Abeysekara, Saman |
Hometown: Maabodale, Western Province, Sri Lanka Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK Occupation: Post-doctoral Fellow | Previous Education:
Thesis: D-Lactic Acid Metabolism and Control of Acidosis Department: Nutrition |
D-lactic acidosis, says Saman, is a disease found secondary to gastrointestinal diseases, such as short bowel syndrome, enteritis or diarrhea, and is associated with high blood D-lactate levels, acidosis and neurological dysfunction. “My work answers the critical questions of what and how neurological signs in D-lactic acidosis emerge, how D-lactate is removed from the body compartments, and how this type of acidosis may be prevented.” Saman determined that D-lactate is neurotoxic and that intravenous bicarbonate therapy corrects brain acidity, and is useful in curing D-lactic acidosis. He also found that malate, which has prebiotic properties, can reduce D-lactate levels in the body and so, prevent D-lactic acidosis. Saman’s research has been featured in American Journal of Physiology; American Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine; Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism; and South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Saman also earned the Best Research Award under the theme of Clinical, Disease, Diagnostic Sciences and Biotechnology at the 2006 Life and Health Sciences Conference (Saskatoon). |
Acoose, Janice |
| Previous Education: Department: English |
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Adu-Gyamfi, Yaw |
| Previous Education: Department: English |
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Advikolanu, Kavitha |
| Previous Education: Department: Pathology |
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Andersen, Parker |
Hometown: Prince George, BC Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK | Previous Education:
Thesis: DNA Damage Tolerance in Mammalian Cells Department: Microbiology and Immunology |
So far, Parker's Ph.D. efforts have been published in the journals Cell Research and The Journal of Cell Biology. He has also presented posters at conferences in Oxford, England; San Francisco; South Hampton, Bermuda; and Saskatoon. Learn about his work at www.zerk.ca and through the OCN feature link below:
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Anuik, Jon |
Hometown: Yorkton, SK Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK Occupation: Research Assistant/Intern | Previous Education:
Thesis: Métis Families and Schools: The Decline and Reclamation of Métis Identities in Saskatchewan, 1885-1980 Department: History | Throughout his academic career, Jon has received numerous awards and research grants including, more recently, the Northern Scientific Training Program Grant and the Messer Scholarship for Research in Canadian History. He has also published work in Prairie Forum, Journal of Contemporary Educational Issues, First Nations Perspectives, and the anthology The Early Northwest.
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Arnold, Cathy |
Hometown: Saskatoon, SK Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK Occupation: Associate Professor, School of Physical Therapy, U of S | Previous Education:
Thesis: Fall Risk in Older Adults with Hip Osteoarthritis: Decreasing Risk through Education and Aquatic Exercise Department: Kinesiology | “I have been a physical therapist for 25 years,” says Arnold, “and have spent the majority of that time treating older adults. It was the realization of how much more we can do to prevent a devastating life event that led me into my research.” That’s why, in 2005, Cathy returned to the U of S. “This university has great opportunities for mentorship and study in the area of older adult wellness, bone health and exercise intervention.” Cathy has presented her research at the World Congress for Physical Therapy (Vancouver), the American Rheumatology Association Meeting (Washington, D.C.) and the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research meeting (Montreal). To find out more about Cathy’s research, check out the OCN link below:
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Atapour, Mahshid |
Hometown: Sirjann, Iran Current Residence: Toronto, ON Occupation: Postdoctoral fellow at York University | Previous Education:
Thesis: Topological Entanglement Complexity of Systems of Polygons and Walks in Tubes Department: Mathematics and Statistics |
Polymers in solution are highly flexible objects which can assume many different configurations and consequently, become entangled. Entanglements need to be better understood, says Mahshid, because it is believed that the entanglement complexity of polymers is 1) related to their crystallization behaviour and rheological properties and 2) important in cellular processes that involve biopolymers like DNA. “My goal was to theoretically investigate the entanglement complexity of polymers modeled, mathematically, by self-avoiding walks or polygons in a lattice. Specifically, I was interested in using knotting and linking probabilities to measure the topological entanglement complexity of systems of two self-avoiding polygons (2SAPs), stretched polygons, and systems of self-avoiding walks (SSAWs) in a tubular sublattice of Z3.” Regarding 2SAPs, she established that both homological linking probability and topological linking probability go to one as n, the size of the 2SAP, goes to infinity; regarding stretched polygons, she demonstrated that no matter the strength or direction of the external force, the knotting probability goes to one exponentially as n, the size of the polygon, goes to infinity; and finally, regarding the systems of self-avoiding walks, she showed that there exists a positive number a such that the probability that an SSAW of size n has entanglement complexity (EC) greater than an approaches one exponentially as n goes to infinity. |
Atazona, Luke |
Hometown: Zorka, Ghana Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK | Previous Education:
Department: Economics Date Posted: Aug 01, 2012 | Growing up in Africa, masters of economics student Luke Atazona understands the developing world and harbours a sincere interest the myriad of problems that exist. His need to get involved with these issues was facilitated by opportunities to intern overseas through a new partnership between the Universities of Saskatchewan and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The major goal of the program is to provide training for Canadian graduate and law students in a UNDP initiative called the Legal Empowerment of the Poor (LEP). Through this partnership, Atazona has had the opportunity to intern with the UNDP in Johannesburg, South Africa for four months and has put his economics knowledge to good use. “I saw this initiative as an opportunity to share my knowledge and learn from non-economists and high-level policy makers who are interested in making changes in the developing world,” says Atazona. Atazona brings a wealth of knowledge to the table. After finishing his bachelor’s degree in economics, he moved from Ghana to Berlin to complete a master’s degree. During this time, he pursued work in the NGO sector in Ghana and Western Europe. This training provided his foundation for graduate studies at the U of S. Under the supervision of Dr. Joel F. Bruneau in the Department of Economics, Atazona’s graduate research is focussed on the effects of environmental regulations on wage and inequalities of Canadian workers. Through this project, he hopes to illuminate why average earning gaps are wider today than they were four decades ago and how strict environmental regulations may the culprit. “Environmental regulations may have a negative impact on production, international competitiveness, investment flows, jobs, and earning distributions,” says Atazona. “There are concerns that if environmental regulations result in the cutback of lower level workers, it may be difficult for the workers to find jobs at matching wages.” |
Babiuk, Shawn |
| Previous Education: Department: Pharmacy and Nutrition |
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Balasubramanian, Parthiba |
| Previous Education: Department: Plant Sciences |
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Barnhart, Gordon |
| Previous Education: Department: History |
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Berg, Everett |
Hometown: Yorkton, SK Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK Occupation: Teacher | Previous Education:
Department: Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy Date Posted: Aug 01, 2012 | Master of Public Administration student, Everett Berg, spent the summer of 2012 interning at the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) office in Bangkok as part of the new partnership between the University of Saskatchewan and the UNDP. The major goal of the program is to provide training for Canadian graduate and law students in a UNDP initiative called the Legal Empowerment of the Poor (LEP). During the four months, Berg undertook various tasks that contribute to the LEP framework, including editing a book about the Millennium Development Goals designed by the UNDP in an effort to minimize the global burden of poverty. The goals range from obtaining gender equality and facilitating universal education, to combating HIV/AIDS. Additionally, Berg has created a database of anti-corruption agencies around the world and researched legal empowerment projects at other UN country offices so the results can be published and used to educate others. In addition to his UNDP internship, Berg has managed to juggle being a high school teacher while attending graduate studies at the U of S Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy. As he was always fascinated by governance, finance, and the decision making aspects of public education, he chose graduate studies at the U of S in the hopes to expand his career opportunities by receiving an education in public administration and policy making. Berg hopes that his internship with UNDP will add to the knowledge base that he has gained during grad school and will also benefit his work in the classroom. “Whether I choose a career in the classroom or in educational policymaking, my UNDP experience will give me a new cross-cultural and multinational perspective on education, will allow me to network with extraordinary people, and will expose me to innovative educational approaches.” says Berg. |
Biligetu |
Hometown: Xilingol, Inner Mongolia, China Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK Occupation: Post-Doctoral Fellow | Previous Education:
Thesis: Quantifying Regrowth Characteristics of Three Bromegrass (Bromus) Species in Response to Defoliation Graduate Supervisor: Dr. Bruce Coulman Department: Plant Sciences | If you were to ask Ph.D. graduate Biligetu the tagline, "Where's teh beef," he would tell you that the "beef" is grazing on hearty bromegrass forage found on Saskatchewan's prairies. "Bromegrasses are attractive to many beef producers in Western Canada," says Biligetu. "They have high forage quality and high yield and are easy to establish under Saskatchewan climate." Having grown up on a beef farm in Inner Mongolia, Biligetu has always been attracted to programs and research related to raising cattle. Climates that are semi-arid and have short growing seasons present special challenges to ranchers. To produce high quality forage, forage stand management and new plant cultivars must be developed and examined. Each bromegrass species responds differently to the environment, grazing, and foraging practices. In his research, Biligetu has identified characteristics that make for graze-resistant cultivars. Cultivars that provide high quality feed with very little inputs - except what comes naturally from the cattle that is. "Information from my research can be used by producers to manage their bromegrass stand," says Biligetu. "For example, we recommended best time of grazing according to tiller development and above- and below-ground responses to grazing." Biligetu is continuing his work at the University of Saskatchewan as a Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Department of Plant Sciences. |
Bilinski, Hope |
Hometown: Prud’homme, SK Current Residence: Prud’homme, SK Occupation: Registered Nurse, Assistant Professor, College of Nursing | Previous Education:
Thesis: The meaning of health in a group of rural children living in Saskatchewan: A Mixed Methods Approach Department: Nursing | Hope’s work was presented at the Childhood and Adolescent Obesity Conference in Vancouver and at the International Symposium Public Health & the Agricultural Rural Ecosystem in Saskatoon. Read about her research in On Campus News:
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Blondeau, Lori |
| Previous Education: Department: Art |
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Bobyn, Joan |
| Previous Education: Department: Pharmacy & Nutrition |
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Burkitbayeva, Saule |
Hometown: Almaty, Kazakhstan | Previous Education:
Department: Bioresource Policy Business and Economics Date Posted: Aug 01, 2012 | Facilitated by the partnership between the University of Saskatchewan Canada (UofS) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), U of S Economics student Saule Burkitbayeva interned at the UNDP office in Kiev for the summer term in 2012. With the UNDP Kiev team, Burkitbayeva has been helping empower rural populations through awareness of land and property rights. Burkitbayeva and fellow team members worked to build regional networks and develop the capacities of state legal-aid providers in Ukraine to better assist the poor and marginalized. The team took a “train the trainer” approach and provided instructional seminars to more than 400 legal aid providers. They in turn will extend this training to other service providers who deliver legal aid to citizens. “As an agricultural economist I understand how important land rights are to rural development,” says Burkitbayeva. “This experience has encouraged me to view rural development through from both legal and economic perspectives.” In addition to her internship, Burkitbayeva is a graduate student in the department of Bioresource Policy, Business and Economics. Being an economist with an interest in international trade, her research investigates the impact of the wheat trade liberalization. In 2009, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine accounted for approximately 15 percent of global wheat production and over a quarter of international wheat trade. Burkitbayeva’s thesis will examine the impact of Russia and Kazakhstan’s accession to the World Trade Organization and international wheat movement and prices. “The institutional changes to be examined in this research have the potential to re-align trade flows for wheat,” says Burkitbayeva. “Such re-alignment of the international wheat trade will have a significant effect on the distribution of trade flows, prices, and will impact future investments in the grain industry.” |
Butler, Joanne |
| Previous Education: Department: Sociology |
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Campeau, Jennifer |
Hometown: Saskatoon, SK | Previous Education:
Department: Native Studies Date Posted: Jun 04, 2012 | Not many PhD students can match Jennifer Campeau’s list of extra-curricular activities. During the recent election, Campeau campaigned and was elected as the MLA for Saskatoon Fairview. Despite a demanding schedule as an MLA, Campeau has successfully managed to balance a career with her pursuit of a PhD. Campeau holds an MBA degree from the U of S, and is currently pursuing a PhD in the department of Native Studies. Her research project involves exploring new ways to rebuild the economies in aboriginal communities within Saskatchewan. “I believe that rebuilding indigenous communities should involve incorporating traditional concepts from the aboriginal community to help facilitate new business development,” says Campeau. As a Yellow Quill First Nation member, Campeau’s research inspiration came from witnessing the economic disparity between aboriginal and non-aboriginal communities. In the future, she hopes to take all that she learns during her PhD and apply it to a long, successful career in politics, adding that her only regret is she “would have started sooner.” |
Cattet, Marc |
| Previous Education: Department: Veterinary Pathology |
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Cervantes, Miriam |
Hometown: Lima, Peru | Previous Education:
Thesis: Successful in vitro fertilization of in vitro matured oocytes collected transvaginally from wood bison [working title] Graduate Supervisor: Dr. Gregg Adams Department: Veterinary Biomedical Sciences | Peruvian PhD student, Miriam Cervantes, is improving in vitro fertilization (IVF) technology to preserve the future of Canada’s wood bison. Remaining free-roaming wood bison herds in Canada are infected with a number of pathogens which are compromising the species’ existence. It is only through disease-free captive herds that extinction can be prevented. Cervantes’ work, under the supervision of Dr. Gregg Adams in the Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences has focused on studying IVF technology in wood bison so that it can be improved and used to preserve the species. “The main objective of our research is to produce in vitro wood bison embryos that can be transferred to female surrogates or cryopreserved for future use,” says Cervantes. Although Adams’ lab has developed a method to isolate and mature wood bison oocytes, or egg cells, the team has been unable to successfully perform IVF using these oocytes. Through ovarian hyperstimulation, oocyte collection, and fertilization, Cervantes’ research has determined that oocyte morphology is indicative of IVF success. Specifically, oocytes which were matured but had non-typical morphology did not develop properly. This research will serve as a foundation to improve in vitro culturing methods of wood bison oocytes and will help isolate ideal oocytes for implantation. To recognize her contributions to the preservation of Canada’s wood bison, Cervantes won the poster competition at the Celebrating Success in Graduate Studies and Research on October 2nd, hosted by the College of Graduate Studies and Research. |
Chai, Choon-Lee |
Current Residence: Red Deer, AB Occupation: Sociology Professor, Red Deer College | Previous Education:
Thesis: Doctoral dissertation: Science and Modernity: Modern Medical Knowledge and Societal Rationalization in Malaysia Department: Sociology |
Choon-Lee studied the transmission of modern science to Malaysia during the British colonial period, and the contradiction and congruity between modern science and traditional/religious beliefs and practices in Malaysia. In brief, here’s what he found: 1) The tension etween modern science and tradition in Malaysia plays out mainly at the metaphysical level which may not demonstrate everyday urgency. 2) In dealing with serious illness, pragmatism often dictates decision. Both modern and traditional knowledge and practices were consulted on the basis of efficacy. 3) While religious discourse often affirms the status of modern science, it also tries to assert religious authority by viewing modern science as a vehicle towards a higher metaphysical goal. This kind of research is important, he says, because “while science has long been understood in terms of economic transformation and prosperity, and as a neutral force of good, it is often forgotten that science can be malleable. Like other resources, it’s susceptible to abuse and misuse.” It’s also important, he says, to investigate the cultural meanings of modern science vis-à-vis tradition. Developing countries that strive to modernize also strive to keep their traditional, cultural and religious identities. “By identifying the commensurabilities and contradictions between modern science and tradition, we will beable to better manage rapid social change with informed choices.” |
Chapdelaine, Raquel |
Hometown: Belo Horizonte, Brazil Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK | Previous Education:
Thesis: The Language Transmission Experiences of Mothers who Migrated to Canada Department: Psychology |
“Few studies on the topic of language and migration,” says Raquel, “have examined how immigrant mothers construct their language experiences with their children." Raquel’s own study is now one of those few. In her research, Raquel spoke with 15 mothers from 11 countries who migrated to Canada to find out their views and concerns regarding, first, the transmission of both their first language and English to their children, and second, “what was at stake” on account of the entire transmission process. She found that while mothers differed in their language views, they—for the most part—agreed that the main issue was the successful transmission of many languages. “The majority of the mothers were not only concerned that their children learned their first languages or English—but that the children learned first languages, English, French, and, sometimes, even a fourth language, such as Spanish,” Raquel explains. “What was at stake was multilingualism." Raquel’s research idea was propelled by her own experience as a mother, originally from Brazil, who gave birth to her son in Canada and consequently, “became acutely aware of the importance of teaching him my first language." |
Chaplin, Gareth |
| Previous Education: Department: Chemical Engineering |
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Charavaryamath, Chandrashekhar |
Hometown: Bangalore, India Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK | Previous Education:
Thesis: Mechanisms of lung inflammation following exposure to swine barn air Department: Veterinary Biomedical Sciences |
Canada is one of the top pork-producing nations in the world, with many large scale hog farms employing full-time workers. Sadly, though, many of these workers suffer from lung dysfunction from their exposure to swine barn air. Chandrashekhar set out to understand the mechanisms of the lung inflammation these workers experience by using rat and mouse models in a simulated barn environment. Although this environment is complex, with many injurious agents, he found that endotoxins (toxins released by bacteria in the barn) appear to play a primary role in inducing the lung inflammation. Based on his findings, exposure control strategies could be planned to reduce this adverse health effect. Respiratory Research, The Anatomical Record, and Experimental Lung Research, and Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology have published Chandrashekhar’s work. In addition, he received the Pfizer Animal Health Graduate Student Award for Excellence in Research (2006) and top awards in poster competitions at the meeting of the American Association of Veterinary Anatomists (2006), held in Saskatoon. |
Checkley, Sylvia |
Hometown: Edmonton, AB Current Residence: Sherwood Park, AB Occupation: Veterinary Epidemiologist, Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development | Previous Education:
Thesis: The Epidemiology of Antimicrobial Resistance in Fecal E. coli Isolates of Feedlot Cattle in Western Canada Department: Large Animal Clinical Sciences (Epidemiology) |
Sylvia explains that “much of the long-term economic and environmental stability of beef production seems to be driven by marketplace issues such as food safety and quality assurance.” And over the last number of years, one issue, in particular, has dominated all others: the potential for resistant strains of bacteria to enter the human food chain. Through a number of observational studies and clinical trials, Sylvia examined the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in cattle at different times throughout the feeding period, as well as associations between antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance. She also investigated the methods used for developing an antimicrobial resistance surveillance system and an alternative to feed antimicrobial use for prophylaxis of liver abscesses. Sylvia's work provides evidence to help the beef industry discuss criticisms about antibiotic use in livestock as well as further develop long-term prudent use strategies. She has presented her work at conferences in Guelph, Ontario; Madison, Wisconsin; and Vina Del Mar, Chile, and has published her research in the Canadian Veterinary Journal and the Canadian Journal of Veterinary Research. |
Chen, Xiongbiao |
| Previous Education: Department: Mechanical Engineering |
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Cherkowski, Sabre |
| Previous Education: Department: Education |
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Clark, Rhett |
Hometown: Carlyle, SK Current Residence: Edmonton, AB Occupation: Post-doc researcher, University of Alberta | Previous Education:
Thesis: Kinetics of Thiomolybdate and Copper-Thiomolybdate Interconversion Processes Department: Chemistry |
Although thiomolydates (chemical compounds) form naturally in a cow’s stomach, they are commonly problematic: they form insoluble complexes with copper—thereby preventing bodily absorption of copper—and lead to copper deficiency, which is difficult to diagnose and expensive to remedy. As part of Dr. Steve Reid’s ongoing project to model “Cu speciation” in the bovine stomach, Rhett devised a way to quantify mixtures of thiomolybdate species in solution. In doing this, via a combination of UV-visible spectroscopy and non-linear curve fitting, he was able to examine the rates at which thiomolydates “interconvert” and how they react with copper. Greater knowledge of the interconversions of thiomolybdates will contribute, first, to the Cu model of the project, and ultimately to our ability to predict when Cu deficiency is likely to occur in herd. |
Clarke, Kyla |
Hometown: Saskatoon, SK Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK Occupation: Research Assistant | Previous Education:
Thesis: Bioremediation of Ethanol in Air Using a Gas-Fluidized Bioreactor Department: Division of Environmental Engineering |
“While working several years in the petroleum and petrochemical industry, I observed that many of the technologies used were decades old, and were not designed with environmental consequences in mind,” notes Kyla. “I was motivated to work on technology that would help to make industry sustainable for the future.” For Kyla, that meant designing a fluidized bed bioreactor to digest air emissions. The bioreactor contains solid particles, on which microbes are grown and nourished with water and nutrients; the microbes then feed on pollutants in the air, effectively removing them from the environment. Kyla’s design, which is inexpensive and easy to operate, was shown to outperform a comparable packed bed bioreactor. It can be installed to treat air emissions from fuel storage, wastewater treatment, and manufacturing equipment. Her work was showcased in Chemical Engineering Science, International Journal of Chemical Reactor Engineering, and Transactions of the Institute of Chemical Engineering (Part B). |
Corney, Patrick |
Hometown: Vancouver, BC Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK Occupation: Clinical Associate, Rehabilitation, City Hospital | Previous Education:
