubertin

The words of the Founder of the International Olympic Committee, could not sound more appropriate. On Friday August 20th, about 100 students, [...]]]>

MBP Olympics 2010 on Vimeo.

“The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part; the essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well.” Pierre de Coubertin

The words of the Founder of the International Olympic Committee, could not sound more appropriate. On Friday August 20th, about 100 students, staff and even some faculty members divided into 10 teams and fought valiantly at the 3rd annual MBP Olympics. These Olympics, unlike the slightly more famous ones you see on TV every four years, require an exquisite balance of physical strength, intellectual prowess, mental toughness, and water-proof clothing!

Like the beginning of every epic battle, the afternoon started with burgers, hotdogs and pop. Then the 10 teams (Barberians, C7 Hotties, Gangastz, Hedgeclippers, Lambda, Mouse Models, Photodynamic Super Humans, Rad 2 Ur Face, Short FUSe, and the Artefacts) ventured onto the main fields of Sunnybrook Park in an action-packed afternoon.

The events were scattered across the park as teams went head-to-head, rotating between events. Three-Legged Frisbee, California Kickball, Danger Zone were just some of the events that were featured this year in the MBP Olympics. The video and the rest of the pictures (see below), capture the intensity, passion and skills on display this past Friday, which I believe will go down as the best MBP Olympics yet.

Although, everyone was a winner in our books, journalistic integrity compels me to report the actual winners. Therefore, congratulations to Lambda Lambda Lambda for taking 1st place, Gangastz for 2nd place and Best Spirit award, and the vastly undermanned team led by Dr. Greg Stanisz, Barberians for third place. Also, a big shout out goes to the three PIs that were able to put on hold their busy schedule to participate in the events: Dr. Graham Wright, Dr.Anne Martel and Dr. Greg Stanisz. All of which, brought their many years of training and research experience to answer questions such as this brain teaser: “True or False? Oxygenated blood is red, deoxygenated is blue”.

I would also like to praise the organizing committee that for the past couple of months had to jump through hoops to put the event together: Janet Denbeigh, Sarah Cuddy, Arvin Arani, Firas Moosvi, Anna Maeva, Shawn Stapleton, Charles Tremblay-Darveau, Cameron Wright and Ian Pang.

The Romans used to say “Mens sana in corpore sano” (a healthy mind in a healthy body) and here in the Medical Biophysics department we take what take anything written in latin very seriously!

[Show as slideshow]

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We can all agree that the Digital Age has changed the way we communicate and the level of intimacy associated with it.

Jin Lee new graphic called “10 Levels of Intimacy in Communication” definitely opens the floor for further discussion. What do you think of the levels? Are [...]]]>

We can all agree that the Digital Age has changed the way we communicate and the level of intimacy associated with it.

Jin Lee new graphic called “10 Levels of Intimacy in Communication” definitely opens the floor for further discussion. What do you think of the levels? Are there similarities in research or scientific communication?

[via Design Year Book]

Dr. Robyn Silverman describes her experience dealing with her academic advisor via http://www.abdsurvivalguide.com/, and has 5 useful tips that I’m sure we can all use:

(1)  Remember it is “critique” not “criticism”: Your advisor is not criticizing you; he [or she] is doing his [or her] job and critiquing your work so that it [...]]]>

Dr. Robyn Silverman describes her experience dealing with her academic advisor via http://www.abdsurvivalguide.com/, and has 5 useful tips that I’m sure we can all use:

(1)  Remember it is “critique” not “criticism”: Your advisor is not criticizing you; he [or she] is doing his [or her] job and critiquing your work so that it is of the highest quality possible. He [or she] must critique your dissertation so that it gets better! I remember looking at my first draft after completing my last draft of my dissertation. What a difference! Think of your advisor as the person who is going to get you from good to great. It‘s easy to settle, but really, is that what a Ph.D. is all about?

(2)  Realize that you do not need to be flawless: Sometimes we feel like we are supposed to be “perfect” at this level of our graduate career when in actuality we are still learning!  After all, that is what this process is all about, right? When you give yourself permission to have faults, you can prepare yourself for the feedback you will receive from your advisor.  Remember that once you know the “jack in the box” is going to spring, it’s not nearly as scary when it does.

