We learned in early April that seven students who applied for summer jobs in Biochemistry research labs under the NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA) program were successful in being placed.  They are Shamara Alexander, Taylor Anderson, Alexander Dickie, Madeline Fitzpatrick, Brian Harnett, Jenna McWhirter and Sara Young.  In addition, two students were successful in finding placements under the Dean of Science program Science Undergraduate Research Awards (SURA).  They are Ryan Elliot and Liying Yang.  Congratulations to you all!

In addition to the students receiving research awards, other students will be working in our research labs this summer as well.  Hiring commenced in April for these positions.

Students were busy writing final exams as the month progressed.  By month’s end marks were out and many students were engaged in their summer plans.

MUCEP results were announced in late April.  We have 29.5 funded positions for 2013-14, down from 38.5 positions last year.  A drop was expected due to a salary increase implemented on May 1, as well as continued demand for the program across departments.  As this program provides paid work experience in our students’ field of study, the lost positions will be missed.

The department website committee met in late April to review our pages, many of which could do with some updating or sprucing up.  The review will go on over the summer months with an expectation of having updates done by Fall 2013.  This is an ad hoc committee who volunteer their time for the site and thanks go to them for their efforts.