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Reunited: 2021-22 Year in Review

As the university community returns to campus, YSGPS has reconnected with colleagues and associates to continue to support our graduate community.

It has been exciting and refreshing to reconnect on campus as a community.

Message from Dr. Cory Searcy, Vice-Provost and Dean

As we have seen this year, change continues to be the new normal. Fortunately, YSGPS has embraced our dynamic environment with aplomb and optimism to serve our graduate community.

We began the academic year working apart but together, launching two new programs: the Media and Design Innovation PhD and Scriptwriting and Story Design MFA. Now, we are working to develop more, including the Master of Project Management in the Built Environment and Occupational and Public Health MSc.

Meanwhile, we continued providing graduate students with online offerings such as the Graduate Leadership Institute’s Learning to Lead workshop series, the GRADTalks interactive speaker series, GRAD Breather mindfulness sessions, the GRADFlix digital narrative competition and GRAD Contests for students to share their experiences and creativity.

As the pandemic situation evolved, YSGPS reopened our offices in March and have since maintained a steady in-person presence in addition to online service. Our transition back to campus culminated with the return of the highly anticipated 3MT® Competition, in which Molecular Science MSc student Vanessa Ruscetta won top prize for her engaging live presentation on an innovative form of cancer therapeutics.

It has been exciting and refreshing to reconnect on campus as a community and see so many familiar and enthusiastic faces. Based on the past two years, I am confident that we will keep adapting, learning and growing together in the spirit of collaboration as we navigate our way forward.

Student Engagement

GRAD Postcard Contest winner

Creativity on display

GRAD Postcard and Collage Contest winners share reflections and visions for the future

3MT winner

Gaining the upper hand on cancer

Molecular Science MSc student Vanessa Ruscetta places second at Ontario 3MT® Competition for research on leveraging left-handed molecules for new cancer therapeutics

GRADTalks

New career paths

GRADTalks series explores opportunities in government, and global health and equity with WHO’s Dr. Peter A. Singer

Student holding phone in SLC

Learning to lead

Graduate Leadership Institute workshops help graduate students become successful leaders

GRADFlix winner

From vision to reality

Chemical Engineering PhD student Reza Eslami wins university’s GRADFlix competition for animated video on self-powered wearable biosensor device

Total event participants chart

Event particpation continues to climb

Record number of attendees for YSGPS workshops, webinars and engagement events

Year
2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22
Total event participants 352 460 283 577 1,053 1,179

Profiles

For me, it's always been important to be aware of the inequities in society.

Towards environmental equity

Environmental Applied Science and Management PhD student Amber Grant researches environmental justice in urban forest management in the U.S.

Urban Development alumna Masooma Ali

Making a global impact

Urban Development alumna Masooma Ali applies graduate experience to transit advocacy and sustainable planning

Ted Rogers MBA alumnus Jesse Berger

From banking to Bitcoin

Ted Rogers MBA alumnus Jesse Berger switches careers, writes book on digital currency

FEAS graduate students

Supporting sustainability

FEAS graduate students Paul Adamu and Bofa Udisi receive fellowships from new Indigenous and Black Engineering and Technology Momentum program

Music therapy

How music therapy reduces anxiety

Psychology Professor Dr. Frank Russo’s latest research demonstrates mental health benefits of AI-curated music

Uncovering Canada’s Black history

Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Karen Cyrus is creating a database of Black Canadians as part of Mapping Ontario’s Black Archives research project led by Dr. Cheryl Thompson

Immersive storytelling

Communication and Culture MA student Nikole McGregor is researching volumetric video capture to create an immersive documentary on the immigrant experience

Celebrating Success

Canada's Top 50 Research Universities

Top research ranking

University ranked first by Research Infosource for research income growth among Canadian comprehensive universities for second year

Dr. C. Ravi and Shanti Ravindran Award for Outstanding Doctoral Thesis

New frontiers in cancer treatment

Physics PhD graduate Dr. Kurt Van Delinder receives Dr. C. Ravi and Shanti Ravindran Award for Outstanding Doctoral Thesis on new imaging concept in radiation oncology

Gold medal

Gold scholars

Outstanding graduate students recognized with university’s Gold Medals for academic excellence and engagement

Jennifer Mactavish Graduate Student Leadership Award recipients

Supporting student success

Jennifer Mactavish Graduate Student Leadership Award recipients recognized for commitment to graduate community

Geoffrey F. Bruce Fellows

Next-gen water governance

New Geoffrey F. Bruce Fellows Lana Marcy and Kristin Palilionis advocate for environmental sustainability and freshwater protection

Dennis Mock Student Leadership Awards

Committed to community

Dennis Mock Student Leadership Awards recognize graduate students making outstanding contributions to university life

Dr. Nancy Walton

Dr. Nancy Walton appointed to National Panel on Research Ethics

YSGPS Associate Dean, Student Affairs brings expertise to panel supporting tri-council agencies

YSGS Outstanding Contribution to Graduate Education Award

Exceptional faculty

Dr. Harald Bauder, Dr. Andre Laplume and Dr. Alison Matthews David honoured with YSGPS Outstanding Contribution to Graduate Education Award