Are you teaching a course for the winter semester (or beyond!) and planning or considering work-integrated learning components? Experiential Education staff can support your work, from brainstorming to assessment. Reach out to Shannon at smsnow@upei.ca to schedule a time to talk about your goals and how we can help!

The UPEI Research Ethics Board (REB) wishes a good end to the semester, start to the new year, and restful and joyous break in between to our UPEI community!

Please be advised that REB applications submitted or resubmitted after Friday, December 19 will be received and assigned for review on Monday, January 5.

The VHM 8120: Research Methods in Epidemiology (Epidemiology II) for the 2026 Winter Semester will take place from January 6 to March 13. The lectures will be held in person on Tuesdays from 1-4 pm and Fridays from 9 am-12 pm in The McCain Foundation Learning (278N) at AVC.

Prerequisites for the course are VHM 8010, VHM 8110, or permission of the coordinator. Instructors are Dr. Javier Sanchez and Dr. Hendrik Stryhn.

To (informally) register for the course, send an e-mail with your name and affiliation to jsanchez@upei.ca (Dr. Javier Sanchez, Dept. of Health Management). Formal registration at the Registrar's Office takes place through the myUPEI portal.

For information about the course content and texts, please contact Dr. Sanchez at jsanchez@upei.ca.

Title of the Thesis “Lactone-based Nanogel Composition Dictates Cryopreservation Efficacies in Mammalian Cells"

Cryopreservation is essential across clinical, biomedical and food sciences, as it facilitates long-term storage of biological materials at sub-zero temperatures. Cell permeating cryoprotective agents (CPAs) like dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) are traditionally used to mitigate freeze-induced injuries, providing exceptional protection against osmotic stress, ice formation, and cell membrane damage. Due to the toxicity and clinical limitations of small molecule CPAs, interest has shifted towards the development of safer, non-permeating macromolecular CPAs, including vitamin B5 analogous methacrylamide (B5AMA)-based nanogels. Previous studies show that amphipathic properties of macromolecules are crucial for their membrane interactions and dictate ice recrystallization behavior during cryopreservation. In an effort to improve cryopreservation efficacies of poly(B5AMA) nanogels, this work synthesized three hydrophobic lactone-derived comonomers obtained by ring-opening aminolysis of γ-butyrolactone, γ-valerolactone and γ-heptalactone, to tailor amphipathicity within poly(B5AMA) nanogel networks. Sub-100nm nanogels prepared via free-radical polymerization were used to cryopreserve mammalian cancer cells. Amphipathic formulations demonstrated enhanced ice recrystallization and improved cryoprotective performance over hydrophilic controls, with select nanogels performing comparably to DMSO. Cytotoxicity and uptake assays confirmed favorable biocompatibility and minimal cell internalization of nanogels. Overall, this work provides a structure-function framework for lactone-modified nanogels and highlights their potential as next-generation cryoprotectants capable of reducing reliance on conventional permeating CPAs. 

December 15, 2025 at10:00 am via web conferencing

If you wish to attend the public presentation, please contact the Graduate Studies Coordinator at gsc@upei.ca to receive the link.

Everyone is Welcome

Dr. Wendy Rodgers, President and Vice-Chancellor invites you to attend the 2025 President's Holiday Social for faculty and staff. 

Date: Wednesday, December 17
Time: 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm
Location: Lower Lobby and Concourse, Performing Arts Centre and Residence

Celebrate with your colleagues and enjoy complimentary appetizers and refreshments while listening to festive songs of the season.

DONATIONS TO THE UPEI CAMPUS FOOD BANK WILL BE MATCHED! You are encouraged to bring food and monetary donations for the UPEI Campus Food Bank—the Office of the President will match the value of your support up to $10,000! Tuna, black beans, pasta, pasta sauce, and $25 gift cards are popular items.

Looking forward to seeing you all at this special time of year!

The deadline for the employee and spouse/dependent tuition waiver forms for the Winter 2026 semester is January 9, 2026. We encourage you to have your tuition waivers submitted as soon as possible to assist in timely processing. Tuition waiver forms must be submitted electronically.

The online tuition waiver fillable forms can be found on the HR Portal of the myUPEI site, under Training and Development.

Please note that the employee or spouse/dependent must be registered in the course prior to applying for the tuition waiver.

If you have any questions, please contact Human Resources at (902) 566-0514 or hrgeneral@upei.ca.

The Faculty of Education invites all to attend the public presentation of Michael Ampong's PhD dissertation defence titled "Formative Assessment as a Tool for Developing Higher-Order Thinking Skills Among Distance Education Students in a Ghanaian Public University: A Convergent Mixed Methods Study." The defence will take place on December 17 at 3:00 pm in Memorial Hall 417.

