The Department of Biological Sciences Wednesday 3 rd

The Department of Biological Sciences Wednesday 3 rd September 2008 Presenter: Dr. Stephen Reid 1

What is required to obtain a degree? 1. Complete 20 credits (40 courses); 5 courses per semester 2. Complete the requirements for either: 1 Specialist Program or 2 Major programs or 1 Major + 2 Minor Programs 3. Earn a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 1. 6 (equivalent to a C minus or 60 -62%) 2

Programs in Biological Sciences 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Cell and Molecular Biology Specialist Conservation Biology Specialist Human Biology Specialist Integrative Biology Major Biology Minor 7. Cell and Molecular Biology 8. Conservation Biology 9. Neuroscience Co-op Joint Program with Psychology 10. Paramedicine Joint Program with Centennial College 11. Industrial Microbiology Joint Program with Centennial College 3

First Year Courses Integrative Biology Major 1. Introductory Biology: Part 1 2. Introductory Biology: Part 2 3. Introductory Chemistry: Part 1 4. Introductory Chemistry: Part 2 5. Six additional courses Program Supervisor: Dr. Kamini Persaud 4

First Year Courses Integrative Biology Specialist 1. Introductory Biology: Part 1 2. Introductory Biology: Part 2 3. Introductory Chemistry: Part 1 4. Introductory Chemistry: Part 2 5. Calculus: Part 1 6. Calculus: Part 2 7. Introduction to Physics: Part 1 5. Three additional courses Program Supervisor: Dr. Kamini Persaud There are two calculus streams; one for students who have taken high school calculus and one for students who have not taken high school calculus. 5

First Year Courses Conservation Biology Specialist / Co-op 1. Introductory Biology: Part 1 2. Introductory Biology: Part 2 3. Introductory Chemistry: Part 1 4. Introductory Chemistry: Part 2 5. Introduction to Planet Earth 6. The Geography of Global Processes 7. Geographic Information Systems 5. Three additional courses Program Supervisor: Dr. Lisa Manne 6

First Year Courses Cell & Molecular Biology Specialist / Co-op 1. Introductory Biology: Part 1 2. Introductory Biology: Part 2 3. Introductory Chemistry: Part 1 4. Introductory Chemistry: Part 2 5. Calculus: Part 1 6. Calculus: Part 2 7. Introduction to Physics: Part 1 5. Three additional courses Program Supervisor: Dr. Clare Hasenkampf There are two calculus streams; one for students who have taken high school calculus and one for students who have not taken high school calculus. 7

First Year Courses Human Biology Specialist 1. Introductory Biology: Part 1 2. Introductory Biology: Part 2 3. Introductory Chemistry: Part 1 4. Introductory Chemistry: Part 2 5. Calculus: Part 1 6. Calculus: Part 2 7. Introduction to Physics: Part 1 8. Introduction to Physics: Part 2 9. Introduction to Physiology: Part 1 10. Introduction to Physiology: Part 2 Program Supervisor: Dr. Kamini Persaud There are two calculus streams; one for students who have taken high school calculus and one for students who have not taken high school calculus. 8

Second Year Courses All biology programs contain a core of six courses that everyone must take. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Cell Biology Molecular Aspects of Genetic Processes Mammalian (Human) Physiology I Plant Physiology Ecology Evolutionary Biology A physiology or anatomy or cell biology or ecology lab course 9

Third & Fourth Year Courses Students begin true specialization in their third year. Some of our third and fourth year courses include: • Biochemistry (Proteins and Enzymes) • Biochemistry (Metabolism) • Practical Approaches to Biochemistry • Molecular Endocrinology • Mammalian (Human) Physiology II • Comparative Environmental Physiology • Pathologies of the Nervous System • Animal Developmental Biology • Microbiology: The Bacterial Cell • Seminars in Cellular Microbiology • Vertebrate Histology (Cells and Tissues) • Vertebrate Histology (Organs) • Animal Behaviour • Evolutionary Biology of Insects • Marine Biology • Animal Communication • Molecular Aspects of Plant Development • Genetics • Genomics • Molecular Biology Lab (Cloning) • Molecular Biology Lab (Nucleic Acids) • Special Topics in Molecular Genetics • Consequences of Global Change • Advanced Population Ecology • Restoration Ecology • Role of Zoos in Conservation • Conservation Biology • Environmental Toxicology • Biology of Plant Stress • River Ecology • Directed Research in Biology II 10

