About the U of S logo
Dear Prospective Applicants:
Thank you for your interest in the Toxicology Graduate Program at the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) and specifically our research program in Environmental Toxicology. We have a world-class, comprehensive program in ecotoxicology and environmental chemistry. Our student-based research program is designed to provide training to the next generation of environmental scientists, while conducting research on socially-relevant issues. We focus on training students to be the interface between chemistry and biology and between science and policy to solve environmental problems. Our team is comprised of people from many different countries, including the USA, China, and Korea. Our research team is comprised of undergraduate student aides, graduate students (both M.Sc. and Ph.D.), Research Associates, Research Scientists, Post-doctoral Fellows, Technicians, Visiting Scientists and Professors. We welcome applications for all of these types of positions.
If you are interested in joining our team, I invite you to learn more about us at the following web sites. You can visit the U of S web page s to get more information on the university in general. You can learn more about the city of Saskatoon, the area around Saskatoon, and the province of Saskatchewan web pages.
In addition to being the Canada Research Chair in Environmental Toxicology, I am a professor in the Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, in the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, which is the veterinary school for the four western provinces of Canada. You can learn more about the Canada Research Chair Programs as well. I am also on the faculty of the Toxicology Centre, which is a multidisciplinary research and training centre that coordinates and manages all university-wide toxicology activities at the U of S.
The minimum stipends in our graduate program are presently $16,800 per year for MS c students and $19,800 for Ph . D students. Those stipends are likely to increase slightly for 2008. If you have an offer from another university that exceeds these levels of financial support, please send me the written offer and I will consider matching it. We will not let finances interfere with our ability to attract the best students in the world. The c ost of living in Saskatoon is comparable to Michigan. It may in fact be slightly cheaper here. A Canadian dollar has the equivalent purchasing power in Canada as a US dollar does in the USA. The tuition at the U of S for Graduate Students is currently $1,000 per semester (there are 3 semesters per year). This fee is paid each and every semester that the student is registered in the graduate program. This fee structure is revenue neutral. All fees are quoted in Canadian dollars. All students pay the same rate of tuition. There are no out of province or international student surcharges. I will pay these tuition fees for you so that you will not need to pay these fees from your stipend. Thus, when you see these expenses listed, you will have the equivalent to a tuition waiver that is given to graduate research assistants at most institutions in the United States. Saskatchewan has universal medical coverage for which you will qualify as a resident. In addition we will pay for your supplemental medical benefits.
If you wish to apply to our program, review our web site fo r most details at the Toxicology Centre web site. This site is linked to the College of Graduate Studies and Research where application forms can be downloaded. Forms GSR 100 and 3 GSR 101 forms are needed. In addition, original academic transcripts are needed. The application should be sent to the Toxicology Centre c/o Academic Coordinator. If you meet the requirements and I indicate that you should be accepted into the program you will receive a letter of acceptance from the Center and be recommended for admission to the U of S.
I would be glad to review your credentials prior to your formal application so that we can determine if our program would be right for you and help you achieve your career goals and if you have a background that would be suitable for our program. Please send the following materials to me, Dr. John Giesy, via email:
• A one-page statement of purpose, which lists your career goals.
• A resume, which lists your experiences and qualifications.
• Unofficial copies of all transcripts, including undergraduate and graduate programs.
• Three letters of recommendation on letterhead and signed (submitted as PDF files).
• Unofficial copy of GRE scores (include the percentile rankings for each score).
• TOEFL scores if you are not a native speaker of English.
While it is possible for us to consider applications at any time, the deadline for applications for consideration of graduate scholarship is April 1. Most students begin graduate school in the spring (May) or fall (September) semester. Some students start in the summer to gain experience before classes begin in the fall. Consult the U of S web site for the most current academic calendar.
If you are admitted into the program, your acceptance letter will contain details of your acceptance including the financial details. With this letter and mine you will be able to contact your closest Canadian Consulate and apply for a student visa. The process does not take too long. With this visa, you will be able to cross the border without any problem.
Students without a MSc degree must register in a MSc program. It is possible to transfer to a Ph.D. without completion of the MSc. This transfer is usually considered after about one year. There are some students listed on the Toxicology Centre web site. They are additional contacts that may be able to answer questions about the program from a student perspective.
If you submit a formal application, it should be sent directly (with a copy to me) to:
Prof. Barry Blakley, DVM, Ph.D.
Academic Coordinator
Toxicology Graduate Program
Toxicology Centre
University of Saskatchewan
44 Campus Drive
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
S7N 5B3, Canada
Tel: 306 - 966-7350
Email: barry.blakley@usask.ca
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me.
Prof. John P. Giesy, Ph.D.
Toxicology Centre
University of Saskatchewan
44 Campus Drive
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
S7N 5B3, Canada
Tel: 306-966-2096
Cell: 517-614-6123
FAX: 306-966-4796
Email: JGIESY@AOL.COM
Sincerely,
John P. Giesy, Ph.D.
Canada Research Chair in Environmental Toxicology & Professor