Thesis: Attention in Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease Department: Psychology | Patrick, interested in the psychology of aging, compared the performance of young adults, older adults, and individuals with early stage Alzheimer’s on easy and difficult tasks of selective attention, focused attention, and divided attention. The results of his research showed that normal aging is associated with decreased attention performance; compared with healthy older adults, participants with early Alzheimer’s disease exhibited reduced attention abilities. The effects of aging and Alzheimer’s disease on attention were magnified as the difficulty of tasks increased. “My research contributes to the theoretical understanding of attention and how it is affected by aging and Alzheimer’s disease,” says Patrick. “Understanding these changes is important because attention is involved in a wide variety of tasks. From a clinical perspective, this research may lead to the development of new neuropsychological tests of attention which could help to more accurately detect Alzheimer’s disease in the earliest stages.” In February 2008, aspects of Patrick’s research were presented at the International Neuropsychological Society in Waikoloa, Hawaii. |
Crandall, Dickie |
| Previous Education: Department: Accounting |
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Cuell, Charles |
Hometown: Kaslo, BC Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK Occupation: Post Doc at Environment Canada | Previous Education:
Thesis: Lagrange-d'Alembert Integrators Department: Mathematics and Statistics | The rattleback, a semi-ellipsoidal top, has elicited ooohs and awwws for centuries: when spun in one direction, it spins normally; when spun in the other direction, it wobbles and reverses its spin direction. (See for yourself on youtube.com.) But, says Charles, “no convincing theory has ever been developed to explain the reversing behaviour of this very simple toy.” To aid in the search for an explanation, Charles developed software wherein the actual geometry and physics of this mechanical system is reflected by algorithms more accurately than methods currently being used in numerical simulations. |
Cummine, Jacqueline |
Hometown: Saskatoon, SK Current Residence: Edmonton, AB Occupation: Assistant Professor, Department of Speech Pathology & Audiology, University of Alberta | Previous Education:
Thesis: A Behavioural and Neurobiological Investigation of Basic Reading Processes Graduate Supervisor: Dr. Ron Borowsky Department: Psychology | When University of Saskatchewan Ph.D. graduate Jacqueline Cummine sees someone with a book, she isn't so much interested in what the person is reading as in how the person is reading. Find out more about her research in On Campus News:
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Dahiya, Jaipal |
Hometown: Hisar, Haryana, India Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK Occupation: Research Associate, Dept. of Animal & Poultry Science, U of S | Previous Education:
Thesis: Nutritional Strategies to control Clostridium perfringens in gastrointestinal tract of broiler chickens Department: Animal & Poultry Science | For forty years, antibiotics have been supplemented to poultry feeds to improve growth performance and to protect birds from adverse effects of enteric microorganisms. But currently, antibiotics are under scrutiny—due to the potential development of antibiotic-resistant human pathogenic bacteria—and interest in alternatives has intensified. Without antibiotics, however, the threat of necrotic enteritis is significant. So, Jaipal investigated the effect of dietary components on intestinal Clostridium perfringens (bacterial) populations, and found certain amino acids (glycine and methionine) to be important determinants for their growth, and thus, likely determinants for necrotic enteritis in broilers. His findings have helped to improve the relationship between feed chemistry and gastrointestinal microflora; scientists are now one step closer to formulating poultry diets that control or reduce various enteric pathogens in absence of in-feed antibiotics Jaipal has presented his research at conferences in Calgary, Edmonton, Saint Louis, Atlanta, Auburn, and Bristol (UK), and his findings have been published in four peer-reviewed journals |
Dahl, Wendy |
| Previous Education: Department: Pharmacy & Nutrition |
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Daniel, Ben |
Hometown: Kajo-Keji, Sudan Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK Occupation: Sessional Lecturer in Research Methods, Department of Language and Linguistics, U of S | Previous Education:
Thesis: A Bayesian Belief Network Computational Model of Social Capital in Virtual Communities (Online Communities) Department: Interdisciplinary Studies | His work won two prestigious awards, both from conferences in Vancouver, in 2005. In October, along with his co-authors, Richard Schwier and Heather Ross, he received the E-Learn 2005 Outstanding Paper Award at the World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate, Government, Healthcare & Higher Education (organized by AACE); in November, along with Gordon McCalla and Juan-Diego Zapata-Rivera, he received the 1st place Best Graduate Student Research Poster Award at the I2LOR 2005 Annual Scientific Conference (organized by LORNET).
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Davison, Shawn |
| Previous Education: Department: Kinesiology |
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Deer, Frank |
Hometown: Montreal, PQ Current Residence: Winnipeg, MB Occupation: Curriculum Writer | Previous Education:
Thesis: Teachers and Principals’ Perceptions of Citizenship Development of Aboriginal High School Students in the Province of Manitoba: An Exploratory Study Department: Educational Administration |
What sort of congruence exists between Aboriginal high school students’ behaviour and the tenets of Canadian citizenship espoused by the provincial jurisdiction in which those students attend? This was the question Frank set out to answer. Over 100 teachers and school administrators across 34 Manitoban high schools took part in Frank’s mixed methodology study. Overall, the study revealed that the congruence was negligible. “There was evidence,” he says, “that schools with larger populations tended to have a higher degree of incongruence, a finding that was true of schools with higher percentages of Aboriginal students." Additional issues emerged from his data, too: participants identified violence, bullying, racism, inability to follow rules, and apathy toward school and community involvement as problems with Aboriginal students in their schools. Others pointed out that Aboriginal students’ intolerance with respect to diversity may have resulted from their lack of opportunity to be a part of a diverse school community. Frank hopes his findings will inform teacher training and pedagogical practice. His research has been featured in The Journal of Educational Thought and in The World Indigenous Nations Higher Education Consortium Journal. (See Frank's paper entitled Research Perspectives in Indigenous Education: The legitimacy of Indigenous knowledge posted on the WINHEC website.) |
Desin, Taseen S. |
Hometown: Pakistan Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK Occupation: Microbiologist | Previous Education:
Thesis: The Role of Salmonella Enteritidis Pathogenicity Island-1 in the Colonization of Chickens Graduate Supervisor: Dr. Andrew Potter and Dr. Wolfgang Koster Department: Vaccine & Infectious Disease Organization / Veterinary Microbiology | Salmonella Enteritidis is a bacterial pathogen spread to humans through the consumption of contaminated poultry products. Infection causes gastrointestinal disease, sometimes with dire consequences. Taseen S. Desin is a recent PhD graduate from the University of Saskatchewan, whose research focuses on disrupting the spread of the virus in both poultry and humans. “Human S. Enteritidis infections are public health concerns in N. America, and other parts of the world,” explains Desin. “These infections have a major impact on the Canadian and U.S. economies due to loss of work, and death. This was a major project, undertaken at VIDO in the Bacterial Vaccine Development Program.” Desin’s work also has broad economic implications in other animal populations, including mice and cattle. Desin has published two academic papers - one in Infection and Immunity and a second, currently at press, in the Canadian Journal of Microbiology. “The most exciting part is discovering new things and publishing it,” he explains, “The data contained within the paper accepted in the Canadian Journal of Microbiology was the most exciting. I felt that we discovered something novel.” Desin credits his supervisors, Dr. Andrew Potter (VIDO director) and Dr. Wolfgang Koster, with inspiring his ideas and work ethic, and providing constant support and advice. He is grateful for his parents’ life-long encouragement, which he calls a major factor in his entering the PhD program. Desin’s has received several awards in the fields of Microbiology and Epidemiology. His current research is funded by NSERC, SHRF and Bioniche Life Sciences. |
Detering, Frank |
| Previous Education: Department: Department of Physics |
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Dietrich Leurer, Marie |
Hometown: Moosomin, SK Current Residence: Regina, SK Occupation: Assistant Professor, College of Nursing, U of S | Previous Education:
Thesis: Perceptions of Service Providers and Parents Regarding Improving Outcomes of Young Children Living in Circumstances of Disadvantage Department: Community Health and Epidemiology | Marie’s research explored the wisdom of people at the grassroots level—health and social service providers and parents—regarding how to improve the outcomes for children brought up in circumstances of disadvantage. The purpose was to provide guidance to program planners and policy-makers using a “bottom-up approach, involving the very people involved in such circumstances,” says Marie. Families living in circumstances of disadvantage deal with many challenges on a daily basis, and also face barriers that prevent them from participating in programs designed to help them. “Many of these challenges and barriers are intricately interconnected,” explains Marie. “My research revealed the need for policies to address adequate household income, childcare, funding of non-government organizations, housing, and mental health and addictions.” Marie’s findings were presented in poster format at “Research Showcase 2008: Putting RQHR Research on the Map” (Regina); “Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) Research Poster Competition” (Winnipeg); and “Innovations in Qualitative Research Conference” (Saskatoon). |
Donen, Rachel |
| Previous Education: Department: Kinesiology |
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Donovan, Tara |
Hometown: Saskatoon, SK | Previous Education:
Thesis: Functional characterization of the US3 serine/threonine kinase in BHV-1 Department: Vaccinology & Immunotherapeutics Date Posted: Jun 04, 2012 | MSc student, Tara Donovan, is knocking out viral genes to better understand how they contribute to the pathogenesis of Herpes viruses. Her work has involved investigating a viral protein, called US3, which may be important for viral success in Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1), a virus that specifically infects cattle. “In related herpesviruses, US3 contributes to viral pathogenesis,” says Donovan. “We are interested in determining if the effect of US3 is the same in BHV-1.” BHV-1 causes severe disease in cattle, with symptoms ranging from respiratory infections to abortions. Canada’s cattle industry is particularly affected by the disease due to the strain of BHV-1 present in North America and the large size of the cattle population. While there are numerous vaccines on the market, all have issues with safety or effectiveness. The ultimate goal of Donovan’s research is to contribute the knowledge gained from studying US3 to the development of new vaccines. “There is a big need for improved BHV-1 vaccines,” says Donovan. “Without a vaccine, the cattle industry will continue to see significant financial losses due to BHV-1.” |
Dray, Norman |
Hometown: Erin, Ontario Current Residence: Kenville, NS & Saskatoon, SK Occupation: Superintendent of Schools (CEO), Annapolis Valley Regional School Board | Previous Education:
Thesis: he Relationship of Expressed Vision and Instructional Supervision in a Selected School District Department: Educational Administration | After working as CEO of a school system for about 20 years, Norm fully believed in the power of vision in organizations and in the power of teacher support through the instructional supervision process—but wanted to be able to prove it. Accordingly, Norm studied the relationship between the stated vision of a school district and its supervisory practices; specifically, he conducted 14 interviews, analyzed documents such as policy statements and administrative procedures, and made observations in two schools in Eastern Canada. Overall, he found that leadership (demonstrated, especially, by principals) is crucial in the translation of vision and policy to practice, and that if vision is not clearly made known, people look for actions and words in order to create an “implied vision.” |
Dunbar, Scott |
Hometown: North Vancouver, B.C. Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK Occupation: Sessional lecturer, Dept. of Religion and Culture, U of S, & Professor of Religious Studies, St. Peter’s College, Munster | Previous Education:
Thesis: Dharma Yuddha: An Analysis of Just War Theory in Hinduism Department: Interdisciplinary (Religious Studies & Political Studies) |
Scott visited Saskatoon as an undergraduate student and, in his words, “fell in love with the city.” Soon after completing his Master’s, Scott returned to the U of S campus as a professor and, several years later, became a grad student once more. “I chose the U of S for my doctorate because of its emerging ethos of interdisciplinary study and research. I’m pleased to be able to pursue an interdisciplinary approach to my work, which allows me the flexibility to probe a complex issue from multiple perspectives." |
Dunfield, Kari |
| Previous Education: Department: Soil Science |
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Dzisah, James |
Hometown: Accra, Ghana Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK Occupation: Assistant Professor | Previous Education:
Thesis: Scientific Research and Economic Activity: The Perceptions of Academic and Industrial Scientists of the Production and Capitalization of Knowledge Department: Sociology |
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Emami, Shahram |
Hometown: Isfahan, Iran Current Residence: Guelph, ON Occupation: Post Doc in the Guelph Food Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada | Previous Education:
Thesis: Hydrocyclone fractionation of chickpea flour and measurement of physical and functional properties of flour and starch and protein fractions Department: Agricultural and Bioresource Engineering | Shahram’s separation process has been featured in The Journal of Food Engineering, Powder Technology, and Transactions of the ASABE.
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Engler-Stringer, Rachel |
| Previous Education: Department: Nutrition |
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Epp, Tasha |
Hometown: Saskatoon, SK Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK Occupation: Associate Professor at WCVM, U of S | Previous Education:
Thesis: West Nile virus: From surveillance to prediction using Saskatchewan Horses Department: Epidemiology | In her private practice as a veterinarian in Alberta, Tasha received many questions about West Nile Virus as it began to emerge, in horses, across the prairies. “I wanted to be able to answer those questions but felt there was not enough information out there to do so. Accordingly, she took on a project wherein she focused, specifically, on the distribution of the epidemic in horses across Saskatchewan in 2003 (but with supplementary information compiled from 2002 to 2005) and developed a model to predict risk of infection on a province wide basis. Her project identified risk factors for clinical disease, sub-clinical infection and death due to clinical disease. (For example, Tasha found that significant rainfall in early June followed by hot and dry conditions in July were conducive for high risk of infection with WNV.) Much of this information was communicated to public health officials from Saskatchewan Health as part of the integrated surveillance initiative of WNV. Tasha’s work has been published in Canadian Veterinary Journal, Canadian Journal of Veterinary Research, and Equine Veterinary Journal. Presently, Tasha teaches students about zoonotic diseases (aka: diseases that are transmittable from animals to humans), determinants of disease, and the concept of “one health,” wherein humans, animals, and wildlife are seen as inter-connected. |
Farthing, Jon |
| Previous Education: Department: Kinesiology |
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Fernandes, Neville |
| Previous Education: Department: Business Administration |
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Ferrari, Maud C.O. |
Hometown: Sète, France Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK Occupation: Post-Doctoral Fellow | Previous Education:
Thesis: Threat-sensitive learning and generalization of predator recognition by aquatcvertebrates Department: Biology |
Maud explains that prey animals have to carefully allocate their time and energy among foraging, reproduction and predator avoidance, and when it comes to predator avoidance, prey should be able to respond to predators according to the level of threat to which they are exposed. “While some prey were born already knowing who their predators are, others have to learn to recognize them,” she says. “The goal of my research was to investigate the process through which prey go from knowing nothing about their predators to knowing sophisticated information, such as how many, how far, and how big their predators are.” Maud found that after one learning opportunity, prey are able to first, recognize the previously novel predator and second, assign a relative threat score according to, for example, the concentration of predator odour. Prey also accumulate learning opportunities to fine-tune their responses: recent information is given more weight in their decision making than old information and, in cases of conflicting information, prey always display the most conservative anti-predator response or risk-averse behaviour. Additionally, Maud showed that prey can use information about known predators to respond to novel predators, if the two species are relatively similar. Maud has published 28 peer-reviewed papers and her work has been highlighted on Fox News and in New Scientist and Discover magazines. |
Fidler, Courtney |
Hometown: Victoria, BC Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK | Previous Education:
Thesis: Arctic Offshore Oil and Gas Development: The Role of Impact Benefit Agreements in Regional Scale Impact Assessment Graduate Supervisor: Dr. Bram Noble Department: Geography & Planning | “The race to explore and develop the Arctic’s treasure trove of natural resources has been dubbed the “Cold Rush. But as the Arctic’s multi-billion dollar oil and gas industry seeks to extract some of Canada’s most sought-after resources, it needs to proceed in a way that upholds aboriginal rights and interests and minimizes risk to the environment”, says University of Saskatchewan student Courtney Fidler. Fidler, a PhD student in geography and planning, has been awarded the Social Sciences and Humanities Council Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship, worth $150,000 over three years. She will travel to the north to develop a new planning tool that will help aboriginal communities, industry, and government agencies more effectively mitigate the negative environmental and social impacts of northern resource development. “Her work takes a brand new approach,” says supervisor and UofS environmental assessment professor Bram Noble. Fidler believes the current approach to impact assessment and management in the Beaufort Sea region is not good enough. “We need to look at the big picture, and take a co-ordinate regional approach that goes beyond the current project-by-project framework”. Fidler has listened to and shared knowledge with indigenous landowners as a visiting scholar at the University of Queensland Sustainable Minerals Institute in Australia. There she co-authored a report on the social impacts of resource development, and contributed to a guidebook on gender issues for Rio Tinto, a multinational mining company. With a bachelor’s degree in anthropology, a master’s in mining engineering, and training in environmental regulation, legislation and political science, Fidler brings a unique understanding of social issues that engineers and scientists focusing on technical feasibility don’t often have. With five publications, and numerous awards and scholarships to her credit, Noble adds “The research she is doing is vital, and she is already building a national reputation for it.” |
Fullerton, Chris |
| Previous Education: Department: Geography |
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Galka, Marek |
Hometown: Gdynia, Poland Current Residence: London, ON Occupation: Postdoctoral Fellow | Previous Education:
Thesis: Identification of Abscisic Acid-Binding Proteins Using a Bioactive Photoaffinity Probe Department: Chemistry |
Marek explains that Abscisic Acid (ABA), which belongs to a group of plant hormones, enables plants to better cope with abiotic stresses like drought, extreme temperatures, and high salinity. “My research focused on identifying new ABA-binding proteins to better understand ABA’s function and perception,” says Marek. “Of the several putative proteins I discovered, one named Rubisco attracted my attention the most.” Rubisco, he explains, is the major enzyme responsible for CO2 consumption during photosynthesis. Marek found that ABA not only binds to Rubisco but also modulates its activity. In other words, in times of stress, ABA slows down plant growth by regulating photosynthetic machinery. This finding, he adds, may change our understanding of photosynthesis regulation and CO2 consumption, and could lead to the production of genetically modified plants with altered sensitivity to ABA and/or improved CO2 fixation capability. |
Galushko, Viktoriya |
Hometown: Kyiv, Ukraine Current Residence: Regina, SK Occupation: Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, U of R | Previous Education:
Thesis: Intellectual Property Rights and the Future of Plant Breeding in Canada Department: Bioresource Policy, Business and Economics |
The crop research industry in Canada continues to undergo significant transformations in part because there has been a shift from publicly financed to privately financed research; this has, consequently, led to increased application of intellectual property rights (IPRs). The goal of Viktoriya’s research was to develop a broader understanding of how IPRs for biological materials change the research environment in the plant breeding industry and impact the distribution of research benefits. In particular, she wanted to investigate a wide-spread belief that, due to the built in farmers’ exemption, Plant Breeders’ Rights are a weak instrument for fostering varietal development and genetic improvement compared to patents. She also wanted to explore the impact of IPRs on the ability of plant breeders to conduct cumulative research. After developing an analytical model to relate PBRs and patents, Viktoriya found that under certain circumstances PBRs can be as effective as patents in encouraging varietal development. And after conducting personal interviews with wheat and canola breeders, Viktoriya found that proliferation of IPRs has led to increased secrecy in the sectors and reduced germplasm/information flows. Overall, it was concluded that in the world of IP protection, government involvement with biotechnology is important to ensure that major innovations are accessible to the breeding community and that the built research base is kept intact. |
Gaultois, Michael |
Hometown: Nanaimo, BC Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK Occupation: Master’s student | Previous Education:
Graduate Supervisor: Dr. Andrew Grosvenor Department: Chemistry | Michael Gaultois, a Chemistry graduate student is a 2010 recipient of a Julie Payette-NSERC Research Scholarship, valued at $25,000. Gaultois studies Spectroscopy, which explores the interactions of matter with energy, and investigating materials and their properties. “My thesis involves advanced spectroscopic techniques using synchrotron radiation,” explains Gaultois, “to investigate next-nearest-neighbour effects, which are one of many competing effects that can cause these spectral energies to change or shift.” In this emerging field, Gaultois is attracted by the unorthodox and unique nature of the work, and even though almost everything you need for solid-state chemistry is new, he is thankful that his thesis supervisor, Dr. Andrew Grosvenor, has great experience in the area. Gaultois says that the most exciting part of his research is “working with particle accelerators and glass blowing. Working on the synchrotron (the Canadian Light Source) is a blast, as long as you can stay awake for the long shifts. It’s a particle accelerator, just like you see in movies and read about in the news, and its every mad scientist’s wildest dream. It’s always mind-blowing to think tens of thousands of years of human development and technology has gone into whizzing things around near the speed of light, with energy being coherently channeled into a spot on your sample, all so that we can generate a simple plot with an X and a Y axis and a few coordinates that form a curve.” After some technical training in glassblowing, Gaultois is also able to make his own quartz glassware for some of the reactions he does. “It's a lot of fun once you're good at it,” he jokes, “and I use the word “good” lightly, as when I hang out with real glassblowers and see the work they do I can truly appreciate the skill they have.” No matter where the future takes him, Gaultois believes “strongly that I should contribute to the research community, which has greatly benefited human society and culture, and I believe research will be a large part of my career.” |
Graham, Tom |
| Previous Education: Department: Kinesiology |
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Haakensen, Monique |
Hometown: Prince Albert, SK Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK | Previous Education:
Thesis: Genetic basis of lactobacilli and pediococci to spoil beer Department: Pathology and Laboratory Medicine | In addition to saving the world’s beer from bacterial contamination,
Monique has been involved with the College of Medicine Graduate
Student’s Society for several years, even acting as Vice-Chair for the
2006/2007 school year; has competed in 10 km and ½ marathon races; and
has been involved with the Wilson Centre for Entrepreneurial Excellence.
