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Dr. Phil Davis retired at the end of December after a long and illustrious career.  Dr. Davis first came to Memorial in 1968 and during his time here was an undergraduate student, technician, graduate student, faculty member, researcher, and department head.  We wish him a long, healthy, enjoyable retirement.

Donna Jackman, a Research Assistant in Dr. Valerie Booth’s lab, also retired at the end of December.  Donna had over twenty-eight years of experience working in various Biochemistry labs involved with microbiology, lipid and protein research, and assisting fellow staff and students.  We wish Donna a happy retirement and are holding her seat in the Feltham Room for when she visits.

Bimal Tennakoon has now joined our staff on a full-time basis beginning in January in Dr. Rob Bertolo’s lab.  Congratulations Bimal.

We would like to say congratulations and welcome to the new executive members of the Biochemistry Graduate Society for the 2017-18 Academic Year as follows:

• Chairperson: Martin Hurley
• Treasurer: Gagandeep Kaur
• Event Coordinator: Shreyasi Sarkar
• Symposium Coordinator: Julia Chalker

The Biochemistry Department will be 50 years’ old this year and planning is underway for some special events to mark the occasion.  The dates for these special events are from Friday, September 8 to Sunday, September 10, 2017 so mark your calendars. Further information is available by clicking here and the planning committee encourages everyone to complete the “online contact form” to be kept in the loop as planning proceeds and to be notified when registration opens.

This semester we have 24 MUCEP positions and 4 ISWEP positions.  The majority of these MUCEP students are in research labs but are also in student labs, providing support in the computer room and general office, and offering tutorial services through the Biochemistry Society.  Funding proposals were recently submitted for MUCEP and ISWEP funding for the upcoming 2017-18 academic year.