End of the year BBQ!

Hello BGSA! To cap off a great school year, the Biology Graduate Students Association (BGSA) is hosting a FREE BBQ on Thursday June 5th beginning at 4pm. We've also bought some softball equipment and will be organizing a pick-up softball game starting at 6pm. If you're interested in playing, please bring a glove if you have one! WHO: All biology graduate students and postdocs, profs and other biology folk WHAT: BBQ (veggie and meat options), drinks (free soda and beers at cost) & softball WHEN: Thursday June 5th from 4-6 pm, softball from 6pm till it's over or Thomson House kicks us out. WHERE: Reservoir field, the big grassy field across from Thomson House between Dr Penfield, des Pins and McTavish WHY: Because the food is FREE and we're lots of fun to hang out with! This is a great way to meet new students, catch up with old friends, and kick off the summer. You don't have to be able to catch, throw or hit the ball in order to play with us! Please bring your labmates! Hope to see you there!

BGSA Travel Grant deadline!

Hey BGSA! This is a reminder about the BGSA travel grant. It’s due a week from Wednesday, on April 9! Attached is the form you need to fill out. Here is a reminder of the details: BGSA Travel Grant The grant is $400 and can be used for conferences falling between September 1st, 2013 and August 31th, 2014. If you've already attended a conference within that time frame, the grant may be used retroactively. For more details and policies, please see the second page of the application, attached here or available available on the BGSA website, in the "Grants" section: mcgillbgsa.weebly.com To apply, please fill out the application and return it to me, Mary-Rose, via email (preferable) or by printing it and dropping it off to me in Bellini room 232 or lab 270. Applications are due April 9th, and a list of winners will be drawn randomly on April 11th and announced that day by email. The grant will be offered to the first person on the list (first name drawn), but in the event that this person declines the grant or becomes ineligible, it will be offered to the next person on the list, and so on until either the award is claimed or the award period ends. Winners must accept or decline the award by April 30th. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns Good luck! Mary-Rose

Welcome back, everyone!!

The BGSA is hosting a FREE Welcome back/Orientation/Karaoke night at Thompson House next Wednesday!! WHO: All Biology Graduate Students and Postdocs WHAT: Beer, Nachos & Karaoke WHEN: Wednesday January 15th from 4pm till it's over or Thomson House kicks us out. WHERE: Thomson House Basement (3650 Rue McTavish) WHY: Because the food & drinks are FREE and we're lots of fun to hang out with! This is a great way to meet new students, catch up with old friends, and kick off the new semester. Please bring your labmates! Hope to see you there! Your friendly neighbourhood BGSA

BGSA Winter Retreat

Hello BGSA and Welcome back! Here is a reminder about the Adirondacks trip in a few weeks (look below for the info and links) Several people have signed up already but there are still about 10 stops left so SIGN UP SOON if you are still interested in coming along. This email is also a reminder for people to bring in there deposits, we would like to have them by this Friday. So please bring a $20 Deposit to Mary-Rose (Bellini 266), Me (Stuart N5/5), or Claudia (N4/6) to reserve your spot. Emails sent after today will include only the people who have signed up to reduce listserve spam. Thank you for your time, and sign up! Scott Check your email for the link to sign up!

BGSA Holiday Party: Jingle Bell-curves Rock

Hey BGSA! This year's Biology Holiday Party "Jingle Bell-curves Rock" will be on Thursday December 5th at the Thompson House. Doors will open at 6pm, and dinner will be served around 7pm. It's going to be a great night filled with food, entertainment from your very own BGSA, and lots of dancing! Also this year we will be holding the first ever departmental lip syncing contest! I know we're all a very competitive bunch as was demonstrated at this year's pumpkin carving contest so please sign up to participate (email Kiyoko with your name and song) and bring your A-game because I know we are :D If lip syncing is not your thing, but you still want to compete in something, there will also be a baking contest with details on that coming soon from Dieta. Bring all your labmates, profs, staff and significant others!! Especially this year lets all really try to get our profs to come out like they used to in previous years! Tickets are on sale now: $15 for Faculty and Staff (and non-McGill) $10 for Grads and Postdocs free for children They can be purchased from the following sellers: Stewart Bio: Claudia Wever - office N4/6; lab N4/7 Redpath Museum: Andrea Morden: office 104 (Ricciardi Lab) Bellini: Mary-Rose Bradley-Gill - office 232; lab 270 I will also be carrying some tickets around with me at the EEL and Organismal Seminars for the next few weeks. There's a limited number of tickets so don't wait till the last minute because they will sell out!!