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Hammad, Rasheed Bani |
Hometown: Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK Occupation: Researcher/Graduate Student | Previous Education:
Graduate Supervisor: Dr. David J. Schreyer Department: Anatomy and Cell Biology | Rasheed Bani Hammad a PhD candidate in the department Anatomy and Cell Biology, studies the Peripheral Nervous System and is interested in its regenerative abilities. “My quest is to look for some of the molecular mechanisms underlying the process of peripheral regeneration,” explains Hammad. “My work showed that some key transcription factors are activated in the process peripheral nerve regeneration, leading to increased expression of key growth associated proteins known to be expressed during the regenerative process.” Hammad explains that the he has always been fascinated with neurons and their involvement in every aspect of our lives. “Doing science is an addictive mental and physical behavior; once you achieve an objective there is excitement. You always ask yourself: what is next? Each time you achieve an objective, the excitement of finding a new piece of the puzzle never settles unless you pursue a new one.” Hammad hopes his research will lead to a better understanding of peripheral nerve regeneration, which will assist in the intervention and recovery of traumatic injuries. At the U of S, Hammad has spent time researching and working at the Cameco M.S. Neuroscience Research Center, which taught him skills he says he will carry with him for life. “The training that I have acquired over the course of my PhD pursuit qualifies me to be in any research oriented setting, particularly in the area of Neuroscience.” Hammad's supervisor, Dr. David J. Schreyer, is the head researcher at the Cameco MS Neuroscience Research Center. Hammad describes Schreyer as a fountain of knowledge. “He has always been there when I needed academic or non-academic help. He treated me with utmost respect and showed me how to love what I was doing, and how to love science.” Hammad explains that it is the combination of functional lab work and academic research that has made his time at U of S so fulfilling. Hammad has presented his research two years in a row at the Society for Neuroscience conference (07, 08). After completing his PhD at the University of Saskatchewan, he plans to return to the United Arab Emirates and initiate a center for research focusing on spinal chord and brain injuries. Although he jokes that “the summers there can get to over 50 degrees Celsius; so come and visit when the temperature here in Saskatoon hovers around minus 50”, he admits that he will miss the changing seasons of Saskatchewan. |
Hanson, Lori |
Hometown: Meacham, SK Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK Occupation: Assistant Professor, Department of Community Health & Epidemiology, U of S | Previous Education:
Thesis: Women Activists: Lives of Commitment and Transformation Department: Interdisciplinary Studies | Guided by life history methodology and feminist and constructivist post-modern approaches, Lori’s thesis focuses on two women (Nancy and Dianne) involved in activism for social change. It draws from their experiences and stories to evoke the transformative journeys of women’s long-term commitments to social change activism, and to portray ways in which personal and social transformation interweave. “I wanted to write in an evocative and personal way to make the promise and perils of a life committed to social change activism come alive for the reader,” says Lori. Presently, Lori teaches in the area of Global Health, where she aims to “put a face on social movements and the actors within them”—in regards to activism in community health—by using life histories. |
Hatala, Andrew |
Hometown: Calgary, AB Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK | Previous Education:
Thesis: Mental Health & Spirituality in Cultural Context: An ethnographic examination of how traditional healing and Maya Indigenous spirituality act as either risk or protective factors for mental distress and disorder Graduate Supervisor: James B. Waldram Department: Psychology | What is the relationship between spirituality and mental health? How can our Western medical model make room for aboriginal knowledge and approaches in its treatment of mental disorders? These questions and others are at the heart of a new study being undertaken by Psychology PhD student, Andrew Hatala who is exploring the relation between spirituality and mental health. Hatala states, “I strongly believe that many contemporary psychological issues (i.e. depression, anxieties, etc.) can be addressed from a holistic position where spiritual practices (i.e., finding a deeper meaning and purpose in suffering, meditation, prayer, etc.) can work alongside more scientific approaches to optimize individual and community health and well-being.” In an attempt to find answers to his questions, Hatala is living in the Central American nation of Belize for most of 2011 to study the methods of ten indigenous healers who have formed a group called the Q’eqchi Healers’ Association (QHA). Hatala explains, “The QHA has invited Dr. Waldram, an experienced medical anthropologist and my current supervisor, to work with them in documenting their healing practices, preserve their indigenous knowledge systems, and contribute to cultural revitalization projects.” While the main study by Dr. Waldram will be more comprehensive, Hatala’s research will focus on how the Q’eqchi healers treat a range of mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety, and how their patients respond to these treatments. By documenting the healers’ methods using clinical case studies that follow their patients’ treatment experiences over time, Hatala hopes that what he learns from the practitioners in the QHA will allow a close comparison between Maya indigenous forms of treating mental health issues and Western types of medicine and psychotherapy. Ultimately this will help bridge the science-spirituality gap in treatment approaches. Hatala feels “It’s important for people to reflect on our (i.e., Western society’s) increasing reliance on drugs and external therapies to alleviate psychological sufferings and begin to become open to alternative treatment approaches to various conditions. I also feel strongly that indigenous knowledge systems are important, if not crucial, as humanity becomes increasingly more comfortable with alternative forms of medicine and healing.” In the end, Hatala is looking, not only to broaden medical knowledge of treatment approaches to mental illness, but help provide what he calls “culturally and contextually appropriate clinical practice guidelines for policy-makers, institutions, and healthcare professional working in multi-cultural contexts - like Canada”. Hatala, who was recently promoted into the PhD program in January of 2011, is currently in Belize conducting his research. |
Hatton, Leah |
Hometown: Montreal, QC Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK Occupation: Clinical Associate, Early Childhood Psychology Team, Public Health Services | Previous Education:
Thesis: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Infancy and Early Childhood Department: Psychology |
While some published clinical case studies describe a number of young children who developed significant symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as early as four months of age following a traumatic experience, there is—according to Leah—a severe lack of research on PTSD in early childhood. Over the course of five years, Leah investigated the emotional, physiological and relational effects of severe stress on children aged 0-4 years. Specifically, Leah assessed the reaction/s of young children at the time of potentially traumatic events, the types of events that clinicians should be aware of when assessing young children, and the effectiveness of a screening method to better identify children with symptoms of PTSD. One aspect of her research revealed that children with higher quality “attachment relationship”—that is, strong relationship with the primary caregiver—are less likely to experience PTSD symptoms following a potentially traumatic event. Thus, practically, this finding suggests that clinicians working with young children exposed to trauma can intervene by supporting a strong attachment relationship. Leah received a CIHR Doctoral Research Award in 2004, and has presented aspects of her research findings at the International Society of Infant Studies Conference in Chicago (2004), the World Association of Infant Mental Health Conference in Paris (2006), and the Society for Research in Child Development Conference in Boston (2007). |
Hedlin, Peter |
Hometown: Saskatoon, SK Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK | Previous Education:
Thesis: Designing a Scrapie Specific Epitope for Use in Transmissible Spongioform Encephalopathy (TSE) Immunotherapy Department: Biochemistry | Get the details on Peter's work at OCN.
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Henderson, Allison |
Hometown: Yorkton, SK Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK | Previous Education:
Thesis: Recovery of Saskatchewan’s Grassland Songbirds at Risk: Linking Ranchers, Range Health, and Grassland Songbird Abundance Graduate Supervisor: Maureen Reed, School of Environment and Sustainability, and Stephen Davis, Canadian Wildlife Service, Regina Department: School of Environment and Sustainability | Allison Henderson, PhD student in the School of Environment and Sustainability, is hoping to make a difference in the recovery of several prairie avian “species at risk” (SAR). But while grounded in the science of prairie ecosystems, her approach is uniquely interdisciplinary because it takes into consideration the socioeconomic variables that influence ranchers’ decisions about range-land management, and links this to the abundance of at-risk birds like Sprague’s Pipit, McCown’s Longspur, and Chestnut-collared Longspur, three species that are the focus of her study. Henderson is focusing on Saskatchewan grasslands that are part of the Milk River watershed, which extends from the Milk River area in southern Alberta, through a large swath of south-western Saskatchewan, and portions of north-central Montana. “In Saskatchewan, the majority of grassland songbird habitat is privately owned or managed and used in livestock production,” Henderson says, “However, important research that identifies factors influencing habitat stewardship and rangeland management in this system has yet to be conducted.” Henderson interviews ranchers about the factors that influence how they use their land, and uses this — along with the scientific information gathered about grassland health and bird populations — to establish data that can be used in making future decisions about grassland management. “My research is directly applicable to recovery planning for three grassland songbirds that are considered at risk,” Henderson explains, “I also hope that my work will highlight the important contributions that livestock producers make to wildlife conservation.” Originally from Yorkton, Henderson is supervised by Dr. Maureen Reed, a social geographer in the School of Environment and Sustainability, and Dr. Stephen Davis, a wildlife biologist and songbird specialist with the Canadian Wildlife Service in Regina. She chose to pursue her PhD at the U of S because, “I was looking for a university where I could do interdisciplinary research in support of wildlife conservation. I am trained as a natural scientist but have always been interested in the social side of conservation biology. The new School of Environment and Sustainability is a great fit for my work. My ability to conduct both natural and social science research in a single PhD dissertation is both challenging and rewarding. I love being in the field conducting bird point counts and interviewing producers. Spending time in the field is my favourite part of my work.” |
Hesman, Brigette |
| Previous Education: Department: Astronomy |
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Hilton, Jennifer |
| Previous Education: Department: Medicine |
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Hipkin, Nikki |
| Previous Education: Department: Business Administration |
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Holtslander, Lorraine |
Hometown: Waldheim, SK Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK Occupation: Assistant Professor, College of Nursing, U of S | Previous Education:
Thesis: The experience of hope for the older woman who is a bereaved palliative caregiver Department: Nursing | During her research, Lorraine was awarded a Strategic Training in Primary Health Care Fellowship from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Lorraine has also published several papers relating to the analysis of the context of care for the bereaved palliative caregiver, and the ways of knowing hope as a guide to planning research with this population.
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Hopfner, Rob |
| Previous Education: Department: Pharmacology |
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Horowitz, Risa |
| Previous Education: Department: Art |
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Hossain, Mohammad |
Hometown: Dhaka, Bangladesh Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK Occupation: Research scientist at Phenomenome Discoveries Inc | Previous Education:
Thesis: Phytoalexins from Crucifers: Probing Detoxification Pathways in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Department: Chemistry | Stem rot, caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, is a major fungal disease of rapeseed in western Canada: depending on environmental and weather conditions, it can yield losses up to 50%. Infection usually occurs during petal fall, wherein sclerotia, black fleshy structures, form inside hollow stems and make them brittle. During threshing, sclerotia are released from the stem and become mixed with the seed. Mohammad’s project aimed to determine how S. sclerotiorum overcomes the plant’s chemical defenses, and found that it detoxifies the phytoalexins—antifungal compounds biosynthesized by plants when they are under stress—through glucosylation. Based on this finding, he designed and synthesized potential phytoalexin detoxification inhibitors, which proved successful in slowing down the rate of detoxification of phytoalexins in fungal cultures as well as in cell free extracts. He hopes his design will impact Saskatchewan agriculture by acting as a stepping stone to the “future development of friendly chemicals that will inhibit this fungus completely.” Mohammad’s work has been published in four journals and presented at conferences in Ottawa, Saskatoon and London (ON). |
Ilic, Aleksandra |
Hometown: Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina | Previous Education:
Department: Law Date Posted: Aug 01, 2012 | Although Ilic grew up in Sarajevo, her family fled to the bordering country of Montenegro before the Bosnian War. Now, as Montenegro is recovering from the horrific 2010 floods, which forced thousands to abandon their homes and caused an enormous amount of damage to precious agricultural land, Ilic has her chance to give back to the country which helped her family so many years ago. During the summer term 2012, Ilic has been interning in the UNDP office in Montenegro as part of the new partnership between the University of Saskatchewan and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The major goal of the program is to provide training for Canadian graduate and law students in a UNDP initiative called the Legal Empowerment of the Poor (LEP). She is working with the Disaster Risk Reduction unit on a strategy to diminish the chance of a natural disaster, like the 2010 floods, repeating itself. Part of the strategy involves reducing the number illegal and irregular settlements which are typically not built to satisfy safety codes and are especially vulnerable during natural disasters. “As an incentive for owners of informal or illegal structures to apply for the legalization of these structures, the UNDP Montenegro has set forth a strategy to encourage owners to retrofit their homes to make them more energy efficient,” says Ilic. “I am extremely excited to be part of this initiative.” Ilic believes her interest in law stems from her mother who was a lawyer in the former Yugoslavia. From her mother, she was taught that hard work and perseverance pays off, and has used this motto during her pursuit of a career in law. Illic began to study law at the University of Calgary where she obtained a BA in Law and Society. Following her degree, she worked for the Canadian Constitution Foundation providing support to the Executive Director, Litigation Director, and articling students. Afterwards, Ilic enrolled in the Juris Doctor program at the U of S where she is currently pursuing a law degree. |
Jackel-Cram, Candice |
Hometown: Kerrobert, SK Current Residence: Vancouver, BC Occupation: M.Sc. Student of Genetic Counselling at the University of British Columbia | Previous Education:
Thesis: Molecular Mechanisms of Hepatitis C Virus – Associated Steatosis Graduate Supervisor: Dr. Qiang Liu Department: Veterinary Microbiology/VIDO |
When
University of Saskatchewan PhD student Candice Jackel-Cram is confronted with a
virus, she doesn't automatically reach for the hand sanitizer. Instead, Cram,
wants to get up close and personal. "I have always been fascinated by how
bacteria and viruses cause disease," says Cram. "My project allowed me to look
in great detail at one particular aspect of the hepatitis C virus disease."
In her research, Cram found that one specific protein of the hepatitis C virus forced the liver to produce more fat and lipids than normal. The increased production leads to liver damage, liver failure, and even liver cancer. Since the hepatitis C virus disease only affects humans and only has about a 50 percent cure rate, Cram's investigation into how the hepatitis C virus can cause liver damage is of great interest to the medical community. Cram has seen her research reported in the Journal of General Virology, the Journal of Hepatology, and as a chapter in Recent Developments in Immunology. "This research has helped to explain an important mechanism that the hepatitis C virus uses to cause liver damage," says Cram. "In the future, this information could lead to the identification of novel drugs and treatments to help slow the progression of hepatitis C infection." After completing her PhD at the University of Saskatchewan in October 2009, Cram has returned to graduate studies, this time at the University of British Columbia. "I know I'm a bit backwards in that I did my PhD first, but I wanted to change to a more clinical field, so I decided to do another degree". She will graduate with a M.Sc in genetic counseling, which is a professional program, in 2011. Awards:
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Jadhav, Ashok |
Hometown: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK Occupation: Post-doctoral researcher in Pharmacology at the U of S | Previous Education:
Thesis: Antihypertrophic effect of hemin in deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt-induced hypertensive rat model Department: Physiology | “Hypertension is one of the growing causes of morbidity and mortality, as it, along with other cardiovascular complications, leads to end-organ damages,” says Ashok. “But damage prevention can be achieved by stimulating the Heme-Oxygenase (HO) System.” Ashok aimed to understand how the HO system prevents hypertension, oxidative stress, inflammation, hypertrophy, and cardiac and renal end-stage damages, using animal models. He found that “up-regulation of the HO system modulates transcription factors responsible for the pathology of end-stage organ damages caused by the DOCA-salt induced hypertensive rat model.” Ashok has published the findings of his work in Hypertension and AJP: Renal Physiology, both in 2008. |
Jewell, Lisa |
Hometown: Athabasca, AB Current Residence: Edmonton, AB | Previous Education:
Thesis: “I can hear it in the way they look at me…”: Gay and lesbian university students’ experiences of blatant and subtle interpersonal discrimination Graduate Supervisor: Melanie Morrison Department: Psychology | Psychology student, Lisa Jewell, is exploring a form of discrimination called “homonegativity”, which is based on sexual orientation. For her MA research, she approached the topic from perspective of the discriminator. Now, for her PhD studies, Jewell has concentrated on the experiences of gay and lesbian students who have been subjected to anti-gay/lesbian behaviour on the university campus.
