Daily News

posted on August 7: Basic science captures graduate student’s imagination

The Ontario Graduate Scholarships (OGS) are awards that McMaster's graduate students compete for with students from across the province. For each scholarship, universities are required to provide one-third of the $15,000 award, with the government providing the rest. The following is a profile of an OGS recipient: For Hendrik Nieuwland, a McMaster graduate student in biochemistry, his Ontario Graduate Scholarship award represents recognition of the importance of basic science. "It's nice to be recognized for doing good work, especially in basic science," he says. While clinical research often captures the public imagination, Nieuwland says people tend to forget that basic research makes the clinical work possible. "You can't design the therapeutic research until the basic research is completed." For Nieuwland, the $15,000 award also means he won't have to take another part-time job to pay the bills. That will give him additional time to work in the lab and time to write articles on politics for a Hamilton arts magazine. Nieuwland received his undergraduate degree in biochemistry from McMaster and is now working towards his master's degree. He admits to a fascination for "the molecular aspects of biological systems." To describe his graduate work, Nieuwland first begins by explaining that chemotherapy triggers cancer cells to undergo cell death. However there are some proteins that, when brought to a specific location inside a cell, prevent cell death. Some human cancers contain high levels of these anti-death proteins, thus rendering chemotherapy ineffective. These anti-death proteins belong to a specific family of proteins called "tail-anchored proteins," which are the focus of Nieuwland's research. No one knows how these proteins arrive at their specific location within the cell. If researchers are able to discover the factors involved in taking these tail-anchored proteins to their specific cellular locations, this information could have profound implications for cancer research and therapy in the future. Nieuwland is studying a tail-anchored protein named Sss1p. He is working to set up a genetic screen in yeast to identify the factors that target the Sss1p protein to a specific location in the cell called the endoplasmic reticulum, a site where some anti-death proteins function. Yeast has many proteins that are also found in the human body. "If I can find a protein that targets Sss1p in yeast, then maybe I can find the protein in humans," says Nieuwland. (End of story)

posted on August 7: New director of public relations appointed

McMaster has a new director of public and government relations. Andrea Farquhar was appointed to the position effective July 16. Farquhar, who has been associate director of public relations, succeeds former director of public relations Gillian Howard. Howard left the University in April for a position at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto. "Following a national search, we are pleased to announce Andrea's appointment to the position, which has been expanded to include the government relations portfolio," says Roger Trull, vice-president, University Advancement. "Andrea's experience at McMaster and in her previous career has prepared her well to lead this important function at McMaster. She has the respect of the McMaster community as well as the local and national media and I know she will do an excellent job building on the success we have had in this area." Farquhar joined McMaster in 1996 as a co-ordinator of external media relations. She was assistant director of media and community relations for two years before being named associate director in the fall of 1999. Prior to joining McMaster, Farquhar was a news anchor at CFRB Mix 99.9 in Toronto and a reporter and assignment editor at CHML/Y95 in Hamilton. "One of the best parts of my time at McMaster has been getting to know the people and areas that comprise the University. I'm looking forward to building on those relationships and to working with the public relations team to promote McMaster and to successfully serve the University's communication needs," says Farquhar. Born in Burlington, Farquhar is a graduate of the University of Toronto in English and history. Her father, Ben Firth, is a McMaster alumnus. She and her husband, Craig, a high school teacher, reside in Hamilton with their son, Cavan, who is almost two. (End of story)

posted on August 3: Long term disability premiums increase 49 per cent

Simon Ouellet, human resources director of benefits, compensation & staffing, sent the following e-mail Thursday afternoon to members of the McMaster University Staff Association, the McMaster University Faculty Association (except clinical faculty) and The Management Group: McMaster University's long term disability (LTD) plan is an income protection scheme that provides financial protection to employees who become totally disabled as a result of non-work related illnesses or injuries. Employees are responsible for 100 per cent of the premiums for this benefit plan, which is provided through Sun Life of Canada. Participation in the LTD plan is mandatory for eligible faculty and staff members with more than 12 months continuous service. LTD premiums have not increased since 1997; however, during this same period of time employee utilization of the LTD plan has dramatically increased. As a result, we have been advised by Sun Life of a 49 per cent increase in LTD premiums effective July 1, 2001. Meetings have been held with representatives of MUFA, TMG and MUSA to discuss the LTD premium increase. While it has been determined that an LTD premium increase is unavoidable, it has been agreed that the premium increase will be absorbed by LTD reserve funds for the months of July and August, 2001. The 49 per cent increase in LTD premiums will be implemented effective Sept. 1, 2001. LTD plan participants should note that their pay on Sept. 15, 2001 will reflect this premium increase. For an employee earning $40,000 annually, this means the LTD deduction will increase from $25.20 to $38.09 per month. In recognition of the increased utilization of the LTD plan, Human Resources, in cooperation with all employee groups, is responding with a new disability management initiative to be unveiled this fall. The goal of this initiative is early reporting and intervention in order to minimize or avoid LTD claims. Human Resources is also working with Student Health Service and Athletics & Recreation on a employee health and wellness initiative designed to provide effective health promotion and disease prevention for all employees. We hope that these initiatives will help control future LTD costs. If you have any questions on this premium increase, you may contact Wanda McKenna, human resources officer, benefits, at ext. 24855 or any member of the benefits section at ext. 24552. (End of story)

posted on August 1: Engineering physics professor appointed to William Sinclair Chair in Optoelectronics

Engineering physics professor Peter Mascher has been appointed to the William Sinclair Chair in Optoelectronics. "Peter Mascher has been a stellar administrator as chair of engineering physics and is eager to expand on his research work," said Mo Elbestawi, dean of engineering. "The Faculty is fortunate to have such an enthusiastic researcher of his calibre. We are excited about awarding this prestigious honour to Dr. Mascher." Mascher obtained a PhD in engineering physics from the Technical University Graz, Austria and spent about four years as a post-doctoral fellow and research associate at the University of Winnipeg. He joined McMaster University in 1989 in a position initially funded by the Ontario Centre for Materials Research. He is a professional engineer and a professor in the Department of Engineering Physics and has been department chair since 1995. Mascher leads active research groups involved in the fabrication and characterization of thin oxide/nitride films for optoelectronic applications and in the characterization of defects in semiconductors by positron annihilation spectroscopy. His research work is funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and several federal and provincial centres of excellence, as well as industry. Recently he spearheaded a successful application to the Ontario Research and Development Challenge Fund to establish the Ontario Photonics Consortium, an initiative centred at McMaster and involving the participation of research teams from the University of Western Ontario, the University of Waterloo and Queen's University. Mascher has authored or co-authored more than 100 publications in refereed journals and conference proceedings, has presented several invited lectures at international conferences and has graduated 14 PhD and master's students. He is a member of McMaster's Brockhouse Institute for Materials Research and the Centre for Electrophotonic Materials and Devices, as well as a number of international physics and materials research societies. (End of story)