Programs in Biological Sciences Entry requirements after First Year 1) Complete (pass) 4 credits (8 courses) which must include: Introductory Biology: Part I Introductory Biology: Part 2 Introductory Chemistry: Part 1 Introductory Chemistry: Part 2 One course in mathematics or statistics 2) A cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least 2. 0 (“C” average) Some programs are highly competitive and may require a higher CGPA for entry. 11

Applying to a Biology Program • • • There are two subject post (program) application periods per year: 1) Early April to early May. 2) Early July to early August. Go on to your ROSI (Repository of Student Information) account and select the subject post that identifies the program of study that you wish to pursue (you may select more than one subject post). Admission decisions are announced in mid-June and mid-September. Follow this link for information and instruction. 12

Pre-Requisites, Co-Requisites and Exclusions • A pre-requisite must be taken before you can take the course in question. • A co-requisite must be taken before or at the same time. • You cannot take, for credit, a course for which you have taken an exclusion. BGYB 10 H 3 Cell Biology This course is designed to introduce theory and modern experimental techniques in cell biology. Emphasis will be on eukaryotic cells. Structure and function of major animal and plant organelles will be covered. Subsequent topics include the role of the cytoskeleton. Exclusion: BGYB 10 Y, BIO 250 Y You cannot take BGYB 10 H if you have taken these courses Prerequisite: [BGYA 01 H & BGYA 02 H] & [CHMA 10 H & CHMA 11 H] Must be taken prior to taking BGYB 10 H 13

Physics and Biology Programs I want to enter a biology program that requires physics but I didn’t take grade 12 physics. What can I do? • In this case you can take PHYA 01 H (Basic Physics). This course is intended for students who did not take grade 12 physics. It is worth 0. 5 credit. • You can take this course in your first semester (fall 2008). • You can then take PHYA 10 H in the spring 2009 semester. • PHYA 22 H can then be taken in the summer or at a later date (this course is required in the human biology program). 14

Taking Courses at the Other U of T Campuses • You may take up to 5. 0 credits of courses in the other Arts and Science Divisions at the Univ. of Toronto (St. George & UTM). • No more than 1. 0 of your first 4. 0 credits may be taken at the other two campuses. • Students are responsible for confirming (by looking at the UTSC calendar) whether or not a course at another campus is an exclusion to a UTSC course that has already been taken. • You need permission from your program supervisor to replace a UTSC program requirement with a course from another campus. 15

Summer Courses • Summer courses were initially established so that co-op students could complete their degree in four years. • Summer courses are useful if you have failed or dropped a course that you need as a pre-requisite to courses the following year. • Not all courses are offered in the summer. Consult the course calendar and/or your program supervisor if you are planning on putting off a course until the summer. • Medical schools do count summer courses but they don’t like students using them to lighten their course loads in the fall and winter semesters. 16

Components of a Course Depending upon the particular course, the following are general course components: • Lectures (usually 2 hours per week). * • Laboratory/practical sessions (3 hours every week or every second week). • Tutorials (the role of tutorials differ in different courses). *, Lecture etiquette is very important. You should not talk as this disturbs other students. Cell phones ringers must be turned off and phones must not be answered. 17

How will I be evaluated? Depending upon the particular course, the following are used as evaluation tools: • Midterm examination (1 or 2 per course). • Final examination (1 per course). University rules prohibit the presence of cell phones in an exam. • Lab reports (in courses with lab sections). * • Quizzes. • Written assignments or oral presentations. * *make sure that you are familiar with the university’s rules on plagiarism. 18

How will I be evaluated? • You are assigned a mark (percentage) in each course. • This percentage is then converted to a letter grade. • The letter grade is then converted to a grade point value. • Grade point values are then used to calculate your grade point average (GPA). 19

