UOIT science professor earns $15,000 national mentorship grant
March 16, 2007
Symposium to bring young students and health research leaders together to be created
Dr. Julia Green-Johnson, an assistant professor of biology with the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), has been awarded a $15,000 national research grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to create a one-day symposium to introduce young students with an interest in science to today's leaders in health-oriented science research and their groundbreaking work.
The CIHR awarded the grant to Dr. Green-Johnson as part of its SYNAPSE CIHR/ Strategic Training Initiative in Health Research (STIHR) Youth Mentorship Program. The one-day symposium is planned for February 2008 and will see 250 intermediate and high school students from across Durham Region gather on campus to participate in a UOIT Science Research for Health Day.
"I'm honoured to have received this award, as I share in the CIHR's wonderful mission to make health-oriented science research accessible to a new generation of students," said Dr. Green-Johnson. "We are already looking forward to next year's symposium and having so many young and energetic students on our Oshawa campus. Our goal is to showcase some of the groundbreaking research unfolding continuously at UOIT, research that has significant health-based applications."
Dr. Green-Johnson's research specialty, nutraceuticals, will be on the symposium agenda. Nutraceuticals are components of foods that have health benefits beyond nutritional value, such as the omega-3 added to eggs, the calcium added to orange juice and the probiotic cultures present in yogurt. Her particular research investigates the impact of fermented foods and probiotic bacteria on the immune response.
"The CIHR grant is one of three recent grants received by the UOIT Faculty of Science for youth and public outreach initiatives," said Dr. William Smith, dean of UOIT's Faculty of Science. "We consider youth and public outreach in science to be part of our core responsibilities, and the programs we offer stimulate and encourage an interest in science at a time in their lives when young people are choosing a career direction. We are committed to demonstrating that UOIT has something special - our exceptional researchers, teachers, and programs."
The importance of science and math education was recently emphasized by none other than Microsoft chairman Bill Gates during a recent stop in Ottawa. Gates indicated to the Hill Times, a weekly government and political newspaper, that the with the exception of Asia, fewer students throughout the world are pursuing studies in math and science, despite the fact that those are the areas where the majority of new jobs are being created.
Dr. Ellen Vogel, an assistant professor with UOIT's Faculty of Health Sciences, will also participate in the symposium, commenting on the topic of nutrigenomics including examining how genetic differences may determine why individuals respond differently to dietary changes. For example, why does a low lipid diet lower cholesterol in one person but not another?
The day will also feature presentations from Dr. Otto Sanchez, an assistant professor and associate dean with the faculty of Health Sciences, and Dr. Holly Jones-Taggart, an assistant professor who is cross-appointed between the faculties of Health Sciences and Science. Dr. Sanchez and Dr. Jones-Taggart will discuss relationships between cancer and the environment. In addition, Dr. Sean Forrester, an assistant professor of biology with the Faculty of Science, will share his research on anti-parasitic drug discovery.
The speakers will point out how their research ultimately connects with daily life and encourage students to ask questions, not only on research, but on science-related careers. After lunch, groups will tour UOIT's award-winning campus and get an inside look at its state-of-the-art laboratories.
"The students attending the symposium will be amazed by the cutting-edge research happening every day at UOIT and will learn first-hand about the university's commitment to research excellence", said Dr. Smith. "We will also showcase UOIT's unique approach to learning, which sees our students and professors work together in the classroom, lab and field to turn their ideas into solutions that make a real difference around the globe."
The goal of the SYNAPSE CIHR/STIHR youth mentorship initiative is to connect Canada's next generation of researchers with today's leaders in health-oriented scientific research. Through collaborative partnerships between the research and science awareness communities, STIHR trainees and researchers mentor youth students throughout their community. Dr. Green-Johnson's application was one of six selected for funding through the recent youth mentorship competition.
Dr. Julia Green-Johnson, an assistant professor of biology with the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), has been awarded a $15,000 national research grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to create a one-day symposium to introduce young students with an interest in science to today's leaders in health-oriented science research and their groundbreaking work.
The CIHR awarded the grant to Dr. Green-Johnson as part of its SYNAPSE CIHR/ Strategic Training Initiative in Health Research (STIHR) Youth Mentorship Program. The one-day symposium is planned for February 2008 and will see 250 intermediate and high school students from across Durham Region gather on campus to participate in a UOIT Science Research for Health Day.
"I'm honoured to have received this award, as I share in the CIHR's wonderful mission to make health-oriented science research accessible to a new generation of students," said Dr. Green-Johnson. "We are already looking forward to next year's symposium and having so many young and energetic students on our Oshawa campus. Our goal is to showcase some of the groundbreaking research unfolding continuously at UOIT, research that has significant health-based applications."
Dr. Green-Johnson's research specialty, nutraceuticals, will be on the symposium agenda. Nutraceuticals are components of foods that have health benefits beyond nutritional value, such as the omega-3 added to eggs, the calcium added to orange juice and the probiotic cultures present in yogurt. Her particular research investigates the impact of fermented foods and probiotic bacteria on the immune response.
"The CIHR grant is one of three recent grants received by the UOIT Faculty of Science for youth and public outreach initiatives," said Dr. William Smith, dean of UOIT's Faculty of Science. "We consider youth and public outreach in science to be part of our core responsibilities, and the programs we offer stimulate and encourage an interest in science at a time in their lives when young people are choosing a career direction. We are committed to demonstrating that UOIT has something special - our exceptional researchers, teachers, and programs."
The importance of science and math education was recently emphasized by none other than Microsoft chairman Bill Gates during a recent stop in Ottawa. Gates indicated to the Hill Times, a weekly government and political newspaper, that the with the exception of Asia, fewer students throughout the world are pursuing studies in math and science, despite the fact that those are the areas where the majority of new jobs are being created.
Dr. Ellen Vogel, an assistant professor with UOIT's Faculty of Health Sciences, will also participate in the symposium, commenting on the topic of nutrigenomics including examining how genetic differences may determine why individuals respond differently to dietary changes. For example, why does a low lipid diet lower cholesterol in one person but not another?
The day will also feature presentations from Dr. Otto Sanchez, an assistant professor and associate dean with the faculty of Health Sciences, and Dr. Holly Jones-Taggart, an assistant professor who is cross-appointed between the faculties of Health Sciences and Science. Dr. Sanchez and Dr. Jones-Taggart will discuss relationships between cancer and the environment. In addition, Dr. Sean Forrester, an assistant professor of biology with the Faculty of Science, will share his research on anti-parasitic drug discovery.
The speakers will point out how their research ultimately connects with daily life and encourage students to ask questions, not only on research, but on science-related careers. After lunch, groups will tour UOIT's award-winning campus and get an inside look at its state-of-the-art laboratories.
"The students attending the symposium will be amazed by the cutting-edge research happening every day at UOIT and will learn first-hand about the university's commitment to research excellence", said Dr. Smith. "We will also showcase UOIT's unique approach to learning, which sees our students and professors work together in the classroom, lab and field to turn their ideas into solutions that make a real difference around the globe."
The goal of the SYNAPSE CIHR/STIHR youth mentorship initiative is to connect Canada's next generation of researchers with today's leaders in health-oriented scientific research. Through collaborative partnerships between the research and science awareness communities, STIHR trainees and researchers mentor youth students throughout their community. Dr. Green-Johnson's application was one of six selected for funding through the recent youth mentorship competition.
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