Please join us in person  or through Teams at Michael Ampong - PhD Dissertation Defense | Meeting-Join | Microsoft Teams

Looking to take a quick break from marking exams or end of semester assignments? This blog post shares some strategies to manage our emotional reserves as educators when through a few typical end of semester situations with students. While the post refers to resources available through the author's home institution, the TLC team is happy to suggest UPEI resources.  Heart Emoji, Crying Face Emoji: A Reflection on the Emotional Facets of Teaching 

Title of the Thesis “Lactone-based Nanogel Composition Dictates Cryopreservation Efficacies in Mammalian Cells"

Cryopreservation is essential across clinical, biomedical and food sciences, as it facilitates long-term storage of biological materials at sub-zero temperatures. Cell permeating cryoprotective agents (CPAs) like dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) are traditionally used to mitigate freeze-induced injuries, providing exceptional protection against osmotic stress, ice formation, and cell membrane damage. Due to the toxicity and clinical limitations of small molecule CPAs, interest has shifted towards the development of safer, non-permeating macromolecular CPAs, including vitamin B5 analogous methacrylamide (B5AMA)-based nanogels. Previous studies show that amphipathic properties of macromolecules are crucial for their membrane interactions and dictate ice recrystallization behavior during cryopreservation. In an effort to improve cryopreservation efficacies of poly(B5AMA) nanogels, this work synthesized three hydrophobic lactone-derived comonomers obtained by ring-opening aminolysis of γ-butyrolactone, γ-valerolactone and γ-heptalactone, to tailor amphipathicity within poly(B5AMA) nanogel networks. Sub-100nm nanogels prepared via free-radical polymerization were used to cryopreserve mammalian cancer cells. Amphipathic formulations demonstrated enhanced ice recrystallization and improved cryoprotective performance over hydrophilic controls, with select nanogels performing comparably to DMSO. Cytotoxicity and uptake assays confirmed favorable biocompatibility and minimal cell internalization of nanogels. Overall, this work provides a structure-function framework for lactone-modified nanogels and highlights their potential as next-generation cryoprotectants capable of reducing reliance on conventional permeating CPAs. 

December 15, 2025 at10:00 am via web conferencing

If you wish to attend the public presentation, please contact the Graduate Studies Coordinator at gsc@upei.ca to receive the link.

Everyone is Welcome

The thesis defence for Bailey Clark, a candidate in the Master of Arts in Island Studies program, entitled “If we had not that gentleman’s authority”: Domestic politicians, foreign promoters, and the narrow-gauge railway on Prince Edward Island, 1871, has been rescheduled to December 16, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm.

The defence will be held in Memorial Hall, Room 104.

Supervisors: Dr. Josh MacFadyen and Dr. Ed MacDonald

Everyone is welcome!

We are now open until 6:00 pm on Thursdays and Fridays and open Saturdays from 10:00 - 3:00 until Christmas. Choose from UPEI and AVC branded clothing for the whole family as well as water bottles, pet items and more. Come see us for some great gift ideas or a gift card if you can't decide. Shop online any time at upei.ca/bookstore. 

The deadline for Animal Care Protocol Submissions (new, renewal, or amendment) is Friday, January 9 for the January 2026 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.

Note: All investigators are reminded that any deviations in animal use, including unexpected mortality, must be reported to the ACC and University Veterinarian Jonathan Spears at 902-620-5026.

The Faculty of Education invites all to attend the public presentation of Michael Ampong's PhD dissertation defence titled "Formative Assessment as a Tool for Developing Higher-Order Thinking Skills Among Distance Education Students in a Ghanaian Public University: A Convergent Mixed Methods Study." The defence will take place on December 17 at 3:00 pm in Memorial Hall 417.

Please join us in person  or through Teams at Michael Ampong - PhD Dissertation Defense | Meeting-Join | Microsoft Teams

The Robertson Library’s Open Education Resource Development Program is accepting grant applications for the creation or adaptation of open educational resources (OERs). The grant types include: 

• Open Educational Resource or Textbook Grant: up to $7000 
  • the development of a new open textbook on a topic that is currently not covered by an existing open textbook, or major adaptations of existing textbooks; 
• Open Textbook Adaptation Grant: up to $4,500 
  • the adaptation of one or more open educational resources or open textbooks to create a new version or edition of a resource (i.e. a Canadian edition of an existing open textbook); 
• Supplementary Resources Grant: up to $2,500 
  • the creation of ancillary materials for existing open textbooks, including, but not limited to test banks, slide decks, recordings, or interactive media, etc. 

All applications will be reviewed and considered, however, applications that meet either/both of the following criteria will be prioritised: 

• Applications that support first-year courses (as they reach the greatest number of students); and/or 
• Applications with evidence of consultation with the TLC and/or a Librarian.  

Applications close January 7, 2026. 

For more information, or to apply, visit https://library.upei.ca/OERProgram/grants. 

Questions about the grants, OERs, Pressbooks, or any other related topics can go to Keri McCaffrey, One Health and Scholarly Communications Librarian at knmccaffrey@upei.ca or Charlene VanLeeuwen in the Teaching and Learning Centre at cvanleeuwen@upei.ca. 