Annual BGSA Pumpkin Carving Contest!!

It is the BGSA's pleasure to announce the Annual BGSA Pumpkin Carving Contest! (applause, applause). Who? All labs (can be joined labs if not enough participants....** extra points given to group with supervisor present****) When? Tuesday October 29th, 2pm Where? Lobby 4th floor of Stewart Bio (between North and West wings) Why? Because you're good enough, smart enough, and dog-on-it, people love carving pumpkins How? Bring all materials with you (knives, drill bits, dissecting tools, scalpels, props). Introducing.... *** IRON PUMPKIN!!!!*** Theme will be announced at the start of the carving, as well as the CARVING CURVEBALL, a special item to be incorporated into your pumpkin! You are allowed to bring raw materials for props, but you cannot have them assembled before the contest begins (one hour max for carving). You will be evaluated on creativity, aesthetics, incorporation of the curveball, theme and the back-story. Dress in costumes!!! Cost: $6 Sign up by the 25th. Please give money to Victor at the Redpath (103A) or to Ria Ghai at Stewart Bio - W3/5 See ya'll there!...and if not, do beware... MUAHAHAHAHAHA

Welcome back fellow bio grad students!!

Hey guys! The BGSA is hosting a FREE Welcome back/ orientation BBQ next week! WHO: All Biology graduate students and postdocs WHAT: BBQ (veggie and meat options), snacks and drinks (soda and other adult beverages) WHEN: Wednesday September 4th from 4pm till it's over or Thomson House kicks us out. WHERE: Reservoir field, the big grassy field across from Thomson House between Dr Penfield, des Pins and McTavish WHY: Because the food is FREE and we're lots of fun to hang out with! This is a great way to meet new students, catch up with old friends, and kick off the new school year. Please bring your labmates! Hope to see you there! Your friendly neighbourhood BGSA

End of Year BBQ!!!!!!!!!

Hello BGSA! To cap off a great school year, the Biology Graduate Students Association (BGSA) is hosting a FREE BBQ on Tuesday May 14th at 4pm. There's also a softball game that day at 6pm that everyone is welcome to stay for! WHO: All Biology graduate students and postdocs WHAT: BBQ (veggie and meat options), drinks (soda and other adult beverages) & softball WHEN: Tuesday May 14th from 4-6 pm, softball from 6pm till it's over or Thomson House kicks us out. WHERE: Reservoir field, the big grassy field across from Thomson House between Dr Penfield, des Pins and McTavish WHY: Because the food is FREE and we're lots of fun to hang out with! This is a great way to meet new students, catch up with old friends, and kick off the summer. You don't have to be able to catch, throw or hit the ball in order to play with us! Please bring your labmates! Hope to see you there! Your friendly neighbourhood BGSA

2013 CEEB Wrap-up

Hello CEEB Retreaters, On behalf of the 2013 organizing committee I would like to thank all the speakers, moderators and participants for contributing to an outstanding CEEB retreat. A number of you requested the slides from the workshops and we have make them available on BGSA Speaker Deck account: https://speakerdeck.com/bgsa

 Carly Zitter also live tweeted Workshop #2. If you missed the workshop or want to relive it you can find the transcript as on Storify here: http://storify.com/cziter/graphical-design-for-publications-and-your-researc 

See you at next years retreat!

 PS These workshops are great for the whole department, not just CEEB!

BGSA Welcome Back Event

BGSA, 

Not sure what to do this Thursday? Please refer to the attached decision map the BGSA officers have created for you. 