How will I be evaluated? Percentage 90 -100 85 -89 80 -84 77 -79 73 -76 70 -72 67 -69 63 -66 60 -62 57 -59 53 -56 50 -52 0 -49 Letter Grade A+ A AB+ B BC+ C CD+ D DF Grade Point Value 4. 0 3. 7 3. 3 3. 0 2. 7 2. 3 2. 0 1. 7 1. 3 1. 0 0. 7 1. 0 Definition Excellent Good Adequate Marginal Wholly Inadequate 20

Who are my course instructors? • Tenured or tenure-track faculty (Assistant Professors; Associate Professors and Full Professors) who are all active researchers. • Full-time lecturers (teach but do not do research) • Sessional lecturers (replacement instructors hired when a regular course instructor is on leave). • Teaching assistants (Masters or Ph. D students; occasionally a fourth year undergraduate student) 21

What does a university professor do? • 40% Research • 40% Teaching (one course per semester; supervising graduate and undergraduate research students). • 20% Administration • Every faculty member in the Department of Biological Sciences runs an externally-funded research program. • Research lab personnel include graduate (MSc and Ph. D students; undergraduate thesis students; post-doctoral fellows and technicians). 22

Communicating with your Professors • Different professors like to communicate in different ways. • Every professor holds designated office hours each week which time students may drop by to ask questions or seek advice. • Short questions are easily asked via e-mail. Questions that require long answers or explanations should be asked in person. • Most professors do not like to receive phone calls as multiple calls can be highly disruptive. • E-mails must NOT be sent in text-message format. Such messages will be deleted and not answered. 23

Where do I go for advice or to solve problems? In first year you should consult the Pre-Program coordinator, Sean Ramrattan. Once you are in a biology program (major or specialist) you should consult with the Program Supervisor. • Integrative Biology Dr. Kamini Persaud kpersaud@utsc. utoronto. ca • Cell & Molecular Biology Dr. Clare Hasenkampf hasenkampf@utsc. utoronto. ca • Human Biology Dr. Kamini Persaud kpersaud@utsc. utoronto. ca • Conservation Biology Dr. Lisa Manne manne@utsc. utoronto. ca • Paramedicine Dr. Stephen Reid sgreid@utsc. utoronto. ca • Industrial Microbiology Dr. Roberta Fulthorpe fulthorpe@utsc. utoronto. ca Program supervisors will give advice on course selection, course sequences, replacement courses and any other program-related concern). 24

What happens when I have met all the requirements for my degree? • If you are registered in, or have already successfully completed the correct number of credits for the Degree Post you are registered in then you must signal your intent to graduate. Information is available on the Registrar’s web site. Follow this link for information and instruction. 25

The People of the Department • Departmental Chair • Associate Chair for Research • Associate Chair for Undergraduate Affairs Dr. Greg Vanleberghe Dr. Dan Riggs Dr. Stephen Reid • 20 tenured or tenure-track faculty members • 5 emeritus professors 2 full-time lecturers • Dozens of graduate students and other research personnel • 4 administrative staff members Nella Semoff, Secretary to the Chair Gloria Luza, Clerical Assistant Lucy Pickering, Administrative Officer Tony Rupnaraine, Business Officer • 5 teaching technicians Nankie Bissoon, Alex Yi, Patrick Ng, Joanne Pearce; Sheila Rush • 5 technical staff M. Agoston – greenhouse; A. Gristock – vivarium; Y. Ma, R. Or – Centre for the Neurobiology of Stress; A. Ranieri - Wash/Sterilisation 26 28

Research Clusters 1. Biological Dynamics of Environmental Change 2. Neurobiology of Stress 3. Integrative Behaviour and Neuroscience 4. Cells and Infection 5. Plant Cellular and Molecular Processes 27

FACULTY Michelle Aarts B. Sc. , MSc. (Western), Ph. D. (Mc. Gill) Assistant Professor Canada Research Chair Research Mechanisms of cell survival and cell death following heart attack and stroke Teaches Biochemistry and Endocrinology 28

FACULTY Maydianne Andrade B. Sc. (Simon Fraser), M. Sc. (Toronto), Ph. D. (Cornell) Associate Professor Canada Research Chair Research Evolution of Mating Systems Teaches Evolution and Animal Behaviour 29