The gay and lesbian students who volunteered to participate in her research were interviewed and, over a ten-day period, recorded any day-to-day incidents of homonegativity. Ultimately, Jewell found that it was the more subtle forms of discrimination that her participants found “more invalidating, demeaning, and dehumanizing.” “Several participants indicated that with blatant discrimination they were aware of the person’s intentions to harm them in some way…and, as a result, could easily dismiss this person as hopelessly prejudiced,” Jewell explains, “With respect to subtle discrimination…the gay and lesbian students could never be certain whether that person was actually prejudiced toward gay men and lesbian women and meant to harm them. They also noted that those (heterosexuals) around them often did not recognize these behaviours as discriminatory. Consequently, they spent more time ruminating about these incidents, doubting their own interpretations of the event, and questioning how they should respond to these occurrences.” Jewell’s work is an important contribution to the emerging body of research on the impact of subtle discrimination. Proving that subtle forms of discrimination, while seemingly minor, can be more harmful than blatant forms of discrimination, she identifies areas where intervention efforts might focus on reducing homonegativity in society, such as increasing heterosexuals’ awareness about the behaviours that constitute discrimination. She reports, “Often heterosexuals claim that this language is meaningless—my study suggests that this is not the case when it is heard by sexual minority persons.” Jewell has studied with Dr. Melanie Morrison for both her MA and PhD. She feels ready for the future noting, “Under Melanie’s guidance, I feel that I have grown into a skilled researcher and, … I feel well-prepared for the world that awaits me.” |
Jha, Rajesh |
Hometown: Janakpurdham, Nepal Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK | Previous Education:
Thesis: Fibre Fermentation in the Pig Intestine: Effect on Metabolite Production and Nitrogen Excretion Graduate Supervisor: Pascal Leterme Department: Animal and Poultry Science | Finding the right food-stuffs for animal feed that is sustainable for farmers, will satisfy consumer demands for pork produced using antibiotic-free diets, and will help reduce nitrogen levels in pig barns has been the work of U of S doctoral student, Rajesh Jha. Originally from Nepal, where he received his Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry in 1996, Jha studied for his Master of Animal Science in the Netherlands before coming to Saskatchewan for his doctorate. Jha’s research seeks to produce an optimum growth-promoting environment without the use of antibiotics and with minimal environmental impact. “There is increasing demand for pork produced using antibiotic free diets,” Jha explains, “[At the same time,] nitrogen excretion from commercial pig barns is another issue the industry is dealing with. Several approaches have been proposed to deal with these socio-technical challenges, but these are neither practical nor sustainable.” Instead, Jha’s findings reveal that feed stuffs like hull-less barleys and pea fibres provide the fermentable fiber necessary to reduce nitrogen excretion (which produces the foul smells associated with large pig barns), and modulate the pigs’ innards without using drugs. “These ingredients are produced on a large scale in western Canada,” Jha says, “and are readily available at a comparatively cheap price. The findings of my study have both socio-technical and environmental benefits, which can be adopted by the pork industry to maintain their competitiveness.” “Certainly it’s hard to leave your beloved family members,” Jha reports on his relocation to Canada, “but you have to sacrifice something to get something. The life-long encouragement and support of my family is a major factor in my success.” Besides his studies, Jha also volunteers both on- and off-campus. Perhaps because of his attitude and his extra-curricular involvement, he concludes, “I have no regrets, I am happy with my career path.” Dr. Jha is presently employed as a Research Associate with the Department of Agricultural, Food, and Nutritional Science at the University of Alberta. |
Journeay, Shane W. |
Hometown: Liverpool, NS Current Residence: Halifax, NS Occupation: Medical student (Dalhousie University) and CEO of Nanotechnology Toxicology Consulting and Training Corporation | Previous Education:
Thesis: Nanotoxicology: Pulmonary Toxicity Studies on Self-Assembling Rosette Nanotubes Department: Toxicology | “My work,” reflects Shane, “represents some of the first work in the field of nanotoxicology, which combines principles of nanotechnology and toxicology.” In 2003, Shane entered his study of nanotoxicology, which examines the potential toxicological responses of living organisms to engineered nanomaterials and devices. (Briefly, nanomaterial is a material engineered at the atomic or molecular level to have specific physical and/or chemical properties, at size less than 100nm.) Since very little is known about how nanomaterials react in living tissues and the environment due to their size and novel properties, research in this new branch of toxicology has far-reaching implications for the application of nanotechnology to drug, cosmetic, and manufacturing industries. Shane studied the toxicity of a nanomaterial known as rosette nanotubes, which have a variety of potential applications including drug delivery and biomaterials. Since then, he has been invited to speak to many organizations including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Health Canada, and the American Industrial Hygiene Association; has represented Canada at the 2006 International Space University Summer session program in France; and has won numerous poster awards. His research has also been published in SMALL Journal, Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, and Inflammation Research. |
Jung, Mary |
Hometown: Lindsay, ON Current Residence: Ancaster, ON Occupation: Post-Doctoral Fellow | Previous Education:
Thesis: Concurrent Management of Exercise and Other Valued Life Goals: A Focus on Self-Regulatory Efficacy Department: College of Kinesiology | Mary wanted to examine how concurrently held, valued non-exercise activities (like those involving family, academics, etc.) are perceived to influence exercise behaviour. “In day to day circumstances, where individuals need to concurrently attend to more than one goal in their lives, self-regulation of physical activity does not occur in isolation. Rather, physical activity must be managed in conjunction with other valued activities, such as family and work,” says Mary. “The thoughts about and value of these other activities as well as the time spent managing them may influence individuals’ physical activity behaviour in direct and indirect ways. Gaining a better understanding of how we can concurrently manage our exercise goals alongside our non-exercise goals could increase physical activity rates in the general public.” Mary’s findings suggest that increasing an individual’s confidence in their ability to concurrently manage multiple goals at once can improve his or her perseverance towards “sticking with exercise,” as well as increase the likelihood that the individual will engage in regular physical activity even when life gets hectic. |
Junkin, Sarah |
| Previous Education: Department: Kinesiology |
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Kanagal, Srikanth |
Hometown: Bangalore, India Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK | Previous Education:
Thesis: Sensorimotor behaviour in rats after lesions of dorsal spinal pathways Department: Veterinary Biomedical Sciences |
Srikanth wanted to better understand the contribution of spinal pathways in sensory-motor behaviour and locomotion, specifically. To do this, he performed precise lesions of various spinal pathways along different levels of the spinal cord in seven rat models and then documented the changes in their sensory-motor behaviour. Now, spinal cord injury research may benefit greatly from his work. First, the rat models of partial spinal cord injuries may be used to test drugs with axonal regenerative potential and second, Srikanth’s unprecedented information about pathways might be used to improve rehabilitation efforts for animals with spinal injuries. Srikanth’s work has been published in Experimental Neurology, Behavioural Brain Research, and The European Journal of Neuroscience; it has also been presented in Atlanta, San Diego, and Asilomar. |
Karunanayake, Chandima |
Hometown: Colombo, Sri Lanka Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK Occupation: Post Doc and Biostatistician, U of S | Previous Education:
Thesis: Multivariate Poisson Hidden Markov Models for Analysis of Spatial Counts Department: Mathematics and Statistics | Chandima “extended the univariate Markov-dependent Possion finite mixture model to the multivariate Poisson case and contributed to the Hidden Markov model research area by developing Splus/R codes for the analysis of the multivariate Poisson Hidden Markov model.” What’s it to us? Her proposed model—dealing with over-dispersion and spatial information—may prove crucial in agricultural settings. It could give insight about weed distribution for herbicide applications and lead researchers to find other factors, like soil moisture or fertilizer level, to determine the states (aka underlying distributions) which govern the distribution of weed counts. In 2006, Chandima’s work was published in Model Assisted Statistics and Applications. |
Kent-Wilkinson, Arlene |
Hometown: St. Joseph Island, ON Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK Occupation: Nurse Educator | Previous Education:
Thesis: Forensic nursing education: An exploratory study Department: Educational Administration |
Arlene explored forensic nursing knowledge as a specialty area of study and the factors influencing educational development from the perspective of nurse educators who established the earliest forensic nursing programs in North America. Her findings, published in the Journal of Forensic Nursing, clearly show how forensic nursing is different from nursing, in general, and from other forensic disciplines, and highlight the historical, social, economic, technological, media, and political factors influencing educational development. Although research had been done on the need for forensic nursing education, few studies exist on this topic now that programs are in existence,” says Arlene. “Articulation of how nursing, and forensic nursing particularly, are the same and different from other disciplines has important implications for inter-professional education.” |
Khalzov, Ivan |
Hometown: Borisoglebsk, Russia Current Residence: Madison, Wisconsin Occupation: Research Associate at the University of Wisconsin - Madison | Previous Education:
Thesis: Equilibrium and Stability of Magnetohydrodynamic Flows in Annular Channels Department: Physics and Engineering Physics |
When the magnetorotational instability experiment was proposed at the Kurchatov Institute (Russian Research Centre) in 2004, Ivan knew what he wanted to study: magnetohydrodynamic flows. These are the flows of liquid metals in the presence of a magnetic field, and such flows in annular channels are currently of great interest due to the search for “magnetorotational instability." For his thesis, Ivan performed a theoretical study of these flows. His results can now be used to optimize the design of experiments for the study of magnetorotational instability, and they may also be useful in fundamental astrophysical studies. Ivan’s work has been published in the Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics Letters, Technical Physics, and Physics of Fluids. |
Khan, Mohammed Abdul Kader |
| Previous Education: Department: Chemistry |
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Korthuis, Mark |
Hometown: Saskatoon Current Residence: Saskatoon Occupation: Development Officer | Previous Education:
Graduate Supervisor: Dr. Joe Garcia (Department of Political Studies) Department: International Centre of Northern Governance & Development Date Posted: Aug 01, 2012 | Mark Korthuis is an enthusiastic advocate of the North’s potential and ascribes to the Harvard Project’s finding that strong sovereignty, institutions, culture, and leadership are critical to both current and future social and economic development in Saskatchewan’s North. He has held the positions of Program Assistant and Outreach Coordinator with the ICNGD where he helped ensure alternative education programs and models were available to Northern Saskatchewan regions. Mark embarked on the MNGD program to build his own capacity and to better understand the complex issues, challenges, and opportunities present in Northern Saskatchewan. His area of research interest was northern governance and specifically the role that governmental entities play in good governance and sustainable development in Northern Saskatchewan. His research internship was with Cameco where he was able to work with his academic and industry supervisors to provide four recommendations on how industry can better engage with specific governmental and non-governmental entities in Northern Saskatchewan. After successfully completing his MNGD program requirements in January 2012, Mark is the first graduate of the MNGD’s 2010 pilot cohort. He is currently employed by the Aboriginal-led, northern-focused Credenda Virtual School as a Development Officer where he uses his professional and academic experiences to engage Credenda’s new and existing partners in the northern regions of Saskatchewan. |
Koster, Rhonda |
| Previous Education: Department: Geography |
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Krakowetz, Chantel |
Hometown: Christopher Lake Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK | Previous Education:
Thesis: Investigating the phylogeographic and coevolutionary relationships between the deer tick (Ixodes scapularis) and its associated human pathogens (Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum) Graduate Supervisor: Dr. Neil B. Chilton Department: Biology | “Ticks are one of the most important carriers of bacteria and viruses that cause disease in humans in North America,” says Krakowetz’s supervisor UofS biology professor Neil Chilton. Tick season has begun early this year in Saskatchewan, and understanding which ticks might carry harmful bacteria is extremely important to Health Canada, which monitors tick populations and assesses risks to people. As a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship recipient, Krakowetz has been awarded $100,000 over two years from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council to advance knowledge of deer ticks and the bacteria they carry. “Chantel’s work will make an important contribution to studies measuring human health risks of the deer tick as its distribution in Canada changes,” says Chilton. Deer tick (also known as the black-legged tick) populations are spreading into south-eastern Canada from the U.S., and are expected to move further north as climate change continues. They carry a number of bacteria, including the species that causes Lyme disease, which affects more than 20,000 people in the U.S. every year. By comparing the genetic makeup of different deer tick populations from around the U.S. and Canada, Krakowetz will learn whether the bacterium that causes Lyme disease is associated with specific strains of ticks. “It still remains to be seen exactly where these ticks are coming from and what strains of bacteria they are bringing with them,” she explains. Her findings could be useful to the study of mosquitoes, which carry microorganisms that cause malaria, a disease that affects over 300 million people worldwide. “This scholarship is incredibly motivating – it is reassurance that my research is not only headed in the right direction, but that it is going to have a positive impact,” she says. Photo by Scott Bell |
Kuiken, Dirk |
| Previous Education: Department: Veterinary Pathology |
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Langford, Melanie |
| Previous Education: Department: Psychology |
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Lardner, Bart |
| Previous Education: Department: Agriculture |
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Lilbæk, Gro |
Hometown: Allerød, Denmark Current Residence: Edmonton, AB Occupation: Post-Doc Fellow, University of Alberta | Previous Education:
Thesis: Compositional Change of Meltwater Infiltrating Frozen Ground Department: Centre for Hydrology, Geography & Planning |
“Knowledge about the flow pathway of snowmelt ions is important for determining the aquatic or terrestrial sink for these ions and the timing of ion delivery to water bodies,” says Gro. “The overall goal of my research was to obtain a better understanding of how flow paths in frozen soil and their flow celerity alter water chemistry as this may help in larger efforts to use chemistry to differentiate between surface flow, flow in the organic layer, and flow in the mineral soil.” Gro’s research showed that frozen ground underneath a melting snowpack may not only alter the flow path but also the ion load in runoff water. The presence of a basal ice layer causes all meltwater to run off and further enrich the ion concentration. When no basal ice is present, enhanced solute infiltration causes a greater ion load to infiltrate frozen mineral soil leading to relative dilute runoff water. “A better understanding of the alteration of chemical composition by flow paths is important as this impacts nutrient and contamination delivery to the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems,” adds Gro. “And being able to infer the flow path from chemical alterations can help us to assess relative storage time, which is important for hydrograph response and has further hydrochemical impacts.” Parts of Gro’s research has been published in Hydrological Processes. Also, in 2008, the highest student prize awarded in Canadian Hydrology—the D.M. Gray Award—was granted to Gro for best student paper. |
Lindsay, Donna |
| Previous Education: Department: Biology |
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Luhning, Holly |
Hometown: Lumsden, SK Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK | Previous Education:
Thesis: Eliza Haywood: The Print Trade and Cultural Production Department: English |
Eliza Haywood was one of the most prolific and popular writers of the early 18th century, and one of the first commercially successful women writers in history. Despite her success, though, Haywood’s work was largely ignored by earlier 20th century critics and excluded in accounts of the development of modern literature. Hence, Holly’s research aims to illuminate Haywood’s writing and also historicize her work by examining its place in the expanding print culture of the time. In the early 18th century, print culture increased in regard to the quantity, availability, and affordability of textual material, and the publishing landscape changed as the authority of the few established publishers in London was dispersed among many printers, writers, booksellers, and customers. In other words, there was a “boom of information-sharing, much like there is today with flourishing online exchanges,” explains Holly. “Thus, an accurate understanding of the cultural impact of Haywood’s writing not only contributes to our understanding of women’s literary history, but also illustrates the power of textual media as an agent of social change." Holly has published articles in eSharp (University of Glasgow) and The Female Spectator (Chawton House Library), and has received fellowships through SSHRC—both doctoral and postdoctoral—and the Chawton House Library. |
Lund, Clinton |
Hometown: Midale, SK Current Residence: Toronto, ON Occupation: Postdoctoral Fellow | Previous Education:
Thesis: Synthesis and Characterization of Group-13-Bridged [1]- and [1.1]Metallacyclophanes Department: Chemistry | “To date,” says Clinton, “organometallic polymers have been shown to have many interesting properties including reversible electrochromic behaviour (aka electric conductivity that can be enhanced with photoxidation) and magnetism. But, the study of organometallic polymers is still in its infancy—many other possible applications have yet to be discovered.” Clinton aimed, first, to synthesize and characterize strained organometallic monomers that could be used to prepare organometallic polymers via ring-opening polymerization. Second, he planned to synthesize and characterize unstrained group-13-bridged [1.1]metallarenophanes to discern whether any degree of electronic communication exists between the transition metals of these compounds. In the end, he discovered a new ring-opening reaction, catalyzed by donor molecules, which could potentially be altered to initiate ring-opening polymerization of the strained [1]metallarenophanes. He also determined that gallium-bridged [1.1]metallarenophanes are Class II compounds: both transition metals are reversibly oxidized/reduced at slightly different potentials. In other words, these materials can potentially conduct electric charge and the metals “communicate” with one another. Clinton’s work has been published in eleven journals including Inorganic Chemistry, Organometallics and the Journal of the American Chemical Society. |
Ma, John Zhen Guo |
Hometown: Hebei, China Current Residence: Montreal, QC Occupation: Post-Doctoral Fellow, Canadian Space Agency | Previous Education:
Thesis: Ion Velocity Distributions in Inhomogeneous and Time-dependent Auroral Situations Graduate Supervisor: Professor Jean-Pierre St. Maurice, Canada Research Chair, Institute of Space and Atmospheric Studies, U of S Department: Physics and Engineering Physics |
The aurora dances across the northern sky inspired John to take on his study of aurorae, which often break down into elongated filaments parallel to the geomagnetic field lines with cylindrically symmetric structures. John aimed at studying the ion distribution function and transport properties in response to a sudden introduction of a radial electric field in such a cylindrical geometry. John discovered various shapes of the ion distribution functions under different conditions (like ring, horseshoe, tear-drop, and core-halo) and found evolutions of corresponding bulk parameters, such as density, drift, temperature, and heat flow. John expects his results may be used to address high-resolution satellite/rocket observations by data-fitting simulations. Awards & Publications:
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MacDonald, Tracy |
Hometown: Nelson, BC | Previous Education:
Department: Toxicology Date Posted: Jun 01, 2012 | According to toxicology PhD student Tracy MacDonald, zebrafish may hold clues to how mercury damages human cells. MacDonald’s research involves identifying how mercury damages zebrafish tissue and which types of mercury are the most harmful. Mercury poisoning in humans is caused by accumulation of mercury in tissues, typically due to consumption of fish which are high on the food chain, such as sharks. The compound often accumulates in nervous tissue, leading to central nervous system disruption. This makes developing children and fetuses the most susceptible to the damage. “One billion people depend on fish as their primary source of protein worldwide,” says MacDonald. “Because children are at the greatest risk for mercury toxicity, we used a model vertebrate, the zebrafish, to study how mercury accumulation affects a developing organism.” MacDonald and her team are investigating two naturally-occurring forms of mercury to determine which is the most damaging to a developing organism. To do this, they expose the zebrafish to different types of mercury, and use the synchrotron to image the accumulated mercury in the fish. So far, they have found that the organic form of mercury, typically found in fish, is the most harmful. “Our results show that fish exposed to organic mercury had mercury accumulation in the eye lenses and muscle tissue, whereas the fish exposed to [other forms] of mercury did not,” says MacDonald. The goal of the research is to determine which types of mercury are the most dangerous so that neutralizing compounds can be developed. Once an effective compound has been developed, MacDonald will use her zebrafish to determine how the compound can be used to prevent mercury poisoning in humans. |
Mahanti, Anirban |
| Previous Education: Department: Computer Science |
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Mahdavi, Mahmood A. |
Hometown: Mashhad, Iran Current Residence: Mashhad, Iran Occupation: Assistant professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran | Previous Education:
