Coming soon: Research Matchmaking!
On Feb. 2 the School of Pharmacy will hold its second annual Research Matchmaking Game, a speed dating-style forum with the potential for research student-faculty partnerships. The setup is this: six faculty members are situated at six stations and are given seven minutes to present a research project they’re currently conducting. Students are arranged in small groups that move from station to station, and are given three minutes at the end of the researcher’s presentation to ask questions, for a total of 10 minutes at each station.
Pizza and networking will follow the “speed-dating” portion of the event.
Not just for pharmacy students
The purpose of the event is multi-pronged, said Dr. John Weber, associate dean of graduate studies and research. He said he wants to promote that research in the School of Pharmacy is not limited to pharmacy students.
“We want to engage the university community and make them aware of the diverse research happening in the School of Pharmacy,” he said. “And we also want to get the word out that we do accept students from many different academic backgrounds into our research program, not just students studying pharmacy.”
Funding opportunities
Both undergraduate and graduate students are welcome at the event.
“In 2016 we established our first annual Undergraduate Student Summer Research Program,” continued Dr. Weber, “We were able to offer research placements for eight students last summer. Some of the participants in that program initially became connected to us through last year’s Matchmaking Game.
Increased graduate enrollment is another goal of the Matchmaking event.
“Our graduate program has more than doubled in the past four years and it is our aim to continue to grow that program. We have students studying in diverse areas including the pharmaceutical sciences, biochemistry, clinical and practice-based research, and collaborative healthcare research,” said Dr. Weber.
Careers in research
As expanded scope of pharmacy practice continues to evolve, the School wants to make its students aware that in addition to clinical practice, there are career options available in research to graduates of the pharmacy program.
Dr. Lisa Bishop, interim dean, stated that many students may not think of research as a career component.
“Pharmacists participate in research projects constantly, whether it’s practice-based or community-based, whether it’s in a lab working within an area of pharmaceutical sciences or as part of a multi-disciplinary collaboration – the opportunities are abundant and we want to make sure students know that.”
The “contestants”
Researchers participating in the event are below:
- Lisa Bishop, Engaging Youth through Community-Based Participatory Research
- Noriko Daneshtalab, The Effect of Systemic Inflammation on the Vascular Function
- Hai Nguyen, Utilization of PAP tests and Mammography After the Release of Choosing Wisely Canada’s Recommendations
- Nicole Pittman, Expanding Pharmacists Scope of Practice using Innovative Patient Care Models
- Laurie Twells, Weight Loss Surgery for Treating Obesity in N.L.: The What, Why and for Who
- John Weber, Biochemical Analysis of Newfoundland Berries
The 2017 Pharmacy Research Matchmaking Game takes place on Thursday, Feb. 2 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Students who wish to participate may RSVP to Sharon Tucker no later than 12:00 noon on Feb. 1.