(3)  Give yourself a break: When our work is returned to us with red pen marks all over it, our first inclination is often to want to fix the problem immediately. That’s only natural. However, when emotions are running high, it‘s difficult to get perspective. Calm yourself down, read through the dissertation, put it down, and take a break. Cool down, stretch, take a shower, or do a yoga class or exercise walk. When you get back to your dissertation, you will be able to see your dissertation through fresh eyes.

(4) Get some support: Talk to a friend, a colleague, another faculty member, a coach, or a spouse about how you are feeling. Talking about the stress you are experiencing will provide you with much needed relief and release. Going through the feedback with a supportive person whom you trust will help you to determine whether you’re internalizing comments about your work as personal criticisms of you.

(5) Leave the little child at home: What child? The one inside of you! Sometimes we all want to just crawl into the fetal position and sniffle between gasps of “I don’t wanna!” Dissertations are grown-up stuff. Upon seeing your advisor or picking up your dissertation draft, compose yourself. Remind yourself that you are your advisor’s equal, you are worthy, and you are an adult!

[from All But Dissertation Survival Guide]

Simon Xie’s latest post on the MaRS blog covers a topic that has been discussed here at mbpgsu.ca in various occasions (type ‘career’ in the search box of this website). Not wanting to dedicate your life to research might be looked down upon, but let’s face it: the competition to become a [...]]]>

Simon Xie’s latest post on the MaRS blog covers a topic that has been discussed here at mbpgsu.ca in various occasions (type ‘career’ in the search box of this website). Not wanting to dedicate your life to research might be looked down upon, but let’s face it: the competition to become a PI it’s pretty steep! So if you dare to look about possible alternatives to academia, be not afraid because the options are there. Simon’s post illustrates some career alternatives and was inspired by the recent “Alternative Careers in Science Symposium“:

If, like me, you find something instinctively captivating about topics such as human cognition, or biochemical pathways or subatomic particles, chances are you’ve taken the long, arduous, academic path of becoming a scientist. Congratulations. I guess that means you’re either a researcher or a teacher… or does it?

What if what you want in your job doesn’t involve slaving away at a lab bench or scribbling on a blackboard. Do you have an exit strategy? Are there really alternate career paths that are right for you?

I recently attended the Alternative Careers in Science Symposium hosted by The Hospital for Sick Children, moderated by 2010 Premier’s Summit Award Winner, Dr. Janet Rossant. The array of experts there all started as researchers but ended up on different routes, the most dissimilar personalities of which included a patent agent, a global health program officer, a former consultant and an entrepreneur. While all of them brought their unique perspectives and experiences to the table and shared tips, there were some common themes. Entrepreneurs take note: some parallels can be drawn.

Think outside the box. When working in a lab for a number of years, it is almost impossible to exactly find a position that incorporates your specialized skills and research achievements in a non-related field. Solution: Don’t try to. Identify what your other strengths are, most important of which are transferable skills such as problem solving, time management and decision making.

Don’t be afraid to diversify your education. Consider programs that will complement your scientific background as opposed to reinforcing it. For example, pursuing an MBA or a program in journalism are excellent portals to fields that can utilize personnel versed in the scientific tongue.

Networking is the key. While you might be able to find that perfect job description on your own, it doesn’t hurt to know someone that knows someone who knows about a potential opportunity. It doesn’t need to be scary. Professional networking can take many forms: from a simple chat in front of Tim Horton’s to connecting via Facebook — done tastefully, of course.

Be persistent and stay persistent. You will fail. Most likely quite frequently. It’s all a matter of how you deal with failure, denial or rejection and identify what could be better. Most of the time, it’s out of your control, so don’t take it personally. Try, try again.

Ride the wave. When people comment on how they got their amazing position, some will boil it down to “luck”. But luck doesn’t have to be a magical, arbitrary force. The amount of opportunity is related to your expertise and whether it’s in demand. One presenter attributed his hiring to funding for and political interest in the Human Genome Project back in 2003. Following social trends and anticipating where expertise will be required is part of making your own luck.

Have a (career) map. It’s relatively easy to alter your mindset and conclude what your end goal is going to be. But while you can fall in love with the idea of transitioning from researcher to a scientific writer, the path getting there may not be as trivial as you expect. Take the time and make a map of what requirements, hurdles and personal milestones are involved so you can be prepared and stay on track.

[from: MaRS Blog]

After watching this clip for the United Way website, I couldn’t help but wonder how many MBP students do volunteer work. I’m sure many students are involved in different volunteer activities but don’t really broadcast it. I want to know about your extracurricular activities, so please leave a comment below and tell me [...]]]>

After watching this clip for the United Way website, I couldn’t help but wonder how many MBP students do volunteer work. I’m sure many students are involved in different volunteer activities but don’t really broadcast it. I want to know about your extracurricular activities, so please leave a comment below and tell me what type of social service you do or better yet submit a post describing your volunteer activity.

