Dennis Kolosov credits a made-at McMaster program for helping him make the move to the Golden State.

Dennis, an NSERC and McCall MacBain Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Biology, will join California State University in January. He was among the first group of postdoctoral fellows to participate in the McCall MacBain Postdoctoral Fellows in Teaching and Leadership Program that launched last fall.

“It was an amazing immersive experience,” Dennis says about the program. “I truly believe that my participation in this program can at least in part be credited with helping me land interviews and a tenure-track faculty position at California State University.”

The first-of-its-kind program, funded by John and Marcy McCall MacBain, helps postdoctoral fellows hone their skills as future educators and academic leaders.  The program was developed by Program Faculty Advisor Joe Kim and Program Manager and Research Coordinator Connie Imbault from the Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behavior. 

“Our inaugural group of Postdoctoral Fellows have already achieved amazing accomplishments, from publishing op-eds in national media outlets to securing tenure-track faculty positions,” says Connie. “We can’t wait to meet our second cohort and see the remarkable things they can do. Their success makes us so thankful to the McCall MacBain Foundation for their generous support in funding this program.”

Up to 10 Postdoctoral Fellows will participate in professional development workshops and journal club meetings, complete a discipline-based education research project and publish an op-ed about their research. Dennis was among the first-year Fellows to have an op-ed published in The Conversation Canada.

Open to all postdoctoral students in the Faculty of Science, the deadline to apply for the 2020-2021 program is Aug. 12. An online information session will be held on Aug. 5 at 11 am. The Faculty of Science will reimburse postdoctoral supervisors 20 percent of their postdoctoral fellows’ stipends during the fall and winter terms.

Here’s what other postdoctoral fellows had to say about the McCall MacBain Postdoctoral Fellows in Teaching and Leadership Program:

“Without the support of this program, I would not have had the confidence to write an op-ed, let alone submit it to The Conversation Canada and have it published. I you are interested in a career in academia, where teaching is a requirement, this program is an excellent opportunity to learn critical teaching, learning and science communication skills.”

Emily Dunford
Department of Kinesiology

“I would strongly recommend the McCall MacBain program to any postdoc at McMaster who has an interest in teaching or educational research. It was a fantastic experience and a great introduction to the teaching and learning community here at Mac. I’ve started a new teaching-focused position in the Department of Physics & Astronomy and hope to be involved in the program again.”

Pat Clancy
Department of Physics & Astronomy

“I had the opportunity to connect with post-doctoral fellows from other Departments, talk with them about teaching and their research and form a community that otherwise would not have been possible without the fellowship. The McCall MacBain program provided additional teaching tools that I will always carry with me. When I think about designing my lectures, I now have different perspectives of looking at the content and its delivery, at the assessments and at student engagement.”

Oana Birceanu
Department of Biology

Graduating students received congratulations from Dean Maureen MacDonald while incoming students and future scientists were welcomed and received their first four-part university homework assignment.

Here's the transcript and the video message Maureen recorded in her living room for the Class of 2020 as part of their virtual Convocation ceremonies on June 11:

CLASS OF 2020 CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE
"I was supposed to put on a robe and give a Convocation speech from my living room.
But instead, I have a message for COVID-19.
Get ready.
The class of 2020 is coming for you.
And this won’t be a fair fight.
I’ve met this next generation of scientists.
They’ve done amazing work in our classrooms and labs, on the job, on campus and in our community.
I also know who’s taught, mentored and inspired them.
The Class of 2020 is smart, resilient and resourceful.
Solving problems is what they do. The bigger, the better and the harder they lean in.
The Class of 2020 has spent years working hard for a moment exactly like this.
They’re ready to step up and help out in a big way.
So get ready, COVID-19. You’ve disrupted the world.
But the Class of 2020... they’re the ones who are going to transform our world through science.
And we’ll always be in their corner.
Like I said, this won’t be a fair fight.
You’re on borrowed time COVID-19.
You will be defeated.
And long after you’re gone, the Class of 2020 will still be making a difference.
Solving whatever problems come next.
And doing their part to help build a brighter world."

