The department was very busy through September as students returned to classes on September 5^th.    By the end of the month, students were settled into their courses, labs were underway, and the fall examination schedule had been posted.

In addition to students returning, we saw three per course instructors return to the department for teaching duties in the Fall Semester.  Dr. Elaine Dodge is teaching Biochemistry 4301, Dr. Kelley Bromley-Brits is teaching part of 4104, and Dr. Mike Hayley is teaching part of Biochemistry 2101.  Many of our graduate students have been hired as teaching assistants in our courses this semester, as is our usual practice.

Ms. Nikitha Kendyala arrived in mid-September to start her Master’s program in the research lab of Dr. Sherri Christian. One new graduate student is a small number for fall but this year saw a bigger than usual spring intake so overall, our graduate enrolment levels are increasing.  We also have three new staff members who started in September, Nicholas Fairbridge, with Dr. Christian, Breanne Coady with  Dr. Valerie Booth, and Oody Pongnopparat, with Dr. Sean Brosnan.

Some of our faculty members started sabbaticals this fall.  Dr. John Robinson and Dr. Fereidoon Shahidi are both on sabbatical for the academic year, while Dr. David Heeley is taking his leave only for the fall semester.

We have over 20 MUCEP positions for fall, most of which are in research labs.  Our student labs, computer room, and tutorial centre also have MUCEP students placed there. As of the end of the month there were still a few vacancies for which resumes were being reviewed.

Tolulope Ige welcomed a new son, Dominic, on September 18^th.  Tolulope is a graduate student in Dr. Heeley’s lab. Congratulation to Tolu and her husband on this little bundle of joy!

The headship search committee indicated in late September that they had completed their reviews of applications and interviews would be planned in the near future.  More news will follow on that in October.