Category: News

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Career Fair 2018 Overview

by Julia Bayne

This year the CIC Toronto Section hosted over 90 people at our annual Career Fair at the University of Toronto on Thursday, April 26th, 2018.  The event was tailored towards graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and early career CIC members from across the Greater Toronto Area. This year’s event was supported through generous donations from our Platinum Sponsors: the University of Toronto Department of Chemistry and ChemClub, as well as our Silver Sponsors: Toronto Research Chemicals Inc., GreenCentre Canada and Ryerson University.

 

The day began with a presentation by keynote speaker Dr. Laura Reyes (Chemical Institute of Canada) followed by a presentation by Dr. Melanie Mastronardi (Top Hat). Both presentations provided an overview of their career path (during and after their PhD) and offered insightful career advice. The first panel discussion included Dr. Kazim Agha (Ridout & Maybee), Dr. Naveen Chopra (Xerox Research Centre of Canada), Dr. Glenn Ikeda and Dr. Alon Eisenstein (Pueblo Science), wherein students were able to ask questions pertaining to specific career paths and/or general pieces of career advice. After a quick coffee break, Jonathan Turner from the U of T Career Centre led a workshop entitled “Following Up in Your Career”. This interactive session was geared towards providing students with viable strategies for following-up with people after networking, after an interview and so on. After this workshop, Dr. Jan Oudenes (Kennarshore) gave a presentation on his unique career path through chemistry and entrepreneurship. Prof. Andy Dicks (U of T), Prof. Jessica D’eon (U of T) and Oriana Muzzin then led an “Education Panel Discussion”, and answered questions pertaining to a career in education. Students were then able to mingle with company representatives during the lunch hour. Booth participants included: Opalux, MITACS, Toronto Research Chemicals Inc, Kennarshore Inc., Alphora, NorthernChem Inc, Dalriada Therapeutics, Career Centre, GreenCentre Canada, Pliant Power Devices.

 

After lunch, the second panel discussion was scheduled, which included Kim Nosella (Xerox), Andrew Corbett (TRC), Doug Baumann (Syngenta) and Andrew Pasternak (GreenCentre Canada). The format paralleled the morning panel discussion – students were able to ask general and/or specific questions about career path, advice etc. The final session of the day was a round table discussion, where groups of 8-10 students were given 30 minutes to talk with 2-3 company representatives. Students were shuffled between company representatives after each 30-minute period to provide diversity and variability within possible career options. Roundtable participants included: Ridout & Maybee, Syngenta Crop Protection Inc., Xerox Research Centre of Canada, Toronto Research Chemicals Inc., Pueblo Science, Bereskin & Parr, Kennarshore Inc., GreenCentre Canada, Chemical Institute of Canada, Ontario Genomics, Career Centre, and the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research.

In addition to the presentations and interactive sessions, Toronto Research Chemicals, NorthernChem Inc. and Dalriada Therapeutics held “on-site” interviews.

The organising committee (Julia Bayne, Jolie Lam, James LaFortune, Molly Sung and Jennifer Huynh) would like to thank everyone for their participation and for a successful career fair!

 

Networking Night at the XRCC with Innovation4D

On March 6, 2018, Xerox, GreenCentre Canada and the Research Innovation Commercialization (RIC) Centre hosted a networking night for students and professionals in the chemical science and electronics industries at the Xerox Research Centre of Canada (XRCC). Xerox, GreenCentre and the RIC Centre are incubators for start-up companies or individuals with materials technology to find funding and bring their innovation to market. Collectively the three companies are known as ‘Innovation4D‘, with a motivation to share and connect students and industry professionals, this networking night successfully initiated in 2017.

Attendees were treated to a facility tour of the Xerox Research Centre of Canada. The first stop was the Pilot Plant scale up facility, where materials innovations from the bench move into stages of process development and then to scale up at an industrial level. Next the Printed Electronics Lab showcased aerosol gels printed on various surfaces. As well as printable antennae which are currently used today in consumer products such as liquor bottles to combat tampering. Last was an inside look into the multiple innovation hubs that are housed in the XRCC. After the tours, we were introduced to Nathan Hordy, Director of Operations at Anomera Inc., a start-up that is fixing the problem of environmentally unsafe microbeads in cosmetic skin care products. Partnering with the XRCC, the start up has since commercialized their cellulose innovation for use in cosmetics and skin care applications that are biodegradable and safe for the environment. 