CLASS OF 2024 WELCOME MESSAGE

1. First and foremost, please continue to take good care of your physical health and mental well-being. Stay active and connected with family and friends. If you are struggling and feeling isolated and anxious, reach out for help. Also, give yourself permission to be upset or sad. Even if you have not lost someone to COVID-19, you have still lost something that matters to you, whether that’s your high school prom and graduation, your summer job, vacation plans or how you dreamed of beginning your first semester at McMaster. Please know that those losses will be more than offset by some amazing achievements, experiences and milestones that are waiting for you at our University.
2. Please accept your invitation to join The Archway. This is a new program created specifically for you and all first-year McMaster students. As soon as you sign up, an entire team of professionals, including a coach and mentor, will begin working with you and a group of 29 other students. They’ll stay by your side all through your first year. They’ll be there to answer your questions, give advice, help build a community amongst the students in your group, and offer personalized support to ensure a strong start to your time with us at McMaster. Invitations are going out in early June. You can also email the team at archway@mcmaster.ca.
3. Start following the McMaster Science Society on social media. The Society is led and run by student volunteers. They organize and host academic and social events throughout the year and offer services and resources for all undergraduate students in our Faculty of Science. I met with the student leaders a few weeks ago and they have exciting plans to connect with you online and introduce you to the other 7,000 undergraduate students in our Faculty. You can find out more about the McMaster Science Society at www.mcmastersciencesociety.com.
4. And finally, please thank whoever ignited your passion for science and inspired you to come to McMaster. Maybe this is a family member or friend or an outstanding teacher, coach or mentor. Send an email, drop a note in the mail, make a phone call or post your thank-you on social media. Having personally thanked my grade 11 science teacher, I guarantee that you’ll make their day (and quite possibly their entire year). Success in life, just as in science, is always a team effort. Please take the time to thank the person who helped you succeed on your journey to McMaster.

It was a morning of firsts for the Faculty of Science.

Last month's retreat was the first to bring together faculty and staff. In previous years, faculty and staff attended separate events. It was the Faculty of Science's first virtual retreat, using Zoom and Google Jamboard. It was the first time many faculty and staff had gotten together since in-person classes ended March 13 to help slow the spread of COVID-19. While recapping the achievements of the past year, Dean Maureen MacDonald announced the first researchers to receive funding through the Faculty of Science's new Global Science Initiative.

Nearly 200 faculty and staff participated in the online and interactive May 21 retreat. The overnight transition to virtual learning in mid-March was the focus of conversations in the first breakout session, with faculty and staff sharing best practices and lessons learned. Following a plenary discussion, faculty and staff returned to breakout rooms to review and help refine measures and targets for the Faculty of Science's 2020-2025 strategic plan. Virtual notes posted to the Google Jamboard have since President David Farrarbeen consolidated into a report for the Dean.

Thank you to all faculty and staff who read and shared the Statement on the Killing of George Floyd and Racial Justice from the African-Caribbean Faculty Association of McMaster University. A number of Faculty of Science colleagues are members of the Association and put their names to the statement, including Juliet Daniel, Abeer Siddiqui and Alemu Gonsamo.

• Bonny Ibhawoh, Ph.D. – Professor, History/Peace Studies
• Juliet Daniel, Ph.D. – Professor, Biology
• Gary Warner, PhD. – Retired Associate Professor, French
• Alpha Abebe, Ph.D – Assistant Professor, Humanities
• Ameil J. Joseph, Ph.D. – Associate Professor, School of Social Work
• Daniel Coleman, Ph.D – Professor, English and Cultural Studies
• Lydia Kapiriri, PhD – Associate Professor, Health, Aging and Society
• Rodrigo Narro Perez – R3 Co-Convener, Instructional Designer
• Abeer Siddiqui – Science Librarian, University Library/Faculty of Science
• Sashaina Singh, MPH – Knowledge Broker, Office of Community Engagement
• Nayelli Perez – Career Development & Relationship Manager, Engineering Co-op & Career Services
• Selina Mudavanhu, Ph.D. – Assistant Professor, Communication Studies & Multimedia
• Janice Vital. Program Administrator, Communication and Multimedia
• Bianca James. Administrative Coordinator, Faculty of Humanities
• Eugenia Zuroski, PhD. – Associate Professor, English and Cultural Studies
• Kojo Damptey. R3, PACBIC
• Celeste Licorish, Access Program Manager, Office of Community Engagement
• Omolajipe Sanwoolu, Immigration & Mobility Advisor, Student Success Centre
• Alemu Gonsamo, Ph.D. Assistant professor, School of Geography and Earth Sciences
• Faith Ogunkoya – Team Lead – Student Services, Office of the Registrar
• Adeola Ojo – Communications Coordinator, Office of the Registrar