All models suggest you attend the 2013 BGSA Welcome Back event this Thursday at Thomson House from 5-7pm. The BGSA will be providing snacks, beverages and the First Annual Masterpiece crafts competition. Where we give you a picture like this or this and you have to recreate it with a team consisting of any combination of lab, friends, enemies from popsicle sticks, glue and some pipe cleaners with prizes for the best interpretation as judged by a panel. All you have to bring is a good time and your lab mates.  

Come catch up with me, other graduate students, faculty and meet new people. 

See you Thursday, 

Monica 

BGSA President 

Thursday Decision Map by

R, Pumpkins, and Grants!

Hello fellow biology minions!

This post comes as announcements of the past, present, and very near future. First up, the ghost of Halloween past shows how to get it done! Congratulations to the returning champions, the Ricciardi lab, who once again, captured first place in the annual pumpkin carving contest. This year's theme was 'mutation' and Susan Bocti and Frank Scopelleti served as our illustrious judges. In second place was the L. Chapman lab, and in third place was the collaborative efforts of the Moon/Lasko/Dancourt lab!!

For photos, visit here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/111919271963074240179/2012BGSAIronPumpkinCarvingContest

#-----------------------------R Workshop -----------------------------
#in the very near future, there will be an awesome R workshop that
#will help get you started in the R environment. Come join the
#R Montreal User Group will be checking out the Hadley Wickham
#general awesomness for this workshop.

#location: Notman House (51 Sherbrooke W)
#time: 6pm
#Bring your own laptop!

#------------------------------------------------------------------------

And lastly, congratulations to our BGSA travel grant draw winners!

Rowshyra Castaneda is our lucky winner! The first runner up and second runner up, who will be contacted in the event that the winner declines the award or becomes ineligible, were Michal Wieczorek and Bronwyn Rayfield

Congratulations to all!

Happy midterm marking!

-the BGSA

2012 Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest

Hello fellow bio students!

Feeling competitive? Ready to get into pumpkins up to your elbows? Interested in firing those creative neuronal transfers?

Well, it's about that time. It is time for the BGSA's annual pumpkin carving contest!

For those of you new to the Department or unfamiliar with the event, teams participating in the contest sign up in advance, and arrive the day of the event with tools in hand, and carve the greatest pumpkin of all time.  Teams must pay 6$/team, which covers the cost of the pumpkin (which we will provide) and prizes.   Please sign-up by visiting (with the money) Katie Pagnucco (Redpath Room 303 on the third floor), Scott DeVito (Stewart N5/5; dial 7488), Chelsea Chisholm (Stewart N3/5; dial 6428), Mary-Rose Bradley Gill (Bellini 232; if nobody there, look in lab 270 or call 3565), or Kate Krivy (Bellini 232; if nobody there, look in lab 270 or call 3565) by Tuesday, October 30th so we can purchase supplies.

Teams will have 1 hour to carve the pumpkin related to a surprise THEME that will be announced by the surprise judges on the day of the event.  Judging criteria include: adherence to theme, creativity/originality, use of lab tools, and participation of the lab supervisor (extra points... so convince your prof to come!)

Summary:

WHAT: I think that should be obvious by now.
WHEN: Wednesday, October 31 at 11:30 am (event is 1hr: teams should arrive 15 mins early to prepare: onlookers welcome!)
WHERE: 4th floor lobby, Stewart Biology Building
WHO: Graduate students, postdocs, professors, anyone in the Department with an interest in pumpkins and/or squash carving
WHY: Because October wouldn't be complete without a pumpkin carving contest AND there will be prizes, and wait for it... a TROPHY (yes, a TROPHY) for the winning team.
DEADLINE to sign up: Wednesday, October 30th

So start harassing your supervisors, assemble a team and register with any of the people listed above, we're looking forward to seeing you next Wednesday, October 30th at 11:30 am for pumpkin fun! Teams, don't forget to bring your own carving supplies.

BGSA General Meeting

hello BGSAers!

The leaves are turning, and that means it is time for us to do our first general meeting of the 2012-2013 school year! In case you missed the email from our fearless president, here it is!

