plan out your research night

Workshops & Panels

Following our keynote speech by Dr. Mark Cembrowski and STEMCELL’s address, 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 PST

Attendee check-in

Please fill out our RSVP form and check in at our welcome booth!

Location: Great Hall South entrance

5:30 – 5:55 PM PST

Keynote Address

Are you ready to #GetIntoResearch? Start off your evening with a speech from our keynote speaker, Dr. Mark Cembrowski

Location: Great Hall South

6:00 – 6:10 PM PST

Meet STEMCELL

Hear about one of our sponsors, STEMCELL, and get a preview of what they have in store for their workshops!

Location: Great Hall South

6:15 – 6:40 PM PST (Time Slot A)

Research Opportunities at BC Children's Hospital

Participants will have the chance to learn about the many research opportunities available to them at the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute. Students will have the opportunity to ask questions regarding application processes, program details, scholarship opportunities, and so on, to some of the coordinators of these research programs. This will help them prepare in advance for the summer or fall research program of their interest throughout the school year.

Location: Nest Performance Theatre

General Graduate Studies

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 their undergraduate degree.

Location: Nest 2306

UBC Student Design Teams

Participants will 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 honours stream and those who have taken on a directed studies project. This is a great workshop to attend for those who want to learn more about the requirements and pros/cons of each stream.

Location: Nest 2309

Publication 101 with Canadian Journal of Undergraduate Research (CJUR)

This is a workshop provided by the Canadian Journal of Undergraduate Research (CJUR) to teach students more about the academic publication process. Participants will have the opportunity to learn more about the peer-review process and ask questions regarding details of paper submissions and how undergraduate students can publish their research.

Location: Nest 2311

STEMCELL: Job Hunt Like a Pro

 Starting your job search can seem daunting, so how do you set yourself up for success? Participants will be able to learn about how to approach their job hunt, and how to leverage their educational background in networking sessions and interviews. By taking a more targeted approach to your job search, you’ll be setting yourself up for success!

Location: Nest 2314

6:45 – 7:10 PM PST (Time Slot B)

Summer Research Opportunities: Centre for Blood Research

Participants will have the chance to learn about the many summer research opportunities available to them on campus. Students will have the opportunity to ask questions regarding application processes, program details, scholarship opportunities, and so on to some of the coordinators of these research programs. This will help them prepare in advance for the summer research program of their interest throughout the school year.

Location: Nest Performance Theatre

UBC Science Co-op

Participants will be guided through a workshop on the UBC Co-Op program. Topics discussed will include the overview of the UBC Co-Op program and a detailed breakdown of the program application. This workshop is geared towards those who are considering participating in the UBC Co-Op program.

Location: Nest 2306

Honours Thesis and Directed Studies

Participants will be guided through a workshop on the UBC Co-Op program. Topics discussed will include the overview of the UBC Co-Op program and a detailed breakdown of the program application. This workshop is geared towards those who are considering participating in the UBC Co-Op program. 

Location: Nest 2309

 

Diversity in STEM

Participants will have a chance to learn more about the importance of diversity, access, and equity in STEM-related fields. Presenters will share any drawbacks they faced or continue to face, as well as how they are using their platform to encourage more individuals to get involved in STEM.

Location: Nest 2311

STEMCELL: Resume Tips & Tricks

There’s a lot of conflicting advice on what to include and what not to include when submitting a resume. Participants in this workshop will understand the necessary steps to showcase your skills in a way that will be a value add to an industry job opening, as well as tips and tricks to help your resume stand out in the hiring process. We’ll also discuss how to highlight your academic skills as transferable skills valued in any job!  

Location: Nest 2314

7:15 – 7:40 PM PST (Time Slot C)

How to Approach Faculty

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

Location: Nest Performance Theatre

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

Participants will be given an overview of the Faculty of Medicine’s Summer Student Research Program (FoM SSRP) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council’s Undergraduate Student Research Awards (NSERC USRA). The presentation will review the application process for each funding opportunity focussing on the key aspects of preparing strong applications. The workshop will also provide tips on identifying and contacting eligible supervisors. This workshop is geared towards students who plan to apply to one or both competitions and wish to get more information on how to prepare their application.

Location: Nest 2306

Summer Research Abroad: Go Global

Participants will be able to learn about the opportunities available to them through Go Global’s Research Abroad program.The workshop will focus on different destinations and types of research available, as well as providing insight on the application process and timeline for departure. Participants are encouraged to prepare questions beforehand.

Location: Nest 2309

MD vs. PhD vs. MD/PhD

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.

Location: Nest 2311

STEMCELL: Starting Your Career at STEMCELL

Entry-level roles can cater to all sorts of backgrounds, work experience, and areas of expertise. Curious where you could fit into Canada’s largest biotechnology company? Participants here will learn about general roles and departments in industry, and then dive more specifically into the various departments, teams, and roles at STEMCELL and where they could begin the next step in their career, both on the bench and off the bench!

Location: Nest 2314

7:40 – 9:00 PM PST

Networking and 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.

During this time, you can also meet some of our collaborators and learn more about the work they do!

Location: Great Hall South

F.A.Q.

How do workshops work?
After the keynote speech, you can attend a total of three workshops (one from each time slot). Read through the workshop descriptions, and more about our speakers to help figure out what you’re interested in attending!
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. There is limited space in the workshops as well, so we suggest being on time! You are not required to stay till 9:00 pm, but in leaving early you do miss the chance to network with fellow researchers.
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 have with enough space for everyone. Many panels will have limited space, unfortunately. We try to limit the audience so that participants get the chance to ask their questions. So make sure to RSVP!
How is the event free?
The event is paid for by our partner clubs and sponsors. All of our panelists, speakers, and poster presenters generously volunteer their time to be at Life Sciences Research Night!