From speaking to the industry and start-up professionals, you get a sense that green chemistry principles permeate throughout these hubs from many standpoints. The environment among members of IntelliFLEX, Chemical Institute of Canada, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) was particularly relaxed, everyone has at least had a chance to learn something and met someone new.

Special thanks to our host organizers Xerox (Matt Hueft), GreenCentre Canada (Andy Pasternak), the Research Innovation Commercialization (RIC) Centre (Pam Banks) and IntelliFLEX for a terrific night!

Extended highlights and photos from this event can be found in the ACCN (Canadian Chemical News)!

 

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Student Awards Night 2017

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by Matthew Gradiski

CIC Toronto’s annual Student Awards Night took place on January 23, 2018 at York University. Student Awards Night honours the academic achievements of post-secondary students from colleges and universities across Toronto and the GTA. A Silver Medal is awarded to students who have displayed outstanding academic merit by achieving the highest GPA in their respective program. A Book Prize is awarded to students who have shown significant improvement in their field of study. Our night began with an opening address from CIC’s Career Development Leader Dr. Laura Reyes. Laura informed our guests about the CIC, membership opportunities, and the benefits associated with becoming a member. Our chair, Molly Sung then gave welcoming remarks before introducing the guest lecturer, Professor Ruth A. Ross from the University of Toronto. Ruth gave an enlightening talk entitled Cannabis: Mixed Messages in which she discussed the pharmacology of cannabis use in addition to some of the leading scientific research on the benefits and risks associated with medicinal and recreational usage. Award presentations followed with Molly announcing and congratulating our winners, and Laura presenting their awards. Our night concluded with refreshments and networking. The CIC Toronto section would like to extend our congratulations to all of the award winners and a very special thank you to Prof. Ruth Ross for her fantastic lecture and Dr. Chris Caputo for his efforts in helping organize the event!

 

Education Institution
Ryerson University
Ryerson University
University of Toronto Mississauga
University of Toronto Mississauga
University of Toronto Mississauga
University of Toronto Mississauga
York University
York University
York University
York University
Durham College
Durham College
Durham College
Durham College
University of Toronto Schools
Marc Garneau Collegiate
University of Toronto Schools
Western Canada High School
University of Toronto, Engineering
University of Toronto, Engineering
University of Toronto Scarborough
University of Toronto Scarborough
University of Toronto St. George
University of Toronto St. George
Award
CSC Silver Medal
CIC Book Prize
CIC Book Prize
CSC Silver Medal – Chemistry
CSC Silver Medal – Biochemistry
CSC Silver Medal – Forensic
CSC Silver Medal – Biochemistry
CSC Silver Medal – Chemistry
CIC Book Prize – Chemistry
CIC Book Prize
CSC Silver Medal – Chemical Eng. Tech.
CSC Silver Medal – Chemical Lab Technician
CIC Book Prize – Chem Eng Tech
CIC Book Prize – Chem Lab Tech
Chemistry Olympiad – HM
Chemistry Olympiad – HM
Chemistry Olympiad – Silver
Chemistry Olympiad – Bronze
CIC Book Prize
CSChE Silver Medal
CSC Silver Medal
CIC Book Prize
CIC Book Prize
CSC Silver Medal
Student Recipient
Kyle Vollett
Kristy Halnan
Motasem Suleiman
Jonathan Scott Sayewich
Mohammed Ali Kala
Aaron Yu
Elia Grieco Guardian
Alexandra Stella Handayani
Amy Laturski
Kiyan Modirmassihai
Bennet Pehlemann
Yun Jung Chung
Andrew Fodor
Jasmeen Malik
Raluca Petrut
Karen Li
Hermish Mehta
Jeffrey Zhou
Firsya Avelia Risandi  
Jasmine Chugh
Zainab Mirza
Eric John Moniz Lentz
Aaron Carl MacGregor
Roman Korol

 

AGM 2017

by Samantha A. M. Smith

The CIC Toronto Section has held their 2017 Annual General Meeting on May 17th at the Mattamy Athletic Centre (formerly Maple Leaf Gardens), Ryerson University. The meeting began with a technical seminar titled “Chemistry in a Cone” by Prof. Goff (University of Guelph) which focused on the physical and chemical interactions that have to occur to provide the consumer with the best possible ice cream experience. Then, dinner was provided during the AGM, chaired by Prof. Judith Poë (University of Toronto Mississauga), where our incoming executive committee was approved. Congratulations to the incoming committee, we look forward to starting this new year.