Hello,

I am pleased to inform you that your 2012-2013 membership to the Biology Graduate Students Association (BGSA) has been approved. The benefits of this association are many and include:

1. Free food
2. Making new friends
3. Throwing socks at graduate students
4. Seasonal carving of squash
5. Dancing with your supervisor

Would you like to know more about this exclusive association? Then come to the General Meeting next Thursday, October 11 from 4-5pm (following the Organismal seminar) in the Redpath Auditorium. Attached is the agenda for you to peruse. Reply if you would like to have anything added to the agenda. Would you like to become a elite member of this club and are interested in representing the rights of TAs AND get some $$ for it? Then become an AGSEM representative! We have one vacancy available and will be holding elections at the general meeting. If you would like to put forth your name as a candidate have three students support your nomination with the attached form and have them send the form to bgsaelections@gmail.com. You must also submit the candidate form attached to the same address.

I hope you take advantage of all benefits of this association. Your first opportunity is the free snacks at the meeting.


Sincerely,
Monica Granados
BGSA President

AGENDA

1. Committee reports
  a. PGSS (Eric Pedersen)
  b. Organismal seminar (Carly Ziter)
  c. AGSEM (Katie Pagnucco)
  d. Safety (Ted Daigle)
  e. GTC (Zoe Joly-Lopez)
2. Budget (Josie Iacarella)
3. Status of the Graduate level statistics courses (Monica Granados)
4. BGSA website (Kiyoko Gotanda)
5. Amendment to BGSA travel grant (Ben Haller)
6. BGSAiji: The place to buy and sell post-graduate goods
7. AGSEM representative election
8. First-year representative(s) election
9. Events
  a. Pumpkin carving
  b. Trading spaces: Desk edition
  c. Holiday party
10. Other business

BGSA Orientation!

Hello BGSAers old and new!

The leaves are turning, politics are simmering, and it's getting darker sooner... We all know what that means - the start of a new semester! As always, we want to welcome new students (and returning students!) with open arms and get them on the proper path to the maze that's called grad school.

The BGSA will be holding orientation this semester on Thursday, September 6. We've got things going all day, but it will culminate in a FREE BBQ on the reservoir from 4-6pm.

Here's the plan, so we'll see everyone on Thursday!
For new students!
12:30-1:00 The Biology Department and You: A guide to graduate school at McGill
1:00-1:30 Lunch with BGSA officers
1:30-2:30 Scavenger Hunt  

Everyone!
4:00-6:00 FREE BBQ

Cheers
The BGSA

BGSA General Meeting!

Hello students,

Now that summer is already over, the BGSA will be holding a general meeting in the Redpath Auditorium from 4-5 on March 28th. The Agenda is below! See you there.

Cheers

BGSA

Biology Graduate Students Association General Meeting AGENDA

March 28, 2012

4-5pm

Redpath Auditorium

1. Committee reports

a. AGSEM (Justin Marleau)

b. PGSS (Eric Pedersen)

c. Green (Etienne Low-Decarie)

d. Safety (Corey Chivers)

e. Organismal seminar (Andrea Reid)

2. Changes to Molecular Seminar Funding (Aleksandar Vujin)

3. Update on Biodiversity Position Search (Justin Marleau)

4. Petition for Advanced Statistics Course (Kiyoko Gotanda)

5. Announcement of elections (Monica Granados)

6. Travel Grant (Katie Pagnucco)

7. Upcoming events

a. April

i. Egg hunt

ii. CEEB retreat

b. May

i. End of year party

ii. MOC retreat

8. Other business

Montreal R User Group is live!!

Hello UseRs!

We are happy to announce that the Montreal R User Group is now official. You can join the group by visiting the meetup site.

The group has existed since 2010 in a narrower incarnation as the BGSA R/Stats Workshop Series. Previous workshops have featured invited facilitators on topics such as Causal Analysis, GLMs, GAMs, Multi-model inference, Phylogenetic analysis, Bayesian modeling, Meta-analysis, Ordination, Programming and more. Our goal is to broaden the scope of the workshops to incorporate topics from a wide variety of applied fields.