Thesis: Protein-protein interactions and metabolic pathway reconstruction in Caenorhabditis elegans Department: Chemical Engineering | Mahmood’s goal? “To gain a better knowledge of human diseases and to aid in the design of more effective drugs to cure them.” His method? To identify the functions of related genes found in Caenorhabditis elegans, an organism that has many genes in common with the human genome and a particularly human-like nervous system, and to use the information to further our understanding of human diseases. In all, Mahmood specified 75 previously unknown function categories for 1024 Caenorhabditis elegans genes by observing interactions between known and unknown pairs of genes. Once the interactions were inferred, genes operating in the same or similar pathways were identified: based on the sequence of reactions in the pathway, the function of a particular gene was specified. Mahmood’s research has been featured in BMC Bioinformatics and Genomics, Proteomics, & Bioinformatics. He has also presented different parts of his research at conferences in Sherbrooke, Calgary, and Edmonton. |
Maini, Sabia |
Hometown: Abohar, Punjab, India | Previous Education:
Thesis: “To determine the potential sunscreen properties of flavanols” Department: School of Pharmacy and Nutrition | Pharmacy and Nutrition PhD student Sabia Maini believes that an apple a day not only keeps the doctor away, but also harbors properties which could prevent sunburns. Maini and her supervisor, Ed Krol, are investigating flavenoids, which give fruit their colors, as “greener” alternatives to sunscreens. “Flavenoid production protects plants against damage due to sun exposure. We want to determine if these flavenoids can also protect human skin by preventing sun damage from broad-spectrum radiation,” says Maini. The first part of Maini’s research has involved developing a highly sensitive test to measure the amount of skin damage after exposure to ultraviolet radiation. The next step is to determine the capacity of a number of fruit flavonoids, such as those present in apples and onions, to protect the skin from UV-induced damage. “In the future, we hope that plant-based sunscreens will provide better protection than traditional sunscreens,” says Maini. “The majority of sunscreens currently available only screen against the UVB portion of sunlight, whereas flavonoids could provide more broad-spectrum protection.” |
Makarevitch, Roman |
| Previous Education: Department: Space Physics |
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Malhi, Pritpal S. |
Hometown: Ludhiana, Punjab, India Current Residence: Lethbridge, AB Occupation: Veterinarian with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency | Previous Education:
Thesis: A Bovine Model to Study Reproductive Aging Department: Veterinary Biomedical Sciences | These are the facts: about one in five North-American women delay childbearing to pursue career development; there is a well-documented decline in natural fertility for women over 30; and ethical mandates limit direct human study with regard to reproduction. With these facts in mind, Pritpal set forth to characterize and validate a model to study ovarian physiology and aging in cows, and to relate his findings to women. In his study, age-related changes in natural and interventional ovarian/oocyte physiology were documented by conducting experiments on a group of old cows and their young daughters. Pritpal’s data has been published in Biology of Reproduction, Reproduction, and Theriogenology and Animal Reproduction Science. Pritpal has also presented his work at meetings for the World Congress on the Study of Fertility and Sterility, the International Congress on Animal Reproduction, and the Society for the Study of Reproduction, among others. |
Mapletoft, John |
Hometown: Saskatoon, SK Current Residence: Saskatoon SK Occupation: Intern | Previous Education:
Thesis: Modulation of immune responses induced by vaccination against bovine respiratory syncytial virus Department: Veterinary Microbiology |
So far, Parker's Ph.D. efforts have been published in the journals Cell Research and The Journal of Cell Biology. He has also presented posters at conferences in Oxford, England; San Francisco; South Hampton, Bermuda; and Saskatoon. Learn about his work at www.zerk.ca and through the OCN feature link below: You can read about John’s research in Virology and The Journal of General Virology, but to get a basic summary of what he’s been up to, see the OCN link below:
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Massie, Merle |
Hometown: Paddockwood, SK Current Residence: Biggar, SK | Previous Education:
Thesis: Land of the Trees, People of the Forest: Re-conceptualizing Saskatchewan through an Examination of the Forest Fringe Contact Zone, 1889-1948 Graduate Supervisor: Dr. William Waiser Department: History | “I’m a big believer in the importance of history,” says Merle. “Most people think that we study history in order to predict or somehow shape the future. I disagree. I believe that history is about creating and shaping identity. In a certain way, my project is both a regional history and a way of explaining who I am to a wider audience., I think it will add some nuances to the historical record that will shake our ‘prairie’ consciousness to celebrate a bit more of what is Saskatchewan." Find out how Merle is shaking Saskatchewan’s prairie consciousness at:
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Masutti, Carmem |
| Previous Education: Department: Soil Science |
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Mbagwu, Chima |
Hometown: Saskatoon, SK Current Residence: Waterloo, ON Occupation: Assistant Professor of Accounting, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON | Previous Education:
Thesis: Essays on the Value Relevance of Earnings Measures Department: Accounting | Chima wanted to know if managers exploit the lack of regulation of voluntary disclosures (so as to report information that “makes them look good”) or if they actually report information that enables investors to make better decisions. To get an answer, he compared earnings measures—pro forma (managers’ idea of earnings), analysts’ actuals (an independent earnings measure provided by analysts) and earnings prepared under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP)—and found that pro forma provides more information relevant to valuing a firm than other measures. This led him to conclude that managers do report information that is relevant in valuing a firm. Next, he examined if investors perceive pro forma earnings to be more credible when credibility attributes (eg. board characteristics) are high, and he found that they do. As his study “provides evidence that non-GAAP earnings provide information to enable investors’ value firms,” he hopes regulators in Canada will not proscribe the reporting of non-GAAP earnings in press releases, but prescribe rules to make them more useful, as the U.S. has done. |
McGuire, Patricia |
Hometown: MacDiarmid, ON Current Residence: Thunder Bay, ON | Previous Education:
Thesis: The Historiography of Lake Nipigon: An Exploratory Study into the Resilience of the Anishinaabe Graduate Supervisor: Patricia Monture, Colleen Dell Department: Sociology | The interrelationship of land, identity, and community knowledge forms the basis Patricia McGuire’s groundbreaking research. “I am weaving a base for a theory of Anishinaabe social history based on our knowledge(s),” the Sociology student explains, “The resilience evident in Anishinaabe communities is being explored as our relationships to land. I am using story telling as the methodology.”
It’s a timely approach, given the drive for methodologies that draw from a variety of disciplines. “Anishinaabe ways of viewing history are relational, interrelated with our lands, and inform our collective identities,” she says, “Rather than trying to fit Anishinaabe knowledge into academia, the opposite has to occur, fitting academic knowledge into Anishinaabe knowledge. I am Anishinaabe Metis and most of my grandmothers and grandfathers were Anishinaabe. This was also a way to honour my relations who made sure that we knew our Anishinaabe origins.” McGuire’s experience of graduate studies at the U of S has been, she says, both exciting and fraught with stresses, not the least of which was the sudden death of her first supervisor, Patricia Monture, in November 2010. “Trish was a good friend and a brilliant scholar,” McGuire recalls, “She mentored me in how to write in academic formats and how to publish. We jointly edited a book called, First Voices – An Aboriginal Woman’s Reader, released in December 2009. This was a labour of love for our respective communities and a meeting of our responsibilities as Indigenous women. I will treasure the time and effort that we spent doing this work.” Canadian Research Chair for Substance Abuse, Colleen Dell, is McGuire’s new supervisor and has helped her to ensure that her studies did not suffer. McGuire is now one of two research coordinators for a Canadian Institute for Health Research project. Like her research, this project is about finding an approach to Indigenous issues that draw from Aboriginal knowledge and lived experiences. McGuire envisions “Community social histories that reflect who we are, how we created knowledge, how we transmitted knowledge, and how we have maintained our knowledge.” There is limited opportunity for many Anishinaabe to be on their land with their families and a paucity of written material that looks at the Anishinaabe community from a strength perspective. Through her research and writing, McGuire hopes to re-instill a sense of pride and love for and within the Anishinaabe community. After she graduates, McGuire plans to write an Anishinaabe history, a book, she says, “that can be used in schools so that other generations can learn who their people are in the Lake Superior and Lake Nipigon area.” |
McHugh, Tara-Leigh |
Hometown: Halifax, NS Current Residence: Halifax, NS Occupation: Postdoctoral Research Fellow | Previous Education:
Thesis: A new view of body image”: A school-based participatory action research project with young Aboriginal women Department: Kinesiology |
The purpose of Tara’s research was to engage in a collaborative, school-based participatory action research (PAR) project in partnership with a local high school to provide young Aboriginal women with an opportunity to manage their body image experiences in an effective manner. For ten months, Tara was fully immersed into the school environment, working with young Aboriginal women to develop action initiatives to manage body image concerns. The most important outcome of this research, notes Tara, is the development and implementation of eight action initiatives at various levels. Initiatives were grouped together into one of three themes: promoting positive body image experiences; self expression; and creating awareness. Moreover, Tara’s project was one of the first PAR projects to have an exclusive focus on Aboriginal women’s body image. Thus, her research will make a major contribution to the current body image and Aboriginal studies literature. Tara’s research has been featured in The Saskatoon Star Phoenix and The Leader Post, and was highlighted on CBC Blue Sky Radio, Missinipi Radio, and the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network National News. |
Mella, Welhelmus |
| Previous Education: Department: Soil Science |
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Mhamoud, Khaled |
Hometown: Suez, Egypt Current Residence: Montreal, QC Occupation: NSERC Post Doc at the NRC Biotechnology Research Institute | Previous Education:
Thesis: Application of Ferrocene-Peptide Conjugates: Towards New Biosensors and Materials Department: Chemistry | In his research, Khaled helped unravel the mystery of electrochemical detection of unlabelled non-redox active proteins; that is, he developed an electrochemical biosensor—using a bioorganometallic approach—that detects proteins such as Papain (from papaya fruit) and HIV-1 protease (an essential enzyme in the assembly and activity of the HIV virus). Moreover, his biosensor—made up of specific peptide sequences, containing iron, that bind and inhibit target proteins—offers an alternative to the expensive and (too) sophisticated sensing tools currently available. If pharmaceutical companies adopt Khaled’s sensitive and reliable—but inexpensive—device to screen a variety of potential drug molecules for relative inhibition efficiency toward HIV-protease, they may be able to develop a drug that can suppress this enzyme and become a promising target for the therapy of AIDS in a much more capable and cost-effective way. But HIV detection is just one application of the sensor: it could be used to detect gas, chemical warfare agents, and quality control in food processing. Khaled’s research has been published in ten peer-reviewed chemistry journals. |
Montgomery, Janine |
Hometown: Saskatoon, SK Current Residence: Winnipeg, MB Occupation: Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Manitoba | Previous Education:
Thesis: Asperger Syndrome and Emotional Intelligence Department: Educational Psychology and Special Education |
Janine investigated two models of emotional intelligence in individuals aged 16 to 21 with Asperger Syndrome (AS), and here’s what she found: while young adults with AS had intact ability emotional intelligence, their trait emotional intelligence was impaired. In other words, Janine observed a disconnect between knowing and doing in emotional/social situations for individuals with AS. Although such individuals seem to know what they should do in social interactions and can process emotional information, they have difficulty applying skills and knowledge in real-life situations. Practically, Janine’s findings indicate that interventions should focus less on teaching knowledge-level information about emotions, and, instead, offer real-life scenarios wherein individuals with AS can practice these skills in a supportive environment. Additionally, the findings imply that direct instruction on Theory of Mind skills (the understanding that others have differing perceptions from our own) and aspects of trait Emotional Intelligence (self-reflection, appraisal, assertiveness, empathy, etc.) should be incorporated into social interventions to reduce social stress for young people with AS. Janine’s work has been presented at various national and international conferences and will be featured in the Canadian Journal of School Psychology. |
Morelli, Jordan |
| Previous Education: Department: Physics |
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Morrison, Kim |
| Previous Education: Department: Women’s and Gender Studies |
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Mulligan, Maureen |
Hometown: Cochrane, ON Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK | Previous Education:
Thesis: (Re)Presenting the Psychopath: Medical and Fictional Discourse in the Nineteenth Century Graduate Supervisor: Dr. D.J. Thorpe Department: English | Heathcliff, Bill Sikes, the Marquis St. Evremonde, and John Claggart – these
are the infamous “psychopaths” of interest to Ph.D. English student Maureen
Mulligan. Find out how Maureen links literature and the psychopath at:
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Muscatello, Jorgelina |
Hometown: Buenos Aires, Argentina Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK | Previous Education:
Thesis: Selenium accumulation and effects in aquatic organisms downstream of uranium mining and milling operations in Northern Saskatchewan Department: Toxicology | Northern Saskatchewan is home to the top-producing uranium mines in the world, according to Jorgelina. But as a result, effluents from these mines contain elevated levels of metals such as selenium which can be accumulated by fish and passed on to their offspring. “During yolk absorption, fish larvae develop selenium-induced deformities due to an error in protein synthesis and/or oxidative stress damage. My research goal was to evaluate the selenium levels in the major compartments of the aquatic ecosystem—water, sediment, invertebrates and fish—and correlate these data with potential selenium effects on early life stages in northern pike and white sucker fish.” She found that selenium was accumulated in prey organisms even thought its water concentration was low, reaching levels with the potential to impair fish reproduction and consequently negatively impact fish populations. Jorgelina’s research has been published in several publications, including Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Environmental Pollution, Environmental Science and Technology, Science of the Total Environment, and Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. |
Nain, Sukhbir |
Hometown: Jind, Haryana, India Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK Occupation: Post Doc at the Toxicology Center, U of S | Previous Education:
Thesis: Study on Dietary Factors Pertinent to the Pathogenesis of Heart Failure in Fast-growing Commercial Broilers Department: Animal & Poultry Science |
“As a Veterinarian, I saw heart-related mortality in broilers (young chickens) as one of the main reasons leading to significant economic losses for chicken farmers, and inevitably, that made me wonder—why?" Since posing that question in 2005, Sukhbir has examined aspects of the broiler industry which is focused, primarily, on rapid and maximum weight gain through improved feed conversion efficiency. As a result, broiler strains show superior performance but are also predisposed to higher incidences of acute and chronic heart failure. Consequently, Sukhbir investigated the dietary factors that have the ability to precipitate or increase the risk of heart failure in broilers. He found, among other things, that over-supplementation of vitamins A and D3 proves detrimental, while vitamin C appears to delay the onset of heart failure in broilers. Sukhbir has presented at Poultry Science Association meetings in Edmonton and San Antonio, and has published his work in Avian Pathology, Comparative Biochemistry & Physiology Research in Veterinary science and British Journal of Poultry Science. |
Neufeld, Anne |
Hometown: Saskatoon, SK Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK Occupation: Manager of International Research, Office of the Vice President Research, U of S | Previous Education:
Thesis: Evaluating the structure, process and outcome of an early intervention in psychosis program: a case study of the Saskatoon Health Region Department: Interdisciplinary Studies | From an administrative perspective, and based on a case study of the Saskatoon Health Region, Anne’s thesis looks at the structures and processes that support positive outcomes—like increased functioning in social settings and decreased levels of psychotic symptoms—in early psychosis. “There is an ongoing need for evaluation of new models of mental health care, with a focus on meeting the needs of low incidence and complex client groups, such as psychotic disorders.” Among other things, Anne found that a diverse inter-professional team, a “nested” program model, and a strong school outreach and programming component contribute to the effective provision of early intervention services. Anne hopes her findings will assist mid-sized health authorities in meeting the needs of these groups. Anne’s research is currently being discussed and applied within the Saskatoon Health Region to assist in the revitalization of the Early Intervention in Psychosis Program. |
Obayan, Adebola |
| Previous Education: Department: Surgery |
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Ohiozebau, Ehimai |
Hometown: Edo State, Nigeria | Previous Education:
Department: School of Environment and Sustainability Date Posted: Jan 27, 2012 | For four months of the year, PhD student Ehimai Ohiozebau spends his time catching and analyzing fish from five different locations on the Athabasca and Slave River systems. His research aims to shed light on whether oil sands processing contaminants pose a risk for the aquatic inhabitants of the rivers, as well as for the people who are consuming the fish. “With the current unsustainable storage of oil sands produced water (OSPW) in tailing ponds, it is safe to assume that the OSPW will one day be released into the river systems,” says Ohiozebau. “I hope that my research will provide a baseline for future monitoring of the river systems.” Ohiozebau’s research is focused on the bioavailability of certain contaminants caused by oil sands processing on select fish species. The contaminants are cancer-causing, mutagenic, and may cause birth-defects in infants. The goal is to quantify the levels of contaminants, and determine the risk that they pose on communities who live close to the rivers and regularly consume the fish. |
Olson, Trevor |
Hometown: Saskatoon, SK Current Residence: Montreal, QC Occupation: Postdoctoral research fellow | Previous Education:
Thesis: Can defense mechanisms aid in the differentiation of depression and anxiety? Department: Psychology |
Trevor, who is “fascinated by the mind,” wanted to examine the unconscious coping mechanisms of people with similar symptomatic profiles—those with depression and those with anxiety—to identify any patterns of difference between the two. He discovered that people with depression and people with anxiety have unique patterns of defense mechanism use. For example, in response to stressful situations, those with depression are more likely to act out impulsively or engage in self-blame, whereas those with anxiety are more likely to repeatedly make symbolic amends for their actions. "Understanding the relations between these disorders and how people unconsciously and automatically react to stressors will be helpful for clinicians,” he notes. “It will help clinicians to differentiate between disorders, first, and then to know how to better execute treatment plans. Knowing that depressed patients will likely accept inappropriate amounts of blame or that anxious patients might be overly nice to someone they should be angry with can help clinicians guide their patients to more psychologically helpful behaviors.” |
Olver, Mark |
| Previous Education: Department: Psychology |
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Onwuekwe, Chika |
| Previous Education: Department: Interdisciplinary Studies |
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Orji, Rita |
Hometown: Nigeria | Previous Education:
Thesis: “The design of persuasive technological intervention for healthy lifestyle change.” Department: Computer Science | Most of us associate long hours playing computer games with an increasing waistline, however, PhD student Rita Orji sees computer games and other interactive technologies as tools for leading healthier lives. Combining her knowledge of human psychology with technology, Orji is developing computer applications which can be used to teach and motivate people to eat healthier, and exercise more frequently to obtain health goals. “The most exciting part of my research is encouraging healthy habits by combining theories of human behavior with technology to improve the quality of life for the user,” Orji says. A game Orji recently developed, called “Lunch Time,” is a prime example of how this type of technology works. “Lunch Time” is set in a virtual restaurant, where the user competes against friends to make healthy meal choices. “My research is motivated by my passion for using technology to improve health through changing lifestyle-related health problems,” says Orji. In the future, she hopes that related technologies will help people lead healthier lives and reduce the amount of government spending on healthcare. Recently, Orji was awarded the highly prestigious and competitive $150,000 Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship. Out of the 167 students awarded with this scholarship, Orji was ranked in the top five recipients. |
Orlowski, Grzegorz Artur |
Hometown: Bialystok, Poland Current Residence: Guelph, ON Occupation: Post Doc Fellow | Previous Education:
Thesis: Peptide Monolayers: An Electrochemical Study Department: Chemistry | “More than we would like to admit, small things rule the world.” Grzegorz’s own maxim drove him to investigate electron transfer and the electrochemical response of a series of amino acid/peptide monolayers. He found that electron transfer is significantly affected by the slightest changes in amino acid/peptide structure, and developed a unique method for depositing a single molecular layer on gold surface. These findings may affect the electrodeposition method (by quickening development in new bio-coating and biosensors) and boost the design of new drugs for peptide/protein-based diseases like Alzheimer’s. Grzegorz’s work has been featured in nine journals, including Langmuir and Chemical Communication. He also won in the graduate poster competition at the 89th Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition in Halifax (2006). |
Owen, Bill |
| Previous Education: Department: Psychology |
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Palomino, Manuel |
Hometown: Lima, Perú | Previous Education:
Graduate Supervisor: Gregg Adams Department: Veterinary Biomedical Sciences Date Posted: Jun 04, 2012 | Peruvian PhD student, Manuel Palomino, is helping conserve Canada’s wood bison which are currently being threatened by disease. Palomino and his graduate supervisor, Gregg Adams, aim to preserve the genetics of infected herds by developing a novel embryo transfer technology. “Not only is this technology useful for wood bison conservation,” says Palomino, “but, I believe that the future applications of this work can be applied to many other endangered species.” Adams and his team are attempting to transfer wood bison embryos into disease-free females as a means of overcoming the devastating effects of bacterial disease on the species. Since the bacterial disease can be transferred to livestock and humans, the federal government has ordered that all diseased wood bison herds be culled to prevent the spread. Palomino’s work involves developing methods to increase the number of embryos produced during the breeding and non-breeding seasons, and to optimize the techniques used during embryo collection and artificial insemination. His first milestone came last year when two embryos were successfully used for artificial insemination, resulting in two healthy calves. “Aside from being a first for Canadian researchers, it really shows that we can produce disease-free, healthy wood bison using this model,” says Adams. |
Penz, Kelly |
Hometown: Waldheim, SK Current Residence: Regina, SK Occupation: Registered Nurse | Previous Education:
Thesis: The Experience of Hope of Palliative Care Registered Nurses Department: Nursing |
How do you define hope? What does hope mean to you in the context of your work? What has a positive and/or negative influence on your hope? These are the questions Kelly is asking Registered Nurses (RNs) who provide palliative and end-of-life care in community settings in Saskatchewan. She has discovered, so far, that that the concept of hope is complex but significant to RNs. They have to grapple with their own meanings of hope in addition to considering what hope means to their patients and patients’ families. The whole process requires establishing connections, accepting different perspectives, “looking at the bigger picture,” and making a difference in people’s lives. “The long term goal of my research,” reports Kelly, “is to generate theory that reflects the unique practice of palliative care nursing, and to support palliative care RNs which may, in turn, ultimately improve the care of palliative patients and their families." Kelly’s article, “A Philosophical Critique of Selected Theories of Hope,” can be found in the September 2008 issue of the International Journal of Palliative Nursing. |
Perepelkin, Jason |
Hometown: Saskatoon, SK Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK Occupation: Assistant Professor, Edwards School of Business, U of S | Previous Education:
Thesis: Relating Ownership Type to the Organizational Behaviour, Role Orientation and Autonomy of Community Pharmacy Managers in Canada Department: Pharmacy |
After completing his Master’s, Jason wanted to combine his business background with his knowledge of the profession of pharmacy to study the profession from a management perspective. “I was interested in finding out,” he says, “whether the type of pharmacy ownership—independent, franchise or corporate—impacted the organizational behaviour, role orientation and autonomy of community pharmacy managers.” He found that, regardless of where pharmacy managers practice, they are professionally oriented and focused; however, corporate managers reported that they were less business oriented and focused and had less control, autonomy, and decision-making capabilities than independent or franchise managers. Thus, explains Jason, “if corporate owners increasingly control and dictate the work environment for pharmacists, the professional status of these pharmacists may fade." Jason presented his research to the Saskatchewan College of Pharmacists board and at the Canadian Pharmacists Association Annual Conference in 2007, and at the American Pharmacists Association Annual Conference in 2008. |
Peterhänsel, Arndt |
| Previous Education: Department: Geology and Paleontology |
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Peters, Nathan |
| Previous Education: Department: Microbiology and Immunology |
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Phenix, Chris |
Hometown: Arcola, SK Current Residence: Vancouver, BC Occupation: PET Imaging Research Chemist | Previous Education:
Thesis: Investigation of MosA, a protein implicated in Rhizopine Biosynthesis Department: Chemistry | Chris’s main goal was to determine the role of MosA, an enzyme (which is a protein that speeds up a chemical reaction) implicated in the biosynthesis of rhizopines, a class of compounds potentially useful for yield improvements of leguminous crops like beans, peas, and lentils. In addition, isothermal titration calorimetry was used to observe interactions between MosA and metabolically relevant molecules. Overall, he found no evidence to suggest the enzyme is involved in rhizopine biosynthesis. To date, Chris’s research has led to publications in Journal of Molecular Biology, Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry andActa Crystallographica. Chris has also presented his work at national conferences in Vancouver , Ottawa and Saskatoon. |
Pinder, Shane |
| Previous Education: Department: Mechanical Engineering |
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Pinelle, David |
| Previous Education: Department: Computer Science |
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Plant, Byron King |
Hometown: Victoria, BC Current Residence: Victoria, BC | Previous Education:
Thesis: The Politics of Indian Administration: A Revisionist History of Intrastate Relations in mid-Twentieth Century British Columbia Department: History |
Byron’s research highlights the growing role of the British Columbia government in the administration of Indian Affairs after 1945, and traces the implementation of integrationist polices in health, education, economic development, and welfare. “The desegregation of schools and hospitals that began in this period, for example, saw the province assume new administrative and fiscal responsibilities for Aboriginal people,” says Byron. “But not all attempts at ‘administrative integration’ were successful,” he adds, “and Aboriginal people responded to integrationist efforts in accordance with their own interests, the least of which was a desire for cultural assimilation.” Byron was inspired to undertake this project because he recognized a significant gap in our historical understanding of Aboriginal-state relations in Canada. “Today,” he says, “most Aboriginal people in B.C. live off reserve and frequent provincial institutions yet we know very little about how this came to be.” |
Polat, Ali |
| Previous Education: Department: Geochemistry |
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Pozniak, Curtis |
| Previous Education: Department: Dept. of Plant Sciences |
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Presniak, Michelle |
Hometown: Whitewood, SK Current Residence: Ottawa, ON Occupation: Psychology Resident, Ottawa Hospital | Previous Education:
Thesis: Can defense mechanisms aid in our differentiation of antisocial and borderline personalities? Department: Psychology | Antisocial and Borderline Personality Disorders are two distinct mental disorders that share many similarities. Michelle’s goal was to help differentiate between the two by examining whether or not they differed based on defense mechanisms (i.e., the ways in which individuals unconsciously cope in response to stress). Michelle’s research demonstrated that the two groups did show differences in their maladaptive defense use. For example, the borderline group used defenses that involve internalizing negative feelings (such as blaming the self for conflicts) more so than the antisocial group who used defenses involving an externalization of negative feelings (like attributing negative qualities to others). These findings should, says Michelle, assist in diagnostic assessments. “By taking into consideration a person’s defense use, we may be better able to accurately differentiate between these disorders and save time and costs associated with diagnosis and treatment.” In March 2008, Michelle presented part of her work at the Society for Personality Assessment’s annual conference held in New Orleans. |
Preston, Jane P. |
Hometown: Bruno, SK Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK | Previous Education:
Graduate Supervisor: Dr. Bonnie Stelmach Department: Educational Administration (College of Education) | It all comes down to nurturing community, says recent PhD graduate Jane Preston. Born in Cudworth and raised in Bruno, Saskatchewan, Preston’s rural roots are evident in her dissertation in Educational Administration, which focused on School Community Councils and their influence on community involvement in public schools. It’s a timely subject, she says, given that school community councils have only recently been legislated in all Saskatchewan public schools, and she hopes that her findings can be used to help foster community-school bonds. “In order to promote community involvement in schools,” she explains, “the school, its teachers, its parents, and everyone in the community need to get together to socialize. It is only when strong relationships are present within a community, that involvement thrives.” Preston, who received her BEd from the University of Regina, ranks the ten years she taught in Taiwan, Egypt, and Kuwait as some of her most formative. After returning from abroad and experiencing what she calls “reverse culture shock,” Preston decided to pursue her MA and PhD at the University of Saskatchewan. After completing her Masters degree, which compared teaching in rural and urban settings, she moved directly into a PhD program. Graduate studies, she says, has opened her to understanding, and questioning, “many more philosophical, political, and economical aspects of life and society. I suppose, I know now, that I know very little.” Interested in continuing her research, Preston is pursuing a number of Aboriginal-focused projects, and has a special interest in researching the history of community involvement in public schools. “I believe education is the journey of life, so although I have completed my graduate studies, my learning is not over by any means,” she says. |
Propp, Jim |
Hometown: Yorkton, SK Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK Occupation: President and CEO of Opsis Group Consulting Inc. | Previous Education:
Thesis: Undergraduate Education Students’ Leadership Understandings Department: Educational Administration | During his twenty-two year involvement in public education (as a teacher and principal), Jim observed a diversity of orientations to leadership held by new teachers. Wanting to explore this observation further, Jim organized focus groups and one-on-one interviews with Education students to discuss their past and/or current “everyday,” public school level, and post-secondary level leadership experiences. According to Jim, four broad themes emerged from these conversations: the ubiquity of relationships; importance of self-esteem and self-actualization; the perspective that seemingly innocuous incidents may gain momentum and lead to ramifications (what Jim calls “leadership throw”) and the manner in which the students articulate their leadership understandings. Overall, it became apparent that the students’ leadership understandings were part content, part process, and part articulation. “I went into this study,” says Jim, “prepared to find the content of leadership, but came away with a clearer understanding of language and framing, leadership throw, and the powerful argument this makes for nurturing student voice and the capability for expression and framing at all levels of leadership, organizational life, and community relations." |
Puchala, Chassidy |
Hometown: Saskatoon, SK Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK | Previous Education:
Thesis: Not yet stated Graduate Supervisor: Dr. Patti McDougall Department: Psychology | Chassidy Puchala is a 2010 recipient of the SSHRC Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship that will fund the first 3 years of her PhD. Puchala will study Emerging Adulthood (EA), a new developmental stage that occurs between adolescence and adulthood. “In the past,” Puchala explains, “becoming an adult was usually associated with very specific life events - finishing high school, obtaining a career, getting married and having children. Due to a combination of heightened economic competition and uncertain social conditions, the time in which individuals transition to adulthood begins much later than in previous eras.” “Many social scientists examine emerging adulthood by lumping all 18- to 25-year-olds together, assuming that all individuals within this age range are experiencing emerging adulthood. I’m going to look at a broad cross-section of ethnicities, age groups, and education levels to understand their diverse experiences and unique needs” Puchala says. Puchala explains that her own life experience has interested her in the study of EA. “For the past 7 years I have seen both my life and the lives of my friends constantly shifting and changing. This evolution can bring both happiness, but also can be quite devastating at times. I really want to help individuals persevere during this time so that the transition to adulthood is less difficult and more rewarding.” Having completed her undergraduate degree at the U of S, Puchala says that her strong working relationship with the department and her supervisor, Dr. Patti McDougall, were major factors in deciding to continue on with her doctorate. The combination of research and clinical practice done at the U of S program is a model that she says fits her research perfectly. |
Qaqish, Shatha E. |
Hometown: Amman, Jordan Current Residence: Vancouver, BC Occupation: Technology Commercialization Intern at the BC Cancer Agency | Previous Education:
Thesis: Characterization, Mechanism and Kinetics of Phase – Separation of Mixed Langmuir – Blodgett Films Department: Chemistry |
Before Shatha’s project, there was a “gap in scientific literature concerning surface patterning of solids and the interactions between molecules in thin films.” Shatha explored the interactions between surfactant molecules when deposited onto solid surfaces. These interactions resulted in phase-separation between different molecules, and Shatha found that there are several factors which affect this process: temperature, surface pressure, chain length, and time. “These factors govern the pattern obtained on surfaces,” says Shatha. “We found that the domains forming these patterns form and grow as a function of time according to Ostwald Ripening.” Her work has been highlighted in Langmuir, the Journal of Colloid and Interface Science and the Journal of Electron Spectroscopy and Related Phenomena, and has been presented at conferences in Halifax, Edmonton, Winnipeg, and Boston. Additionally, Shatha’s work was featured in the 2009 Veeco Calendar, a widely-distributed calendar for scientists working in surface chemistry. |
Qazi, Sohail S. |
Hometown: Rawalpindi, Pakistan Current Residence: Edmonton, AB Occupation: Post-Doc Fellow with the Membrane Protein Research Group, College of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta | Previous Education:
Thesis: Regulatory role of ambient pH in the expression of pathogenicity determinant gene products of Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae Department: Food and Bioproduct Sciences |
Mycoinsecticides (fungal sprays) are used for insect control in agricultural, forest, and urban environments worldwide; they employ insect pathogenic fungi as agents to kill insect pests by contact (spraying) and multiple modes of action. As part of the effort to understand how these agents may be improved, Sohail worked to regulate the synthesis of cuticle-degrading enzymes from the germinating conidia (spores) and mycelia (hyphae). “These enzymes,” says Sohail, “are critical in degrading the insect cuticle and in the overall infection process.” Sohail showed, for the first time, that enzyme liberation is regulated by ambient pH, metabolites, and hydration, among other things, and that “back-up” enzymes (or isoforms) degrade the insect cuticle prior to the formation of appressoria/germ tubes. Consequently, his findings could have an important influence on functionality and future formulation and applications of fungal sprays in the field. Sohail's work has been published in top journals and books such as the Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, Archives of Microbiology, Biopesticides International and Mycota. Sohail has also presented his work at conferences in Saskatoon, Regina and Kananaskis (Village Alberta). |
Quainoo, George |
| Previous Education: Department: Mechanical Engineering |
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Quinlan, Elizabeth |
| Previous Education: Department: Interdisciplinary Studies |
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Ramsden, Viv |
| Previous Education: Department: Interdisciplinary Studies |
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Rathmalapage, Sumith P. Kahanda |
Hometown: Galle, Sri Lanka Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK Occupation: Post Doc in the Dept. of Civil and Geological Engineering, U of S | Previous Education:
Thesis: Identification of critical source areas which contribute nutrients to snowmelt runoff Department: Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering | In his research, Sumith endeavoured to identify the “critical source areas” of the watershed which contribute nutrients to snowmelt runoff, and to better understand the source and transport factors that control snowmelt runoff water quality in the Canadian prairies. Sumith found that runoff volume is the most influential factor in determining the importance of critical source areas and for controlling snowmelt runoff water quality, and that snowmelt runoff water quality did not vary between landform segments (although the total transport of nutrients and sediment was the highest from the “shoulder”). These findings, likely to be used for the sustainable management of soil nutrients, manure applications, and snowmelt runoff water quality in Saskatchewan, have been published in Transactions of the ASABE and presented at conferences in Florida and South Dakota. |
Rempel, Martin |
| Previous Education: Department: Psychology |
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Ritchie, Shawn |
| Previous Education: Department: Biochemistry |
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Roberts, Rose |
| Previous Education: Department: Nursing |
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Robertson-Boersma, Danielle |
Hometown: Saskatoon | Previous Education:
Thesis: “What’s Your Cap?”: A Student-Driven Initiative to Promote a Culture of Moderation around Alcohol Consumption Graduate Supervisor: Dr. Colleen Anne Dell Department: Sociology | Under the supervision of Dr. Colleen Dell in the Department of Sociology, master’s student Danielle Robertson-Boersma has taken a stand against binge and risky drinking amongst U of S students using an innovative approach. While most universities have responded to fatalities and accidents caused by drinking through a reactive approach, Robertson-Boersma’s campaign takes a student-driven proactive approach. Through focus groups, interviews, and street interception, Robertson-Boersma was able to collect data during the 2011-2012 school year. She used this data to design a sustainable, student-driven campaign which is helping to generate awareness and ultimately promote a culture of drinking moderation within the U of S student body. “Using tools such as surveys, students are asked to reflect on their personal drinking habits and knowledge,” says Boersma. “This forces them to identify their own drinking limits, and also shows them what their peers [drinking limits] are.” Robertson-Boersma believes that her campaign, which began this September, has great potential due to its adaptability and since it is based on a theoretical approach. On October 3rd, Robertson-Boersma won the poster competition for the Social Science, Humanities, and Fine Arts category at the Celebrating Student Success in Graduate Studies and Research conference, hosted by the College of Graduate Studies and Research. “The conference gave me the chance to start shaping my ideas and get feedback from those outside of my research,” says Robertson-Boersma. “To find out what other individuals think about your research [forces you] to step back and look at your work from angles that have never occurred to you before.” |
Robson, Sean |
| Previous Education: Department: Geological Sciences |
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Rogers, Vince |
| Previous Education: Department: Toxicology |
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Rosengren, Leigh |
Hometown: Weyburn, SK Current Residence: Midale, SK Occupation: President of Rosengren Epidemiology Consulting | Previous Education:
Thesis: Antimicrobial Resistance of Salmonella, Escherichia coli and Campylobacter from Pigs On-Farm in Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada Department: Epidemiology |
Leigh’s main goal, when it comes to veterinary medicine, is to “provide producers with scientific data which will enable them to produce safe food while making optimal production decisions." That’s why, for her thesis, she chose to investigate an increasingly pressing public health concern: resistant antimicrobials in livestock. (People who eat improperly handled meat may acquire an antimicrobial resistant food-borne infection.) She did this by examining the amounts and types of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria from pigs in western Canada and explored potential causes for such resistance. Her research assisted the Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Surveillance, a division of the Public Health Agency of Canada, to establish On-Farm surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in pigs. Leigh, who has worked as a swine and mixed animal veterinarian, now runs a company that provides epidemiological and statistical consulting to veterinarians, public health officials, researchers, and government agencies. |
Ryan, Camille |
Hometown: Nipawin, SK Current Residence: Calgary, AB Occupation: Post Doc with the faculty of Communication & Culture at the University of Calgary and contract researcher | Previous Education:
Thesis: Performance in Public-Private Research Networks: network analyses of Genome Canada Projects Department: Interdisciplinary Studies | Networks of public-private collaborations (involving scientists, institutions, and firms) are widely advocated and implemented in order to achieve their objectives in research, technological development, and product output. However, no one has fully examined collaborations or developed an appropriate performance evaluation model for them. Cami applies the social network analysis tool in a new way—wherein “soft” factors affiliated with knowledge creation and exchange were accounted for—to two distinctly structured Genome Canada funded research networks. Results suggest that 1) networks with a history of social relationships or collaborative activity amongst principals are more productive than those that are not and 2) self-organized networks generate higher levels of knowledge creation and exchange over time as opposed to those where network structure is imposed. Cami’s thesis was nominated by the Western Association of Graduate Schools and the University Microfilms International, and her social network analysis model has been adapted in projects funded through the National Research Council- IRAP and Alberta Advanced Technology and Education. |
Sankhulani, Lillian |
Hometown: Blantyre, Malawi, Africa Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK Occupation: Research Assistant, College of Education (U of S) | Previous Education:
Thesis: Achieving Gender Equity through UNICEF Intervention - The Sara Communication Initiative (SCI): An examination of Social Capital and Capabilities in Two Selected Malawian Rural Schools Department: Educational Administration |
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Sanz, Penelope |
Hometown: Davao City, Philippines | Previous Education:
Graduate Supervisor: Dr. David Natcher and Dr. Kalowatie Deonandan Department: Interdisciplinary Studies | Growing up in Mindanao, a culturally and ethnically diverse island in the Philippines, PhD student Penelope Sanz became fascinated with how quality of life could improve for marginalized populations through access to justice and a human rights-based approach to development. Sanz is now investigating this phenomenon further through her graduate research at the U of S and her internship at the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Bratislava, Slovakia. At the UNDP Office in Slovakia, Sanz analyzed the trends, challenges and priorities of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), funded by the UNDP. The UPR is a review mechanism for the human rights situations in 193 UN Member States. The goal is to make recommendations to improve the human rights situation on the ground. In addition to her experience with the UNDP, Sanz has worked as a journalist, researcher, trainer and project coordinator with the ultimate goal of helping marginalized populations. Working as a secretary for the Mindanawon Initiatives for Cultural Dialogue, she spent several years with an indigenous community in Western Mindanao with the initial purpose of charting their genealogy for land rights and claims. The project quickly took a turn when the tribe asked Sanz to document the human rights violations they had suffered.