FACULTY Rudy Boonstra B. Sc. (Calgary), Ph. D. (British Columbia) Professor Research Ecology and Neurobiology of Stress Teaches Global Change & Population Ecology 30

FACULTY Ian Brown B. Sc. (Carleton), Ph. D. (Texas), Professor Canada Research Chair Research Molecular Neurobiology of Heat Shock Proteins Teaches Animal Developmental Biology and Molecular Biology 31

FACULTY Mark Fitzpatrick B. Sc. , M. Sc. , (Brock), Ph. D. (Toronto) Assistant Professor Research Genetics/Genomics Teaches Genetics and Genomics 32

FACULTY Sonia Gazzarrini B. Sc. , M. Sc. (Milan), Ph. D. (Tuebingen) Assistant Professor Research Plant Development, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Teaches Plant Developmental Biology and Molecular Biology 33

FACULTY Rene Harrison B. Sc. (Winnipeg), M. Sc. (Manitoba), Ph. D. (Toronto) Assistant Professor Research Cell Biology - the regulation and function of immune cells and bone cells. Teaches Cell Biology 34

FACULTY Clare Hasenkampf B. Sc. (Loyola), M. Sc. , Ph. D. (Florida State) Associate Professor Research Plant Genetics Teaches First Year Biology and Genetics 35

FACULTY Herbert Kronzucker B. Sc. (Wuerzburg), Ph. D. (British Columbia) Professor Canada Research Chair Research Ecophysiology of plant nutrient acquisition; Solutions to World hunger Teaches Ecology and Environmental Toxicology 36

FACULTY Nate Lovejoy B. Sc. , M. Sc. (Toronto), Ph. D. (Cornell) Assistant Professor Research Molecular Phylogenetics and evolution of behaviors Teaches Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 37

FACULTY Lisa Manne B. Sc. (Otterbein College), M. Sc. , Ph. D. (Univ. of Tennessee) Assistant Professor Research Spatial ecology, biogeography and conservation Teaches First Year Biology and Conservation Biology 38

FACULTY Andrew Mason B. Sc. (Guelph), M. Sc. , Ph. D. (Toronto) Associate Professor Research Bioacoustics, Neuroethology Sensory Systems & Communication Teaches First Year Biology and Animal Communication (Neuroscience) 39

FACULTY Joanne Nash B. Sc. (Aberdeen), M. Sc. , Ph. D. (Univ. of Manchester) Assistant Professor Research Biological Basis of Brain Pathology and Parkinson’s Disease. Teaches Mammalian (Human) Physiology and Nervous System Pathology 40

FACULTY Stephen Reid B. Sc. , Ph. D. (Ottawa) Associate Professor Research Respiratory Physiology and Neurobiology Teaches Mammalian (Human) and Animal Physiology 41

FACULTY Dan Riggs B. Sc. (North Carolina), Ph. D. (Florida State) Associate Professor Research Plant Molecular Biology Teaches Cell and Molecular Biology 42

FACULTY Mauricio Terebiznik B. Sc. , Ph. D. (Buenos Aires) Assistant Professor Research Microbiology Teaches Microbiology 43

FACULTY Greg Vanlerberghe B. Sc. , M. Sc. (Western Ontario), Ph. D. (Queen's) Professor Research Metabolism and Stress Physiology in Plants Teaches Plant Physiology and the Biology of Plant Stress 44

FACULTY Dudley Williams B. Sc. (North Wales), Dip. Ed. (Liverpool), M. Sc. , Ph. D. (Waterloo), D. Sc. (Wales) Professor Research Ecological Studies of Running Water Communities Teaches Biology of Insects, River Ecology and Ecology Field Courses 45

FACULTY Rongmin Zhou B. Sc. (Peking University), Ph. D. (Chinese Academy of Agriculture) Plant Biochemistry Marc Cadotte B. Sc. , M. Sc. (Windsor University), Ph. D (Tennessee) Arriving in July 2009 Community Ecology 46

RESOURCES Department of Biological Sciences www. utsc. utoronto. ca/biosci This presentation is available online at www. utsc. utoronto. ca/sgreid 47