Photos courtesy of Pasha Mohammed

 

 

Chemistry professionals present wide career possibilities to graduates and postdocs at the 4th annual career fair

by Kim Osten

This year the CIC Toronto Section hosted over 125 people at our annual Career Fair at the University of Toronto on Friday April 28th, 2017. The event was tailored towards graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and early career CIC members from across the Greater Toronto Area. This year’s event was supported through generous donations from our Platinum Sponsors: the University of Toronto Department of Chemistry and ChemClub, as well as our Silver Sponsors: Bereskin & Parr, GreenCentre Canada and the Ryerson University Department of Chemistry and Biology.

Throughout the day of the event, industry representatives and students were provided numerous opportunities to network during various activities, including a panel discussion and four keynote presentations, as well as a company booth session and round table discussions. We were also pleased to provide a workshop for job search strategies hosted by the University of Toronto Career Centre. Some of the organizations in attendance included MaRS Discovery District, Digital Specialty Chemicals, Inkbox, Toronto Research Chemicals, Vive Crop Protection, GreenCentre Canada, VWR, Ontario Centres of Excellence, and many more. This year we were also fortunate to host on-site interviews for current job openings at Inkbox and Digital Specialty Chemicals.

 

Mill’s St. Brewery Tour

On January 25th, CIC Toronto Sector held our annual brewery tour at Mill Street Brewery in the Distillery District. Over 40 CIC members and guests toured Mill Street’s brewing and distilling facilities and had a chance to sample some of the brewery’s products. Dan North (Beer Enthusiast and Brew Pub Educator) led tours through the brewing rooms and guests learned about the science behind producing high quality beer and spirits. Attendees then had a chance to network with other chemical professionals over food and drinks at Mill Street’s Beer Hall.

We hope to see you all at our next brewery tour!

 

 

 

Mentorship Program Launch

On January 12th, the CIC Toronto Section and Women in Chemistry Toronto (WiCTO) kicked off their first joint mentorship program at the University of Toronto Chemistry Department with a Meet and Greet event. 60 participants, a mixture of mentors and mentees, came to the department to socialize over snacks and a make-your-own hot chocolate bar. The mentorship program aims to pair Undergraduates with Graduate students in the Department of Chemistry for a semester to help Undergraduate students through their degrees.

 

For more information about the mentorship program and to get involved please visit: http://www.chem.utoronto.ca/wp/womeninchemto/IMG_2958 IMG_2959 IMG_2954 IMG_2955 IMG_2956 IMG_2957

Student Awards Night 2016

By Daniel Cho

The Student Awards Night was a huge success on November 4th, 2016. The night took place in the beautiful hall at the OISE Auditorium at the University of Toronto and started off with an excellent presentation titled “Beer Brewing – On the Molecular Level” by Samantha Smith, an avid home brewer, a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto and the Chair of CIC Toronto chapter.
We then recognized the academic achievement of our students in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering from Universities and Colleges across the GTA. 17 Silver medals were awarded to congratulate students with the best academic performance, 12 Book Prizes were awarded to those with the greatest academic improvement and Gold, Honourable Mentions and Bronze Awards for the 48th Canadian Chemistry Olympiad participants.  A total of 32 Awards were given to students from the University of Toronto St. George Campus, Mississauga Campus and Scarborough Campus, York University, Ryerson University, Durham College, Sheridan College, Seneca College and related high schools.
Congratulations to all award winners at the annual Student Award Night 2016!

AGM 2016

By Kim Osten

The CIC Toronto Section held their Annual General Meeting on May 26th at the Mill Street Beer Hall. At the AGM, members and non-members enjoyed a catered meal by Mill Street while listening to their beer enthusiast, Dan, talk about the process and the history of beer. The term’s Chair, Kazim Agha, highlighted the many events that CICTor organised including Industry tours, CICTor Votes, Outreach and educational events, the annual Career Fair, and some CIC sponsored events. Chaired by Judith Poe, the members of the section elected the incoming 2016-2017 Executive Committee (see our “Current Executive” page for details).

The Treasurer’s Report can be found here.

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