“I was confronted with my role as participant observer blurring to become a “partisan” observer when the community asked me to document the human rights violations they experienced in the hands of a Canadian mining company,” says Sanz. “This report, which was published by Rights and Democracy of Montreal in 2007, was eventually used to file a complaint in the United Nations Committee on Racial Discrimination (UNCERD).” While completing her PhD at the U of S through the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, Sanz has fueled her passion for helping the indigenous peoples of Mindanao. Her research investigates whether mining and other extractive industry will bring sustainable development in Mindanao and the Southern Philippines. In particular, her study focuses on how transformative policies and large-scale structures and processes disrupt the indigenous communities in the affected region. |
Sawa, Rick |
| Previous Education: Department: Educational Administration |
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Schachner, Joerg |
Hometown: Graz, Austria Current Residence: Vancouver, BC Occupation: Post Doc at the University of British Columbia | Previous Education:
Thesis: Synthesis, Characterization, Electrochemistry and Ring-Opening Polymerization of Metallacyclophanes bridged by heavier group 13 elements Department: Chemistry | Joerg’s interest in inorganic polymers (which “show novel and promising properties like electric conductivity or magnetism”) and in inorganic synthesis prompted him to evaluate Metallacyclphanes: strained, organometallic compounds that can be used as monomers to yield a new class of inorganic polymers (polyferrocenes). Joerg then synthesized, specifically, ferrocenophanes and ruthenocenophanes (bridged by Aluminum, Gallium and Indium) which showed interesting new electrochemical properties. The iron atoms, for example, can be “reversible oxidized,” which means that they can carry electrons and that the polymer is potentially conductive. Joerg was one of 42 students—out of 2,000—who won a poster award for outstanding research at Pacifichem, an international chemistry conference, in Honolulu (2005); he was also the recipient of the prestigious Taube Medal from the Chemistry Department (U of S) in 2008. His work has also been published in eight journals, including Organometallics and the Journal of the American Chemical Society. |
Schilling, Brian |
| Previous Education: Department: Dept. of Plant Sciences |
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Schurer, Janna |
Hometown: Victoria, BC | Previous Education:
Graduate Supervisor: Dr. Emily Jenkins Department: Veterinary Microbiology Date Posted: Mar 29, 2012 | As PhD student Janna Schurer is discovering, “man’s best friend” may also be responsible for the spread of highly infectious diseases, like the tapeworm, to humans. Schurer’s research focuses on the transmission of disease from animals to humans, called zoonoses, in western Canada’s northern communities. “My thesis investigates whether domestic dogs could be used as sentinels for human exposure to parasitic zoonoses,” says Schurer. “The project involves parasite surveillance of companion animals, determining human exposure rates, identifying risk factors, and determining the barriers to veterinary service access.” Schurer’s research, under the supervision of Emily Jenkins, includes visiting northern communities to obtain blood samples from humans and fecal samples from dogs. These samples are then used to determine prevalence rates of the tapeworm and other parasites in the population. So far, Schurer has found that between 19-51 percent of dogs in the community are infected with one or more zoonotic parasites, which puts the people in the community at a high risk for infection. “Our work provides a baseline for future researchers to determine if infection or exposure frequencies are changing due to successful health interventions, emergence of new pathogens, or even climate change,” says Schurer. |
Scott, Jenni |
Hometown: Regina and Saskatoon, SK Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK Occupation: Research Associate at the University of Wisconsin - Madison | Previous Education:
Thesis: Ichnology of Saline and Freshwater Lakes: Temporal and Spatial Distribution of Traces and Their Taphonomic Characteristics Department: Geology |
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Senger, Debora |
Hometown: Saskatoon, SK | Previous Education:
Department: Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy | U of S student and communications expert, Debora Senger, experienced legal empowerment of the poor at the grassroots level in Vietnam during a four-month internship with the UNDP in the summer term 2012. Facilitated by the partnership between the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Senger was selected as one of seven students to undertake UNDP internships. Part of her work has involved helping the UNDP Office in Vietnam prepare for the Legal Empowerment Asia Partnership (LEAP) conference in August of 2012. In addition, she undertook extensive fieldwork, travelling to more than ten Vietnamese provinces to document the progress in developing trained facilitators in law schools, which are supported by UNDP Clinical Legal Education programmes. Senger brings a long list of credentials and experience to UNDP Vietnam. She graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Communications Studies after attending the Alberta Institute of Technology to obtain her diploma in Photojournalism. She then used her credentials to work as a photojournalist, documenting various development projects that the Canadian International Development Agency was supporting in Guatemala. More recently, Senger spent three years working at the International Student and Study Abroad Center advising students on various options exchange opportunities and coordinating the study abroad program. During her UNDP fieldwork, Senger continued to develop her communication and photojournalism skills. She is currently pursuing a Masters in Public Administration degree and after graduation Senger hopes to pursue a career with the United Nations building on the experiences she has gained through her participation in the UofS-UNDP program. |
Sereda, Jeff |
Hometown: Chatham, ON Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK | Previous Education:
Thesis: Novel Pathways in the Phosphorus Cycle of Lakes Graduate Supervisor: Jeff Hudson Department: Biology | Outdoor enthusiasts and folks with family cottages at one of Saskatchewan’s many bodies of freshwater might take a moment to think about the quality of the water in their favourite lake. Jeff Sereda does. Jeff is presently completing the requirements of his doctoral program in Biology, and he is concerned with lake ecosystems, especially the role phosphorus plays in limiting the growth of algae and bacteria in freshwater. More precisely, Sereda studies the effects of ultraviolet radiation on phosphorus cycles in lakes, work that has not been undertaken until now. PUltraviolet radiation has an impact on phosphorus cycling whether indirectly, by altering dissolved-nutrient availability, or directly through the effects on aquatic organisms and their ability to acquire, release, and regenerate phosphorus. Sereda explains, “My research has focused on the poorly understood pathways in the phosphorus cycles of lakes. A new understanding of how phosphorus is supplied to bacteria and algae, can help lake managers to better manage excessive bacterial and algal growth, which ultimately effects water quality for drinking and recreation.” Sereda, who once managed a fish hatchery at a fish farm on Lake Diefenbaker, says that it was his work at the fishery that inspired him to pursue a university education in biology. He has worked straight through the completion of his BSc, and on to an MSc that segued into his current program of study for his PhD and brought him full-circle — he is starting a post-doc position with Howard Wheater (CERC) this spring, which will take him back to Lake Diefenbaker for further research. Sereda, who is supervised by Jeff Hudson, says that his studies have been the perfect balance between lab and fieldwork, as well as between theoretical and applied research. “(Hudson) has always provided me with the freedom to learn, explore, and expand my research into new areas of interest,” Sereda says, “my long term goals are to pursue a career in academics. I have a real passion for both teaching and research.” |
Shaw, Sean |
Hometown: Hamilton, ON Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK Occupation: Research Associate, Geological Sciences, U of S | Previous Education:
Thesis: Geochemical and mineralogical impacts of sulfuric acid on clays between pH 5.0 and -3.0 Department: Geological Sciences |
“Sulfur,” explains Sean, “is one of the major by-products of the refinement process. Currently, it’s stored in large above-ground blocks. But, if sulfur can’t be stored in an environmentally friendly way, then the long-term viability of the Oil Sands may be at stake." Sean wanted to understand the geochemical and mineralogical mechanisms that govern the diffusive transport of concentrated sulfuric acid through clay liners, and to identify any impact that these mechanisms might have on the environment. In particular, he wanted to know the implications associated with storing these blocks underground where the lack of infiltrating precipitation could lead to a significant increase in sulfuric acid concentrations and negative pH values. He discovered that the diffusion of highly acidic sulfuric acid through clay liners is controlled by the same mechanisms that have been documented in acid mine drainage settings. While the majority of mineral species undergo dissolution, a substantial amount of secondary mineral phase precipitation also occurs. Additionally, the carbonate content of the impacted clay will be the dominant control of acid transport in these systems. “It’s clear that the diffusion of these acidic solutions through clay liners will occur over periods of years to decades. The good news, however, is that environmental impact may be mitigated if proper storage facilities are designed and implemented. |
Shinneeb, Abdul-Monsif |
| Previous Education: Department: Mechanical Engineering |
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Siciliano, Steven |
| Previous Education: Department: Toxicology |
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Singh, Manoj Kumar |
Hometown: Agra, India Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK | Previous Education:
Thesis: Characterization of Stress-deformation Behaviour of Municipal Solid Waste Department: Civil & Geological Engineering |
Over the past few years, there has been a significant reduction in the quantity of gas collected at the Brock West landfill in Ontario. Manoj hypothesized that this reduction wasn’t solely caused by an actual decrease in gas generation but due to decreased collection efficiency resulting from “pinching off” of gas laterals and the deformation of vertical gas wells (due to on-going settlement of waste owing to degradation). Manoj explains that there has been an increasing trend towards rapid stabilization of waste—wherein leachate recirculation quickly brings about changes in waste’s mechanical properties—so as to reduce the long-term liability of environmental pollution. He set out to test his hypothesis and he found that the degradation of waste significantly influences waste deformation behaviour. “Such deformations,” he says, “are crucial to be anticipated and incorporated in the design stage for ensuring satisfactory functioning of ancillary services such as the gas collection system." Manoj’s research has been recognized in Waste Management, Geotechnique, Canadian Geotechnical Journal, and American Society of Civil Engineers journals. He has also presented his work at conferences in Vancouver, New Orleans, and Sardinia (Italy). |
Spurr, Shelley |
Hometown: Saskatoon, SK Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK Occupation: Assistant Professor, College of Nursing | Previous Education:
Thesis: Student Perceptions of Adolescent Wellness Department: Education Administration | The “adolescent wellness phenomenon” became the focus of Shelley’s research after she recognized “the complexity of understanding wellness and the current educational challenge of determining the factors responsible for student wellness.” Shelley believes her most “important revelation” relates to the way in which high school students defined wellness: they affirmed that wellness is multidimensional and moves beyond physical to include healthy relationships, emotional stability, and spirituality. Shelley presented her results at the In Sickness and In Health Conference in Victoria in April 2009, and at the Innovations in Qualitative Research Conference at the U of S in June 2008. “It is my hope,” says Shelley, “that the knowledge gained from my research will provide direction for administrators, teachers, parents, and community partners to develop an educational environment that will support students to experience well-being, learning, and life-long success.” |
Squires, Vicki |
Hometown: Saskatoon, SK Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK Occupation: Vice Principal & Teacher | Previous Education:
Thesis: Analysis of a Policy Change at Two University Campuses: A Study of the Emergence of a Joint Interdisciplinary School Graduate Supervisor: Dr. David Burgess Department: Educational Administration | “Because of the noted similarity among educational institutions and their perceived inability to change”, Vicki Squires wanted to investigate the context and process that led to a significant change at an educational institution. In a case study of two universities, Squires examined the four stages of the policy process (cf. Levin, 2001) - origins, adoption, implementation and evaluation - involved in establishing a joint, interdisciplinary school. The findings indicated the concept of policy windows, as suggested by Kingdon (2003), were evident in the policy origin stage. The policy stream, the political stream, and the problem stream came together, at a critical juncture to allow the initiative of a joint interdisciplinary policy school to move forward relatively easily. However, the implementation at both universities was messy and difficult as the proponents of the initiative encountered many tensions, including issues around resources, program development, and the proposal approval process. Although the study did not allow for a full examination of the evaluation stage, there are several implications for broader applications of the research. These include the need for a thorough examination of situation-specific organizational practices that promote or inhibit innovation, the impact of the absence of the voice of resistors to change and the role of isomorphic processes (coercive, normative, and mimetic) in inhibiting change in organizations. Further exploration of the implementation stage of successful policy change was seen to have potential. |
Stevens, Arlene |
| Previous Education: Department: Religious Studies & Anthropology |
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Surisetty, Venkateswara Rao |
Hometown: Tenali, Andhra Pradesh, India Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK | Previous Education:
Thesis: Research and Development of Co and Rh-Promoted Alkali-Modified Molybdenum Catalysts for Higher Alcohols Synthesis From Synthesis Gas Graduate Supervisor: Ajay Kumar Dalai Department: Chemical Engineering | Venkateswara Rao Surisetty, recent PhD recipient from the Chemical Engineering department, is working to develop the most efficient way of converting wastes from the lumber and agricultural industries into green fuels like ethanol and what are called “higher alcohols.” In what he believably describes as a rather complicated process, Dr. Surisetty’s dissertation project involved developing the best conditions under which these fuels might be created - a timely topic as nations search for alternatives to fossil fuels. “It is important to develop environmentally friendly fuel technologies that produce fewer green house gases,” Surisetty asserts, “The effective use of Canada’s large available waste biomass will improve the nation’s ability to reduce toxic air emissions, decrease greenhouse gas build-up, and dependence on imported oil, while also supporting agriculture and rural economies.” Surisetty received Bachelor and Master of Technology degrees in his native India, worked as an Environmental Engineer in a steel plant, and spent three and a half years as Assistant Professor at Nagarjuna University before deciding to pursue his dream of a PhD in chemical engineering. Looking for a research-oriented University that might foster his interest in the area of energy and fuels, he was pleased when he was offered a place in graduate studies at the U of S. Still, moving to a new country and culture with his wife and child wasn’t easy, Surisetty said, but after a difficult first year adjusting to life in Saskatoon, he and his wife have found themselves enjoying the city. Describing his achievement in the PhD program, “a dream” , Surisetty credits his mother, wife, colleagues, and supervisor, with his success. Still, he thinks especially of his father, who passed away when Surisetty was still in high school. “He believed in my success more than I did,” he says, “He would have loved to see me as an engineer.” Funded by the Saskatchewan Research Council, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada (NSERC), the Agriculture and Biomass Innovation Network (ABIN), and the University of Saskatchewan, Surisetty already has a long list of published articles to his credit, and a patent pending on the alcohol synthesis process developed with his supervisor, Prof. Ajay Kumar Dalai. Funded by the Saskatchewan Research Council, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada (NSERC), the Agriculture and Biomass Innovation Network (ABIN), and the University of Saskatchewan, Surisetty already has a long list of published articles to his credit, and a patent pending on the alcohol synthesis process developed with his supervisor, Prof. Ajay Kumar Dalai. Now working as a Post-Doctoral Fellow with his former supervisor and Prof. Janusz Kozinski, Surisetty is looking forward to applying the knowledge and skills he has acquired at the U of S in either an academic or industry research setting. |
Swanston, Treena |
Hometown: Regina, SK Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK | Previous Education:
Department: Archeology & Anthropology |
The study of ancient DNA is a relatively new area of scholarship, and one graduate student at the University of Saskatchewan has set out to explore the spread of bacteria by examining preserved human remains. Find out about Treena Swanston's research in On Campus News:
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Tonita, Jon |
Hometown: Windsor, ON Current Residence: Regina, SK Occupation: Vice-President of Population Health Division, Saskatchewan Cancer Agency | Previous Education:
Thesis: Freely Available Prostate Specific Antigen Testing in a Population: Testing Patterns and Outcomes on Prostate Cancer. The Saskatchewan Experience Department: Community Health and Epidemiology |
Jon explored how the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Test has been used in Saskatchewan. Specifically, he wanted to know: what physician groups order the PSA test, who is being tested, and what variations there are in the population of men being tested in terms of geography, frequency of testing, and age distribution. He found that PSA testing is widespread in Saskatchewan. At least 65% of men over 50 had at least one PSA test between 1997 and 2001, and knowledge of the free-PSA ratio improved cancer detection by 8.7% and slightly reduced the biopsy rate by 4.7%. During the PSA era, incidence has increased in proportion to PSA testing frequency, and the increase in new cases are mostly organ confined, moderately differentiated tumours. But he also discovered that after 18 years of PSA testing, there has been no reduction in mortality from prostate cancer in Saskatchewan. “Two screening trials have now been published showing conflicting results for screening prostate cancer with PSA,” says Jon. “My study shows what is happening in a real population where screening is common but where there has also been no impact on mortality rates.” |
Trost, Brett |
Hometown: Saskatoon, SK | Previous Education:
Thesis: Computational phosphorylation site prediction in plants Graduate Supervisor: Dr. Anthony Kusalik Department: Computer Science | U of S Computer Science student Brett Trost is merging bioinformatics with biology to predict and understand cellular signaling-related diseases in plants. Like the genetics, each species has its own unique phosphorylation profile. Variations in this phosphorylation profile can indicate a disruption in cell signaling, and potentially disease. While numerous computational tools exists for mammals, there are few tools available for plants. Under the supervision of Anthony Kusalik, Trost has helped developed a new method called SAPHIRE (SAskatchewan PHosphorylation Internet REsource) to help predict phosphorylation sites in the soybean plant. SAPHIRE has proven to be highly effective: It out-performs two existing computational tools and has been made publically available to predict phosphorylation sites in other plant species. His PhD work will ultimately improve disease prediction in plants that can be used in agriculture. Trost’s work was recognized on October 3rd at the Celebrating Student Success in Graduate Studies and Research conference, hosted by the College of Graduate Studies and Research. “In addition to presenting my poster, I had the opportunity to view a lot of other posters representing some really cool research,” says Trost. “I loved the fact that the event was interdisciplinary, as it gave science students the opportunity to learn about research in the social sciences and humanities (and vice versa).” Trost won the graduate poster competition for the Natural Sciences and Engineering category in October 2012. |
Truchan-Tatayrn, Maria |
Hometown: Toronto, ON Current Residence: Waterloo, ON | Previous Education:
Thesis: (In)Visible Images: Seeing Disability in Canadian Literature, 1823-1974 Department: English | Maria studied selections from Canada’s literary canon through the critical lens of Disability Studies theory. By focusing on the narrative function of images of disability in these stories, Maria found ambivalence towards difference—a persistent “us” versus “them” mentality—that belies core Canadian values of diversity and civil rights. Maria believes such critical readings that attend to the cultural inscriptions of normalcy and deviance are crucial because they have the potential to broaden and enrich Canadian collective and individual understandings of human value and social relationships. Maria has traveled the world to tell about Disability Studies theory. She has taught students, communities, school boards, and church groups, and has written articles for popular and academic journals, both nationally and internationally. Maria hopes her research will contribute to a shift in Canadian attitudes towards difference, especially in light of the highly publicized murder case of Tracy Latimer. “The more we become aware of the oppressive self-regulatory powers of an ideological normalcy,” she says, “the more every individual can resist enculturated prejudices against physical and cultural variation.” |
