Here are a few practical ideas to create a stronger bridge between research and teaching in your field. Check out Beyond the Research-Teaching Divide: Practical Steps for Educators.

Thursday, June 19, 2025, 10:00 am
Kelley Memorial – Second Floor Common Area

Please join us on Thursday, June 19 from 10:00 – 11:30 am at the Kelley Memorial Common Area (second level of the Kelley Memorial building) for a celebration for Monique Geurts, who is retiring after 11 years of dedicated service to UPEI. 

Let’s gather to celebrate her remarkable contributions, share memories, and wish her all the best in this next chapter.

There will be cake and warm wishes—hope to see you there!

Title of the Thesis:  “Development of a Method to Improve Host Cell Protein Identification in Biotherapeutics Using a Spiked-in Carrier Proteome”

Purification of recombinant protein-based biotherapeutics is monitored for contamination by host cell proteins (HCPs). The current method is the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), which is limited by the inability to identify HCPs individually. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based proteomics methods are desired to identify HCPs in biotherapeutic formulations. However, LCMS-based HCP analysis is hindered by a high background of recombinant protein amidst the HCPs of interest. Isobaric tags such as Tandem Mass Tags (TMT) have recently been used to develop the carrier proteome approach, where an isobaric mass-tagged proteome of interest is spiked into a sample to increase peptide identifications for low abundance proteins of the same proteome.

In this thesis, I investigated whether a TMT labelled carrier proteome could be used to improve the identification of HCPs by LC-MS-based proteomics. To do this, TMT-tagged E. coli peptides as an HCP model were spiked into alternatively labelled recombinant bovine serum albumin (BSA) peptides as a mock therapeutic. While the assay increased the identification of HCPs, co-isolated (isobarically-tagged) peptide ions from BSA interfered with the E. coli detection. To alleviate this, an additional spike-in of TMT-labelled BSA allowed the filtering of spectra with interfering ions from the analysis and confident E. coli peptide detection. The method represents a novel strategy for detecting HCPs in the biotherapeutics industry.

June 17 at 9:00 am in AVC, Room 278

Everyone is welcome to attend.

UPEI Procurement Services is currently taking bids on a used 2011 Dodge Caliber SXT.

Bids are being accepted in the University's e-tendering portal Bonfire until June 19, 2025, at 4:00 pm Atlantic Time. This portal requires you to register by creating a username and password as your UPEI credentials are not connected to this system. When registering for the Bonfire portal, please put your name in the vendor's name and contact name fields. You can access the information about this opportunity at https://upei.bonfirehub.ca/projects/94078/details

If you require assistance, please email tenders@upei.ca

To celebrate National Indigenous History Month, here’s a tip for instructors to incorporate Indigenous knowledge into their classroom.

Teaching Tip #1: Embrace Two-Eyed Seeing (Etuaptmumk) 

What it is: 
A concept introduced by Mi'kmaq Elders Albert and Murdena Marshall, Two-Eyed Seeing encourages viewing the world through both Indigenous and Western perspectives, integrating the strengths of each.  

How to apply it: 

• Incorporate Indigenous perspectives alongside Western viewpoints in your course content
• Invite Indigenous Elders or Knowledge Keepers to share their insights with your class
• Encourage students to reflect on how different worldviews can complement each other 

Reflective question: 
How can integrating both Indigenous and Western perspectives enhance students' understanding of the subject matter? 

See all the tips and additional resources here - Indigenous Knowledge in the Classroom Teaching Tips Series.docx

Gather with UPEI colleagues who are actively using AI for teaching and learning activities in their courses for some in-depth discussion about ideas and effective practices on Tuesday June 17 at 12:00 pm, in the TLC, Robertson Library Annex Room 230.  

Title of the Thesis:  “Development of a Method to Improve Host Cell Protein Identification in Biotherapeutics Using a Spiked-in Carrier Proteome”

Purification of recombinant protein-based biotherapeutics is monitored for contamination by host cell proteins (HCPs). The current method is the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), which is limited by the inability to identify HCPs individually. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based proteomics methods are desired to identify HCPs in biotherapeutic formulations. However, LCMS-based HCP analysis is hindered by a high background of recombinant protein amidst the HCPs of interest. Isobaric tags such as Tandem Mass Tags (TMT) have recently been used to develop the carrier proteome approach, where an isobaric mass-tagged proteome of interest is spiked into a sample to increase peptide identifications for low abundance proteins of the same proteome.