We are kicking off with a meetup on Monday, March 19th with a workshop on building and estimating Maximum Likelihood models and doing model selection.

We look forward to seeing you at the next meetup!

Montreal R User Group Organizers

WordPress Workshop!

Good news! The WordPress workshop has been rescheduled and it's still FREE. See below for registration instructions.

Do you wish you could have your own website so you can disseminate your research, publications or pictures of you in a row boat (http://tinyurl.com/85ry26v)? Well then do I have some good news for you. BGSA is hosting a WordPress workshop on Friday, February 10, 2012 from 10:00-11:30 in Stewart Biology W2/3B. WordPress (http://wordpress.org/) is a user friendly, free, web software you can use to create your own website. Sidra Mamood (http://www.oneseventyfive.com/) a web designer from Toronto will guide you from inception to the publication of your very own website. And best of all, the workshop is FREE!

Space is limited though, so if you want to attend sign-up at the following link (click or copy and paste the link): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Am30GsVd1jhrdGFqNU9HOGpKQTZoWVJfbFJXcjNXWGc

If you are already signed up then your place is reserved. If you can no longer attend the rescheduled workshop please remove your name so that the space becomes available for other participants.

-Monica on behalf of the BGSA Officers

R/Statistics Workshop Series Starts Next Monday!

BGSA R/Statistics Workshop Series Starts Monday February 6.

We are excited to announced the start of the BGSA organized R/Statistics workshop Winter series! The workshops provide an excellent opportunity for graduate students to surmount the seemingly steep R learning curve and advance their statistical skills.

The Winter series, facilitated by invited graduate students and faculty, begins Monday, February 6th 14h-16h in N4/17. It will continue weekly over ten sessions and tentatively cover the following topics:

• Programming in R
• Linear, generalized and additive mixed-effects models
• Path analysis, structural equations and causal inference (invited speaker: Bill Shipley)
• Likelihood estimation
• Bayesian statistics
• Time series analysis
• Spatial statistics

For more information, complete schedule, and workshop descriptions see:
https://sites.google.com/site/mcgillbgsa/workshops

The workshops are free to attend, but space may be limited so students are encouraged to register at:
https://sites.google.com/site/mcgillbgsa/register

Corey, Zofia, Étienne and Eric

BGSA R/Statistics Workshop Series Organizers

Pack the House!

Hello BGSAers!

Thanks to those who participated in our survey about Pack the ~

There is enough interest that we're going to Pack the House!

Who: You!
What: Pack the House! Support our Redmen and Martletts
When: Thursday, January 26th: Pregame 5-7
Where: Pregame at Thomlinson Hall, Game at the gym
Why: Show support, party with friends, have a good time, get out of the lab... take your pick!

Come out and support our Redmen and Martletts in an awesome double header basketball game against UQAM. There will be a pregame at Tomlinson Hall with drink specials and then everyone will head to the gym to make some noise and raise the roof. Bonus points if you know the origins of 'raise the roof' and you can't wikipedia it today!

Tickets are $3 and please sign up in the document below with your name, email and number of tickets you want.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Aiihin_-Nu8qdEsxTjdud0llZi13RVNQQ01WMFBxUkE


Cheers
BGSA

2012 Adirondacks Winter Trip is Booked!!!

Hello BGSA!

Did that dusting of snow last month make you pine for snowshoes, skies, snowpeople and snowball fights?! You're in luck! The 2012 BGSA Annual Adirondacks trip has been officially booked!!!

Who: YOU!!!!

What: 2012 Adirondacks Trip!

When: Fri Feb 3-Sun Feb 5, 2012

Where: The gorgeous Adirondacks

Hopefully there will be lots of snow and we can avoid Harvard.

If you haven't been on this trip before, it's a lot of fun. The log cabin is great, the Adirondacks are beautiful, and friends are welcome. See 2010 and 2011 photos on: https://picasaweb.google.com/111919271963074240179?fgl=true&pli=1
Stay tuned for more information in January regarding sign-ups, deposits, cars, food and activities.

Cheers

BGSA