The VHM 8120: Research Methods in Epidemiology (Epidemiology II) for the 2026 Winter Semester will take place from January 6 to March 13. The lectures will be held in person on Tuesdays from 1-4 pm and Fridays from 9 am-12 pm in The McCain Foundation Learning (278N) at AVC.

Prerequisites for the course are VHM 8010, VHM 8110, or permission of the coordinator. Instructors are Dr. Javier Sanchez and Dr. Hendrik Stryhn.

To (informally) register for the course, send an e-mail with your name and affiliation to jsanchez@upei.ca (Dr. Javier Sanchez, Dept. of Health Management). Formal registration at the Registrar's Office takes place through the myUPEI portal.

For information about the course content and texts, please contact Dr. Sanchez at jsanchez@upei.ca.

Title of the Thesis “Lactone-based Nanogel Composition Dictates Cryopreservation Efficacies in Mammalian Cells"

Cryopreservation is essential across clinical, biomedical and food sciences, as it facilitates long-term storage of biological materials at sub-zero temperatures. Cell permeating cryoprotective agents (CPAs) like dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) are traditionally used to mitigate freeze-induced injuries, providing exceptional protection against osmotic stress, ice formation, and cell membrane damage. Due to the toxicity and clinical limitations of small molecule CPAs, interest has shifted towards the development of safer, non-permeating macromolecular CPAs, including vitamin B5 analogous methacrylamide (B5AMA)-based nanogels. Previous studies show that amphipathic properties of macromolecules are crucial for their membrane interactions and dictate ice recrystallization behavior during cryopreservation. In an effort to improve cryopreservation efficacies of poly(B5AMA) nanogels, this work synthesized three hydrophobic lactone-derived comonomers obtained by ring-opening aminolysis of γ-butyrolactone, γ-valerolactone and γ-heptalactone, to tailor amphipathicity within poly(B5AMA) nanogel networks. Sub-100nm nanogels prepared via free-radical polymerization were used to cryopreserve mammalian cancer cells. Amphipathic formulations demonstrated enhanced ice recrystallization and improved cryoprotective performance over hydrophilic controls, with select nanogels performing comparably to DMSO. Cytotoxicity and uptake assays confirmed favorable biocompatibility and minimal cell internalization of nanogels. Overall, this work provides a structure-function framework for lactone-modified nanogels and highlights their potential as next-generation cryoprotectants capable of reducing reliance on conventional permeating CPAs. 

December 15, 2025 at10:00 am via web conferencing

If you wish to attend the public presentation, please contact the Graduate Studies Coordinator at gsc@upei.ca to receive the link.

Everyone is Welcome

Classes are over; you just have to make it through exams! The library is here to help, and not just with books and research advice. On Wednesday, December 10 from 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm join us for Library Coffee Break, co-sponsored with Dana Hospitality. Follow @RobertsonLibrary on Instagram and Facebook so you never miss a pop-up surprise. 

Please be advised that the UPEI Health and Wellness Centre will be closed on Wednesday December 10 for professional development. Regular services will resume on Thursday December 11.

If you need support during this time:

• If this is an emergency, please call 911 or go to the closest hospital emergency room.
• If you require immediate medical care, please access a walk-in clinic, or call 811 to speak with a nurse.
• Need to talk to someone right now? The Mental Health and Addictions Access Line is a free, confidential, and available 24/7. Call 1-833-553-6983.

The Teaching and Learning Centre is calling for proposals for Internal Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Research Grants - VALUE: up to $2,000 for a two-year term. The Internal SoTL Research Grant (ISRG) program provides funding for SoTL research at UPEI. The scholarship of teaching and learning involves the systematic study of teaching practices and learning experiences that are grounded in context and methodologically sound. SoTL research is frequently conducted in partnership with students with findings made appropriately public. This call is open to all faculty, sessionals, lab instructors, CNIs, etc. in all faculties at UPEI. Applications are due by January 16, 2026, by 4 pm. Please review the general information in the guidelines for eligibility considerations. Support in developing proposals for these grant programs is available through the UPEI Teaching and Learning Centre. 

Program guidelines and application instructions can be found on the UPEI Internal Funding webpage.

The annual call for applications for the Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) program is open. 

Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) is a program under the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy that aims to provide flexible and holistic services to help all young Canadians develop the skills and gain paid work experience to successfully transition into the labour market.

Applicants are able to seek funding to hire youth (people aged 15-30 years) between April 20, 2026, and August 29, 2026. Work placements must be full-time (30-40 hours per week) quality jobs with a minimum duration of six weeks and a maximum of 16 weeks.

Approved employers will be eligible to receive a wage subsidy reimbursement of up to 50 per cent of the provincial or territorial minimum hourly wage of $16.50/hour.

For additional information and application information for this program, please click here.

To apply for this program, you will need to contact Human Resources:

Gabe Blunte at staffing@upei.ca or (902) 620-5431

The closing date for applications is December 10, 2025.