In this thesis, I investigated whether a TMT labelled carrier proteome could be used to improve the identification of HCPs by LC-MS-based proteomics. To do this, TMT-tagged E. coli peptides as an HCP model were spiked into alternatively labelled recombinant bovine serum albumin (BSA) peptides as a mock therapeutic. While the assay increased the identification of HCPs, co-isolated (isobarically-tagged) peptide ions from BSA interfered with the E. coli detection. To alleviate this, an additional spike-in of TMT-labelled BSA allowed the filtering of spectra with interfering ions from the analysis and confident E. coli peptide detection. The method represents a novel strategy for detecting HCPs in the biotherapeutics industry.

June 17 at 9:00 am in AVC, Room 278

Everyone is welcome to attend.

To recognize National Indigenous Peoples Day here on campus, IKERAS and the Advisor to the Vice-President Academic and Research on Indigenous Affairs invite you to a lunch and learn on Friday June 20 for an anonymous Q&A from noon to 1pm in the Quad by the TIPI. Enter your question in the box and we will take the time to answer questions you may have been afraid to ask, this is a time to learn! Please bring your lunch and we will provide blueberry cake for dessert! (if rain, it will be held in the foyer of Kelley Memorial Building)

June 21—the summer solstice—is designated as National Indigenous Peoples Day, “a day for all Canadians to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures, and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples…For generations, many Indigenous peoples and communities have celebrated their culture and heritage on or near this day due to the significance of the summer solstice as the longest day of the year.” (Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada). 

In Epekwitk on June 21, the Native Council of PEI invites the Indigenous and broader community to its annual celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day at Confederation Landing Park in Charlottetown, beginning at 11:00 am. 

The deadline for Animal Care Protocol Submissions (new, renewal, or amendment) is Friday, July 4 for the July meeting. 

Please note that as of June 1, 2020 all animal user protocols must be submitted through UPEI Researcher Portal at https://upei.researchservicesoffice.com/Romeo.Researcher/

For new protocols select ‘applications’ and for renewal or amendment protocols select ‘events’.

To view any UPEI ACC SOPs and Codes of Practice, they can be accessed through myUPEI at https://portal.upei.ca/facultystaff/administrativeservices/AVCAnimalCare/Pages/default.aspx. 

Those protocols received after the deadline will be reviewed the following month. The Committee requires at least one month for processing applications.

Gather with UPEI colleagues who are actively using AI for teaching and learning activities in their courses for some in-depth discussion about ideas and effective practices on Tuesday June 17 at 12:00 pm, in the TLC, Robertson Library Annex Room 230.  

University of Prince Edward Island is hosting the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) 2025 Atlantic Regional Meeting in Charlottetown June 26 to 27. This event will focus on the future of international education through a series of sessions, roundtables and networking activities.

CBIE’s Atlantic Regional Meeting is an annual gathering of international education practitioners. It is an opportunity to share knowledge and resources and keep abreast of immigration and other changes in the sector. It also serves as an annual networking event for international education practitioners and is a precursor to the national conference held each November.

Registration is now open for the CBIE Atlantic Regional Meeting.

Thursday, June 19, 2025, 10:00 am
Kelley Memorial – Second Floor Common Area

Please join us on Thursday, June 19 from 10:00 – 11:30 am at the Kelley Memorial Common Area (second level of the Kelley Memorial building) for a celebration for Monique Geurts, who is retiring after 11 years of dedicated service to UPEI. 

Let’s gather to celebrate her remarkable contributions, share memories, and wish her all the best in this next chapter.

There will be cake and warm wishes—hope to see you there!

13 department and faculty hosts. 17 different soups, with a few repeats. By our best count, over 3100 bowls served!  What a 10th year!  Thank you!

Plans are underway for year 11 when we hope to offer bi-weekly Soup for the Soul at the Chaplaincy Centre. Hosts are asked to choose recipes with some help provided, shop and chop one day, then cook and serve the next day. Hosts who finance their events are appreciated but we have limited funding available.  

Quick! Consider this invitation with the same momentum as bidding to host the Olympics or World Cup event. Check your calendars and email sukidd@upei.ca to book your date. 

The CRC-Application Review Committee invites campus community members to attend a research seminar by Dr. Devra Waldman, candidate for the Tier II Canada Research Chair in Equity in Nutrition, Physical Activity, or Health. Dr. Waldman will describe what her research program at UPEI may look like in the context of her past research.

Dr. Waldman has a PhD in Kinesiology from the University of British Columbia (2020) and is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sport Management at Florida State University. Dr. Waldman's research program is comprised of three lines of socio-cultural inquiry in sport, physical culture, and health: 1) the local and global postcolonial politics and implications of sport and health focused 'new city' developments in the Global South; 2) sport, international development, and gendered/racialized inequalities; and 3) global ethnography as a qualitative research methodology, relations of power in research settings, and the politics of knowledge production. These three lines of inquiry come together to address questions about how colonialism shape sport-led urban and regional land development, the politics of inclusion/exclusion in urban planning, and sustainable community development in the Global South.