The long May weekend is over, and looking towards the next three months finding motivation to be productive during those long sunny days is going to be an enormous task. Last summer, I was able to be relatively productive (there is always room for improvement!), by following these suggestions from The All-But-Dissertation Survival Guide, an [...]]]>

The long May weekend is over, and looking towards the next three months finding motivation to be productive during those long sunny days is going to be an enormous task. Last summer, I was able to be relatively productive (there is always room for improvement!), by following these suggestions from The All-But-Dissertation Survival Guide, an online newsletter available through www.abdsurvivalguide.com:

Don’t Waste Your Summer!
By Gina J. Hiatt, Ph.D.
===========================
Ahhhhh. The summer break. So much more free time! I’ll really get a lot done on my dissertation. Sound familiar? It’s a universal belief. Free time = get more accomplished. Too bad it’s not always true. What are the reasons that free time doesn’t necessarily lead to productivity? Let’s look at it step by step. Here is a typical scenario – OK, maybe it’s slightly exaggerated.

Day 1.  You sit down in front of the computer. You think about how much writing you need to do. It’s almost overwhelming. So you check your email. A friend calls, and you meet him for lunch. Soon the day is shot. It doesn’t matter; there’s a whole summerahead.

Day 2-30.  Repeat versions of Day 1.

Day 31.  You have begun to be nervous. A month has passed and you’ve barely gotten anything done. You resolve to put in at least 4 solid hours of writing a day. Starting tomorrow.

Day 32.  Just thinking about those 4 hours of writing makes you ill. You end up playing solitaire on the computer, cleaning your closet, and hating yourself.

Day 33.  Someone asks you how the dissertation is going, and you realize you want to punch them. Why do people keep asking you that?  Are they trying to torture you? You no longer feel as carefree and optimistic about finishing. The burden of getting something done feels so pressing that it causes you to procrastinate further. Your procrastination lowers your self-esteem. “After all,” says your completely logical mind, “with all this time available, I really should have gotten substantial work done.”

Before you find yourself in this nightmarish scenario, here are some tips that will not only help you make better use of your time, but allow you to enjoy your free time without guilt.

1. Make a list of the big projects you want to accomplish during this summer, and then break them into smaller tasks.

2. Select what you will work on in the upcoming week. Don’t set unrealistically high goals for yourself – this only results in discouragement. Contrary to logic, taking the excessive internal pressure off tends to allow you to accomplish more.

3. The day before, write down what you will start with the next day.  It’s always easier to plan what you will work on before you sit down to do it.

4. Schedule your work periods in small blocks of time; as short as 15 minutes may be needed to get you started.

5. Write every day. Spend at least 10 minutes per day just writing.  If you are in the very initial stages of an idea, do some free writing. If you are at the editing stage, edit for at least 10 minutes every day. There is nothing more important than this writing habit in keeping you feeling fresh and on top of your work.

6. At the end of each work period, make a note as to what you will do when you start up the next time.

7. Use your favorite activities as rewards.  If looking at email relaxes you, promise yourself you can look at it for 20 minutes after you have worked for 40.

If you miss a day or two, don’t be hard on yourself, and don’t decide to do extra work. This negative message will lead to more procrastination. Just start where you left off.

Finally, schedule your fun time and fully enjoy it. Feeling guilty never helped anyone write a better dissertation!

[picture courtesy of gerard]

In your undergraduate years, the end of April / early May most likely represented the beginning of summer holidays and a break from your studies.  However, life as a graduate student rarely comes to an end just because the calendar indicates “April” or “May”.  This is especially true if you [...]]]>

[picture courtesy of gerard]

In your undergraduate years, the end of April / early May most likely represented the beginning of summer holidays and a break from your studies.  However, life as a graduate student rarely comes to an end just because the calendar indicates “April” or “May”.  This is especially true if you are working on your thesis or research project.

Now is a great time to take a look at your plans for the summer months.  A well-organized plan outlining your tasks, expectations, and goals will help to keep you moving forward with your research/writing.  Set aside some time each day to work on your thesis or dissertation (if possible), or develop a consistent weekly schedule that accommodates your needs.  Developing a routine is key to success!