Tsang, Cemaine |
Hometown: Saskatoon, SK Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK Occupation: Vet Med student | Previous Education:
Thesis: In utero oral DNA immunization: Induction of specific immunity in the second trimester ovine fetus Department: Veterinary Microbiology |
According to the World Health Organization, 10.8 million children under the age of five died in the year 2000 with infectious disease as the leading cause of death. This statistic and others like it propelled Cemaine to demonstrate the possibility of vaccinating a fetus as early as the second trimester of gestation, so that the neonatal immune system can respond more rapidly and with higher levels of protection in the event of infection. She was successful. Cemaine was able to show that surgical delivery of a DNA vaccine into the mouth of a second trimester fetal lamb resulted in activation of the fetal immune response. “In the course of these experiments,” says Cemaine, “I established a new lower age limit for fetal immunization. Showing that it is possible to vaccinate the fetus has huge implications in terms of finding new strategies to decrease the high worldwide incidence of mother-to-child and neonatal infectious diseases, such as HIV." Additionally, Cemaine identified a number of extrinsic (vaccine-related) and intrinsic (fetus-related) factors that are likely essential for successful vaccination at such a young age. Her research at VIDO, on campus, has garnered a Keystone Symposia scholarship and five research publications. |
Tupper, Susan |
Hometown: London, ON Current Residence: Saskatoon , SK | Previous Education:
Thesis: Within-day Patterns of Pain in Children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Graduate Supervisor: Dr. Punam Pahwa & Dr. Allan Rosenberg Department: Community Health and Epidemiology | Learn about the paradox Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis poses in an article published by Pediatric Pain Letter in April 2008 here and about Susan’s research, more generally, at OCN:
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Tyshetskiy, Yuriy |
| Previous Education: Department: Physics |
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Umeshappa, Channakeshava Sokke |
Hometown: Sokke, India Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK Occupation: Graduate Student (PhD) | Previous Education:
Thesis: The Critical Role of CD4+Th1 Cells in CD8+CTL Responses and Anti-tumor Immunity Graduate Supervisor: Dr. Jim Xiang Department: Pathology and Laboratory Medicine | Umeshappa, awarded the Vanier Scholarship in 2010, never imagined his desire to become a Veterinarian would lead to one of the most prestigious research scholarships on the other side of the planet. Back in his native India, Umeshappa was studying veterinary medicine when he came across the history of smallpox and recognized the power of vaccination to change the world. “The eradication of smallpox changed my way of thinking and my career completely,” says Umeshappa. He decided to commit himself to the study of disease and immunity. Umeshappa recently awarded $100,000 over two years by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research as a Vanier scholar, will study molecules in certain types of white blood cells which he hopes will provide the key to understanding how immunity works. “This work is answering fundamental questions, and will be directly applied by immunologists developing new, more efficient vaccines,” says his supervisor Jim Xiang, UofS oncology professor and cancer research scientist. When patients get an infection like smallpox for the first time, their bodies retain the memory of the germ in their white blood cells. This protects the patient lifelong from becoming infected again. In the case of influenza, immune memory lasts only a few months. Scientists know that a certain kinds of white blood cells work together to trigger an immune response and program an immune memory, but they do not understand exactly how and why. Umeshappa’s goal is to unravel these mysteries. These cells are critical to our defences against cancers and viral diseases, so understanding their interaction could provide the key to understanding autoimmunity disorders, aiding tissue transplantation, and developing immunity to cancers and chronic infections such as AIDS. |
Ur Rehman, Aziz |
Hometown: Faisalabad, Pakistan Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK Occupation: Post-Doc Fellow, Plant Sciences, U of S | Previous Education:
Thesis: Characterization and molecular mapping of drought tolerance in kabuli chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Department: Plant Sciences | Briefly summarize what the goal of your research was/is. (Or, what did you aim to explore or prove in your thesis?) “Drought is the most common abiotic stress limiting chickpea production in the world,” claims Aziz. “90% of the world’s chickpea is produced in areas relying upon conserved, receding soil moisture; therefore, crop productivity is largely dependent on efficient utilization of available soil moisture. That’s where I come in.” Aziz’s main objective was to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with agronomic and physiological parameters under natural drought stress so that marker-assisted selection might be used for higher productivity under drought. He identified thirteen genomic associations with drought tolerance traits including grain yield under drought, harvest index, days to flowering and maturity, canopy temperature and stomatal conductance. His study also revealed that improved grain yield under drought in Mediterranean environments is associated with higher harvest index, early flowering, early maturity, higher stomatal conductance, and cooler canopies. “In most of the chickpea growing regions, drought is a prominent characteristic which limits seed yield and can even lead to total crop failure. My research addressed this reality and focused on incorporating new selection tools for drought stress breeding.” |
Vakil, Mohammad |
Hometown: Tehran, Iran Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK Occupation: Post-doctoral fellow | Previous Education:
Thesis: Dynamics and Control of Flexible Manipulators Department: Mechanical Engineering |
Rigid link manipulators, which are heavy and energy inefficient, are currently used in many industries, such as the automotive industry, but hopefully not for long. In his research, Mohammad aimed to model and control flexible link manipulators, which are lighter, more energy efficient, and easier to move. In the process, he found a new way to obtain the “dynamic model” and developed a new controller. The ASME Journal of Vibration and Acoustics published part of Mohammad’s work in July 2008. |
Veeman, Nayda |
| Previous Education: Department: Educational Administration |
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Viju, Crina |
Hometown: Ramnicu Valcea, Romania Current Residence: Regina, SK Occupation: Assistant Professor at Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, U of R | Previous Education:
Thesis: Three essays in international trade: market integration, subsidization and antidumping Department: Bioresource Policy, Business and Economics |
Crina has presented different aspects of her essays—which focus on the economic effects of different trade policies in various countries—to audiences in Canada, America, and Europe. Essay one evaluates the degree of integration of Austria, Finland, and Sweden in the EU agricultural trade market. Four markets—rye, soft wheat, barley, and oats—were tested; the rye and barley markets proved to be most tightly integrated with the German (EU) market, while the oats market was the least integrated. This analysis is important as it tests the efficacy of trade liberalization initiatives. Essay two examines the biofuel industry in Canada and the U.S. from a trade perspective. It concludes that the same governmental policy can lead to different levels of optimal subsidies in each country, wherein the subsidy policy is driven by energy security in the US and environmental benefits in Canada —except in two situations. “First,” Crina explains, “when there is no demand for biofuels, and second, when the price of oil internalizes the externality which is produced by the consumption of oil.” This research represents a vital step in better understanding the economics of biofuels and the situations where trade disputes can be expected to appear in the future. Finally, essay three investigates, using game theory, the strategies of firms in the face of anti-dumping action. It determines that free riding decreases when an antidumping petition has joint benefits (public and private) and that an increase in the degree of heterogeneity among the firms would lead to more free riding. This research provides insights into what to expect from antidumping actions initiated in the US that are often faced by firms in Canada. |
Visram, Faizah |
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Vu, Hung Q |
| Previous Education: Department: Civil and Geological Engineering |
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Wang, Xiaoxia |
Hometown: Cangshan, China Current Residence: Toronto, ON Occupation: Post Doc fellow, University of Toronto | Previous Education:
Thesis: Role of methylglyoxal in the pathogenesis of hypertension Department: Pharmacology | Previously, the importance of methylglyxoal (a metabolite of sugar) in regulating cellular function was recognized, only, in diseases with abnormal glucose metabolisms, like diabetes. Now, however, Xiaoxia has demonstrated that over-production of methylglyoxal also contributes to the development of hypertension, a common, life-threatening disease that in 95% of cases has no clear cause. It is hoped that, on account of Xiaoxia’s findings, new methods for the prevention and management of hypertension may be developed. Xiaoxia has presented her research in Beijing, San Francisco, Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg, and Calgary; she has won numerous awards from the Canadian Hypertension Society and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan; and she has published in the following journals: Journal of Hypertension, Kidney International and American Journal of Hypertension. |
Wang, Shu |
Hometown: Hai’mi, China Current Residence: Eden Prairie, Minnesota Occupation: Senior Engineer at Eaton Corporation | Previous Education:
Thesis: Integrated Control and Estimation Based on Sliding Mode Control Applied to Electrohydraulic Actuator Department: Mechanical Engineering | Shu’s research aimed to develop new integrated control strategies to achieve an efficient tracking performance of system states. He proposed the Sliding Mode Controller and Filter and the Smooth Sliding Mode Controller and Filter to address linear systems and nonlinear systems (like the cutting machine, robotic, and positioning systems), and demonstrated the use of these strategies on a prototype known as ElectroHydraulic Actuator. Shu’s work has been published in journals such as the Journal of Control and Intelligent Systems (2006), and has been presented at various conferences including “The Proceedings of the 2006 American Control Conference” (Minnesota) and “The Proceedings of the 4th FPNI-PhD Symposium” (Florida). |
Wang, Ruojing |
| Previous Education: Department: Plant Sciences |
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Wang, Kai |
Hometown: Xinxiang, Henan Province, China Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK | Previous Education:
Thesis: The Applicability of Optical and Radar Remotely Sensed Data for Large-Area Wildlife Habitat Mapping Graduate Supervisor: Steven Franklin and Xulin Guo Department: Geography and Planning | Finding solutions to environmental challenges facing the notoriously solitary grizzly bear is the focus of Kai Wang’s research. This PhD student in Geography and Planning is investigating how sensing technology might help scientists gain more knowledge of the habits of the grizzly bear. Remote sensing is the non-contact recording of information from the ultraviolet, visible, infrared, and microwave regions of the electromagnetic spectrum by means of instruments such as cameras and scanners located on platforms such as aircraft or spacecraft. “It looks like what people see in the Google Earth remote sensing view. Remote sensing produces an image with lots of digital information, which can be converted to real-world information. In this case, the real world information is the mapping and monitoring of wildlife habitat to determine wildlife distribution and population dynamics. This could have a variety of applications, including natural resource management, environmental conservation, ecosystem restoration, species-at-risk recovery and species inventory. For his part, Wang is interested in finding a way to use remotely gathered data to track and analyze grizzly bear populations in Canada. “I’d love to predict grizzly bear presence, absence or abundance,” he says, “It’s impossible to observe grizzly bears directly from remote sensing imagery, but it’s possible to map their food, such as all kinds of berries.” In Wang’s model, information gathered through remote sensing helps him create a model of a given area, and predict where grizzly bears might live based on where the bears’ favorite foods grow. Wang, who is co-supervised by Steven Franklin and Xulin Guo, says that the most exciting aspect of his work is the ability “to observe the earth’s environmental systems at scales from local to global, and from days to decades.” “The U of S is an amazing university,” Wang says, “[It has] magnificent buildings, nice students and faculty, low tuition fees, an inspiring research atmosphere, freedom and respect. I’ve been here for more than 2 years, and I’ve grow up a lot in these 2 years.” |
Wiens, Travis |
Hometown: Kipling, SK Current Residence: Auckland, New Zealand Occupation: Researcher | Previous Education:
Thesis: Online Learning of a Neural Fuel Control System for Gaseous Fueled SI Engines Department: Mechanical Engineering |
“It’s been shown that gaseous fuels like hydrogen and natural gas
are better than liquid fuel both environmentally and economically,”
says Travis. “But, the cost to convert a vehicle from gasoline is
prohibitive, mainly because of the cost to develop the fuel controller,
which generally requires a significant calibration period needing
skilled labour and expensive equipment.” “My engine control scheme is drastically easier to apply to a new engine. Plus, it performed better in exhaust emission tests than the factory controller,” adds Travis. Travis was honoured with the Excellence in Oral Presentation Award from the Society of Automotive Engineers at the 2007 SAE World Congress, and his research has been published in the International Journal of Intelligent Technology and International Journal of Fluid Power. |
Willing, Ben |
Hometown: Vancouver, BC Current Residence: Uppsala, Sweden Occupation: Post Doc at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Microbiology | Previous Education:
Thesis: Microbial contributions to gut development in the neonatal pig Department: Animal Science | The bacteria that reside in our intestines play a significant role in our health, to our benefit and to our detriment. In his research, Ben aimed to find which and how bacteria contribute positively to our physiology by introducing different types of bacteria to germ free pigs. He found that two common members of the intestinal microbiota, Escherichia coli and Lactobacillus fermentum, induce dramatically different host responses. Escherichia coli stimulated an inflammatory response, incurring a substantial metabolic cost on the host by increasing cell turnover, while Lactobacillus fermentum was relatively benign and induced very little change in host physiology. This kind of information will allow for the development of an “optimal” microbiota that will promote health in both animals and humans. Ben is currently studying the intestinal microbiota of Crohn’s disease patients in hopes of identifying which bacteria contribute to the disease. |
Wilson, Lee |
| Previous Education: Department: Chemistry |
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Wilson, Kathleen |
Hometown: St. Albert, AB Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK Occupation: Postdoctoral Fellowship | Previous Education:
Thesis: Physical Activity Lapses and Parental Social Control Department: Kinesiology |
“With increasing interest in promoting physical activity for children and youth, I examined the role of parents in helping their child recover from a drop or lapse in activity,” says Kathleen. “Specifically, I focused on parents’ attempts to regulate their child’s behaviour to help get their child back to being active following this lapse.” Kathleen’s studies revealed that parents—especially physically active ones—attempted to get their child back to being active through a variety of types of social control including positive (e.g., encouraging), collaborative (e.g. offering to be active with the child) and negative (e.g. nagging) forms. Additionally, after examining youth’s responses to their parents’ attempts, her studies showed that collaborative social control efforts lead to more successful results. Kathleen was inspired to research this area after coming across social control literature in her Master’s studies, wherein she examined social influences in older adults. “Parents continually try to regulate the behaviours of children. If a father wants a child to clean his or her room, for example, he might encourage, promise a reward, or nag the child. I thought that the same concept might apply to lapses in a child’s physical activity. And it turns out, it appears to." |
Wood, David |
| Previous Education: Department: Biochemistry |
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Wood, Karen |
Hometown: Fredericton, NB Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK | Previous Education:
Thesis: Women’s Narratives of Healing from the Effects of Child Sexual Abuse Department: Community Health and Epidemiology | Throughout her career as a social worker and educator in areas such as crisis intervention, addictions, and violence, Karen found that the issue of child sexual abuse needed to be addressed. So, here’s what Karen did, in short: she gathered stories of healing from women who were sexually abused in childhood, analyzed them, and learned about their healing. Her findings indicate the importance of the body to the healing process, of considering the body in the social and political context, and of “naming” the experiences as child sexual abuse. “Naming” is the process of signifying experiences of abuse and includes distinct aspects of memory and remembering. “The most important finding for women healing from child sexual abuse, though,” says Karen, “is the need for publicity regarding child sexual abuse. The process of making the issues around child sexual abuse more public is also necessary for the prevention and intervention of such abuse.” |
Zapata-Rivera, Diego |
| Previous Education: Department: Computer Science |
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Zhang, Jianguo |
Hometown: Shandong, China Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK Occupation: Engineer | Previous Education:
Thesis: Development of Nickel-based Catalysts for CO2 Reforming of CH4 Department: Chemical Engineering | The goal: to develop a long-term stable catalyst, without deactivation, for carbon dioxide (CO2) reforming of methane (CH4) to produce hydrogen. Why? Because the environment would benefit. Landfill gas, for example, is made up of about 50% CO2 and 50% CH4, and accounts for 3% of total greenhouse emissions. If these gases could be converted to hydrogen with catalysts and without severe catalyst deactivation, however, green energy could be produced instead. The result: Jianguo developed a catalyst system, called Ni-Co/AlMgOx, which was shown to be the most active and stable catalyst to date for this process, according to published papers and reports in this area. His system is in the process of being patented through the U of S, and it has been discussed in Journal of Catalysis, Applied Catalysis A, and Industrial Engineering and Chemistry Research. |
Zhang, Xueshu |
Hometown: Langzhong, China Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK Occupation: Post-Doctoral Fellow | Previous Education:
Thesis: Tolerogenic CD4-8- Dendritic Cells and their Conversion into Immunogenic Ones via TLR 9 Signaling Department: Pathology and Laboratory Medicine | Xueshu explains that “cancer immunotherapy based on the dendritic cell (DC) vaccine has been carried out for more than ten years. Early trials used immature DCs, while later trials have used over-matured or differentially-matured ones—either way, all the vaccines could induce regulatory T cell (Tr) response that is very harmful to the already immune-comprised cancer patients.” Xueshu’s aim was to find what kind of DC and/or subset(s) are inducing Tr and to then make those DCs become mature enough and functionally homogeneous with some reagents to induce a Th1 response. He found that short-time treatment with CpG could convert tolerogenic CD4-8-DCs into immunogenic ones and induce strong antitumor immunity, and that anti-CD40 antibody could differentially control the DC maturation induced by the TLR ligands. Overall, his research provides direct evidence that DC should be made homogeneously immunogenic in order to induce antitumor immunity. This finding will hopefully improve the design of future cancer vaccine in clinical trials. |
Zorbas, Jason |
Hometown: Saskatoon, SK Current Residence: Saskatoon, SK Occupation: Sessional Lecturer, Saskatchewan Archives Board | Previous Education:
Thesis: Diefenbaker, Latin America and the Caribbean: The Pursuit of Canadian Autonomy Graduate Supervisor: Dr. Jim Handy and Dr. Janice MacKinnon Department: History and Political Studies | As an avid follower of Canadian history, University of Saskatchewan Ph.D. student Jason Zorbas was always fascinated with the diverse interplay between domestic and foreign affairs. Drawn to the turbulent era helmed by John Diefenbaker, Jason always felt that there was more to that prime minister than the rabid anti-American stance with which he is normally portrayed. “I discovered that the common perception of Diefenbaker that he was a flip flopper on policy issues, and was driven by anti-American sentiment, was incorrect," says Jason. However, due to Canada's proximity to the United States and to the importance of trade with a close neighbour, most dialogues about Diefenbaker have tended to focus in on Diefenbaker's Canadian-American foreign policy. However, Jason could find little information about Diefenbaker's other foreign policies. Specifically, Jason was interested in Canadian-Latin American and Caribbean policies. And then his research hit pay dirt. Where before there was nothing on Latin American and Caribbean historical policy, Jason has expanded the knowledge of Canadian history in the Diefenbaker times. Jason's research appears in several chapters of the book El gran Caribe: Historia, cultura y politica, and he is currently finalizing an article on John Diefenabker from his dissertation. Of Diefenbaker, Jason concludes, "Diefenbaker was driven by a powerful sense of Canadian nationalism that led him to attempt to create greater autonomy for Canada in international affairs." |