Research seminar: 

• Date/Time: Thursday, June 12, 2025, 9:45 - 10:30 am
• Location: Health Sciences Building 104
• Teams Virtual link

The research seminar will also be recorded and available after the session. Those interested in the recording may contact mlsteele@upei.ca.

The Healthy Campus Committee will be hosting a Mandala Painting session on Tuesday, June 24 from 12:00-1:00 pm. Join us for a relaxing Mandala painting session and explore the art of mindfulness through intricate patterns and colors. No prior experience needed - just bring your creativity. To register please contact Angela Marchbank at amarchbank@upei.ca. Limit is 30.

AGE-WELL Summer Institute is coming to UPEI July 7-11 and is holding 2-3 Summer Institute slots for UPEI masters, graduate students or postdocs fellows (a very keen 4^th year undergrad is also feasible). We are requesting nominations from UPEI students to fill those slots within the next couple weeks.

What is AGE-WELL?

AGE-WELL is Canada's technology and aging network. We have mobilized a vast community of researchers, partner organizations, older adults, caregivers, and future leaders to accelerate the delivery of technology-based solutions that make a meaningful difference in the lives of Canadians.

UPEI students do not have to be a member of AGE-WELL to apply – this is an opportunity of a lifetime an experience you will value the rest of your life.  The students from other parts of Canada have already been selected and will be from different disciplines. There will be 3 groups of students each group will be working on a different challenge and each of the UPEI students will be assigned to one of the groups.

It is roughly a 9-5 commitment each day (some evening teamwork is usually necessary). Lunch and snacks will be provided to UPEI attendees (but not accommodations or breakfast).

Please email Olive at obryanton@upei.ca if you are interested in attending and she will pass your name on to the AGE-WELL organizers.

Dr. Wendy Rodgers, President and Vice-Chancellor, invites you to the second annual Hello Summer! Barbecue for Students, Staff, and Faculty on Thursday, June 12, 2025, from 11:30 am–1:00 pm in the quad in front of SDU Main Building.*

All are welcome to kick-off summer, mix, and mingle!

Wear your GREEN and WHITE to show your Panther Pride! There will be swag giveaways and a special guest appearance by Pride the Panther!  

*Rain location (same date and time): Wanda Wyatt Dining Hall

The deadline for Animal Care Protocol Submissions (new, renewal, or amendment) is Friday, July 4 for the July meeting. 

Please note that as of June 1, 2020 all animal user protocols must be submitted through UPEI Researcher Portal at https://upei.researchservicesoffice.com/Romeo.Researcher/

For new protocols select ‘applications’ and for renewal or amendment protocols select ‘events’.

To view any UPEI ACC SOPs and Codes of Practice, they can be accessed through myUPEI at https://portal.upei.ca/facultystaff/administrativeservices/AVCAnimalCare/Pages/default.aspx. 

Those protocols received after the deadline will be reviewed the following month. The Committee requires at least one month for processing applications.

Now Accepting Participants: The CHANGE Program at UPEI, a free, year-long health program for a healthier you

Are you living with, or at risk of, metabolic syndrome? The UPEI Health & Wellness Centre is now welcoming participants for the next round of the CHANGE Program, a free, evidence-based program designed to help you take charge of your health through sustainable lifestyle changes.

What is Metabolic Syndrome?
You may qualify for the program if you have two or more of the following:

• Pre-diabetes or diabetes
• High triglycerides
• Low HDL (“good”) cholesterol
• High blood pressure
• Abdominal adiposity (carry your weight in your middle)

What You Can Expect
The CHANGE program runs for one year and includes 28 guided sessions focused on two key lifestyle changes:

1. Nutrition – Work with a registered dietitian to learn and adopt the Mediterranean diet, a heart-healthy, evidence-based way of eating.
2. Physical Activity – Partner with a kinesiologist to safely incorporate exercise into your daily life. No equipment or gym membership required.

Sessions are available on campus and in communities across PEI. There is no cost to participate.

To learn more or to register, please contact the CHANGE Program at change@upei.ca or 902-620-5156.

Take the first step toward a healthier future, join the CHANGE Program!

Gather with UPEI colleagues who are actively using AI for teaching and learning activities in their courses for some in-depth discussion about ideas and effective practices on Tuesday June 17 at 12:00 pm, in the TLC, Robertson Library Annex Room 230.