plan out your research night

Workshops & Panels.

Following our keynote speech by Dr. Eli Puterman, there will be three sessions of workshops and panels. Take a look at the short description of each and tailor your LSRN schedule to what interests you the most.

5:00 – 5:25 PM

Check-in

Visit our registration desks to check-in or sign up for the event.

5:30 – 5:55 PM

Keynote Speech

Are you ready to #GetIntoResearch? Our keynote speaker Dr. Eli Puterman, a UBC professor and Canada Research Chair, will talk about his research on fitness, aging, and stress, as well as his own personal journey in research.

6:00 – 6:25 PM

General Research Opportunities

Participants will learn about the various research opportunities available to students here at UBC. Topics covered include volunteer opportunities, paid positions, summer research opportunities, research abroad, research courses, and more. This workshop is geared towards those who wish to find or expand their research experiences on campus.

Day in the Life: Basic vs. Translational vs. Clinical Research

Do you know the difference between basic, translational, and clinical research? What does each entail? Which involves more wet lab and animal work versus communicating with patients? Learn all about it here.

MD vs PhD vs. MD/PhD Panel

Participants have the opportunity to ask questions to students who were or are currently in the MD, PhD, or MD/PhD programs here at UBC to talk about their experiences. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of going into these graduate streams. Participants are encouraged to prepare questions beforehand.

General Post-Graduate Information

Participants will learn more about the general information regarding various graduate studies programs. Topics discussed will include the application process, letters of intent (LOI), funding options, and opportunities abroad. This workshop is geared towards those who are thinking of continuing their studies after they complete the undergraduate degree.

6:30 – 6:55 PM

Centre for Blood Research - Summer Studentship Program

Want to score an amazing summer research opportunity? The Centre for Blood Research on campus provides undergraduate students with hands-on lab experience, experimental design, and scientific presentation skills over the summer. Learn more about the program and how to apply here.

UBC Science Co-Op

The life sciences co-op coordinator will guide students through the UBC Co-Op program. Topics discussed will include a detailed breakdown of the program application, the benefits of gaining research co-op experience, and how UBC Co-Op can support you in your job search. A previous co-op student will also share their personal co-op experiences. This workshop is geared towards those who are considering participating in the UBC Co-Op program.

Industry vs. Academia

Participants have the opportunity to ask questions to professionals who have or are currently in 2 mainstream fields of research: industry and academia. Learn more about the career opportunities available to undergraduates after they have graduated and are looking for jobs involving research. Participants are encouraged to prepare questions beforehand.

How to Approach Faculty

Participants will learn about how to find research opportunities and approach potential principal investigators. Topics discussed will include where to find various research labs on campus and how to send emails to principal investigators. This workshop is geared towards those who hope to find their first research experiences on campus

7:00 – 7:25 PM

Women in STEM

Join us for a discussion about the experiences and challenges faced by women in STEM career paths in this brand new workshop for 2019! This interactive workshop is hosted by two amazing women involved in research – Lynn Norman, a field biologist who has worked for with the Missouri Ozark Forest Ecosystem Project, Dr. Marcia Graves, microbiology and immunology professor and Killam Teaching Prize recipient, as well as Dr. Friderike Moon, a PhD in neuroscience and a curator for the BodyWorks Gallery at Science World. Participants are encouraged to come prepared with questions and discussion topics.

Life Sciences Student Research Experiences Panel

Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions to a panel of current and past students from every life sciences major offered at UBC who have had various undergraduate research experiences. Panelists include students from biology, biochemistry, biophysics, CAPS, microbiology and immunology, and pharmacology. If you are in first year and are deciding on selecting a major, this is the panel for you! If you are an upper year student and would like to know what kinds of research opportunities your major can provide you, this is a great way to find out more from your peers in the same major!

How to Fund Your Undergrad Research: SSRP & NSERC USRA Awards

Wondering about how to convince a principal investigator to take you on in their lab? Applying for an undergraduate research grant is a great way to get started! Participants will be guided through an detailed, interactive workshop on the Faculty of Medicine’s Student Summership Research Program (SSRP) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council’s (NSERC) Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA). This workshop is geared towards those who want to get a closer look at what to expect in regards to the SSRP and USRA.

Honours and Directed Studies Panel

Learn how to gain research experience while receiving course credit at the same time! Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions to students involved in an undergraduate stream and those who have taken on a directed studies project. This is a great workshop to attend if you want to learn more about the requirements and pros/cons of each stream

7:30 PM onwards

Refreshments, Snacks & Poster Presentations

For those unfamiliar with it, poster presentations are where local researchers get a chance to present their research. Each researcher will be in front of a poster-version of their research, which you will get a chance to read and discuss with the presenter.

F.A.Q.

Which ones are workshops? What's the difference between panels and workshops?

Anything without the word “panel” in the name is a workshop – anything with “panel” in the name is, you guessed it, a panel! Panels are question-based sessions. Beyond a brief introduction of each panelist, the session itself is mostly audience question driven: So come with questions that you want to ask your panelists! Workshops on the other hand will be the more standard presentation format with a speaker discussing through set points for the duration of the session.

Will there be enough space in my chosen workshops/panels?

That’s where RSVP’ing comes in! While RSVPing doesn’t guarantee space due to hard limits, it will allow us to make sure that the most popular workshops get the largest lecture halls with enough space for everyone. Many panels will have limited space, unfortunately. We try to keep the room (and audience) small so as to prevent the need for people at the back of a giant lecture hall to yell out questions to the panelists (and so that panelists can be heard clearly). So make sure to RSVP!

How is the event free?

The event is paid for by our partner clubs (i.e. food, equipment, marketing), and all of our panelists, speakers, and poster presenters generously volunteer their time to be at Life Sciences Research Night!

Can I come late? Do I need to stay until 9:00 pm?

While you can come late, the event (and keynote speech) will start at 5:30 pm. We recommend that everyone aim to show up by 5:00 to allow time to check-in and get settled.

What's the Dress Code?

LSRN is a casual event: we understand that you are all coming from classes, and don’t expect you to dress formally. It is however an event where you will get to meet and network with researchers (during the poster presentation), so wearing flip-flops or other super-casual clothing isn’t appropriate.